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DANISH PIONEERS
IN HAI DUONG
Vietnamese media showed up in force for the ground breaking. Mascot is the first European company investing in Tan Truong Industrial zone. 25 Vietnamese media covered the event.
25 April 2007 became one of our big days in the Mascot project. From Day 1 in the project I have had plenty of excellent advise from my personal assistant Trinh Thuy Mai on all sorts of issues, ranging from sophisticated investment license topics to the actual sales price for a quality safe in the shops on Giang Vo street.
It was also Mai who had strongly advocated and orchestrated the spiritual ceremony some weeks before. I had been hesitant about it all, but when I saw the relief of the contractors, I realized that Mai had given me very good advise again.
So when Mai suggested that her uncle - a well respected fortune teller in Ha Noi - also should be consulted on the date for the official ceremony, I surrendered quickly.
Luckily this lucky date proved to fit into the calendars of the visiting Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, Ulla Tørnæs, People's Committee Chairman Phan Nhat Binh, Mascot CEO Michael Grosbøl, Danish ambassador Peter Lysholt Hansen and dozens of other VIP's.
Hai Duong Province Chairman Phan Nhat Binh represented the authorities at the ceremony.
Mascot's Trinh Thuy Mai with Minister Tørnæs and Ambassador Peter Lysholt Hansen. In the background: Under Secretary of State for Bilateral Affairs Carsten Nilaus Pedersen.
"Brothers in business". Two very good friends came for the big day: Director Bjarke Andersen (left), Aalborg Industries and Country Manager Sonny Jensen from Vestergaard Frandsen.
Saved by....?
Could it be the friendly spirits of Hai Duong, who saved us from a number of near fatal mishaps in the frantically busy days before the ceremony? The day before a rainstorm hit the site and threatened to blow away the elaborate, if flimsy ceremony constructions.
In Ha Noi we got some very worrying phone calls from local police and others, who wanted to cancel the whole thing. The less than excellent contractor had used a bamboo structure to hold the tents and the stage.
Mascot's new logistics manager Peter Ingemann took it in style - then again he has a history with logistics operations in the war zones of Afghanistan and Lebanon.
Peter simply told the workers to take the whole thing down to save all the nicely printed backdrops and banners. He then ordered a proper steel structure from Ha Noi at the contractor's expense - and then got everyone up at four o'clock in the morning to have everything in place again.
"I did it my way." After the ceremony Peter was awarded this very nice souvenir photo for his accomplishments.
Containers on the highway
On our way to the site the next morning a huge truck turned over on the highway with its load of two 20-foot containers thrown off, blocking both lanes. We - and most of the VIP's for the ceremony - managed to get through minutes before the highway became completely jammed with thousands of cars and motorbikes.
Only a handful of our guests got caught in the mess - and were stuck there for two hours before they gave up and returned to Ha Noi.
So as reported in the official press release below, we did have a great start on the lucky day of 25 april in the Year of the Golden Pig.
Today the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, Ms. Ulla Tørnæs, led the ground breaking ceremony for Mascot International’s investment project in Hai Duong.
Mascot Int. is Denmark’s biggest producer of quality work wear for the European market.
The project in Vietnam includes a garment factory and a bonded warehouse, which will handle raw materials for global distribution to Mascot’s sub-suppliers around the world.
In her speech Minister Tørnæs said:
 “Mascot is the first Danish company to invest in Hai Duong province – thereby setting an example for other Danish companies to follow. I am sure that many other companies is watching, what you set out to do here in Hai Duong. "
"The project will not only create new work places in Hai Duong with the garment industry. I understand that Mascot intends to establish a bonded warehouse, which will make this province the global distribution center for Mascot’s production chain,” said Minister Tørnæs.
Minister Tørnæs: Mascot shows the way.
The People’s Committee Chairman of Hai Duong province, mr. Phan Nhat Binh expressed great satisfaction that Mascot has decided to invest in the province.
Chairman Binh: "Your success is our succes."
“This project will make a significant contribution to the economic and social development in our province. Foreign investments are top priority for us in Hai Duong.
We have attracted more than 140 investors from 21 countries already, and we are very happy that Denmark is now represented with a high quality project.
I have instructed all local authorities to do everything they can to expedite this project. In this province we see your success as our success.”
Role model for companies
The CEO of Mascot International, Michael Grosbøl said: “Our project will not only mean more business for the Vietnamese garment industry. As a 100% export facility we will be happy to contribute to Vietnam’s economic development and create new jobs here."
Mascot CEO Michael Grosbøl receives planning certificate for the project from IZ authority director Mai Duc Chon.
"Mascot is committed to the highest international standards in products as well as production methods. Therefore, our project will also contribute to the education of Vietnamese workers in production as well as management. "
"This also means that safety in our own work place will have top priority. It is our ambition to make Mascot Vietnam a role model for companies, also when it comes to decent salaries and working conditions of the highest standard,” said Michael Grosbøl.
A CEO and his Viet Nam Team (from left): Ass. logistics manager Ly, Office assistants Le and Hanh, my factual and spiritual advisor Mai and one of my old embassy suits that came out of the closet for the big day. CEO Michael Grosbøl is missing logistics manager Peter on this memorable picture. Peter was off somewhere taking care of last minute details.
MASCOT IN VIET NAM | 
