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BIDINA’s rubber trees in Sekong province of Laos. Photo BIDINA |
In December, 2005, PISICO Corp. and other companies set up Binh Dinh Agriculture Industry joint stock company (BIDINA), aiming to invest in the southern province of Sekong in Laos. After three year, its operation has showed positive signs.
The land reclamation began in Thateng District, Sekong province in mid-2006 for rubber tree planting. Early the project implementation met many difficulties, making the progress slow due to the administrative procedure.
However, all problems were solved then, helping the company effectively operate. An area of 1,806 hectares was reclaimed during the past three years.
The number of employees also increased from a staff of 20 Vietnamese people to 197, including 87 Vietnamese people and 110 Laotians. BIDINA created jobs for hundreds of local people, highly valued by the province’s authorities.
When thoroughly understanding the aim of the project, the local people absolutely supported the company. Alongside this, BIDINA quickly carried out the compensation, promoting the ground clearance, according to chairman of BIDINA’s board of directors, Nguyen Tan Binh.
Investing in rubber trees for the first time, the company has carried out all procedures carefully, helping the rubber trees well grow.
BIDINA also plays an important role in promoting the relation between Vietnam and Laos. It annually donates over VND200 million to 20 villages to buy educational and health facilities. Also, BIDINA offered help to other activities.
With the support of local people and authorities, the company has had favourable conditions to strengthen its operation. The effective business also means that the people’s living standard will be improved and the relation between two countries will be closer.
BIDINA overcame initial difficulties, but there would be other challenges ahead, said Binh. At present, the shortage of workers and highly qualified managerial staff as well as their low living standard are resulting in difficulties for the company’s leaders.
We will make every effort to improve the staff’s living standard in the coming time, Binh added. Also, the personnel will be re-organized to make the operation more effective.
The company will focus on the land reclamation to finish the target of 1,200 ha of rubber trees this year. The forest fire prevention also needs strengthening. BIDINA planned to grow rubber trees on an area of 4,000 ha by August, 2010 in Thateng District. A rubber latex processing factory will be built then.
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