Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao receives the Legion of Honour Order. (Photo: VGP)

She became the first Vietnamese businesswoman to be presented this noble order.

As President of Sovico Group and VietjetAir General Director, Ms. Thao has made special contributions to promoting economic and cultural cooperation, and development cooperation, bringing strong support of the strategic partnership and economic cooperation between Vietnam and Europe, between Vietnam and the French Republic.

Highly appreciating her vision, wisdom and compassion, business philosophy for the development of the community and the future generation, French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery expressed his thanks to businesses led by her for always accompanying and cooperating with French businesses and French people, especially during the period when France was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Her leadership in business over finance, aviation, real estate and international trade is admired by international friends for contributing to economic development in Vietnam and in the world,” he said.

Attending the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung congratulated Ms. Thao with the noble award. “The event will be a hallmark in the diplomatic, cultural and economic relationship of the two countries,” he said, adding that with world friends, Vietnam is proud of the good values of a brave and strongly developed Vietnam jointly built by businesspersons, including Ms. Thao.

Ms. Thao thanked the French State and people, French President Emmanuel Macron, the former French Ambassadors to Vietnam, as well as Ambassador Nicolas Warnery and everyone for their support for closely working with her personally as well as the businesses Sovico, Vietjet and HDBank, in achieving the good results recorded.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao is one of the few Vietnamese businesspersons who have received many domestic and international titles such as Asia's most influential person in volunteer work awarded by Tatler magazine, 1 in 100 characters making Asian economic change by Business Insider Australia magazine, top 100 most powerful women in the world, top 100 most powerful female leaders in Asia, best businesswoman award in ASEAN, and CEO of the year 2019 Asia-Pacific region as voted by the world business community. She was also included in the research and teaching topic of Harvard University in the US.

Sovico Group led by her has pioneered to become an official partner of the United Nations, with member organizations such as UNESCO, UN Habitat, UNIDO in Vietnam and internationally./.

Compiled by BTA