On the occasion of Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day, October 13, 2026, Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper published the article “Aspiration for Vietnam’s Industry” by Mr. Le Mai Huu Lam, General Director of Cat Van Loi Industrial Electrical Equipment Manufacturing Joint Stock Company. The article reflects on nearly 20 years of pursuing industrial manufacturing—from changing mindsets and strengthening internal capabilities to the aspiration of bringing Vietnamese-made products to international markets.
From a question about Vietnam’s “golden period”
In 2015, during a study visit to JICA headquarters in Tokyo under the Keieijuku program organized by VJCC, Mr. Le Mai Huu Lam, General Director of Cat Van Loi, had the opportunity to listen to Professor Tran Van Tho of Waseda University discuss Vietnam’s “golden population period” from 2015 to 2036.
That experience left him with a question that would remain on his mind:
“What should I do so that this golden period is not wasted?”
Over time, that question helped shape Cat Van Loi’s development direction. Rather than focusing solely on trading activities, the company chose a more challenging path: investing in industrial manufacturing, mastering technology, and gradually strengthening the capabilities of a Vietnamese enterprise.
Changing the mindset: Creating lasting value through manufacturing
According to Mr. Le Mai Huu Lam, trading can generate revenue, but creating long-term value for the country requires Vietnamese enterprises to progressively build and master their own manufacturing capabilities.
Starting with electrical and mechanical products, Cat Van Loi steadily invested in factories, technology, people, management systems, and international standards.
This journey also marked a transition from simply “making products” to manufacturing in accordance with the standards of highly competitive markets.
For Cat Van Loi, building a self-reliant industrial foundation is not the responsibility of one company alone. It is a process in which Vietnamese enterprises collectively improve their manufacturing capacity and participate more deeply in both domestic and international supply chains.
Strengthening internal capabilities to compete on quality
As markets become increasingly open, international products, brands, and technologies compete directly in Vietnam. Vietnamese enterprises therefore cannot rely solely on home-market advantages.
In Mr. Le Mai Huu Lam’s view, long-term competitiveness requires companies to deliver high-quality products that meet increasingly demanding standards while competing through quality, cost, service, and technological capability.
Competitive pressure has therefore become a driving force for Cat Van Loi to continuously improve its production systems, invest in machinery, strengthen its workforce, and adopt international technical standards.
“Perseverance does not mean stubbornness. It is the ability to stand up after every setback, continue investing, continue learning, and never give up when facing challenges that once seemed beyond our reach.”
This spirit has accompanied Cat Van Loi throughout its journey of building a stronger manufacturing foundation and pursuing the goal of taking Vietnamese industrial products further into the global market.
Going global through the capabilities of Vietnamese enterprises
Once Vietnamese products can compete successfully in the domestic market, another question naturally arises:
Why not go further?
With that mindset, Cat Van Loi has gradually brought its products to international markets, where they must meet increasingly stringent requirements for quality, technical compliance, and consistency.
Every product that crosses national borders represents more than an export order. Behind it lies the manufacturing capability, technical standards, and credibility of a Vietnamese brand.
In his article published by Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper, Mr. Le Mai Huu Lam recalled an experience in Jakarta. Years ago, he was once asked:
“Is Vietnam still at war with the United States?”
Years later, also in Jakarta, when a partner saw a technology product from Vietnam, the person raised a thumb and said:
“Vietnam OK!”
Those two remarks, made at different points in time, reflect a significant change in how the world perceives Vietnam—from a country once widely associated with memories of war to a nation increasingly recognized for its ability to create products, technology, and value through its own capabilities.
From “Made in Vietnam” to the aspiration of “Made by Vietnam”
Looking toward 2045, Vietnam aims to become a developed nation. Along this journey, the Vietnamese business community has not only the responsibility to grow individual enterprises, but also the opportunity to contribute to building the country’s industrial capabilities and economic resilience.
Mr. Le Mai Huu Lam emphasized:
“The country’s golden period waits for no one. From changing our mindset to mastering manufacturing. From replacing imported products to reaching global markets. From ‘Made in Vietnam’ to the aspiration of ‘Made by Vietnam’.”
This is also the spirit that Cat Van Loi has pursued throughout nearly 20 years of development.
Cat Van Loi may be only one enterprise in the broader journey of Vietnam’s industrial development. However, the company believes that when more Vietnamese enterprises commit to creating real products, building real capabilities, and delivering real value, these individual efforts will collectively contribute to a more self-reliant, competitive, and globally connected Vietnamese manufacturing sector.
Self-Reliance – Self-Strengthening – Going Global
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