Brilliant Mind Matches Sharp Vision

11:28:24 PM | 10/12/2014

Economic downturn forced many companies to leave the market, Viet Thang Co., Ltd managed to maintain stable development. This performance result was more valuable as the company was organically linked to farmers. Based in Bac Giang province, Viet Thang trades and distributes plant protection medicines. Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Mr Le Van Thua, President and CEO of Viet Thang, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Vietnam Entrepreneurs Day. Le Sang reports.
 
What is your opinion about the business support of local authorities?
In recent years, many companies went to the wall because of financial crisis and economic slowdown. In such context, businesses badly need support from authorities, specially banks and financial institutions.
State support may come in the form of incentives and streamlined administrative procedures. In recent years, the State has introduced a lot of policies to assist businesses to cope with difficulties in credit access, soft home loans for low-income earners, tax breaks and tax reductions. However, companies are still struggling with enormous hardships.
 
So, in my opinion, to support businesses in the current situation, the State must speed up administrative reform to reduce expenses, shorten the time for import - export customs, simplify borrowing procedures, and reduce corporate inspections.
 
What are the biggest shortages and limitations of Vietnamese entrepreneurs?
I think that Vietnamese entrepreneurs need to foster three things. The first one is the limited management capacity and level fails to keep pace with changes in State policies, corporate growth and global economic impacts, thus resulting in poor business performances. The second is entrepreneurs are not very professional, their products did not satisfy all consumers, the competitiveness of traditional products is not high, and product distribution networks are poor. The third is their understanding and knowledge of laws is limited, particularly foreign laws.
 
How have you led Viet Thang out of difficulties to stabilise operations and boost development?
My colleagues and I defined difficulties and challenges our company will meet to have proper responses to stabilise operations and develop business. Basically, we managed to renovate technologies, improve the quality of traditional products and exploit new products to meet the market. We also focused on building up professional managers and skilful workers to develop the company.
 
Besides, we took care of customers. The company held responsible for the quality of products sold to consumers, maintained stable consumption markets, and built up the brand.
 
In the coming time, our company will further focus on improving business and production management to reach the growth rate of 12-15 percent a year, increase incomes for workers, and maintain sustainable development. In addition, our company guarantees to fulfil all tax obligations to the State Budget.
 
How do you think about the role of entrepreneurs in corporate social responsibility today?
As far as I am concerned, corporate social responsibility is an obligation that the company pledges to carry out, contribute to economic development, manufacture and supply best products for social consumption, and observe environmental protection, gender equality, workplace safety, equitable salary, human resource training and development standards.
 
As a business leader I must find ways to harmonise interests of the company and the community. The business leader plays an important role in promoting the corporate social responsibility.
 
Viet Thang will surely exercise its social responsibility very well.
 
As a well-known successful entrepreneur, what is your opinion about an entrepreneur’s responsibilities to the destiny of the nation in the present context?
Many scholars said entrepreneurs are the warriors on the peace front. The task of entrepreneurs is to do business, keep their enterprises stable and developing, ensure livelihoods for workers, pay taxes to the State Budget, ensure social order and security, and safeguard national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
 
Doing business means making the people rich and the country powerful, building the strong rear, and increasing resources for national defence and security.
 
As an entrepreneur, I deeply share the hard task of soldiers stationing in the outpost to protect the national border and territory.
 
Viet Thang extracts a part of its profits for the funds for protection of islands and the sea launched by the Vietnam Red Cross, the Vietnam Television and the Ministry of Information and Communications.