Partners' Success - HSBC's Success

Bui Tuong Minh Anh, director of the International Payment Department of the HSBC Bank, which is a prestigious foreign bank in Vietnam, talked with VIB Forum on the sideline of a seminar entitled ‘International payment and risk management and cost reduction measures’ organised by HSBC recently in Hanoi. The seminar provided an opportunity for HSBC to introduce their measures to manage risks and reduce costs, providing consulting services for enterprises.

 

 

HSBC began its presence in Vietnam from 1866, when it assigned Behre as its agent in Saigon. HSBC was set up in 1866 in Hong Kong. Therefore, the Saigon-base agent became the first representative of HSBC in foreign countries. Four years later, in 1870, the bank opened its branch in Saigon. In the initial period, the branch served trade exchange between Hong Kong and Vietnamese seaports.

 

 

We have actively been involved in dynamic business activities involving enterprises in the north. We have focused on developing the fullest import and export payment service system possible, providing support for production and business activities in various forms. Customers will receive the highest level of support, meeting flexible and effective criteria.

 

 

With a network of 9,800 offices in 76 countries and territories, we can help customers seek precise information about import and export markets, foreign partners, and trade customs. Many other services, including email-based L/C announcement, source L/C archives, Internet-based import and export document examination, have been provided for customers in order to help them improve their management and secure their import and export activities. At the same time, we pay a careful attention to organising training courses on international payment and foreign trade if customers need. Also, we will exchange information with customers about other special areas of knowledge, thus helping them promote their competitiveness.

 

 

At the seminar, we discussed many issues and solutions for the attending companies. The seminar ended in a great success and now we still receive questions and comments from our customers to help them find suitable business solutions.

We understand that enterprises are often interested in the speed of transactions, consultancy on risk minimisation, various flexible and effective economic solutions when working with banks. This will help enterprises avoid unnecessary costs, thus reducing intermediary costs and costs accrued from payment delay. Risk management in terms of documents is the most important factor for enterprises to increase their effectiveness and cut costs. As far as we are concerned, enterprises cannot control all costs arising in foreign countries. Therefore, at the seminar we concentrated on discussing the issue to help enterprises minimise risks and control arising costs.

 

 

As global bank, we always welcome competition. We believe that HSBC is always ready to overcome any challenge in any place where we operate. We have a good understanding of our customers and always guarantee the best quality of services. We help customers gain access to international trade. The key to success of HSBC is our dynamic professional international payment staff members. Our customers will benefit as we also serve their buyers and suppliers.

 

 

HSBC’s electronic bank system, Hexagon, was the first electronic bank set up in Vietnam in 1995, in the hope of providing the most convenient transaction solutions for customers, which is not limited by geographic conditions. HSBC provide a 24/7 online services for customers so they can access our system from any place in the world. HSBC’s net-based trade transactions, including global e-banking solutions, will be introduced soon. This will offer customers the most modern and convenient banking tools to HSBC’s customers.

 

 

Vietnamese enterprises, in particular import and export enterprises are dynamic and ready for Vietnam’s admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Many of them have reached regional standards, targeting the busiest markets in the US and Europe. They are mostly professional businessmen and know how to best take advantage of banks’ support. Currently, their relationship with banks has become more important in the development of enterprises. However, many companies have not invested time and human resources on developing this relationship. As a result, they may face many difficulties in taking opportunities. HSBC has always attached importance to establishing a good relationship with customers as we consider it not only simply a relationship between two partners but also a key to the success of HSBC in Vietnam and our customers.