CONINCO President & CEO Nguyen Van Cong: Better Climate Needed for Construction Consultants

Prior to the Meeting between Prime Minister and Businesses 2017, the Vietnam Business Forum has interviewed Mr Nguyen Van Cong, President & CEO of Consultant and Inspection Joint Stock Company of Construction Technology and Equipment (CONINCO), on his aspirations, suggestions and recommendations to the Prime Minister. Thu Minh reports.

After nearly 38 years of construction and development, CONINCO has become one of the most prestigious companies engaged in construction consultancy, technology, equipment and construction inspection in Vietnam. Would you talk about your secrets to the today success?
From only a research unit with a few dozens of employees, CONINCO now has more than 10 member companies with more than 2,000 consulting engineers. Working in the competitive market mechanism, our success has partly come from our right strategies for human resources. Accordingly, every employee is treated as a start-up business and is provided the best conditions to show up their full competence. Although they may face troubles and even fail, they always take the core value of “sure of the future” to move forward and take confidence and honesty as the foundation for the ethics of consultants. Without doubt, CONINCO is a multi-business consultant group.

Would you reveal your short-term business objectives for 2017 and longer-term strategies in the following years?
In general, 2017 is still a tough year for our economy. We only aim at stable operations with a steady growth of about 10 per cent. We always share with customers and partners in the tough time. We will build our new head office called CONINCO Tower, a 20-storey building with 25,000 square metres of floor, to celebrate the 40th founding anniversary (1979-2019). As a well-branded consultant, we are confident to expand our business scope and scale and strengthen our international cooperation. We also look forward to building our own professional standards, coupled with offering quality, competitive services to domestic and foreign customers.

From a business perspective, what do you expect for the Government's Resolution 35/2016/NQ-CP on business support and development to 2020? What should the Government need to address to better support businesses?
Resolution 35 is only a provisional measure at a necessary time. It will be then materialised by amending laws and regulations issued before Resolution 35. Broadly speaking, business needs a long-term stable legal environment for development rather than issue so many resolutions which meanwhile need time to take effect. For now, many companies want to know how policies will be changed after 2020.

In addition, the Government should equitise State-owned enterprises, even some State administrative divisions, but all businesses need a fair and equitable mechanism. State management that affects enterprises, especially pre-audit, post-audit and double-check, should be minimised and made transparent. There must be a fair mechanism between the State with business, between the State with entrepreneur. Then, companies will feel assured to make long-term investment for production and business operations and enhance competitiveness.

Do you have any suggestions and recommendations for further growth of CONINCO in particular and other companies in general?
Consultancy in general and construction investment consultancy in particular do not need much money to start while it generates considerable added value. The State needs a mechanism to develop this sector to the par in the region.

Specifically, prices of some domestic consulting services increased at par with regional prices. It is necessary to reduce interventions of tax administration and audit agencies in wage and expense structures. Stat stake at consultant companies should be sold to workers there.