In 1988 when the Law on Foreign Investment was first 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, opening a branch in Ho Chi Minh City four years later. These two offices together with dealers in others provinces supplied products such as bitumen, chemicals and gas.
Shell Vietnam’s four main areas of involvement 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.). In addition, 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 are taking great notice of.
Shell Vietnam’s activities 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 its priority.
The most important of Shell’s General Business principles are economic requirements. Thus, profit is the basic aim for activities and a condition for survival in the business environment. In the customers’ view, profit is a standard of efficiency and value of Shell’s products and services. Profit is also a 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 believes that a market economy can 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 third party business 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 has also invested in projects of educational encouragement, poverty reduction, and assistance to injured children. For example, Shell Vietnam has cooperated with the British Council to grant Cheverning scholarships to candidates from state run sectors to pursue a post-graduate course in leading universities in the UK.
This scholarship has helped 70 candidates all over the world to pursue MBA degrees in 6 of the best universities in Europe. Another project costing US$365.000 and lasting 3 years in the Mekong delta which aimed to reduce poverty (including programme to assist malnourished children) by delivering training on increasing income, 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 has also sponsored many programmes such as: building schools, classrooms, houses of compassion in Dong Nai, Cua Lo, and Ca Mau, granting scholarships to poor pupils, contributing US$50.000 for 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.
Since it arrived in Vietnam, Shell Vietnam’s goals have been efficient and responsible and have provided beneficial participation in the sectors of petrol, chemicals, and selected businesses. Every effort has been made in exploring and developing alternative energy. 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
