“Dear, Mr. Vu Duc Dam – Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, as well as other Prime ministers, businessmen and representatives attending the National Economic Kickstart and Recovery Forum today.
I am Nguyen Duc Toan – Chairman of the Board of Saigon Gia Dinh Electric Joint Stock Company, based in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City. It is a great honor for me and all of the employees working at EHCMC to share about the Company and our plans to recover with the country’s economy in the aftermath of the Covid-19.
Saigon Gia Dinh Electric Joint Stock Company (EHCMC) is an investment and construction unit of solar and wind power projects. We also constructed power lines and power stations with voltage levels up to 500kV nationwide. Currently, we have more than 500 officers and employees. The staff is highly qualified and professional. As a young business, in the past decade we have made a lot of efforts and got certain achievements.
2018 was the year considered as an important milestone in our company’s development history when “capability, qualifications and people” are “recognized and affirmed” by Japanese investors who chose our company to develop the project and become the first Vietnamese EPC contractor to participate in the construction of renewable energy power plant in Nhon Hoi economic zone, Binh Dinh province. Right after this historic milestone, we have acquired prestige and trust from many domestic and foreign investors in the energy field with many subsequent power plant projects. Thanks to that, our company’s brand name has been upgraded to a whole new level, while its scale has been expanding not only regionally but internationally.
However, when the Covid-19 exploded, production activities were severely affected not only in Vietnam but worldwide. Due to the raging pandemic, thousands of businesses had to shut down or went bankrupt. Our company had to come up with quick solutions in a timely manner to deal with the challenges.
After nearly 120 days implementing Directives 15 and 16 applied to Ho Chi Minh City, we were still able to ensure jobs for workers. We also coordinated with the local authorities in helping those in need and ensuring good social welfare for the city residents. At present, we have basically overcome the common difficulties, and on our way bouncing back to normal daily life and working activities.
As a business owner, over the past time, I have witnessed thousands of people losing their jobs, hundreds of businesses shutting down as a result of Covid. Heavy burdens have been shifting from the workers to the local authorities.
Therefore, when the city re-opened, workers were bewildered and lost faith in businesses. Many people returned to their hometown, and businesses had serious shortages of workers. Thereby, I realized the key point of an economy, in addition to organizational structure, professional enhancement of digital transformation, application of advanced science and technology to production activities, requires inseparable connections, humane interactions and sharings between companies and their workers. To speed up the national economic recovery and development after the pandemic, we need to apply new and open policies that are practical and implemented throughout, making the bases for businesses and workers to thrive on, because businesses and workers are themselves the key to the country’s economic development. We need to create a big circle constantly supporting one another and sharing benefits to overcome difficulties surrounding the Government – Vietnam Business Association – Enterprises – Workers.
The limited time amount doesn’t allow us to share all of our stories at this conference. But, I want to send you a verse precisely conveying how I want to contribute myself as a part of the economy recovery during and after Covid:
Human kindness is countless
Like twinkling stars on the sky
People around the country unite
The virtous talents and the kind-hearted wealthy
Sharing some to help unfortunate lives.
On the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister, as well as enthusiastic leaders and entrepreneurs, I would like to thank you all of you for paying attention and listening to my speech today. I wish you health, and hope that our country’s economy will soon recover for stable development in the near future and in the long-term.
Sincerely from the bottom of my heart, thank you once again!”
