Nineteen businesses across the country were granted with the 2014 national gold quality awards in recognition of their outstanding performance in the building and application of high quality management systems in the field.

In addition, 46 firms were presented with the silver awards.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (right) grants the 2014 National Quality Awards to businesses

The awarding event was recently held in Ha Noi by the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality of Viet Nam (STAMED) under the Ministry of Science and Technology in presence of State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, and representatives from ministries, sectors, and businesses nationwide.

Three Vietnamese businesses were presented with the Global Performance Excellence Award (GPEA) of the Asia-Pacific quality organisation, with the Hanoi-based Military Commercial Joint-Stock Bank (MB) won the first prize in category of large service provider.

The Saigon-Phu Quoc JSC from Kien Giang Province bagged second prize in category of small and medium sized manufacturer, and Ha Bac Nitrogenous Fertilizer and Chemicals Co. Ltd from northern Bac Giang province came third in category of big business producer.

Addressing the ceremony, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan said a strong business community will help the country to develop along the goal of industrialisation and modernisation.

She warned that the establishment of the ASEAN Community and the signing of many free trade agreements (FTA) in the coming time will pose numerous challenges to the Vietnamese businesses.

Therefore, businesses must continuously improve the quality of products via the support of advanced science and technology to raise their position in both domestic and global playgrounds, she said.

Launched in 2009, the National Quality Awards are part of the International Asia-Pacific Quality Awards system of the Asia-Pacific Quality Organisation.