AkzoNobel hosts Orange ASEAN Factory in Vietnam for first time

AkzoNobel brings Orange ASEAN Factory to Vietnam in this April

On April 1, AkzoNobel co-operated with the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City to host Orange ASEAN Factory in Vietnam for the first time. This is the sixth edition of the programme initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and the second time AkzoNobel has supported the initiative, focusing on improving skills and knowledge on sustainability for youngsters.

This edition will take place from April 1 to 19, 2019 at AkzoNobel’s office in Ho Chi Minh City under the theme of “Sustainable Urban Development.” This is a chance for students, entrepreneurs, and young professionals to learn how to use entrepreneurial skills and innovative thinking to solve societal issues while delivering direct business value.

Orange ASEAN Factory 2019 will function as a funnel, moving from societal issues to sustainable business solutions. There will be 30 Dutch and ASEAN students and young professionals from a variety of fields such as engineering, marketing, and sociology.

During the three weeks, they will work in six dedicated teams to come up with business cases for real-life issues, designing innovative solutions for sustainability challenges in Vietnam and the region. There will be professional sustainability consultants, specialists, and designers to guide them to identify and prepare the groundwork for innovative solutions. Some of the key topics to be discussed are school hygiene, waste treatment, sustainable floating fish farming in the Mekong Delta, and solutions for the circular economy.

Pamela Phua, general director of AkzoNobel Vietnam

As the host and one of the mentors, AkzoNobel will share its experience and expertise in building a sustainable company inside-out.

“AkzoNobel wants to not only deliver sustainable products but also build a sustainable company in a sustainable economy and community for everyone. We already have sustainable products and services and work in co-operation with other sectors to raise awareness of the issue. However, we think those are on the top, the root is in the mindset of the young generation who will lead our economy in the coming years. Accompanying the sixth edition of Orange ASEAN Factory, we hope to sow the seeds of sustainable thinking and develop participants knowledge and skills, guiding them to make meaningful contributions to Vietnam and the region,” said Pamela Phua, general director of AkzoNobel Vietnam.

During the 2019 programme, AkzoNobel will take participants on a factory tour to give more practical knowledge about the sustainable production practices of a leading paints and coatings company.

Carel Richter, consul general of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasised: “It is good to see efforts from companies like AkzoNobel to encourage the young generation of Vietnam, the Netherlands, and the ASEAN region to find solutions to sustainability challenges. These young talented people will together develop innovative solutions to deal with waste, plastic, packaging, and many more issues. During the three weeks, these students will be hosted by AkzoNobel in their inspiring office building. I am proud of working together with AkzoNobel, an outstanding Dutch company in Vietnam contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

AkzoNobel is a major sponsor who helps look for potential talent and build capacity for the Vietnamese construction industry by offering annual scholarships for architecture students throughout the country.

The participation in Orange ASEAN Factory 2019 underlines AkzoNobel’s efforts during the first months of 2019. Recently, AkzoNobel has launched AkzoNobel Cares, which includes the Community Programme, Let’s Colour, Education Fund, and local activities which contribute to the community.