Suchel TBV S.A., a joint venture between Viet Nam and Cuba, has received approval from the Cuban Government to build a detergent plant in the Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM), according to the Cuban News Agency (ACN).

The agency quoted a statement from officials of the ZEMD as saying that the joint venture was set up by Cuba’s Mercantile Society Industries Nexus S.A. and Viet Nam’s Thai Binh Detergent JSC, with an operational period of 30 years.

The plant, with construction expected to take 24 months, is designed to achieve an annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes of detergent for domestic and industrial use, replacing more than 90 per cent of detergent Cuba has imported from foreign countries.

Representatives of the ZEMD said with initial investment capital of some US$17.6 million, the plant will have environmentally friendly production lines, require less energy and generate a minimum of industrial waste.

In 2016, Viet Nam’s Thai Binh Global Trading Corp received a licence to produce disposable diapers and sanitary pads in the zone.

ViMariel S.A., a subsidiary of Viet Nam’s Viglacera Corporation, was officially established in July 2018 to build an industrial park at the ZEDM.

The ZEDM is located 45km west of Havana and covers 465sq.km. It was put into operation in November 2013, aiming to spur domestic production, reduce import costs, promote growth, generate more jobs and attract foreign direct investment. — VNS