The signing ceremony took place at White Palace (Hoang Van Thu, TP HCM) on 20/7. According to the agreement, Co.opmart will develop and operate the Agora Mall within the 127-hectare Agora City urban area. The supermarket is expected to serve 50,000 to 100,000 residents in Thu Thua commune and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2026.

Signing ceremony of the partnership between Thu Thua Invest and Saigon Co.op. Photo: Thu Thua Invest

Signing ceremony of the partnership between Thu Thua Invest and Saigon Co.op. Photo: Thu Thua Invest

A Saigon Co.op representative stated that the Agora City supermarket will be developed with a new model, combining a community-focused design with flexible scalability in phases. Agora City meets Co.opmart's criteria, including the potential for increased population density, its central location in Thu Thua, its frontage on Highway 818 (a three-minute drive from the TP HCM - Trung Luong Expressway), and its proximity to a large industrial park within the locality's development plan. The project also includes an operational administrative center.

Capitalizing on the existing location and infrastructure, the development of Agora Mall is a step towards expanding the 35-year-old Vietnamese retail system, which has over 800 points of sale in 34 provinces and cities. The presence of Co.opmart increases brand coverage, contributes to completing the chain of amenities, and enhances residents' quality of life.

Experts assess that the operation of this shopping mall and retail system, combined with Agora City's existing amenities, will boost the area's activity, increasing property values.

Perspective of the shopping mall at the 127-hectare Agora City urban area. Photo: Thu Thua Invest

Perspective of the shopping mall at the 127-hectare Agora City urban area. Photo: Thu Thua Invest

A Thu Thua Invest representative stated that, even before Co.opmart's presence, Thu Thua had attracted investor interest due to the planned key industrial zones and enhanced infrastructure in western TP HCM. Following the administrative boundary merger on 1/7, Thu Thua now covers 50.45 square kilometers—a large enough area to implement projects focused on clean and high-tech industries.

This development strategy minimizes environmental impact while creating high-quality jobs and enhancing the locality's competitiveness. According to the Vietnam Real Estate Research Institute, Thu Thua is currently second among the top 5 localities in terms of industrial park area eligible for investment and leads in area growth rate with a 2016% increase.

Many experts believe this presents an opportunity for the area to break through amidst the wave of investment capital shifting away from overloaded traditional industrial parks. Additionally, the inter-regional infrastructure system—including National Highway 1A, National Highway 62, National Highway N2, and Ring Roads 3 and 4, along with the TP HCM - Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway—passing through the area provides advantages in trade and investment attraction.

Ho Xuan Linh, an investor in District 12, TP HCM, observed that the simultaneous emergence of infrastructure, industrial parks, a retail supermarket, and large-scale projects clearly indicates Thu Thua's developing focus. With convenient regional connectivity, stable employment, and comprehensive amenities, this area is becoming a potential new residential destination.

He also believes that as the population concentrates, the urban area will become more dynamic, creating conditions for property value appreciation. "With proper planning and development, Thu Thua could become a new satellite center, similar to how Thuan An in Binh Duong has done," Linh said.

(Source: Thu Thua Invest)