On 21/11, Agrostars Company - Xuan Thien Group held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Xixila cassava starch factory, a key component of the Agrostars agro-industrial complex located in Calulo district, Cuanza Sul province, Angola.

The ceremony was attended by Isaac Maria dos Anjos, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Angola; Duong Chinh Chuc, Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola; Pham Toan Vuong, General Director of Agribank; and Nguyen Van Thien, Chairman of Xuan Thien Group, along with leaders from various Angolan and Vietnamese ministries and agencies.

Addressing the event, Duong Chinh Chuc, Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola, stated that Xuan Thien Group is regarded as a "beacon enterprise" in Angola. The success of Xuan Thien and Agrostars will elevate Vietnam's national brand in Africa and foster confidence among the Vietnamese business community in Angola and the region. This also affirms Vietnam's capabilities in agriculture, forestry, processing industries, and renewable energy.

"The Vietnamese Embassy in Angola will continue to fully support Xuan Thien, Agrostars, and the business communities of both countries throughout the project's implementation", Chuc said.

Representatives of Xuan Thien Group and Angolan ministries at the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo: Xuan Thien Group.

The Xixila cassava starch factory is a central component of the Agrostars agro-industrial complex, a project invested in by Agrostars Angola Company - Xuan Thien Group in partnership with Angola's Equity Group. Once operational, the factory will adhere to international ESG-HSE standards in all its activities. Xuan Thien Group and its partner are also committed to enhancing agricultural technology transfer to local farmers and communities. They will prioritize recruiting, training, and employing Angolan labor, and procuring local materials to boost the local economy. The goal is to achieve high-quality agricultural self-sufficiency and export capabilities for Angola.

The factory has an annual capacity of 1.6 million tons of cassava starch and a total registered investment of 672 million USD. Following this factory, the project will expand to include an instant noodle factory with a capacity of 200 million noodle packs per year, an organic-microbial fertilizer factory producing 400,000 tons annually, and 100,000 tons of cassava flour for the market to provide food for local communities. The total investment for the entire project will reach 750 million USD during the 2025-2029 period. Approximately 220,000 tons of cassava flour and starch are expected to be released to the market in Q4 2026.

Xuan Thien Group has over 10 years of investment experience in Africa and officially began its exploitation projects in Angola in early 2023. The Agrostars agro-industrial complex focuses on development across four strategic pillars, aiming to establish a sustainable agricultural and industrial ecosystem in Angola. First, it will develop large-scale cassava raw material areas, applying synchronized mechanization, nutrient management, and traceability to ensure stable yield and quality. Second, it will construct the Xixila cassava starch factory using advanced, modern technology to meet domestic and export demands.

Third, the group plans to develop eucalyptus and other valuable timber plantations, supporting Xuan Thien Group's green industrial chain in energy and materials.

Fourth, in the 2025-2027 period, Agrostars will invest in an organic-microbial fertilizer factory with a capacity of 400,000 tons per year. This factory will utilize byproducts from agricultural processing, such as cassava peels and pulp, biochar, and fermented organic fertilizer, to create a closed-loop circular economy model: "zero-waste production, zero-emission agriculture".

To ensure a high-quality and sustainable raw material supply for the entire agro-forestry value chain, Agrostars will invest in building a modern seed production center in 2026. This center will have an annual capacity of 20 million plant seedlings of various types. It will serve the project's replanting and expansion needs and provide high-quality seeds across Angola.

Through this closed-loop operation, the project will create approximately 95,000 direct and indirect jobs for businesses and local communities, increasing income and improving the lives of thousands of households. It will also promote a formal rural economy and sustainable development, positioning Cuanza Sul as a national agro-industrial hub. With a development philosophy of "from the land – for the land – for the people", Agrostars believes this project will sow seeds of prosperity, not only for Angola but also for the strong friendship between Vietnam and Angola specifically, and Africa generally.

In the coming period, Agrostars, along with Xuan Thien Group and Equity Group, will collaborate with local authorities to establish the Xuan Thien agro-forestry special economic zone in Cuanza Sul, Malanje, and Uige provinces. This zone will cover an estimated 6.8 million hectares and involve a total investment of up to 4.5 billion USD. This open cooperation zone aims to minimize administrative procedures, ensure legal and investment security, and invite Vietnamese and international enterprises to invest in Angola's agriculture, forestry, deep processing, and logistics infrastructure sectors.

(Source: Xuan Thien Group)