Assessed as one of a few good-performing water companies in the country, Hai Phong Water Supply Company has taken steady steps to contribute to sustainable development of Hai Phong City, also known as the City of Red Flamboyant. The company has very successfully applied modern technologies with the support of Japanese partners. Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Mr Vu Hong Duong, General Director, to learn more about the company. Ngoc Anh reports.
Could you please tell us some remarkable results of the Company in 2013?
As a state-owned public utility responsible for ensuring water supply for production and livelihood of the people, the company has increasingly proved itself to heavy duties entrusted by the municipal government.
In 2013, to overcome negative impacts of economic downturn, the company actively endeavoured to maintain stable business performances. Currently, the company is responsible for supplying adequate water for over 257,000 customers in Hai Phong City. In 2013, it raked in revenue of VND391.1 billion and paid VND12.9 billion to the State Budget, 6 percent higher than the value assigned by the municipal government. Last year, the average monthly individual salary of over 1,100 employees was VND6 million.
Particularly, the company responded and contributed to the "new countryside construction" movement by bringing tap water to poor households in Viet Hai commune. This is the most distant commune of Cat Hai district where population density is thin and traffic conditions are extremely difficult. After our survey, we decided to invest over VND4 billion to build a water treatment system and VND2 billion to erect a pipeline network to supply clean water over 70 households and tourist sites in the commune. With an hourly capacity of 15 cubic metres, the system can fully meet the local demand.
How is the Japanese water treatment technology applied by the company? Could you tell us some results?
We are currently applying Upward Biological Contact Filtration (U-BCF) technology to the plant with a daily capacity of 5,000 cubic metres in Vinh Bao district. This is the work the company has applied advanced Japanese water treatment technologies. This technology is provided by the Kitakyushu City Waterworks Bureau of Japan. The work is being effectively operated by the company.
The project is wholly funded by Hai Phong Water Supply Company and equipped by technology transferred by the Kitakyushu City Waterworks Bureau. However, to cut expenses, the investor did not import all equipment from Japan but partially source local supplies. Hence, the company saved up to 40 percent of funding.
Besides, to build filter tanks using U-BCF technology in the 2013 - 2015 period, the company is working with the Kitakyushu City Waterworks Bureau to the process and progress of building water plants in Hai Phong and introduce the technology to other localities to cope with increasing water pollution. Needless to say, the bilateral cooperation in the past more than 5 years is very specific and effective, thus meeting requirements of both sides.
In the future, what specific solutions will the company take in order to strengthen international cooperation in general and cooperation with Japanese partners in particular?
Knowing that international cooperation will help the company boost funding for operations, the company hence places the top priority on this issue. In addition, the firm will pay more attention to strengthening relations with distributors and retailers to supply water in the smooth and effective fashion.
We also sets store by enhancing human resource development and training to take on projects with foreign factors as such projects always require persons with good expertise, knowledge, experience and foreign language skills. In the future, we will seek and recruit more qualified engineers and professionals and have appropriate employment plans.
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