30 YEARS OF RENOVATION IN PRIVATE BUSINESS SECTOR: VIETNAMESE WARRIORS

The renovation has been taken for 30 years starting from Sixth National Party General Assembly (1986), has been an important historical period in the development of the country. It is worthy to mention that the “Innovation” policy of has “given birth” to private enterprise sector in which a number of business owners have experienced 03 decades to overcome much loss, disruption, but relentlessly made efforts to reap achievements and milestone during the transformation of the country. They are brave knights with remarkable strength, creativity, flexibility to compete and grow in the market. Journalism & Public Opinion of the 2016 Spring met them with a true belief in the further success which contributes to the overall development of the country.

Hochiminh City today.

1. Masan Group is among one of Vietnam’s largest private sector companies with a focus on the consumption and resources sectors. Witnessing changes, mechanism and business environment of the country during its development period, Masan has become a familiar name in the market and has impressed the highest-demand customers.

Masan targets to achieve a value of 5 billion VND in the core consumer products, in which food and beverage are the two strong types of products. In the beverage products, Masan has built a strong foundation in a recorded period of time. The successful launching of self-developed “Wake-Up” branch is an evidence for Masan’s superior implementation and deeply understanding of Vietnamese customers.

For the last many years, Masan has created a firm position in convenience foods with some well-known instant foods such as Omachi, Sagami và Kokomi – from high-end, intermediate to popular products, and nutritious meals such as Komi porridge, etc. Masan has been confirmed its position not only in the field of consumer goods, but it is also a “knight” with the acquisition of other brands to improve its capacity and expand the market. Its market will be expanded if Masan develops the processed meat as an additional sector (the Group has acquired November Saigon Food Nutri in 12/2014). This sector accounts is worth about $ 18 billion and be a portion of Vietnam’s meat market.

More importantly, Masan has been successful in building its trademark in not only common, intermediate but also high-end parts. Masan also acquired and established Masan Nutri-Science in late April, 2015, creating a leading foundation to serve the Vietnamese animal feed industry with a value of US $ 6 billion. Masan Group also acquired Sam Kim (“Masan Nutri-Science”), which holds 52% of shares of Vietnam – France JSC, producing foodstuff for cattle (“Proconco”) and 70% shares of International Agriculture Nutrition JSC (“Anco”), making Masan become the biggest company producing food for pigs.

Masan has been successful and gained remarkable profits in non-core aspects such as Nui Phao mine or Techcombank, as well as in core sectors. With a persisting belief in consumption in Vietnam, Masan always affirms to further expand the market, combines the development of internal forces and the acquisition and merging of enterprises. Masan is willing to welcome next remarkable growth based on readily available foundation. Masan expects to become a leading company in consumer products, creating values for shareholders and bring more substantial benefits in the year 2016.

2. Asia Foods – Food Corporation Asia is another example which does dare to think, dare to work, and becomes a leading manufacturer of instant food products in Vietnam. For the past 20 years, Asia Foods has gone through many arduous but proud journey. ViFood Noodle Factory was built in Go Vap District, HCMC in 1990. Asia Food Industry Ltd was launched in 1995 with the factory located in Binh Duong.

Two years later, Food Asia officially exported its products to European markets such as Russia, Ukraine, Germany, New Zealand, and then to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Samoa, Poland, etc. In addition to being listed in the top leading brand of domestic noddle, Asia Foods has become the largest instant noodle supplier in Cambodia market since 1999 (over 50% of market share), built many plants with a capacity of billions of packages (pasta, soup, noddle soup, noodles, etc) each year, created more than 5,000 permanent jobs across the country. Sharing with our reporters, Mr. Nguyen Manh Ha, President of Asia Foods said that effort and creativity, especially the sincerity to customers have helped the Company develop and become as strong as it is today

This can be seen in how Asia foods troubleshoots. When customers complained that  “bones were seen inside noddle package”, Mr Ha invited the customers to visit the plant, check the plant’s modern technological line system and said that “Do you think bone will be able to exist here?”, then shake their hand and thank them. Mr. Ha added that he was as an engineer, a machine-building engineer, so he does his best, works hard with creativity for communities and customers instead of “having knowledge about marketing or PR”. As a results, brand noodles such as red Bear, red Bear porridge, noodles, red Bear noodles, Golden egg noodles, Shang-ha porridge… have gained a foothold in the market, and belief of consumers.

3. Ha Long Investment and Consulting JSC (HALCOM) works on two main fields: investment and consulting. With the slogan “Rising with new era”, the biggest desire of HALCOM and Mr. Nguyen Quang Huan – the Chairman of the Board and General Director of the Company is how to perform infrastructure, environmental protection projects across the country faster, more efficiently and with better quality.

The Company was established in the development period of the country while international ODA organizations worked effectively in Vietnam. They encouraged private companies to take a part of it. Especially in the field of consulting, they created favorable conditions for enterprises to grasp opportunity for mutual exchanging and development. In addition, infrastructure development and social safeguard policies call for high-capacity enterprises. At the time, having enough experience and prestige, HALCOM timely joined the level playing yield. In terms of the human resources, it is extremely important especially in the field of consulting. HALCOM boasts of a team of professional staff with highly enthusiastic professional sprit. All these favorable factors have made HALCOM brand-name.

Along with the renovation process of the country, HALCOM has ceaselessly made efforts to overcome difficulties with inner strength and bravery to confront giant waves during 15 years, the Company continues to grow. Working many years in consulting in ODA projects in urban infrastructure development and poverty reduction, Mr. Nguyen Quang Huan – the General Director has accumulated much valuable experience – as a basis to “drive” the Company towards sustainable development, demonstrating the commitment and transparency in business; thereby contributing to communities and societies.

In 2014, with effort, the Company was deserved to be awarded the “TOP BRAND 2014”. HALCOM is very proud to be a pioneer in Vietnam to have the Code of Business Ethics which is the lodestar for our operation and business activities ensures our commitment and transparency in business to our customers and communities.
“Grasping ” the innovation of the market, the leader of the Company, Mr. Nguyen Quang Huan affirmed that as the first enterprise in Vietnam committed to applying the World Bank’s Corporate Compliance Program (CCP), we have been working to improve our management level to its of advanced companies in the world. Promoting traditional Asian culture, towards the Western advanced civilization, we always put reputation on top, value commitment and desire to witness the ongoing development of our customers, partners and the advancement of the whole era. We do business not merely for profit, but above all, for the sustainable development of communities and societies. It is forever the guideline for all our activities.

4. Hoang Gia Pearl is not an unfamiliar name with people who love Vietnamese fashion, jewelry. Mr. Ho Thanh Tuan – the founder of Hoang Gia Pearl has 20 year experience in the market. After graduating, he started working on this industry when he was “stabilizing” to work in an informatics company and designed a website order by a group of French experts who implemented a pearl farming project in some marine areas of Vietnam. After that, he  was in the middle of two options: becoming their partner in this project in Vietnam, or becoming an IT company manager where he was working. And Tuan chose the first option.

In late 2007, facing the world economic crisis, that foreign experts cancelled the project made him want to give up. Once again, Mr. Ho Thanh Tuan made a vital decision: Selling all of his assets, borrowing loans to revive the project and build first pearl cages in Con Dao, where produced Pinctada  Maxima – colorful pearls on Vietnam’s sea.

Then, not only exporting rough pearl to foreign markets, Mr. Ho Thanh Tuan expected to bring and sell Vietnamese pearl directly to customers with the quality and design of international standards, he invested and established the largest Vietnam Pearl jewellery manipulating workshop, where has brought together hundreds of craftsmen, and obtained tremendous success.

Now, Hoang Gia Pearl owns a number of large pearl farming and processing system in Vietnam, the company offers all kinds of rare sea pearls as: South Sea, Tahitian, Akoya Mabe which are used and favored by female politicians, businesswomen, artists. Hoang Gia Pearl also has pearl engraved with the image of a Dong Son bronze drum, take Vietnamese culture and ethnicity across five continents.

Ha Van – Kien Giang