The Golden Dragon Award (GDA) is organised annually by the Vietnam Economic Times jointly with the Ministry of Planning & Investment, under the sponsorship of many ministries such as Trade, Finance, Industry, Culture & Information, Vietnam Union of S&T Associations. Mme Nguyen Thi Binh, former Vice President of the State, is a honoris causa Chairperson.

The Golden Dragon 2006 Prizes are tentatively awarded to 60-70 FDI enterprises in various fields such as automobiles, motorbikes, agriculture, forestry, fishery, foodstuff industries, beer, drink, construction, banking, assurances, electronics, informatics and telecommunication, oil & gas etc...

The ceremony for Golden Dragon Prizes announcement and award is envisaged to be solemnly organised at the Hanoi Grand Theatre in early February 2007 with live show on VTV1.

Different from previous years, in this year, the Golden Dragon Super Cup is not only examined, considered among enterprises having won the prize in 5 consecutive years, but they are still short-listed, selected through the Jury Council for assessment of criteria such as sustainable growth level, distinguished achievements, outstanding participation in community activities.

Prof. Dao Nguyen Cat, Head organiser of the Prize had introduced and emphasised new traits of Golden Dragon 2006. According to him, the foremost criterion of this year is the fact that the organisation board had decided to base on the banking trustworthiness indicator as an important factor in the classification of enterprises.

“We rely on the classification table on enterprise credit provided by the Credit Information Centre (CIC) from Vietnam State Bank for inserting in the mark giving to enterprises”, Prof. Dao Nguyen Cat announced.

Beside, the organisation board also gather assessment by management bodies from central to local levels, direct suppliers, direct customers, employees in enterprises, people living around enterprises, and especially production enterprises.

The Prize organisation board also revealed that the assessment by consumers as readers of Vietnam Economic Times, through information provided by enterprises on the actual results in three recent years of enterprises, is taken into account for considering in this year’s evaluation.

Also at the press conference, the organisation board had introduced to reporters the official website of Golden Dragon Prizes: www.gda.com.vn and www.fdivietnam.com.vn.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Deputy Editor in-chief of the Vietnam Economic Times, website shall be an investment tribune for experience exchange between enterprises and managers, between enterprises themselves. Especially, it is also a first ever one in Vietnam with a rich database on FDI enterprises in the country.

The Golden Dragon Prizes are organised for stimulating FDI enterprises to actively deploy their activities in Vietnam, to expand their investment in production for contributing more efficiently in the development of Vietnamese economy.

Enterprises winning the Golden Dragon Prizes could be endowed for:

- Receiving the golden cup and certificate of achievements;

- Expanding, advertising their trademark on Vietnam Economic Times during one year;

- Propagating on website GDA.COM.VN, publications of Vietnam Economic Times, Consultancy on Consumption, E-journal www.vneconomy.com.vn.

- Enjoying informatic right from activities of procession, seminars, banner, VTV and over 30 other magazines, broadcasting stations.

- Enjoying a cost reduction of 20% in direct advertisement on VET during 2007.

- Being a member of the Golden Dragon Club.

Source: Vietnam Economic Times 30/8/2006