The first Vietnamese businessman honored by Nikkei

Mr. Truong Gia Binh is one of three Asians to receive the award this year and is the first Vietnamese businessman to be honored by Nikkei Group for his outstanding contributions to the region's growth.

This information has just been announced by the leading Japanese media group - Nikkei. Accordingly, FPT Chairman - Truong Gia Binh, Indian professor - Tejraj Aminabhavi and Cambodian architect - Vann Molyvann will be the 3 people receiving the Nikkei Prize 2013. This is an annual award given by this group since 1996, for individuals and organizations in Asia (excluding Japan) with significant contributions in three areas: regional development, science - technology - innovation and culture.

Mr. Truong Gia Binh is the first Vietnamese businessman to receive the Nikkei Prize. Photo: Nhat Minh

Introducing Truong Gia Binh, Nikkei said he is currently the Chairman and CEO of FPT - the largest information technology corporation in Vietnam. Mr. Binh was awarded for his contribution to regional growth. Not only did he help his company develop, he also brought the entire information technology industry of Vietnam forward. Truong Gia Binh built the Vietnam Software Industry Association and established a university to train technology experts.

Mr. Binh is the youngest of the three individuals honored this year. Tejraj Aminabhavi, 66, was awarded for his contribution to applied polymer technology, under Science - Technology - Innovation. Vann Molyvann, 86, received the Culture award for his work in building famous structures such as the Olympic Stadium and Independence Monument in Cambodia.

This is the first time in 18 years that Nikkei has chosen a Vietnamese businessman to present the award. Before Mr. Truong Gia Binh, Vietnam had three representatives to receive the Nikkei Prize. They were Writer Bao Ninh (2001) and Director Dang Nhat Minh (1999), under Culture, and Professor Vo Tong Xuan (2002), under Regional Development.

The award ceremony will be held on May 22 in Tokyo, Japan. Each individual will receive a prize worth 3 million yen (more than 30,000 USD) and participate in the "Future of Asia" International Conference organized by Nikkei.

When he heard about the award, Mr. Binh said: "This is a great honor for me personally and FPT. Japan is a strategic partner of Vietnam and I believe that joining Japan, the world's leading technology country, is an opportunity for the Vietnamese software industry to rise up and stand shoulder to shoulder with other countries such as India and China." He also plans to donate all the bonus money to FPT Software employees in Japan.

According to VN Express - TH