Message from the CEO
Dear Shareholders and Stakeholders,
These are exciting times for Vietnam. The country has continued its strong growth path since 2010, when AES first broke ground in Quang Ninh province on the Mong Duong II Power Plant. Over the next several years, bolstered by investor confidence and the acceleration of Vietnam’s stability, we have seen the country’s economy thrive even further. This has led to a growing need for safe, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions to continue the positive momentum that Vietnam is experiencing.
Bringing World-Class Technology and Experience
We believe that we are well positioned to support the Government of Vietnam in the implementation of its Power Master Plan and fulfill its goal of sustainable development for all. As a global business, AES brings more than three decades’ worth of experience in providing sustainable energy solutions that are the backbone of economic growth, inclusive development and overall security. Building on the success of the Mong Duong II Power Plant construction safely completed in 2015, we are happy that the Plant has entered full commercial operation and become one of the most sustainable power generating facilities in the country. We have made it the Top 100 Sustainable Enterprises in Vietnam in 2016 and 2017, among many other sustainability awards and recognition we have received since we began operations in 2015. We see this as an affirmation of our continuous engagement with our stakeholders and our strategy towards business leadership, operational excellence, and environmental and social responsibility wherever we do business.
Advancing Responsible Power Generation
A testament to our strong track record and commitment to responsible power generation is Mong Duong II Power Plant. As we began to normalize our operations in 2016 and 2017, we continued to benchmark Mong Duong II’s performance against the top-decile power plant operators in the world. To be part of a sustainable energy sector, a high-tech local workforce is essential. At Mong Duong II we are especially proud of our Localization Plan, where we identified promising members of our local team whom we would train and equip for leadership positions. We also set up a signature educational program called AES-VCM Energy Career Scholarships, where we invest in the education and training of a skilled, high-tech workforce. We are similarly proud of the fact that 50% of leadership positions in AES-VCM are occupied by women, which is unique in a traditionally male-dominated energy sector. Diversity at AES-VCM benefits us by fostering greater creativity, adaptability, and innovation, all of which are critical to thriving in an ever-evolving sector such as energy. Because we believe that the business of power generation is about improving lives, we also strengthened AES-VCM’s social agenda that serves as proof of our long-term commitment to our local communities in Quang Ninh province. Our Social Policy and Strategic CSR Framework ensure that we create meaningful and measurable impacts in the lives of our stakeholders, and maintain an engaged and positive relationship for the mutual benefit of the company and the communities.
A Continuing Commitment to Transparency and Sustainability
Ultimately, we believe that the company is able to contribute positively to the growth of the energy sector and the business environment when we collaborate with and engage our stakeholders. As we strive to be a trusted partner of the Government of Vietnam, we regularly received delegations from the national and local authorities, who wanted to better understand our technical operations, environmental safeguards, safety standards, and social agenda. We welcome these opportunities to share knowledge and expertise that help facilitate a more productive dialogue and collaboration between the Government and our business. We commit to greater transparency with the regular publication of our sustainability report. This second report contains more stories that demonstrate our continuous support contains contributing to Vietnam’s sustainable development by delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable energy the AES way. I would like to thank our people for contributing to the advancement of the sustainability agenda by exemplifying it in our daily work and upholding the AES Values. As Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development, I commit to continue to raise the profile of sustainability in our business and industry, share our lessons and experiences to truly accelerate sustainable growth in Vietnam and improve lives.
