Established in 1976, Ben Tre Import-export Joint Stock Corporation (Betrimex) is one of the leading agricultural product import and export businesses in Ben Tre province. Vietnam Business Forum reporter had an interview with Betrimex General Director Le Thi Cam Van on the firm operation and coconut-palm growing.
What are Betrimex’s outstanding achievements during its 30-year development process?
Betrimex is a company with the 30-year experience in production and import-export, particularly products made from coconut palm such as dried coconut rice, coconut fibre, activated charcoal and coconut shell dippers. Other products are rice, pepper, coffee, export processing and finance and trade.
Over the past decade, the company has affirmed its status in both local and foreign markets and exported products to over 30 countries and territories worldwide. Notably, the company’s operation has contributed to bring outlets for coconut products, helping farmers in Ben Tre province to have stable income and generate jobs for over 600 labourers and thousands other satellite labourers. The staff’s average income reaches over VND3 million per month.
In 2006, Betrimex underwent privatisation with initial registered capital of VND30 billion. However, just after three years of operation under the new model, the company’s capital has increased to VND90 billion. Betrimex now has two affiliates and one joint venture with Sri Lanka. It also invests in Ben Tre Tourism Company, Ben Tre Sugarcane Company, Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial joint-stock Bank (Sacombank) and the Sai Gon Thuong Tin Real Estate Joint Stock Company (Sacomreal) and Sacombank Finance Company.
Last year, despite being impacted by the global economic crisis, we obtained good business results with revenues of over VND230 billion and after-tax profits of VND33 billion.
What difficulties has Betrimex faced over the past years? What will the firm do to deal with the situation?
Our export markets have been expanded to Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and North America. Therefore, the world economic slow down has greatly impacted our activities due to the fall of purchase power and orders as well as unstable business. In addition, the competition between local and foreign enterprises is very harsh.
To overcome the challenge, we are concentrating on strengthening production, raising product quality to meet export demand, especially difficult potential markets like North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Along with seeking new markets, we will enhance cooperation with traditional ones to stabilise export activities.
Furthermore, we will intensify coordination with home and foreign partners and gradually affirm its business strategy.
Ben Tre is known for special products made from coconut palms. What measures are in place for the development coconut?
Ben Tre owns much potential to the development of coconut palms and coconut-made products. The locality’s material sources are very abundant. However, at present, local businesses produce just 60 -70 per cent of the total output, meanwhile, they have to export raw coconut materials to China. This affects coconut growers’ income.
Therefore, to maximise coconut-made products’ effect, the development of processing and preservation of technology are needed. Currently, only dried coconut rice is developed and exported to many countries. We should limit the import of raw coconut material but should use technology-intensive products such as coconut milk powder, bottled coconut water, activated charcoal and buffer. We also should develop intensive growing areas of coconut palms.
Reported by Hoang Ngoc
Vietnamese
