Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong (standing) instructs her employees on how to pack macadamia nuts. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoai Thu

In 2014, after graduating from the College of Commerce in central Da Nang City, Phuong, from Central Highlands Dak Lak Province, stayed in the city to work.

However, she struggled to find a job that suited her and decided to return to her hometown in Phu Loc Commune, Krong Nang District.

After returning home when local people harvested macadamia, Phuong found they still faced many difficulties in selling their products.

Through research, she realised that this could be a good business opportunity and bought some machines for macadamia processing.

Initially, her products were damaged a lot because the machines, drying techniques and preservation were not correct. She lost nearly VND60 million (US$2,600).

After the first failure, she researched and tried again.

"My efforts have finally paid off and been recognised," Phuong said.

Her products received good feedback from local consumers, packaged under the trademark Damaca Nguyen Phuong and in 2017, the company sold 25 tonnes of macadamia nuts, earning VND450 million.

Phuong won the first prize in the first start-up competition in the Dak Lak Province in 2017.

She also received support with VND5 billion from Shark Tank Vietnam, the reality show for start-up investors, in 2019.

These two events were stepping stones on the path to Phuong's success, helping her company bring in a stable capital source to operate, expand production and win the brand's place in the market.

Over the past two years, the young girl has researched and launched several new products such as macadamia kernels, chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, macadamia oil and is researching to produce macadamia milk.

Phuong has also reformed and applied international standards to production and product quality control.

She has invested VND4 billion to build a factory with a capacity of 300 tonnes of macadamia nuts per year.

About 70 tonnes of macadamia nuts had been consumed in 2020.

The company's products have been exported to South Korea, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, and France.

"Phuong is a good example of a start-up in Dak Lak Province. Over the past years, the province has supported her company to participate in trading activities to promote products and trade," said Pham Dong Thanh, head of the provincial Young Entrepreneurs Association.

"She is very quick, knowledgeable about the market and knows how to use her advantages. She has conquered a fastidious market like Europe."

In 2019, Phuong was one of 34 outstanding young people nationwide who received the Luong Dinh Cua Award, an annual honour sponsored by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and given to young people with outstanding achievements in manufacturing, trade, applying modern science technologies, protecting the environment and setting up new rural lifestyles.

2020 was a difficult and challenging year for Phuong and her company due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Many plans to expand production and launch new products have been delayed, Phuong said, adding that the company also had to cut operating costs and use online sale channels to cope.

"COVID-19 has caused many difficulties and it is also an opportunity, creating a time for the company to re-examine production, business processes, weaknesses that needed improvement, and business plans in the future," she said.

Phuong said she fears the brand name of Vietnamese agricultural products, including macadamia products, is not strong enough.

Many businesses and household businesses have yet registered their businesses and are unaware of food hygiene and safety requirements, leading to unhealthy competition in the industry and affecting the brand name of agricultural products, she added.

On her plans for 2021, the 29-year-old said the company will work with local people to form a 100ha raw material area and link with some groups which produce organic products.

"At the same time, the company will expand the factory, research demand, promote our brand and trade promotion activities to expand markets in Europe," she said.

According to Phuong, macadamia products of Vietnam still face great challenges to meet the requirements of the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement and to export products to the EU.

"Businesses must make efforts and move forward," said Phuong.

In addition to her own business, she is also the chairman of the Krong Nang District's Young Entrepreneurs' Association.

She has shared and supported young people with her start-up experiences.

According to chairman of Krong Nang District People's Committee, Truong Hoai Anh, Damaca Nguyen Phuong is a young and dynamic enterprise in the locality.

"The company not only gathers members and co-operatives to set up macadamia growing areas and ensure output for farmers but also creates stable jobs for nearly 30 local workers," Anh said.

The company's products recently received certification as 'One Commune, One Product' (OCOP) products.

"This is the good news not only for business but also for the local agriculture sector in the sustainable development of macadamia trees."

For Phuong, the fear of failure can hold people back from success.

"You must be confident, persistent and eager to learn," Phuong said. 

VNS

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