Enterprises accelerate production and business activities after Tet holiday

Enterprises are buoyed by the influx of new year orders. Photo: Provided by the enterprise

Busy with early-year orders

Observations at Phuc Thinh Packaging Company Ltd. (Binh Chanh, Ho Chi Minh City) revealed that on the first day of the Lunar New Year, 100% of the workforce was present for the annual kick-off meeting and immediately commenced production. Mr. Nguyen Trong Hoang, CEO of Phuc Thinh Packaging Company Ltd., stated that due to the real demand for essential consumer goods, the company initiated operations across two shifts, 16/24 hours, from the first day back. The volume of orders at the beginning of the year saw a 20% increase compared to the same period last year.

According to Mr. Nguyen Trong Hoang, the year 2024 continues to pose significant challenges for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. However, buoyed by positive signals from consumers, the economic recovery, and support measures from government agencies, Phuc Thinh is confident of stronger growth in 2024. The company plans to continue investing in its facilities, machinery, raw materials, and introducing a variety of innovative and high-quality products to captivate customers domestically and in demanding markets such as Japan, Australia, and Canada.

With high hopes for a more prosperous year, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Chairman of the Trade Union at Dai Dung Company, mentioned that the factory has an abundance of orders necessitating immediate production from the start of the year. Dai Dung Company's contract value at the beginning of 2024 is approximately 1,500 billion VND, achieving 10% of its sales target. Currently, about 90% of the workforce (over 2,800 employees) has returned to work. For those living in distant provinces, the company arranged transportation to ensure that by February 19th (the 10th day of Tet), 100% of the personnel were present.

Mr. Lu Nguyen Xuan Vu, CEO of Xuan Nguyen Group, shared that at the start of the new year, some supermarkets and retail systems have placed new orders, and the enterprise still anticipates a better market demand than in 2023. Nevertheless, the company is also prepared for the challenges ahead. Thus, Xuan Nguyen focuses not solely on profit targets but on sharing benefits across the value chain, prioritizing suppliers and employees.

Positive signs from exports

In the early days of the year, many enterprise containers were successfully shipped abroad. Several companies reported having orders for up to half of 2024, indicating a recovery in export activities and hopeful for positive outcomes throughout the year.

Mr. Gabor Fluit, Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), believes that Vietnam's economic recovery is on the right track. To maintain this growth momentum, it's essential to focus on innovation, building stronger trade relations with key export markets, and enhancing export values through processing.

A cornerstone for export growth in 2024 is the 17 FTAs signed and implemented, offering businesses some advantages in negotiating orders and exploring new markets.

Mr. Huynh Quang Thanh, CEO of Hiep Long Company (Binh Duong), noted positive signals for wood exports in 2023, particularly an increase in the fourth quarter of 2023. Therefore, Vietnam's wood export is expected to recover along with the global economy in 2024, potentially achieving better growth than in 2023. However, the export process still faces challenges. The export market is stagnating with many uncertainties due to the incomplete recovery of the global economy. Additionally, stricter production standards in various countries make exporting increasingly challenging, requiring businesses to adapt.

Mr. Lu Nguyen Xuan Vu, CEO of Xuan Nguyen Group, stated that in 2024, the enterprise focuses on retaining traditional customers while also seeking to expand exports to some Asian markets. Alongside maintaining quality for branded products like honey and turmeric starch, Xuan Nguyen is also planning to recruit more than 100 employees to develop new product lines such as dried fruits and fruit juices; expanding partnerships with health product distribution systems…