Old Soldier on New Front

“The time in the army sharpened my wits and brought me lots of experience to fight in the economic front, in business operation, in which the most importance elements are passion, dream and determination.” This is shared by the entrepreneur Nguyen Van Thang, CEO of An Khanh Mineral Joint Stock Company, a veteran on the economic front with a passion for success and to promote his fatherland’s development.

 

Graduating from high school in 1974, like many other contemporary young men, he ardently joined the army to free the country. During 7 years serving the military in the Central Highlands, he was always a brave soldier, not yielding to any danger and together with his comrades making feats of arms.

 

Leaving the army, he pursued degree in finance and was assigned to the local foreign trade sector. His only desire at that time was to have job with payment and a rice register book. Being an active man always seeking new knowledge, he was nominated to important positions by the Board of Directors. When it was thought that he would stay with the company for a long time, he resigned to pursue his own dream. His decision surprised many people at that time, since it was said that a man’s conditions could be met with a house and a father working in foreign trade sector.

 

At the age of 35 in 1992, he founded Thai Nguyen Investment and Import-Export Joint Stock Company. All he had to look forward to at that time were unsurmounted difficulties with capital, knowledge, business relations and most importantly, business strategy. He thought that in trading, what made up success is daring to do things that hadn’t been done or thought of before. Initial lack of experience caused the company challenges and obstacles. However, with the stuff of a Vietnamese soldier and support from the authority and partners, all problems were overcome. Gradually, he proved that his way was correct. It is reflected in his growing the initial small company and his current positions as Vice President of Baltic Titan Group; Deputy CEO of Nui Phao mineral exploitation and processing Company; CEO of An Khanh Electricity Joint Stock Company, CEO of An Khanh Mineral Joint Stock Company, An Khanh Industry and Investment Joint Stock Company, overseeing many factories and thousands of labourers.

 

So far, after over 20 years, Mr Nguyen Van Thang has gained certain successes, made contributions to the province and created jobs for many workers. Invested and on-going projects in all 11 companies promise to bring further success. At present, he has been the owner of 11 projects, in which there are 3 ones listed in category A and under Governmental management. Especially, the Nui Phao mine project is of global rank with total funding of US $500 million, involved in exploitation of tungsten. Nui Phao mine has tungsten reserves of about 21 million tonnes, ranked the second in the world (after China), and located on the area of 635 hectares in Dai Tu district.

 

Besides, the project to build 2 thermoelectricity plants has had legal procedures completed and implemented quickly. The plant, with capacity of 110MW and total fund of VND 3,200 billion, is located in An Khanh commune, Dai Tu district. By the end of 2013, it will join the national transmission line with capacity of 800 million KWh per year. At present, the company is going ahead with An Khanh II Thermoelectricity Plant with capacity of 300MW and total fund of VND 10,000 billion and location in Pho Yen district, Thai Nguyen province. To meet the plants’ operation demand, the company has signed agreements with 2 partners in Indonesia to establish a joint venture company to exploit coal and mineral in 2 mines, with reserves of 89 and 48 million tonnes, in Eastern Kalimantan province, Indonesia, for export to Vietnam, and ensuring materials for An Khanh II Thermoelectricity Plant’s operation. The joint venture company has US $20 million of charter capital, of which Vietnam holds 70 percent.

 

He shared about his life: “At my age, there are not many things I need. I don’t need money, as with VND 1,000 billion deposit in the bank, I will have nearly VND 200 billion interest each year, which is too much for me to travel around the world. The reason for my working for 17-18 hours per day and then getting tired is only for the community’s benefit, which finally comes to local socioeconomic development, creation of jobs for labourers, contributing to poverty reduction. I am a workaholic man and cannot bear having nothing to work on. Maybe it is the nature of a soldier.”

 

Mr Thang is also a kind-hearted person who always wants to help people and contribute to the community. In 1990, hearing that the City would build a statue honoring young voluntary martyrs in Gia Sang, he offered Project Management Unit to make contribution. He has also regularly participated in social and charity activities such as building houses of gratitude, schools, supporting construction of roads to remote areas, and contributing to build temples and pagodas both locally and in other provinces.

 

He was at the top of the world when he bravely offered to finance the whole restoration of some works in the Memorial House for Uncle Ho in ATK Dinh Hoa built by the Hanoi People’s Committee. With funds of over VND 9 billion and a timeframe of over 5 months, a large volume of work were done such as: cast bell and musical stone, cast Uncle Ho Statue of 4.2 tonne weight; landscape mountains behind to make the posture of leaning on the mountain and walkways around the Memorial House.

 

Saying goodbye to him after a short time, what stays in my mind is the impression and trust in the future of those with a kind heart and stature like Mr Thang. I wish him health so that he can contribute more to himself, his company, labourers and fatherland.