Vietnam Business Forum has an interview with Mr Nguyen Van De, Chairman of Thanh Hoa Business Association and President of Hop Luc Corporation, on the operation of the association and contributions of the company to local socioeconomic development. Duy Anh reports.
As the Chairman of Thanh Hoa Small and Medium Enterprises Association, what do you think about the local business community? What are remarkable activities of the association?
Most companies in the province of Thanh Hoa are SMEs and they are thus vulnerable to economic downturn. Luckily, with business support policies from the provincial government, every company has struggled to emerge. The association serves as a bridge to link businesses and authorities to settle problems facing enterprises.
Suggestions and recommendations by businesses are submitted to the Provincial People's Committee by the association. The Provincial People's Committee will assign competent bodies to tackle emerging difficulties and challenges of enterprises in a rapid manner. This support builds up confidence and solidarity of local enterprises and enables them to promote internal resources and dynamism to overcome difficulties and challenges.
After nearly two decades of construction and development (1996), from a small cooperative, Hop Luc has risen to become a multi-business company and a leading unit of Thanh Hoa business community. Would you tell us the core factors behind this success?
Hop Luc, like many other industrial enterprises in Thanh Hoa province and in the country, must experience ups and downs to have the current success. Without incentives, stimulus and assistance of local governments, businesses will hardly survive and develop. Besides, the collective effort of the entire staff also results in success. A company must harmonise benefits of enterprise, labourers and society to exist and develop sustainably.
What measures did Hop Luc take to improve service quality and build up the corporate brand in recent years?
As engaged in socialised fields like cooperative, hospital, school and crematory, the company does not run after profit at any cost because its business operations are meaningfully social. To exist and develop sustainably, it must continuously renovate and improve service quality and take customer satisfaction as a measure of corporate brand value. The brand name is not naturally created but it is built from efforts in all aspects like reputation, trust and customer satisfaction.
How can you balance and handle many positions at the same time?
Apart from running Hop Luc Corporation, I also assume many different positions in society from local to central levels. Though tired, I feel very happy and proud to be trusted. To do well my tasks I have to build daily and weekly working agendas. Luckily, I am assisted by specialists of their fields. Although the work is hard, I feel very happy because what I have done is meaningful.
Vietnamese
