Vietnam's tycoons explore agribusiness ventures

Hanoi

A STEELMAKER turning to pigs and animal feed, a property developer raising cows, a stockbroker milling rice and a real-estate-to-retail billionaire growing fruit and vegetables.

Three decades after Vietnam started moving away from a socialist-led farm economy towards manufacturing of big-brand textiles and electronics, some of its top firms are carving out opportunities in its US$37 billion agriculture and seafood sector and looking to expand overseas, helped by free trade pacts.