Belgium-backed $1mn warehouse left unused in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta

A cold warehouse valued at over US$1 million, sponsored by Belgium, and inaugurated last year has lain idle in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region due to unresolved legal issues. Located in Cang Long District, Tra Vinh Province, the smart cold storage facility is the first of its kind in the Mekong Delta, spanning an area of over 1,000 square meters and having the capacity to hold 60 metric tons of agricultural products. From there, the goods will be shipped to European ports, including Antwerp in Belgium and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The project is expected to significantly enhance farmers’ capability in preserving fresh fruits through the application of technology, gradually bridging the gap between the Mekong Delta agricultural products and the European market. However, after over a year since its inauguration on March 17, 2022, the cold storage facility remains shuttered and abandoned in the middle of a vast field alongside National Highway 53.