Thai Binh, August 5, 2023, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) and Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (SABECO) proudly marked the completion of the first phase of their “Fostering Sports” and “Light Up The Rural” projects. In addition to this, they announced their cooperation programs for 2023, marking a successful milestone in their 3-year strategic partnership from 2022 to 2024.
In May 2022, recognizing the importance of community development is in line with Vietnam’s national target of sustainable development, HCYU and SABECO signed a strategic 3 years cooperation agreement, focusing on the main areas:
- National development activities : With a primary emphasis on fostering and supporting young talent: the partnership aims to support the youth in business startup, career development , livelihood support, training and enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium local business. It also seeks to recognize and honor exemplary workers.
- Cultural preservation : Encouraging and promoting healthy and positive preservation of culture within community, and developing joint efforts encompassing physical and sports, as well as cultural activities.
- Healthy Lifestyle Advocacy: Raising awareness of healthy living and responsible alcohol drinking practices, particularly among the youth.
- Sustainable Development : Promoting sustainable development through engagementwith the youth protecting the environment through various activities.
Over the past 1.5 years, the partnership between HCYU and SABECO have successfully implemented more than 9 projects, varying in scales and impact across the nation. Notably, "Light Up the Rural" and "Fostering Sports" projects emerged as pivotal initiatives that laid a solid foundation for the forthcoming second phase. The next stage will witness greater diversity and scale, where the projects aim to also invite contributions from local partners and communities in each province to join hands where the projects will be implemented. This will generate bigger positive impacts and value on the community which will further augment Vietnam’s socio-economic development.
Light Up The Rural in sustainable way
“Light Up The Rural” , one of the major projects initiated in July 2022, seeks to bolster Vietnam’s green growth target (2021-2023), as well support the national program on new-style rural area development (2021 – 2025).
During its first phase, the project successfully installed 34 km of solar-powered streetlights, which has significantly enhanced the socio-economic infrastructure of rural areas across 34 provinces. Over 210,000 households benefited from improved safety and livelihoods, alongside countless indirect beneficiaries.
Looking ahead, the project aims to implement an additional 39km of solar-powered streetlights be implemented across 29 provinces. This includes 10km of solar-powered streetlights which will illuminate community sports playgrounds in 10 provinces as part of the “Fostering Sports”. To drive environmental awareness, HCYU and SABECO will also launch a contest “Creative ideas for Energy saving and Green Energy usage” encouraging creative solution ideas on how to use energy wisely, safely, and effectively from youth community nationwide. The most outstanding ideas from the contest will be considered for implementation in future environmental projects in 2024.
Fostering Sports for positive lifestyle
‘Fostering Sports’ project aims to cultivate sportsmanship and promote healthy lifestyles among the communities. The project commits to upgrade 30 community sports playgrounds across 30 provinces from 2022 to 2024. As of August 2023, the project has already completed 10 playgrounds which have been handed over to provinces: Thai Binh, Khanh Hoa, Bac Giang, Binh Dinh, Tuyen Quang, Dak Lak, Soc Trang, Dong Thap, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An.
As part of completion achieved in 2022, HCYU and Bia Saigon have also organized Bia Saigon Cup Youth Football Tournament 2023 with the participation of 10 football teams from 10 provinces where Fostering Sports implemented to welcome the upgraded sport playground in Thai Binh,
Development & Empowerment for young entrepreneurs
The partnership between HCYU and SABECO also focuses on empowering and supporting young entrepreneurs in rural areas through coaching and mentoring programs. Luong Dinh Cua Award, a prestigious award initiated by HCYU since 2006 to honor talented young individuals excelling in doing business in rural areas, now enjoys SABECO’s support since 2022. In 2023, SABECO will continue a series of coaching and mentoring programs with HCYU in Ha Nam, Khanh Hoa and Can Tho provinces, imparting practical knowledge about entrepreneurship and digital transformation to more than 300 young talents. By doing so, the partnership aims to enhance their competitiveness and contribution to local economic development. These programs also provide valuable networking opportunities for new startups to explore cooperation prospects and growth possibilities.
In 2022, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) and Sabeco have jointly implemented major projects, such as: 34 youth projects "Light up the rural”, one of eight outstanding national youth projects. 10 out of 30 community sports fields of the "Strengthening sports" project in the period of 2022-2024. And to create a healthy playground, strengthen exchanges and solidarity, promote physical activities and sports, improve health among youth union members and young people on the occasion of handing over 10 community sports fields, today HCYU cooperates with Sabeco to organize the Youth Friendly Football Tournament Saigon Beer Cup in 2023.
The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and Sabeco have shown their initiative and close collaboration in the process of implementing the practical, meaningful contents and activities in various fields creating positive effects in youth union members, young people and the whole society; We hope that there will be meaningful programs and activities in the coming time to continue to promote the strengths of both sides, towards the common goals for a sustainable development of Vietnam.”
Mr. Bennett Neo, General Director of SABECO shared: “Both initiatives are set to enhance the socio-infrastructure of rural areas and bring values to surrounding communities, in line with our Vietnam National Strategy of Green Growth and National target for New-Style Rural Area development. I would like to personally thank everyone who is involved with these projects for their support and commitment, including the local authorities for your facilitation to make these projects happen. Recognizing the significant impact of these projects, together with Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union we are delighted to announce the extension of these initiatives into Phase 2. We recognize this as our commitment and duty as a leading Vietnamese company, as part of our sustainable development strategy focusing on 4 key pillars: Consumption, Conservation, Country and Culture, with the aim to bring out the best of Vietnam. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to further contribute to the socio-economic development of Vietnam
About the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU)
Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) is a socio-political organization of Vietnamese youth. The HCYU was founded, led and trained by the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh. The HCYU’s members are progressive youths, striving for the Party’s ideal and goal of national independence and socialism, for the cause of rich people, strong country, just, democratic and civilized society. The HCYU gathers youth embarking upon on bringing into play the revolutionary heroism and national valuable traditions, organizes and mobilizes youth to be pioneers in the cause of national construction and defense.
The HCYU is a reliable reserve force of the Communist Party of Vietnam and a school of socialism for youth, represents and protects youth’s legal rights and is a core political force in youth movements as well as in other youth organizations of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union unites and develops friendly and equal cooperation relations with progressive youth organizations, youth and people from all over the world to strive for peace, national independence and democracy and social progress, for the future and happiness of youth.
Founded on 26/3/1931.
Number of members: about 6.5 million members.
ABOUT SABECO
With 147 years of brewing history, Saigon Beer – Alcohol – Beverage Corporation (“SABECO”) has established itself as one of Vietnam’s leading companies.
SABECO includes 26 breweries and 11 trading subsidiaries and has a distribution network consisting of hundred thousand retailers nationwide. SABECO is proud to offer a brand portfolio that consists of some of the most well-loved beer brands in Vietnam, including Bia Lac Viet, Bia Saigon Chill, Bia 333, Bia Saigon Special, Bia Saigon Export, Bia Saigon Lager and Bia Saigon Gold.
Our flagship brands Bia Saigon and Bia 333 have been consistently recognized for its outstanding quality by prestigious local and international organizations, such as “National Brand” of Vietnam for several years. Most recently, it has received 8 gold and silver medals from the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) in the United States, Asia Beer Championship 2022, the gold medal at the International Brewing Awards 2019 (IBAs), the Gold, Silver and Bronze Prize at the International Beer Cup 2019 (IBC) and Gold, Silver Medal at Australia International Brewing Award 2020 (AIBA), Gold and Silver Medal at Monde Selection Award 2021.
With a commitment to investing in business development along with sustainable development, SABECO is always striving to create positive changes to enhance the position of the Vietnamese brand, while promoting positive development for the community and Vietnam. Accordingly, our sustainable development strategy focuses on four pillars: Consumption, Conservation, Country, and Culture.
For more information on SABECO, please visit: www.sabeco.com.vn
Press information, please contact: Dinh Nguyen Thi Huong, Head of Corporate Communication, Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (SABECO) – huongdnt@sabeco.com.vn