Improving competitiveness and developing towards sustainability is the chosen orientation adopted by the leadership of Phuc Loi Cooperative, especially in the current context of economic difficulties. To learn more about Phuc Loi’s operations in the past time, Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Ms Luu Thi Lich, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Phuc Loi Trade and Service Cooperative. Tuan Anh reports.
Could you please share some experience in developing Phuc Loi Cooperative?
To set up a business is very simple, but to maintain and develop it is not easy at all. Just a simple mistake in operational direction and steps may be paid with a lifetime of hard work.
Understanding this importance, Phuc Loi Cooperative gathers and connects the labour and intellect of its members to form a united team; promotes energy, willpower, enterprise and sacrifice; always strives for collective benefits and utilise the time; and always promotes creativeness and knowledge in all aspects. In particular, the cooperative retains credibility with customers and builds up trust in all relationships in the community.
How has Phuc Loi Cooperative modernised infrastructure and applied science to production and business activities?
Phuc Loi Trade and Service Cooperative is the only cooperative to be licensed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to collect, transport and dispose of hazardous waste in the entire northern and southern central coast regions.
With the motto "Making use of waste to save materials, recycling waste to save natural resources" and reasonable business plans, Phuc Loi Cooperative is choosing appropriate technologies based on using purposes and financial viability of the cooperative. Every cooperative member is always creative to make useful products with the highest efficiency. Recently, our cooperative received the first prize in the “Scientific and technological innovation competition with respect to processing waste oil into industrial oil for furnaces" in Thai Nguyen province and also received the National Environmental Awards 2013 from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. These are the results for endeavours of the entire cooperative in the current context of difficulties.
We frequently send our staff to trade fairs and seminars organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) at home and abroad to acquire know-how. In particular, with the support of VCCI, we have received technologies from Japanese enterprises for ferrous metal recycling and waste incineration for electric generation. These new technologies, costing VND200 billion (nearly US$10 million), will be put into operation in the third stage of the cooperative.
2013 remains a tough year for the business community in Vietnam, but this tough time also provides many opportunities for those who know how to grasp them. As the leader of the cooperative, how will you take advantages of such opportunities?
2013 is probably the most difficult year for many businesses, but I think life is like a full circle of good and bad things.
For me, the bad does not kill the business immediately, but it is the chance for us to know our capacity and resilience. Failure is only a lesson for us to strive more on the road we have chosen.
And, for me, opportunities will come to us with our ways of thinking and especially our ways of living. At Phuc Loi Cooperative, we continue to foster professional skills training, take care of members’ health, consolidate production divisions, restructure and optimise business expenses. We continue to build credibility, quality and brand and enhance competitiveness towards sustainability.
Thanh Giong Cup aims to honour outstanding business leaders who drive their companies out of difficulties caused by current economic slowdown. How do you assess this award?
Thanh Giong Cup is a significant honour for any entrepreneur. The award is the confirmation of his/her position in the society and the opportunity to promote corporate image in the country and the world.
We would like to thank VCCI for its accompanying and understanding of entrepreneurs’ thoughts and aspirations and for its many programmes in support of enterprises to live through hardships.
On this occasion I also would like to express my gratitude to authorities, agencies and enterprises for their trust and support for Phuc Loi Cooperative to reach our current success. I hope that employees, entrepreneurs and businesses will try hard together to share new opportunities.
Vietnamese
