Poultry major Venkateshwara Hatcheries (Venky's) has forayed into south-east Asian market by setting up an poultry feed manufacturing facility in the Tay Ninh Province of Vietnam with the total investment of 1.5 billion rupees (INR), reports Business Standard from India.

The plant will produce around 3,500 metric tonnes per month of poultry feed to cater to the requirements of poultry farmers of Vietnam. It is located Tay Ninh province of Vietnam. The feed plant is scheduled to become operational by the end of 2010. The company is planning to start its plant facilities in Bangladesh, Philippines and Switzerland.

The Joint Managing Director of VH Group and the Managing Director of Venky's (Vietnam) Co. Ltd, B. Venkatesh Rao, talking exclusively to Business Standard from Switzerland said: "The reason behind setting up plant in Vietnam because it is 30 years behind India. It really needs some good poultry facilities and services. Also, we are exporting the products to the country for many years. Venky's is providing lab services, medical facilities and poultry feed. The capacity of this plant is 3500 tonnes per month. Over 150 employees will be working in this plant."

Speaking about Venky's further expansion plans, Mr Rao added: "We have decided to start our plants in Philippines, Bangladesh and Switzerland. We have strong sales network in Bangladesh and customer base over there. Also, Venky's has maintained good quality and status in Bangladesh and Philippines. Also, Bangladesh customers were demanding the products which has European flavour."

Talking about foray into Switzerland, Mr Rao explained: "We are setting up a vaccine plant in Switzerland since it is a central location for Europe and America. Also, we have some good industry contacts as Venky's products are quite popular over here. The land for the plant has been acquired and I am finalising few contacts right now. It will get operational by July 2010."

Business Standard reports that Venky's (Vietnam) Co. Ltd. is also planning to establish a poultry diagnostic laboratory with all the latest diagnostics facilities in South Vietnam to provide free diagnostic and technical services to the Vietnamese poultry farmers. It will be a disease diagnostic lab. According to Mr Rao, in Vietnam there are only two such laboratories and farmers were looking for such technically sound service facility in Viet Nam.

VH Group is a fully integrated poultry company in India, with a turnover of INR36 billion. It provides complete poultry solutions from basic breeding to providing ready-to-eat chicken and processed egg variants. VH markets its products through the Venky's brand.