Nghe An businessmen share the same aspiration to build their homeland

(Baonghean) - Right after the Spring Meeting with Investors in the Year of the Goat with thousands of entrepreneurs and enterprises attending, Nghe An province continued to organize the fourth "Nghe An Businessmen's Gold Cup" Award Ceremony. This is not only the honor of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and Provincial People's Committee for individuals with outstanding achievements in implementing the local socio-economic development goals in the past time, but can be considered one of the good news about a new spring, full of prosperity in the second year Nghe An implements Resolution 26 of the Politburo.

Produced at Minh Anh - Kim Lien Garment Joint Stock Company (Nam Dan). Photo: Nguyen Hai

The first "Nghe An Businessmen's Gold Cup" took place in 2009. After that, every two years, Nghe An businessmen from all over the country gathered in the warm atmosphere of spring to share joy after many arduous and challenging stages of production and business activities. The 2015 Businessmen's Gold Cup Award Ceremony gathered more than 300 businessmen representing more than 13,000 enterprises in Nghe An province in all fields of production and business to witness 39 outstanding businessmen - the brightest "stars" being honored. The Gold Cup Award is a noble reward that the Party Committee, government and people of the province give to the outstanding children of the homeland on the front of economic development, hunger eradication and poverty reduction, and have made important contributions to social security work.

Like many provinces and cities across the country, in recent years, Nghe An's economy has been continuously affected by the global economic recession. The trend of integration, diversification, and multilateralization of trade and cooperation relations has opened up many opportunities in investment promotion, forming "ties" connecting businesses in the province with those outside the province and countries in the region and internationally. However, fluctuations in the world market and problems arising in multi-dimensional relationships have created conflicts in the balance of economic interests. Many domestic enterprises and companies are on the brink of failure and bankruptcy, including Nghe An province. In that context, Nghe An province's leaders still believe in the steady steering of entrepreneurs and enterprises - the "locomotives" in stabilizing and growing the province's economy. That is why, in a speech before Nghe An businessmen and enterprises, Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Ho Duc Phoc affirmed that: Businessmen and enterprises are the pillars of the economy, the important driving force for Nghe An to break through and become a prosperous province as President Ho Chi Minh always wished.

In order to meet the objective requirements of the province's economy in the difficult period, the provincial leaders have accompanied businesses and entrepreneurs through every step. The timely presence, removing difficulties and obstacles for businesses, proposing correct policies and strategies of the provincial leaders have contributed significantly to encouraging and motivating the spirit of entrepreneurs. At the meeting with investors held on March 4, Mr. Le Phuoc Vu, Chairman of Ton Hoa Sen Group, affirmed that his business invested in Nghe An for two reasons. The first is the sincerity and sincerity of the provincial leaders in connecting and creating a very favorable investment environment. Second, Nghe An businessmen, whether doing business in or outside the province, are all "heroes"; Ton Hoa Sen Group's presence in Nghe An is also to meet and participate in a space of "talents".

What the Chairman of Hoa Sen Group shared was not just a “joke”. As of the end of 2014, Nghe An has achieved very important achievements. The economic growth rate reached 7.24%; budget revenue reached 7,652 billion VND. The province has granted new investment certificates to 145 projects with a capital of more than 43,892 billion VND. 2014 was also the year when Nghe An’s food output reached its highest level ever with more than 1.2 million tons; the poverty rate decreased to more than 10%. Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee affirmed: Nghe An’s budget revenue increased by 1,000 billion VND each year, creating new jobs for more than 36,000 local workers. This result has a very important contribution from entrepreneurs and the business community of Nghe An, actively contributing to growth and economic restructuring in a diverse and appropriate direction.

As one of the business people receiving the Golden Cup award in 2015, Ms. Tran Thanh Thuy, Director of Nghe An Telecommunications (VNPT), said that VNPT Nghe An currently has nearly 1,000 officers and employees. Operating in a specific field, the business always strives for the common development of society and the province. In 2014, VNPT Nghe An contributed 44 billion VND to the provincial budget. In particular, the unit is always a pioneer in social security work, supporting the poor, charity, and humanitarian work with an average annual amount of over 2 billion VND. The female Director of VNPT Nghe An shared that receiving the Golden Cup award is an encouragement and recognition from the provincial leaders for the efforts of businesses and business people to overcome many difficulties. “I think this is not only a tribute to the 39 entrepreneurs of today, but more importantly it shows concern and recognition for the entire business community that is silently and quietly creating jobs, creating material wealth, enriching the homeland of which we are only representatives...” - Ms. Tran Thanh Thuy said.

Businessmen exchange on the sidelines of the 4th Nghe An Businessmen Golden Cup Award Ceremony. Photo: Dao Tuan

Also awarded the Golden Cup this time, businessman Nguyen Dinh Sinh, Director of Minh Anh - Kim Lien Garment Joint Stock Company, is an overseas Vietnamese who returned from the Federal Republic of Germany nearly 8 years ago. He said that he returned to Vietnam with the desire to contribute a small part of his strength to his homeland. Returning to do business in the country, he decided to invest in the garment sector and took over the Viet Duc Garment Company. At that time, this company was facing the risk of dissolution. Nearly 100 workers were unemployed; machinery, equipment and operating conditions were all old and outdated. In addition, the garment sector always has to face fierce competition from companies and businesses in the same field. With the courage of a "Nghe An native", businessman Nguyen Dinh Sinh led the company through the most difficult period. From 100 workers on the first day, this company now has more than 1,000 workers. Revenue in 2014 reached 100 billion VND, tax payment to the state was 10 billion VND. "This year we will continue to expand our operations, recruiting 200 - 300 more workers in our province. Honestly, we do not only operate for profit but also for our responsibility to our homeland" - Mr. Sinh said.

About 70% of the province's budget is contributed by businesses. The growth rate of the province's economy has a great role of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs and businesses are the core factor of the economy. Large or small businesses, whether they are companies or individual business households, all contribute to promoting the socio-economic development of the province. The desire to get rich is not only for individuals but also the responsibility of each entrepreneur to the community and society. Mr. Tran Anh Son, Chairman of the Nghe An Outstanding Business Association, shared this with all his confidence and pride in the new spring. Mr. Son also said that currently the Nghe An Outstanding Business Association gathers 152 companies and enterprises producing and trading in various fields. There are many criteria to be considered for participation in the Outstanding Business Association. They must be the strongest entrepreneurs and enterprises in the province. “The strongest is understood not only as having a large budget contribution and a large workforce, but also as people with heart, talent and intelligence; having qualities, ethics, a healthy lifestyle and being oriented towards community life” - Mr. Son emphasized.

Over the years, the Nghe An Outstanding Business Association has made great contributions to community work and social security. In particular, the Outstanding Business Association has successfully established and built a "Fund to support poor patients". From free bowls of porridge at hospitals, to supporting the poor in the whole province, there is the heart and affection of hometown entrepreneurs and businesses. At the fund contribution launch at the Golden Cup Award Ceremony, the Nghe An Outstanding Business Association raised 462 million VND. Each additional contribution is a heart, a sharing with the poor and also to show gratitude to the homeland.

At the 2015 Spring Meeting with Investors, Comrade Nguyen Sinh Hung, Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman affirmed: In the current context and development trend, the Party Committee, Nghe An Government and investors and businessmen must be comrades. That means having the same aspirations. During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh wished that Nghe An would become a prosperous province in the North. That goal requires the same aspirations to strive for. The Party Committee and Nghe An Government need to coordinate with investors, businesses and businessmen to join hands to contribute to the cause of preserving independence, freedom, prosperity and happiness of the people, building a prosperous homeland and country.

Dao Tuan - Hoang Vinh