Interview Mr Le Quoc An -Chairman, Vietnam National Textile Garment Group (VINATEX)
Vietnam National Textile Garment Group (VINATEX) is a complex that is owned by companies including Vietnam Textile Garment Group (the mother company), the centers for research and training, and nearly 100 sub-companies. These sub-companies are joint stock companies that do business in different fields, e.g., produce textile garments and run commercial services. They also have their distribution systems including wholesale and retail dealers. They invest in finance and in supporting main garment textile production.
VINATEX has had a commercial relationship with more than 400 corporations and companies from 65 countries and territorial regions. Its export value has accounted for over 20% of the total export turnover of the Vietnamese textile garment industry. VINATEX is one of the largest and the most competitive textile garment corporations in Asia.
Mr Le Quoc An is the Chairman of the Board of Management of VINATEX. He is also Chairman of The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), Chairman of The ASEAN Federation of Textile industry (AFTEX), President of the Industrial Relation Committee of The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). He is affiliated with various international organizations - as a member of the Advisory Committee of ASEAN-DUPONT, the Asia-Pacific Textile and Clothing Forum, the International Textile and Clothing Bureau (ITCB), and the US Association of Importers of Textile and Apparel.
Mr An has also served as Director of the Viet Thang Textile Company from 1994 to 1997 and Financial Company from 1997 to 1998. He had also been the Vice-General Director of VINATEX from 1997 to 1998. He worked as an apprentice in Korea in 1991 and in The United State of America in 1995.
On academic front, Mr An has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering (1972) and MBA (1974).
Speaking with Face2Face team, Mr Le Quoc An reveals his views on present textile and clothing industry in Vietnam, and its preparation to win over the challenges imposed by current economy slump.
fibre2fashion:
Can we begin with a brief about the vision of Vietnam Textile and Garment Group (VINATEX) as a body active in promotion of textile and garment industry in Vietnam?
Mr Le Quoc An
Sharing the vision of developing the Vietnamese textile garment industry, Vinatex- one of the largest and the most competitive textile garment corporations in Asia concentrates on the specialization and modernization to make the leap for the added value of textile garment products.
In its set goals, Vinatex will accomplish this by carrying out two tasks. The first task is to implement three decisive programs for the sustainable, stable and long-term development of the Vietnamese textile garment industry; these are cotton planting; high-quality spinning fabrics, and human resources training. The second task is to complete capitalization of all state-owned textile garment enterprises in 2008 and capitalization of Vinatex in 2009.
Vinatex – the largest entrepreneur of the Vietnamese National Textile Garment Industry will actively join the general strategy that was set up by the whole industry. Vinatex has vision to become a corporation owned by many companies. This group foresees itself to be ranked among Top 10 Global Textile Garment Groups by 2015.
fibre2fashion:
Please let us know how is Vietnamese textile and clothing industry faring presently?
Mr Le Quoc An
Textile and garment play a very important role in Vietnam economy. With around 2500 enterprises, the textile and garment industry has made a remarkable development in the last few years. Since 2000 until now, the industry has reached an annual growth rate of 20%, generated 2 millions jobs, contributing 17% to the export turnover of the country, ranking second just after crude oil.
Despite of the fact that the year 2008 came with challenges including global financial crisis, fierce competition with textile and garment powerful countries, domestic high inflation, labor fluctuation, the first 10 months of the year 2008 witness 7.6 billion USD in textile and garment export, a growth of over 20% year-on-year. However, due to decrease of purchasing power caused by downturn in global economy, the industry’s export turnover of 2008 may not reach 9.5 billion USD as planned.
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