Outstanding German enterprises honoured for first time in Ho Chi Minh City

The event was attended by 200 members and special guests, including German consul general Dr. Josefine Wallat, and chairman of EuroCham Vietnam Dominik Meichle, along with jury members and nominees.

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

GBA chairman Alexander Ziehe delivered the opening speech at the event

In her remarks at the celebration, Wallat stated, “German companies tend to not only excel in their industries or be hidden champions offering unique solutions, they also stand for quality, innovation, sustainability, and corporate responsibility. The GBA Awards recognise all of these qualities and are a testament to the strong relationship between Germany and Vietnam.”

Dr. Josefine Wallat at the awards ceremony

The GBA Business Awards featured 32 companies competing in four categories: Green Business of the Year, Business Innovation, SME Excellence, and CSR Achievement. The top three of the Green Business of the Year, Business Innovation, and SME Excellence will be nominated for the EuroCham Business Awards in October.

Green Business of the Year: Nestlé won the 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.

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

SME Excellence Award: PALLAS BrandFare received the award by collaborating with technology providers to refine strategies for launching and promoting products with limited resources, introducing new customisable solutions like StrategiX BrandFare and Digital BrandFare, and launching modular training sessions to help companies optimise marketing and branding efforts amid the cautious investment climate.

CSR Achievement Award: Super Energy Corporation achieved notable success in corporate social responsibility (CSR) through scholarships for disadvantaged students, health insurance, 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.

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 on the night, and the winner was selected through an online vote by participants. The top three received financial support from the GBA CSR fund to bring their business ideas to life.

The winner of the GBA Young Innovation Award was the COPEPODS team from the University of Economics and the University of Science and Education, the University of Danang, 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 was 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 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 was the V-Carbon team from the University of Economics and the University of Science and Education, the University of Danang. 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 optimises the entire carbon credit lifecycle.

The GBA Business Awards, which has achieved many successes since it was first held, is an important milestone, marking the beginning of an annual tradition to honour outstanding businesses within the GBA community.

The GBA was one of the first foreign business associations in Vietnam, starting in 1995. For 30 years, the GBA has been the focal point of German business life, culture, and values in Vietnam. It has helped German businesses to develop their operations, has advised on wide-ranging topics, and created opportunities for business and social exchange across Vietnam.

Currently, the GBA has nearly 400 members and corporate partners, a reflection of the opportunities and dynamics of the Vietnamese market. It is one of the largest foreign business associations in Vietnam and a highly respected counterpart in the local community. In addition, the GBA was one of the founding members of EuroCham Vietnam, a partnership that represents pan-European activities and interests in Vietnam.

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