Representatives of Vinamilk and Royal DSM at the signing ceremony. — Photo Vietnam+

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Viet Nam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) and Royal DSM signed a co-operation deal on applying international nutrition standards into Vinamilk milk powder.

The agreement was signed in Singapore on September 13.

Vinamilk has co-operated with DSM for years in applying nutrition standards in its products including powder milk, fresh milk and other products.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vinamilk Managing Director Pham Minh Tien said the firm would continue to work with DSM and with other world leading nutrition groups to provide customers with international standard products, but at a price 60-70 per cent below other imported products in the Vietnamese market.

According to a report from the National Nutrition Institute, about 25 per cent of Vietnamese children under five years old have stunted growth due to malnutrition. The lack of iron, zinc, Vitamin A and D is very common in Viet Nam.

The report also says Vietnamese people are about 10 centimetres shorter than the global average.

Tien blamed malnutrition on Vietnamese people's milk drinking habits, with consumption quite low at about 15 litres of milk per year on average, equal to one-second of Thailand and one-third of Singapore.

Vice President of DSM Swiss Pieter Nouber, who is in charge of the Asia Pacific region, committed to applying international standards with the latest nutrients to Vinamilk products. DSM would support Vinamilk in researching and developing milk products, conducting clinical tests and helping the firm disseminate the importance of nutrition.

Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets. — VNS