Boehringer Ingelheim supports animal health development in Vietnam

After one year in Vietnam, what do you consider Boehringer Ingelheim’s most notable achievement in this market?

Beyond maintaining our position as one of the market leaders, our most notable achievement has been strengthening our role as a trusted partner in advancing animal health and contributing to Vietnam’s One Health ecosystem.

By combining global innovation with local market insights, we have delivered solutions for swine, companion animals, and poultry. These efforts align with our purpose of “Transforming Lives for Generations,” focusing on sustainable impact through disease prevention, support for veterinarians and farmers, collaboration across the value chain, and innovation that benefits society.

In addition, I am honored to lead and work alongside the Vietnam team this year. We consistently strive for innovation and remains steadfast in achieving our goals. This mindset enables us to turn challenges into opportunities and continuously create positive impacts in such a dynamic market as Vietnam.

How have your global and regional experiences shaped your vision for Vietnam?

My experience at Boehringer Ingelheim’s headquarters in Germany provided a strong foundation in global strategy development, portfolio management, and innovation-led growth. Later, leading commercial excellence across ASEAN, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand reinforced the importance of agility and cultural adaptability in diverse markets.

For Vietnam, this translates into a clear approach: applying global best practices while adapting solutions to local needs. Our focus is on collaboration and building a strong internal culture that enables teams to deliver practical value to veterinarians, farmers, distributors, partners, and other stakeholders. This helps ensure sustainable business performance while contributing positively to the broader community.

Swine, companion animals, and poultry are key focus areas. How do these segments contribute to overall growth?

Each species plays a distinct and complementary role in our growth strategy.

Swine remains our primary growth driver, supported by science-based biosecurity, disease prevention solutions, and beyond-the-product services. This year, we strengthened awareness of integrated health approaches that improve herd performance and operational efficiency. A notable initiative is the Respiratory Defense Alliance, which enables co-administration of key vaccines in a single shot, reducing labor requirements while improving respiratory protection. When combined with gut health solutions, these approaches help reduce antibiotic use and stabilize productivity.

In companion animals, preventive care is central to our strategy. Our Pets business continues to perform strongly, supported by a broad portfolio and value-added services. Our parasite control products provide comprehensive protection, while vaccines remain a key pillar. Following our nationwide Vaccination Partnership Program in 2025, we are preparing to introduce a next-generation vaccine in 2026 designed to protect against multiple canine diseases with enhanced safety and technical standards.

In poultry, food security is a critical consideration. In 2025, we introduced Vietnam’s first vector vaccine offering protection against three major diseases with a single hatchery shot. This solution helps reduce costs, lower antibiotic use, and improve biosecurity, contributing to a more stable and sustainable protein supply.

Niklas Birkner (8th, L) and Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam’s Animal Health team. Photo courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam

Technology and data are reshaping the animal health sector. How is Boehringer Ingelheim responding?

Technology and data are increasingly important in animal health, and we aim to remain at the forefront of this transition. Our recently launched Animal Health Hub provides veterinarians and farmers with access to e-learning resources, disease-prevention modules, and best-practice guidance to support more informed decision-making.

By promoting smart farming approaches, we are working toward a more connected ecosystem tailored to local conditions, where technology supports healthier animals, more resilient farms, and stronger communities.

Community engagement has been a long-standing focus. Could you share more about the rabies prevention program?

Community engagement is central to our sustainability efforts. Through the STOP Rabies program, more than 33,000 dogs and cats in Long An province have been vaccinated over the past five years, alongside education initiatives reaching thousands of residents on rabies prevention and responsible pet ownership. These activities support Vietnam’s national goal of eliminating human rabies deaths by 2030.

We have also expanded educational outreach in Tay Ninh, where more than 30,000 pupils have received rabies prevention education. Looking ahead, we plan to continue annual vaccination campaigns, broaden education programs, and strengthen partnerships at the local level, guided by the principle that animal health and human health are closely linked.

More than 33,000 dogs and cats in Long An Province, now part of Tay Ninh, were vaccinated through the STOP Rabies campaign between 2021 and 2025. Photo courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam

Looking ahead to 2026, what strategic priorities will be most important?

We appreciate the continued trust and collaboration of the Vietnamese government, veterinarians, farmers, partners, and other stakeholders throughout 2025.

In 2026, our focus will remain on bringing global innovation and best practices to Vietnam while adapting them to local needs. We aim to address sector challenges, support veterinarians and farmers, and contribute to healthier communities and a stronger One Health ecosystem. Key priorities include antimicrobial resistance management, food safety, and sustainable farming practices.

Our long-term commitment is grounded in a consistent belief: when animals are healthy, humans are healthier too. This principle continues to guide our purpose of “Transforming Lives for Generations” and our approach to sustainable growth in Vietnam.