Vietnam Business Forum has interviewed Dr. Nguyen Cong Phu, General Director of APAVE Vietnam & SEA, Director of APAVE Pacific Asia, APAVE Group, France.
It can be said that APAVE is one of the five leading companies in the world in the field of quality assessment. Can you please tell us the operation of APAVE in Vietnam in the last five years?
To have the present trademark, the Group has closely cooperated with the partners on the basis of respecting and protecting the interests of both parties. APAVE Vietnam & SEA has developed a lot in the last 5 years. First to mention the human resources as the strength of the company, in 2005 the whole company had about 400 engineers, and by 2010 the number is 800 engineers. The turnover has also grown at high rates (30 % per year), in 2009 reached US$8.5 million. Branches, representative offices have been expanded, now APAVE are present in almost all provinces and big cities along the country (Hanoi, Haiphong, Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Binh Duong, Vung Tau, Can Tho, etc.) Also, in addition to the traditional services, APAVE Vietnam & SEA has expanded its activities to some other areas such as training, re-training and aviation. It was marked as a milestone in June 2010 for APAVE when it was regconized by the French government as an inspection company in the field of quality and safety for aircraft devices.
Can you please give your assessment on the potential and opportunities for investment cooperation between Vietnam and French companies? And what are the future plans of the company in Vietnam?
Vietnam is currently on the rise, infrastructure is gradually improved, the speed of technology adaption is quick, which makes Vietnam become a dynamic and potential market. France is a strong country in space science, education, architecture, construction, industry, energy, cosmetics, high tech and transportation. In addition, France is ranked 14th among importers of Vietnam. Therefore, the two countries have a lot of conditions, opportunities for trade cooperation. For APAVE, there has been a major cooperation agreement between France and Vietnam in the field of aviation. In the near future, the European Aeronautic DefenceandSpace Corporation (EADS) plans to build an aviation industrial zone in Danang city. APAVE will participate in this project as Eurocopter’s agent of management consultancy and supervision consultancy. Also, in the future, the company will continue to carry out the projects signed with Vietnamese partners.
Do you have any suggestions for the authorities of Vietnam to create the most favorable conditions for the development of the unit?
Currently, in Vietnam, there have been overlapping rules. We propose the competent agencies of Vietnam that once they have created favorable conditions for businesses to operate, there should be accompanied transparent policies. Circulars and decrees should be clear, advoiding the fact that some issues in the circulars are like this but then different in reality, which affects the development plans of businesses.
As a French enterprise in Vietnam, I wish to strengthen cooperation with Vietnamese enterprises, so that the trade cooperation between the two countries’ enterprises will be on par with the political relationship, and the diplomacy is increasingly better and sustainable.
Que Chi
Vietnamese
