The School of Economics at Can Tho University and WestFood Hau Giang Joint Stock Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), strengthening collaboration between the university and business community, developing high-quality human resources, and creating more local employment opportunities for students in the Mekong Delta.

Developing human resources from within the local community

For WestFood, alongside investing in technology, manufacturing facilities, raw material areas, and expanding export markets, the company places strong emphasis on continuously developing a workforce with strong professional expertise and the ability to adapt to the international business environment.

In particular, the WestFood Hau Giang Factory, which commenced operations in September 2025, is creating demand for human resources across various fields, including international business, logistics, supply chain management, marketing, human resources management, and digital business.

This is one of the reasons why WestFood has chosen to strengthen its cooperation with Can Tho University - a prestigious university that provides high-quality human resources for the region.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, Chairwoman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of WestFood, said: “A business seeking sustainable development in a local community needs access to high-quality local human resources. The university and its lecturers equip students with knowledge, while WestFood will provide them with opportunities to gain practical experience in international business. We are committed to working alongside the university to nurture young talent from the time students are still at university through to after graduation.”

According to WestFood, one of the key advantages of talent trained in the Mekong Delta is the combination of professional knowledge, a global outlook, and an understanding of the local context. Students are not only equipped with knowledge of business, markets, logistics, and supply chains, but also have an understanding of the people, culture, and economic characteristics of the region.

This provides a strong foundation for WestFood - a company that has grown from the agricultural resources of the Mekong Delta while expanding toward markets around the world. When students are trained and given opportunities to work within the region, businesses can access suitable talent, while young people have more opportunities to build their careers in their hometowns. In the long term, this can help reduce the outflow of local talent while enabling businesses to take a more proactive approach to attracting and retaining employees.

For WestFood, creating employment and developing local human resources not only benefits the company but is also part of its commitment to contributing to the socio-economic development of the local community.

Bringing real-world business experience into the classroom

Through the partnership, WestFood aims to create more opportunities for students to gain exposure to the business environment while they are still at university. Internships, company visits, career talks, and professional knowledge-sharing sessions will provide students with practical experience, a better understanding of labor market requirements, and greater preparation for their careers after graduation.

In particular, students will have opportunities to engage with real-world business challenges faced by an agricultural processing and export company, covering areas from raw material development and production to supply chains, markets, and international customers.

At the same time, WestFood also aims to bring its practical business experience back to the classroom, contributing to training, career orientation, and research activities, thereby helping ensure that academic programs remain closely aligned with the practical needs of businesses.

Building on this partnership, WestFood and the School of Economics at Can Tho University look forward to developing a substantive, long-term, and mutually beneficial relationship that contributes to developing high-quality human resources, creating more local employment opportunities, and supporting the socio-economic development of Can Tho and the Mekong Delta.