CONNECTING THE TRADE BRIDGE BETWEEN VIETNAM AND THAILAND

For many years now, products originating from Thailand in general, especially consumer goods, have been increasingly favored by Vietnamese consumers because of their beautiful designs, diversity and good quality while having competitive prices and being safe for human health and the environment. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Thailand, reporters of Vietnam Business Forum Magazine had an interview with Mr. Le Phu Toan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of THT Vietnam Import-Export Trading Investment Joint Stock Company, one of the businessmen who has had many successes in cooperation and business with partners from Thailand for many years. Conducted by Le Sang.

Could you please share about the cooperation between THT Vietnam and Thai partners?

The business cooperation between THT Vietnam and Thai partners for many years now is based on a single core value, which is the spirit of Win-Win, based on each other’s strengths to coexist and develop and ensure long-term benefits. They have strengths in production, have modern technological lines to create good quality products, beautiful designs with competitive prices that attract consumers. They also have a strategy to expand business development to potential markets like Vietnam. To meet those requirements, THT Vietnam has distribution channels, understands consumer habits and culture as well as methods and strategies to effectively deploy and build a distribution network.

In our business cooperation strategy, we always put TRUST first. When trust is guaranteed, both sides will be ready to support each other to develop together, ensuring specialization in all stages to minimize costs from production to circulation and distribution of goods, increasing efficiency from production to business.

The cooperation process between THT Vietnam and Thai partners has also gone through many ups and downs as well as challenges, however with the right strategy and determination of both sides, we have had very impressive results, annual revenue growth has doubled. Currently, our products are available at more than 20,000 agents, retail stores as well as present in most supermarket systems and convenience stores nationwide.

How is the Thai partner identified in THT Vietnam’s development strategy and what is the “key” to further promote that cooperation ,  sir?

Our cooperation is developing very well, the goal in the near future when sales grow strongly, we will establish a joint venture to bring the production technology line right in Vietnam. This will solve the problem of reducing costs, increasing business efficiency for both sides and creating jobs for Vietnamese workers, contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality where the factory is located.

The key to promoting stronger trade relations between the two countries, in my opinion, is that we need to have a clear strategy at the macro and long-term level, build a stable and supportive policy system for businesses and entrepreneurs, and orient and focus on areas where we have the most competitive advantages compared to other countries in the region to reach out to the open sea.

According to you, to realize the message of the Prime Minister  “Vietnamese enterprises, the driving force of the country’s economic development”, what are the major solutions that need to be focused on?

In my opinion, at the macro level, the state’s policies must truly create all conditions for businesses to exist and develop. The state staff must change their mindset from management to service because businesses are the lifeblood of the economy and the measure of a country’s prosperity. State staff must be the rear to support businesses, because they are soldiers on the economic front. If the rear is strong, the front line can rest assured to “fight and win”.

Policy makers must be really receptive in removing difficulties, closely following the actual situation to create all favorable conditions for business development. Only then can our country catch up with the development of many countries in the region.

(According to vccinews.vn)