Local entrepreneurs join forces for rhino protection

Local entrepreneurs join forces for rhino protection

Local entrepreneurs join forces for rhino protection

Kieu Giang

Around 100 leading entrepreneurs signed a commitment for not using rhino horns or products from wild animals and pledge to contribute to the protection of wild animals in Vietnam at a large-scale campaign hosted by WildAid and CHANGE in Hanoi on Wednesday.

A commitment to preserve wildlife and stop the use of rhino horns in Vietnam was kicked off a year ago when U.S.’s billionaire Richard Branson had a meeting with a group of entrepreneurs in the country during his visit to Vietnam. Since then, there have been 75 more business leaders and 250 senior staff of enterprises signing the pledge.

Vietnam and China are the two major consuming markets of rhino horns that are illegally hunted in South Africa and other African countries. There have been 5,750 rhinos killed in South Africa since 2008.

Some of the entrepreneurs signing the commitment include Tran Hung Huy, chairman of Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), David Do, managing director of Vietnam Investments Group, Truong Hue Van, chairwoman of WMC, Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh, CEO of REE, Dinh Thi Hoa, CEO of Thien Ngan, Bui Quang Ngoc, general director of FPT Group, Le Quoc Vinh, CEO of Le Media, and Hoang Khai, CEO of Khai Silk, among others.

Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh said in a statement that by signing the commitment, she wished to both balance financial benefits and social values. “I understand my role and responsibilities towards social issues, especially the consumption of wild animal products, as many of them have almost neared extinction. I’m calling on my family, friends and business partners to join me in this campaign,” she added.

In addition, these business leaders will be pioneers in building sustainable strategies and corporate social responsibility. “I highly evaluate the commitment of Vietnamese businesspeople. It shows a strong support of local entrepreneurs to strengthen the legal compliance with more effective preservation activities of wild animals,” said Peter Knights, executive director of WildAid, in a statement.

The signing list will be published on some local newspapers and magazines, including Nhip Cau Dau Tu (Vietnam Investment Review), Doanh Nhan Sai Gon, The Thao Van Hoa va Dan Ong, and TravelLive, and will go online at http://bit.ly/2g7pGbO.

CHANGE and WildAid are also making a short documentary, featuring interviews with entrepreneurs about the protection of rhinos. There are more roundtables for businessmen and marketing campaigns to spread the campaign to people in the community.

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