German Business Association in Vietnam honors outstanding enterprises for the first time

The GBA Business Awards featured 32 companies competing in four categories: Green Business of the Year, Business Innovation, SME Excellence, and CSR Achievement.

Dr. Josefine Wallat, German Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, and 200 members & special guests attended the awards ceremony

Dr. Josefine Wallat, German Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, said: “German companies tend to not only excel in their industries or be hidden champions offering unique solutions, but they stand for quality, innovation, sustainability, and corporate responsibility. The GBA Awards recognize all of these qualities and are a testament to the strong relationship between Germany and Vietnam”.

The champions of the GBA Business Awards are: Nestlé (Green Business of the Year), Bosch Vietnam (Business Innovation), PALLAS BrandFare (SME Excellence), Super Energy Corporation (CSR Achievement).

The 2024 GBA Business Awards winners

Nestlé won a prestigious award for its outstanding water management sustainability efforts across its supply chain, operations, and communities. Through initiatives like the NESCAFÉ Plan and the LAWACO project, the company has significantly reduced water usage, improved water efficiency in factories, and increased access to safe water and sanitation in local communities, earning recognition for responsible water stewardship.

Bosch Vietnam was awarded for introducing a solution that leverages digital twin technology and predictive maintenance to optimize industrial assets, enhance productivity, and provide a competitive edge.

PALLAS BrandFare received the award by collaborating with technology providers to refine strategies for launching and promoting products with limited resources, introducing new customizable solutions like StrategiX BrandFare and Digital BrandFare, and launching modular training sessions to help companies optimize marketing and branding efforts amidst cautious investment climates.

Super Energy Corporation has achieved notable success in Corporate Social Responsibility through scholarships for disadvantaged students, health insurance coverage, water filtration projects, and seasonal gift-giving, and is also dedicated to environmental sustainability by supporting climate change mitigation, coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, and community engagement.

The top 3 of 3 categories of the Green Business of the Year, Business Innovation, and SME Excellence will be nominated for the EuroCham Business Awards in October.

In addition, the GBA Young Innovation Award, inspired by the successful GBA Business Challenge launched in 2020, has evolved into an exciting platform for Vietnamese students and aspiring entrepreneurs.

This year, 18 submissions were received with each business plan being uniquely inspiring in its own way. The top three finalists were selected to present on the night, and the winner was selected through an online vote by participants. The top 3 received financial support from the GBA CSR fund to bring their business ideas to life.

Top 3 finalists of the 2024 GBA Young Innovation Award

The champion of the GBA Young Innovation Award is the COPEPODS team from the University of Economics, the University of Science and Education, and the University of Da Nang, who are pioneering a sustainable future for aquaculture. Their business idea is a company that produces high-quality copepods, an ideal food for fish larvae, significantly enhancing survival rates and growth. By supporting fish farmers and promoting a healthy marine ecosystem, COPEPODS exemplifies excellence in quality and innovation.

The first runner-up of the Young Innovation Award is the DeepVoucher team from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, who are set to transform the voucher ecosystem with their easy-to-create and highly secure voucher system. By leveraging blockchain technology, DeepVoucher reduces costs and boosts system security, paving the way for a more efficient and reliable voucher solution.

The second runner-up of the Young Innovation Award is the V-Carbon team from the University of Economics, the University of Science and Education, and the University of Da Nang. They offer an effective platform for carbon credit trading, along with advanced software for accurate carbon footprint calculation and monitoring. Their streamlined project management system optimizes the entire carbon credit lifecycle.

Alexander Ziehe, GBA Chairman, delivered the speech at the event

Alexander Ziehe, Chairman of GBA, said: “The GBA Business Awards were conceived to celebrate the collective excellence of the GBA community, recognizing outstanding contributions in sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship, and corporate social responsibility. This event honors the strength, resilience, and forward-thinking spirit of businesses, showcasing their dedication to innovation and commitment to excellence despite global challenges”.