Former Minister of Industry and Trade questioned about appointing son

The Vietnam Association of Financial Investors (VAFI) sent a letter questioning former Minister Vu Huy Hoang about the Ministry of Industry and Trade, under his tenure, appointing his son, Vu Quang Hai, as leader of Sabeco.

Mr. Vu Huy Hoang at a question-and-answer session of the National Assembly in November 2015. Photo: Hoang Long

In a document published on June 13, VAFI asked about personnel issues at Saigon Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Corporation (Sabeco). The document was sent to Mr. Vu Huy Hoang and Ms. Ho Thi Kim Thoa, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade (the decision to appoint Mr. Hoang’s son was signed by Deputy Minister Kim Thoa).

The document signed by VAFI Vice President Nguyen Hoang Hai shows that in early 2015, Mr. Vu Quang Hai (son of Mr. Vu Huy Hoang), then 28 years old, was transferred by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to Sabeco in the position of Deputy Director to assume the key position of Member of the Board of Directors, representing state shares, and concurrently holding the position of Deputy General Director.

VAFI's document also stated that in 2011, at the age of 25, with no business achievements, Mr. Vu Quang Hai was appointed General Director of the Petroleum Financial Investment Joint Stock Company (PVFI), in which the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN) held over 51% of the charter capital.

PVFI continuously suffered losses: in 2011 it lost 155 billion VND, in 2012 it lost 67 billion VND, while the company's charter capital was 300 billion VND.

VAFI asked: Was the appointment of Mr. Vu Quang Hai as General Director of PVFI right or wrong when he was only 25 years old? Who is responsible for the consequences of losing state capital and the capital of 4,700 shareholders?

After 2 years as a leader at PVFI, Mr. Hai was transferred to the Trade Promotion Agency (Ministry of Industry and Trade) as Deputy Director of the Export Support Center. After that, he was introduced by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to Sabeco as a representative of state capital, a member of the Board of Directors and Deputy General Director.

"Vu Quang Hai has only been a civil servant for 1 year and let PVFI suffer losses for 2 consecutive years, but was promoted and promoted beyond his level. Is this beneficial to the state or not?" VAFI stated in the document.

VAFI has asked the former Minister of Industry and Trade to "advise his son to voluntarily leave the position of representative of state capital at Sabeco".

According to Vietnamnet.vn