Beluxcham sent the warmest welcome to Jan De Nul Group – our newest member in 2018. Jan De Nul Group is a family-owned company, with the financial headquarters in Luxembourg, that provides services relating to the construction and maintenance of maritime infrastructure on an international basis.

Its main focus is dredging (including other forms of marine engineering), which accounts for 85% of its turnover. Other areas include civil engineering and environmental technology. Shaping water and land. From complex offshore services for both fossil and renewable energy sectors, over large dredging and reclamation project at the edge of water and land to all possible civil and environmental works onshore.

Founded in 1938, in Hofstade near Aalst, Belgium, Jan De Nul started as a construction company specialised in civil works and maritime construction. It was only in 1951 that the company entered into the dredging business.

At the end of 2012, Jan De Nul had 6000 employees and a yearly turnover of 2 billion euro. Other major dredging companies are Dutch companies Royal Boskalis Westminster and Van Oord, and the Belgian DEME.

Jan De Nul was voted the most attractive employer in Belgium in 2008 and 2009. They kicked off a new project in Vung Tau, Vietnam at the beginning of this year.

Thanks to the continuous investment in people and own equipment, in combination with the intense cooperation between the different departments, Jan De Nul Group studies and executes complex multidisciplinary projects from A to Z. A total package, time after time, and in a sustainable way.

The group, led by PHA Vietnam which is invested by South Korean Pyeong Hwa Automotive Company Ltd, will build four automotive part manufacturing plants on a total area of 11.4ha, pouring US$32.3 million of capital into DEEP C Industrial Zones.

Accordingly, the Pyeong Hwa Automotive Company Ltd will produce hood latches, door checkers, hood hinges and fuel filler openers with a capacity of more than 7.5 million products per year, equivalent to 1,115 tonnes per year. The $16.7 million project covers an area of 7ha.

The YMP Plus Company Limited will produce door latch parts, hood latch parts and trunk lid parts with an annual capacity of 24.6 million products. The project has a total investment of $8.2 million and covers an area of 1.7ha.

The Dong Yang Vina Industry Company Limited will produce 24.6 million door latch springs and door latch rods per year. The $3.3 million project will be built on an area of 1ha.

The $4.1 million plant of MiChang Vietnam Company Limited, covering an area of 1.7ha, will produce 480 tonnes of door latches, seat cables and hood cables a year.

PHA was the pioneer for the group’s expansion to Viet Nam. With a view to establishing a new and competitive manufacturing base serving worldwide export, PHA decided to choose the prime location of DEEP C, next to the biggest deep-sea port of the north. Besides logistics advantage, DEEP C’s location also grants PHA and its group the best tax incentive available in Vietnam at the moment.

Once in operation from September 2019, the end-product will serve big car manufacturers such as Volkswagen, BMW, Audi, GM, Ford and Hyundai. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Lee Jae Seung, PHA’s CEO, said the plants in Viet Nam would use the accumulated experience of PHA’s factories worldwide. They therefore will provide the best products and services to the market thanks to the wonderful infrastructure in Viet Nam, an abundant labour force and experience from PHA. This will also help Viet Nam become a key country in the automotive industry in Asia in the future, he said.

Nguyen Xuan Binh, vice chairman of Hai Phong City People’s Committee, said the city committed to facilitating businesses’ operation in DEEP C IZs. “Hai Phong continued to be one of the most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country,” Binh said. “In the first 10 months of the year, the city attracted $2.4 billion of FDI, double than its targets from earlier this year.”

Bruno Jaspaert, DEEP C IZs’ general director, said their vision was to develop DEEP C IZs into a production and logistics centre not only for the northern region but also the country with its experienced workers and high-quality infrastructure. “We planned to divide DEEP C IZs into different IZ clusters including automotive, petrochemicals, logistics and support industries,” he said. “We expected the plan would help diversify industrial sectors of Hai Phong, creating supply chains and increasing the localisation rate.” He added this could also help labourers in the city in particular and in the north in general have opportunities to access new technologies through training courses in foreign-invested companies. “We hope Hai Phong would not only become a green city but also a sustainable and diversified technology centre in Viet Nam. The participation of PHA and its partners would surely help the vision come true sooner.”

Apart from supporting client with reliable utilities and investment procedure guide, DEEP C Industrial Zones is also taking new initiatives to ease the operation of its tenants, such as:

• General warehouse and chemical warehouse services
• Telecom service that provide more choices and flexibility at a lower cost
• Utility trenches that better protect utility provision and limit interruption
• Provision of recycled industrial waste water to reduce operation cost but ensure quality
• Renewable energy from wind and solar power

Upon completion of these facilities, investors in DEEP C will be enjoying one of the most comprehensive and competitive service package in Vietnam.

The 24th of November was the Alumni Day for all former generations of Solvay. Many of them didn’t hesitate to face the threat of the typhoon for the pleasure to spend time with their friends and take part to the ceremony.

Arriving progressively, the guests had time to enjoy the charm of Villa Song. Situated along the river and surrounded by glowing lights, the place spreads with simplicity its positive energy!

The reunion started with a speech of the Dean of Solvay Vietnam, Michel Allé and the Operation Manager of Solvay, Hélène Lambillon, coming especially from France.

This year, emphasis has been put on the following question: How to make Solvay Alumni Association a strong and dynamic community ? What kind of activity could gather regularly our alumni?

A glass of craft beer in hand and the questions in mind, they had the chance to hear some of our Alumni telling about their notion of community  “after Solvay”.

7 years after the graduation, the MBAVB2 still communicate and meet regularly via Viber. 42 people are on the group, a bit more than 20 of them are still active.The last time they saw each other? One week ago, during the Annual tennis tournament! Sport event, homemade dinner and other kind of festivities, they always find a way to share cheerful and memorable time together.

For others, the bonds are more professionals. One former student shared the benefits of attending the class of guest speakers. Indeed, the optional courses offered to Solvay’s students, are lead by guest speakers which are most of the time vietnameses. They represent a high potential for network and collaboration. Solvay alumni experienced himself a fruitful partnership with one of his teacher. These experiences are the proof that Solvay is a great creator of social bonds.

The second part of the gathering celebrates one of the most famous speciality of Belgium: The beer!

With the support of Beluxcham, the alumni got the opportunity to test their senses trying 5 different types of renowned Belgium beers.The explanations and the pinch of humour of Mr. Dương Quang Huy, representative of Duvel Beer in Vietnam were a big help to guide the assembly. Besides, the performance was the perfect preparation for the Beer festival following the Alumni Day.

An exciting lucky draw, were Global Book and Gift Network generously offered several prizes announced the close end of the reunion.

After a joyful group picture closing the ceremony, the night was far from being finished for some of our Alumni. Indeed, the beer festival has been the perfect place to extend this good time together. At the end, Belgian Beer Festival HCM 2018 marked an memorable day for all the Solvay alumni.

A big congratulations on Belgo – Saigon’s first Belgian craft brewery won the prize Best Startup at EuroCham 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner Night on November 16th, 2018.

Located on a small, typically Saigon street, the large brewery stands out thanks its size and striking design. Inspired by the beer culture of Belgium and Vietnam. Belgo was born to serve the beer lovers of Vietnam. Recognize the need of having a place for Vietnamese to have quality craft beers in an authentic Belgium atmostphere, they built a unique place inspired by Belgium architecture. Beside that, they bought a brewery in Belgium and brought it all the way to Vietnam, reassemble it, replicate the water they have in Belgium, invite a Belgian Brewmaster and make our authentic Belgian Craft Beer.