Business and technology miracles in 2013 There are the bright parts in the grey picture of the 2013 Vietnam economy, painted by the leading economic groups in every business field.   Technology: FPT returns FPT, the Financing and Promoting Technology Corporation, once met big difficulties in 2013, when it witnessed big personnel changes and the leave of the biggest shareholder - Richard Chandler’s investment group Orchid Capital Investment in September. However, with the expected turnover of VND27.975 trillion in 2013 and the great achievements in key markets of Japan and Singapore, FPT still has been ranked 28th on the list of the top 50 Vietnamese effective businesses released by Nhip Cau Dau tu, an economic newspaper. While Orchid Capital Investment left, GIC, a Singaporean national investment fund, has come, giving more strength to the technology group to start a new, more ambitious growth period. In the new development period, FPT has decided to “bet” on the three up-to-date technologies – cloud, mobility and big data. With GIC, FPT Software, a subsidiary of FPT, has obtained a contract worth 1 million Singapore dollars invested by the Singaporean government. Industry production: the Hoa Sen phenomenon According to Hoa Sen Group’s President Le Phuoc Vu, one of the Vietnamese richest stock millionaires, the group’s strong growth has been supported by the five core competitive edges. These include the close production and business process, thus allowing to make high quality at low production costs; the large distribution network which can bring products directly to customers; the strong brand; the specific corporate governance and business culture; and the high technology application. Hoa Sen has been leading the galvanized sheet metal, holding 40 percent of the market share. In 2013, the group obtained the revenue of VND11.772 trillion and the post tax profit of VND580 billion, up by 60 percent over the year before. Hoa Sen has been highly appreciated partially because of the long term vision of the group’s leaders, focusing on export. Its exports in 2013 brought 45 percent of the total turnover. Consumer goods: Vinamilk, Masan advancing 2013 was the year when Vinamilk, the leading Vietnamese dairy producer, ranking the second in top 50, stepped up its overseas trade activities more strongly than ever. Just by the end of September 2013, Vinamilk had exported VND3.3 trillion worth of products, or 14 percent of its total revenue. It has announced a series of outward investment deals, including the expanded project in New Zealand, raising its stake ownership ratio to 19.3 percent in the $148 million Miraka Limited. It has also announced the decision to spend $7 million to buy the stakes of Driftwood Dairy, a step in its plan to expand its US market share. Masan Consumer, ranks the 35th in the top 50, also experienced a prosperous year 2013, when it gathered strength to develop the drink sector after many years of being known as an instant noodle manufacturer. The group hopes to make a big leap in the market in 2014 after acquiring the two big guys in the sector – Vinacafe Bien Hoa and Vinh Hao mineral water. The Q3 finance report showed the satisfactory growth rates in nearly all business fields – 23 percent in spices products, 30 percent in instant noodle, and 8 percent in coffee. Real estate: Vingroup had abundant crop Vingroup, ranking the 22nd in the top 50, has been cited as a typical example of the businesses which remain unhurt by the economic crisis. In 2013, it opened Royal City, the biggest Asian underground shopping mall. Though the national economy was gloomy, the shopping mall still has been full of people. Vingroup has recently inaugurated the second shopping mall of the Vincom Megal Mall chain – Vincom Mega Times City. NCDT