A delegation of businesses from Malaysia’s Automatic Enterprises Association, led by Mr Y.B. Dato'Kong Cho Ha, Malaysian Vice Minister of Science and Technology, paid a working visit to Vietnam from September 25 to September 30. The delegation included 24 members of some 15 big enterprises in the technology industry such as automatic system and electric-mechanic integrated system manufacturers, producers of boilers and steam sterilizing rooms and panels; beverage industry, bottling line, delivery tray system, industrial technical training devices, compressed air, hi-tech material provision. Enterprises include LENZE S.E.A, OMRON ELECTRONICS, SMC PNEUMATICS (SEA), DP CONTROLS, EDEX TECHNOLOGY and ABB MALAYSIA.
In Hanoi, the delegation met with the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam and signed cooperation agreement with Vietnam Automatics Science Association. Mr Tiong Khe Hock, Chairman of Malaysia’s Automatic Enterprises Association and Omron managing director, said that the cooperation is a premise for the association to sign deals with businesses and exploit projects in Vietnam. Vietnam’s investment environment is attractive, he said, adding that he will encourage Malaysian companies to invest in Vietnam, especially to build plants here which will become a link of the factory chain in the region.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the mission worked with the Science and Technology Department and Automatic Enterprises Club. Mr Benny Yeo, Chairman of IA-Community Group said, “We are surprised at Vietnam’s rapid economic growth in general and automatic technology application of Vietnamese businesses in their production in particular. We highly appreciate the potential of the Vietnamese market. After the visit, we will propose specific cooperation plans with Vietnam’s bodies and enterprises.” He hoped the Science and Technology Department and Automatic Enterprises Club in Ho Chi Minh City would be important agents in providing information and exchanging cooperation among businesses of the two sides.
Mr Le Hoai Quoc, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Science and Technology Department affirmed the department would provide specific information about the local market and enterprises eyeing cooperation and automatic technology application. The department would also popularise trade promotion, experience and skill exchange programmes, and provide information on its website and magazine. In addition, he also suggested Malaysia’s Automatic Enterprises Association build an automatics school in Vietnam to train automatics workers to high standards, and hold conferences and traditional exchange days among automatics businesses from the two countries.
Mr Tran Truong Son, head of Ho Chi Minh City Automatic Enterprises Club and director of Thien Hoa Trade and Services Company, Ltd. said the application of automatic technology is an urgent requirement for Vietnamese businesses in the process of integration into the world economy. The application will help raise their competitiveness capacity, improve product quality and reduce goods prices. The chance to exchange and meet with Malaysian automatics businesses helped local companies understand their cooperation potential. Son added “Ho Chi Minh City Automatics Enterprises Club will join Automatic Enterprises Network in the region and hold working visit with counterparts in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.”
Automatics Enterprises Club now has some 30 members specialising in providing technical solutions, equipment and new technology which will help Vietnamese businesses raise productivity, reduce prices and save energy. The provincial authorities have been facilitating these businesses in establishing relations with foreign partners, and applying research themes of scientists in the automatics sector.
Dong Phuong
Vietnamese
