In 1988 when the Law on Foreign Investment was promulgated, Shell Vietnam returned to Vietnam with the first product-sharing contract to explore oil and gas mines offshore of Da Nang and then Vung Tau.
By 1989, Shell Vietnam had officially started its business with a representative office in Hanoi and a branch in Ho Chi Minh City four years later. These two offices together with dealers in others provinces supply products such as, bitumen, chemicals and gas.
The four areas of Shell Vietnam are: bitumen, lubricating oil, chemicals (under the name of Shell Vietnam Ltd.) and gas (under the name of Shell Gas - LPG Vietnam Ltd., and Hai Phong Shell Gas Joint Venture Co.). Besides, Shell Vietnam has actively participated in new assistance and investment projects such as Shell EP, Shell Global Solution, Shell Aviation and White Tiger, which the government and other international organizations take great care of.
Shell Vietnam’s activities always follow the Shell General Business principles (SGBP) and implement commitments of healthcare, labour safety, environment protection and sustainable development. Moreover, Shell Vietnam has proposed honesty, integrity and respect in relations among Shell’s staff and with clients as the priority.
The most important of Shell’s General Business principles is its economic requirement. Thus, profit is the basic aim for activities and a condition for survival in the business environment. In customers’ view, profit is a standard of efficiency and value of Shell’s products and services. Also, profit is the criteria for appropriate allocation of human and finance resources; a condition for enlarging infrastructures which will improve petrol products to meet customers’ requirements, fulfilling principle goals. Currently, even though Shell is working in a variety of social, political and economic environments, the company believed that a market economy could effectively support public interests.
Another of Shell’s action goals is safety for human beings and the environment, which has been modified by commitments to preserve human health and the environment. According to these, both Shell’s contractors and business-related partners must strictly apply safety regulations and processes. Thus, healthcare services for staff, customers, contractors and especially passengers are the first concern of Shell Vietnam.
Shell Vietnam also invests in projects of education encouragement, poverty reduction, and assistance to injured children. For example, Shell Vietnam has cooperated with the British Council to grant the Cheverning scholarships for candidates from state run sectors to pursue a post-graduate courses in leading universities in the UK.
This scholarship has helped 70 candidates all over the world to pursue the MBA degree in the 6 best universities in Europe. Another project cost US$365,000 and lasted 3 years in the Mekong delta which aimed to reduce poverty (including a programme to assist malnourished children) by delivering training on increasing income and natural resources management for farmers in villages. This project was carried out by the cooperation between the Can Tho University and Michigan University (MIT). Shell Vietnam also has sponsored many programmes such as: building schools, classrooms, houses of compassion in Dong Nai, Cua Lo, and Ca Mau; granting scholarships for poor pupils, contributing US$50,000 to funding activities by Non-governmental organizations, charity organizations and the Fatherland Frontier Committee; supporting unfortunate children in the programme of free eye surgery launched by the Group for saving handicapped children in Ho Chi Minh City.
Shell Vietnam’s goals are efficient and responsible and benefit participation in the sectors of petrol, chemicals, and selected businesses; and making efforts in exploring and developing alternative energy. In the next year, Shell Vietnam will keep following its high standards and maintaining a sustainable orientation in the context of ever harsher competition.
Ngoc Oanh
Vietnamese
