Vietnam Dairy Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) wants to reduce State owner-ship in enterprises after equitisation to create conditions to increase their self-management and competitiveness for further development.

This was one of the measures proposed by Vinamilk during a working session between the company and a National Assembly delegation led by Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on June 29.

Vinamilk CEO and Director General Mai Kieu Lien said it was necessary to clarify the role of State ownership representatives and the board of directors at joint stock companies to help tackle existing obstacles.

Some 45.06 percent of Vinamilk's shares are currently held by the State through State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC).

It had been pointed out that the SCIC's rights of operation of the company had reduced the command of the board of directors over the management of the operations of the company, she said.

She cited the commercial transaction to buy Dalat Milk as an example. Vinamilk could not buy Dalat Milk due to a delay caused by presenting a proposal and seeking the SCIC's permission.

Each year, Vinamilk loses estimated profits worth 50 billion VND (2.3 million USD) thanks to the failure of that deal, according to Lien.

"It often take time for businesses, particularly those in which the State holds a large proportion of capital, to make decisions on important issues as they have to wait for opinions from the representatives of the State ownership," she was quoted as saying by national broadcaster Vietnam Television.

"Therefore, it affects the operational efficiency of businesses, particularly when they have to face fierce competition from others," she added.

NA Vice Chairwoman Ngan remarked that all recommendations from businesses would be carefully considered. Any regulation that caused difficulties for businesses would be amended, she stressed.

Shareholders equal
"The State is just like any other shareholder at enterprises, and all shareholders are treated equally in the eyes of law. Hence, it is not necessary to seek the State's opinion whenever a decision should be made in connection with the development policies of enterprises," she pointed out.

Vinamilk CEO Lien said the company wished to have a capital management mechanism, which can be operated in line with the Enterprise Law and the Law on Securities, as well as the company's regulations.

"We just want to have more power to make decisions on important issues relating to the operation of the company," she noted.

"It is also necessary to reconsider the extent of the State ownership in a joint stock company to harmonise the interests of related parties, particularly in companies operating in the fields of diary and food, in which the State should not hold a large share of capital," she observed.

In the 10 years since it was equitised, Vinamilk saw revenues grow by 22 percent a year on average. Last year its revenues were nearly 35 trillion VND (1.61 billion USD) , or 8.3 times up from the 2004 figure.

This year the target approved by shareholders is 38.424 trillion VND.

The company's capital and assets have also increased many times since 2004. For instance, its charter capital has risen from 1.569 trillion VND to over 10 trillion VND.

Vinamilk's market cap is over 5 billion USD, making it the second largest company in the Vietnamese stock market.

Vinamilk is the largest dairy firm in Vietnam with a 53 percent market share in the liquid milk segment, 84 percent in yogurt, and 80 percent in condensed milk.

Furthermore, the company has been successful in developing its export markets, shipping over 200 million USD worth of products to 31 countries and territories. Average export growth in the last 10 years has been 17 percent a year.

The key export markets are in the Middle East and Asia, and the company seeks to expand into Europe, Africa, and South America.

Exports have accounted for 8-24 percent of revenues in the last decade.

To develop is dairy sources, Vinamilk has signed agreements with farmers to buy 650 tonnes of fresh milk every day.

This has been growing by 8.4 percent in volume terms and 21.8 percent in value terms every year.

The company now has seven farms and has built two new farms with 24,000 heads of cattle.

At the meeting, Vinamilk urged the National Assembly to reconsider what stakes the State must hold in joint stock companies so that all parties benefit. The Government still holds a majority stake in most joint stock companies, especially in the dairy and food sector, which is not necessary, according to Vinamilk.-VNA