"Vietnam is still an attractive investment opportunity despite the current global recession," confirms website Research and Markets, the world 's leading source for international market research and market data.

In its "Latest Vietnam Food and Drink Report" released on June 26, Research and Markets said that the Vietnamese economy will not be immune to the current global recession and the country’s outlook appears promising.

There are forecasts of real GDP growth of 2.9 percent in 2009, a downward revision from previous forecast of 5 percent, however, Vietnam is expected to outperform much of Asia in 2009-2010, returning to rapid growth by 2011, according to the report

" Vietnam 's mass grocery retail sector has witnessed the most activity this quarter, it said, citing the intention of Japanese convenience retailer FamilyMart intention announced on April 2009 to open its first Vietnamese outlet in Ho Chi Minh City in September, in partnership with local distribution company Phu Thai.

Although the convenience retail sector is expected to be the slowest-growing format in the country over the forecast period, growth is still expected to be an impressive 81.7 percent to 2013, and FamilyMart is hoping to establish a strong foothold in the country before demand for the convenience format really takes off, said Research and Markets.

This quarter has also seen Saigon Co-op announce plans to expand its supermarket chain from 35 stores to approximately 50 by the end of the year. Supermarket sales are forecast to increase by 97.4 percent to 2013 and Saigon Co-op is hoping to take advantage of this, it added.

The drinks industry saw Anglo-South African brewer SABMiller buy out local partner Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) in March 2009, leaving the former free to pursue its own strategy.

According to the website, Vietnam 's food-processing sector received confirmation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that it would receive a loan of 95million USD in order to better equip its food industry to adhere to health, safety and quality requirements needed to enable it to integrate with international markets.

It reconfirms that the above-mentioned efforts will help to boost Vietnam 's image in the country's all-important export market and activity in🍌 this quarter underlines the fact that Vietnam is still an attractive investment opportunity despite the current global recession💛.