“4 million tons of steel is normal - It’s normal !

During the conversation from beginning to end, he said, "Not at all! It's normal! ”, But the actual figure of Hoa Phat's total steel consumption in 2018 was 2.37 million tons, not a small number. Each year, Hoa Phat sells a large amount of steel, holds the number 1 market share - leading the Vietnamese market, the sales volume grows steadily higher than the previous year. Join HPG News to discuss with Mr. Kieu Chi Cong - Director of Hoa Phat Hung Yen Steel Company to better understand the "normal" but "very good" things of Hoa Phat.

You have been in Hoa Phat for 20 years, so how many years have you been with Hoa Phat Steel?

I joined Hoa Phat from 4/5/1999 to work at Hoa Phat Furniture Company, then in 2004 I changed to steel and office until now.

Working with those in the Board of Directors what can you learn and accumulate from them?

At Hoa Phat, he was first guided by Mr. Ta Tuan Quang (Director of Refrigeration Company). That day Quang was in charge of Furniture Company, Deputy Director was Doan Gia Cuong. It can be said that Mr. Quang is like my first teacher, teaching me life skills. Quang is also a person who teaches me the humanities in life.

When changing to Hoa Phat Hung Yen Steel, working with Mr. Long and Mr. Duong is also a strong style of steel, quicky assert, frank, concise, teach me through bullet points, logical thinking.

Before you was in charge of selling furniture, when you changed to steel business, what problems did you encounter?

At first it was difficult but gradually getting used to it. When in furniture "spikes tasted honey" in charge of the northern and northern central provinces is a valuable experience to help me deploy for steel later.

Then, Hoa Phat went to the stock exchange, opened the Complex in Hai Duong, the voice of steel, Hoa Phat's steel brand was stronger in the market. It is also advantageous to promote business.

In 2018, Hoa Phat reached total consumption of construction steel of 2.37 million tons / year. How to make this "huge" number?

In 2017, Hoa Phat has sold more than 2.1 million tons. In 2018, although the 2nd blast furnace in Hai Duong had to stop to renovate, repair and upgrade for a while, the volume of complex production still helped ensure an increase of 10% compared to last year.

In addition, I simply think that Hoa Phat has built up a good sales network up to now, nationwide. Secondly, Hoa Phat's buying and selling plan is very smoothly in line with the production plan. Factories in Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Dung Quat, when we "ordered" production plans, they responded to the goods promptly. This is also the chain power of the whole team.

The figure of 2.37 million tons combines from many sides, the plans always link together. Because the buyers are cheap, the production department is good, the accounting department does a good job of financial planning. The direction of the leadership is right ....

In 2018, besides holding Vietnam's No. 1 market share, Hoa Phat steel is also exported to 14 markets around the world.

Hoa Phat Steel has been granted to big and big projects of Vietnam?

Belt project 3, underground metro Hanoi, Dragon Bridge Danang, Cocobay Danang, Sunshine Complex - Soleil Danang; Sala Urban Area, Complex of hotel - commercial center - office - Empire City apartment in Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Trung Bridge - Can Tho, Viet Duc University - Binh Duong ... There are a lots that I can not mention.

Hoa Phat has a good, stable and proactive production industry, along with top quality, competitive prices because steel is produced under a closed process from upstream to downstream, according to you, what are reasons do customers and partners prefer and trust Hoa Phat Steel?

In my opinion, partners, customers prefer Hoa Phat steel due to its variety of grades and quality stability.

Specifically, Hoa Phat is very diversified in terms of steel grades that help diversify many kinds products. All types of steel from domestic to exported, including the special steel grade that Hoa Phat can meet the requirements, affording  diverse customers. In addition, the policy is fair and stable to agent partners that is in the spirit of "Harmony with development", so customers are really love. Many customers who have followed Hoa Phat Steel since 2001.

How did customers and partners respond to Hoa Phat steel?

Everything from quality to service price is good. Transparency in the market for quality, goods distribution is very stable. Looking at the sales figures of Hoa Phat Steel a year, customers also understand how customers always believe in choosing Hoa Phat Steel.

Hoa Phat sells steel mainly through agents, when has this sales channel developed and how does Hoa Phat build relationships with agents?

Hoa Phat's sales channel is almost 100% through agency channel. At the end of 2004, when I transferred into the steel segment, I already had a sales channel but was small in scale due to the initial selling time of only over 100,000 tons of steel per year. After that, he took over the sales channel and then developed more.

Which market do you like the best?

Which market is the most profitable that I will like the most!

In general, depending on geographical location, both North - Central - South have the presence of Hoa Phat steel. Hoa Phat's goal is to provide sufficient markets for the whole country from Ha Giang to Ca Mau.

Mr. Cong at the celebration of the 17th birthday of Steel Hoa Phat Hung Yen, the style with jeans and T-shirt

At the beginning of the year, the good news came to Hoa Phat steel makers when in January, the market share of Hoa Phat steel increased from 23.8 to 26.8%, how did you receive this good news?

I think it's normal. It will increase even more than 30%, the figure of 26.8% is normal.

At the meeting in early Spring 2019, Ms. Thao Deputy Director of Hoa Phat Hai Duong Steel Company said: Mr. Cong kept on selling, Hai Duong and Dung Quat steels will afford all demands. Does this sentence put pressure on you?

It's normal, no pressure. In fact, up to now, it is still the same, not unlike before. The steel companies of Hoa Phat are linked together as a very smooth machine from production to business, from input to output reasonably.

When Hoa Phat Dung Quat Iron and Steel Integrated Complex is completed, the output of 4 million tons / year will be a bit of pressure, but it is the same as before when the Hai Duong Complex Factory was born, the output of tripled. Hoa Phat always had a plan in advance, where production was sold out, market share increased continuously over time. Even, Hoa Phat has planned to sell out this year, next year and how the next time, it is all in the plan so it is not worrying.

It can be said that Hoa Phat steel is selling like hot cakes because Hoa Phat business is very "charming", can you reveal a little secret?

There is no secret, this transparent policy, balancing the market area reasonably harmoniously, maintaining relationships with agents from the regular customer care of market employees. Especially, on the agent's side, their customers have been associated with Hoa Phat, the trust has been verified over time. Hoa Phat steel brand has been on the market for a long time, occupying a large market share, so it is very convenient for business activities. With transparent policy of reasonable price, good quality, nothing is impossible.

In company you are  hot-tempered, so what is your "famous quote"?

I don't remember, other colleagues remember it, I didn't notice it because I said something different every day, but maybe sometimes there was "mom, dad”.

I wonder if you were hot- tempered at home like at work?

It's the same

He also has a daughter, do you and your daughter usually talk in your free time?

I rarely have time, but when I'm not busy, I talk to my child about her study.

When not at work, what is your hobby?

I like watching movies and reading books and newspapers. I love swordplay movies, American films, Vietnamese movies. I also read quite a lot of business books, history, literature, such as: Rich and Poor Dad, Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Western literary novels ... ..

Before, I read a lot but now I watch movies more.

Thank you and wish Hoa Phat Steel Business "increase".

Hong Hanh