Five Vietnamese enterprises on Nikkei Asia300

A transaction in the Vietcombank. The bank, along with four enterprises has appeared on the Asia300 report, which was released recently by Nikkei Asian Review. -Photo vtc.vn

The Asia300 features leading companies from eleven countries and regions, including China and members of ASEAN.

The companies were selected based on factors such as market capitalisation and growth potential. The Nikkei Asian Review also provides in-depth analysis on their operations.

FPT, the report wrote, is the largest information technology company in Viet Nam, engaged in a wide array of activities including software development, telecommunications, and the marketing of IT products.

Its market capitalisation, at about US$800 million, is one of the largest among non-State entities.

Vietcombank, meanwhile, is one of Vietnam's four largest State-run commercial banks. It has been a major player in international trade payment settlement and is also boosting its retail lending, according to the report.

While the bank was listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange in 2009, the government still holds a sizable 77 per cent stake. Vietcombank's market capitalisation is about $3 billion, according to the report.

The bank, highly profitable in the domestic market is now setting its sights on global markets, aims to become one of the world's 300 largest banking institutions in terms of profitability and deposits by 2020.

PVGas is one of Vietnam's largest State-run companies, the Asia300 report noted. It runs integrated operations, from drilling for gas through to marketing, and controls nearly 70 per cent of the domestic market for liquefied petroleum gas. It has a market capitalisation of about $9 billion, making it one of the largest publicly traded Vietnamese companies.

The company is actively pursuing a policy of collaborating with foreign companies, and in June 2014 signed a liquefied natural gas trading contract with Royal Dutch Shell.

Vinamilk is Vietnam's largest food processor and deals in a wide variety of dairy products, including milk and yogurt. It is said to account for about 50 per cent of Viet Nam's dairy market.

Vinamilk's high potential is recognized outside the country as well and foreign investors own 49 per cent of the company. Its market capitalisation is the second largest in Viet Nam, at around $5.5 billion.

Vingroup, lastly, is Viet Nam's largest real estate company and deals in a host of different properties, including houses, shopping malls, hotels, golf courses, and hospitals. The company has enhanced its brand cachet by targeting its Vincom shopping malls and Vincom Village residential areas at affluent customers.

One of the few entirely non-State concerns in Viet Nam, Vingroup is about 30 per cent owned by its largest shareholder and founder, Pham Nhat Vuong. Its market capitalisation, at approximately $3 billion, is the largest among non-State companies, according to the Asia300 report.

Viet Nam had the lowest number among countries with enterprises listed in the Asia300. China and Hong Kong recorded 83, Taiwan 40, South Korea 42, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia 25, Malaysia 22, the Philippines 20, and India 44.