Bamboo Capital founder brings Vietnamese values to global stage

Nguyen Ho Nam, founder of Vietnam’s private conglomerate Bamboo Capital Group, stands out as a model entrepreneur, pioneering the promotion of ESG (environmental, social and governance) values that are deeply rooted in the Vietnamese culture while meeting international standards.

Through his leadership, Bamboo Capital, listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange as BCG, has made significant contributions to Vietnam’s economy, ranking among the 100 largest private taxpayers in Vietnam in 2024. The company is also a leader in corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Regarding personal achievements, Nam was elected vice president of the Swiss-Vietnam Economic Forum (SVEF), an international organization fostering economic relations between Vietnam and Switzerland under the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Building a business group for the nation, society

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country in 2020, Bamboo Capital, under Nam’s guidance, embraced the mission of creating a business that serves both the nation and society.

While ESG was still a relatively new concept in Vietnam’s business landscape, he laid the first bricks in building corporate values in line with global ESG standards. The company underwent comprehensive restructuring to strengthen its commitment to all three pillars of ESG: environment, social and governance.

As Vietnam is engaged deeply in international institutions like the UN Climate Change Conference (COP), Bamboo Capital made specific commitments to shift its investment structure by focusing on renewable energy development. It successfully connected large-scale solar energy projects to the grid.

Currently, Bamboo Capital is one of the top three renewable energy developers in Vietnam. The group operates many solar power plants such as the 40.6 MW BCG Long An 1 and the 100.5 MW BCG Long An 2 solar power plants in Long An province; and the 49.3 MW BCG Vinh Long in Vinh Long province.

Notably, the 330 MW Phu My plant in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province is BCG Energy’s largest solar power facility, generating around 520 million kWh per year. It meets the consumption of approximately 200,000 households, while helping to reduce CO2 emissions by hundreds of thousands of tons annually.

BCG Energy is also developing rooftop solar projects at industrial parks and residential areas, providing clean and cost-saving energy to households and businesses.

In July 2024, the company marked a milestone by officially launching the Tam Sinh Nghia waste-to-energy plant in Ho Chi Minh City – a project with significant social impact, helping to address urban waste issues.

The project is expected to be operational at the end of 2025. Its first phase, with an investment of VND6.4 trillion ($252.7 million), will enable the plant to incinerate 2,000-2,600 tons of waste per day, equivalent to an electricity generation capacity of 60 MW.

The plant will generate 365 million kWh annually, meeting the electricity needs of about 100,000 households and reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 257,000 tons per year.

The second phase will increase its capacity to 8,000 tons of waste per day, positioning it as one of the largest waste-to-energy facilities globally.

The group’s environment-related projects, in line with Vietnam’s Net Zero roadmap, have earned international recognition, as evidenced by a partnership with Singapore Power and funding from DBS Bank, one of Singapore’s leading financial institutions.

Bamboo Capital has also formed collaborations with major global companies such as Sembcorp Industries, Hanwha Energy, SK Ecoplant, and Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corp.

Nam’s vision goes beyond business profits. He emphasized that every project must also contribute to the social well-being of the locality where it is located. This commitment is reflected in Bamboo Capital’s annual contributions to local socio-economic development, transport infrastructure, poverty reduction, and employment creation.

Under Nam’s direction, Bamboo Capital established BCG Foundation, a charitable organization that supports education, infrastructure development, and community welfare. The company also set up a life board to take care of employees’ mental and physical health, thus fostering a positive and dynamic work environment.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the life board and BCG Foundation worked closely to support the families of employees and the broader community. Bamboo Capital contributed over VND100 billion ($3.95 billion) to the national Covid-19 Vaccine Fund and provided essential supplies like food, medicines, medical equipment, and emergency vehicles for localities nationwide.

Bamboo Capital’s commitment to social welfare extends to disaster relief efforts as well. In September 2024, when typhoon Yagi devastated northern Vietnam, the group donated medical supplies and functional foods worth VND1.2 billion ($47,344) to affected people via the Ministry of Health. It also delivered VND2 billion ($78,900) to help 33 families in Bac Kan province rebuild homes damaged by the storm.

Bamboo Capital has long prioritized governance, having sustainable development content in its annual reports in line with international standards.

Its construction-infrastructure arm Tracodi is listed on the HoSE as TCD, while Tipharco Pharmaceuticals on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) as DTG, demonstrating their business efficiency and transparent governance.

In 2023-2024, Bamboo Capital successfully registered two additional subsidiaries - BCG Land and BCG Energy - on the Unlisted Public Companies Market (UPCoM) as BCR and BGE, respectively.

Spreading Vietnamese values globally

Under Nam’s leadership, Bamboo Capital has become widely recognized by international organizations and the global business community as one of the pioneers among Vietnamese businesses in implementing ESG standards.

He has also actively worked to promote Vietnamese values on the international stage, particularly through his role as vice president of the Swiss-Vietnam Economic Forum (SVEF). In this capacity, he has facilitated economic cooperation between Vietnam and Switzerland in various sectors, including trade, investment, finance, innovation, and education.

In June 2024, the SVEF successfully organized its annual economic forum, attracting major global business leaders and investors and creating opportunities for sustainable cooperation. In September 2024, the SVEF and Nam co-hosted an investment seminar in Zurich, promoting Nam Dinh province’s investment potential to European partners.

He also delivered a speech titled “Vietnam – A Trusted Friend in a Turbulent World,” at the 25th World Knowledge Forum (WKF) 2024 in Incheon, South Korea in September.

Addressing hundreds of delegates, including politicians, business leaders, economists, and investors from around the world, Nam shared insights on Vietnam’s strategic position in the region, its stable business environment, open policies, and strong potential for cooperation across various sectors.

Through his speech, he helped amplify the image of Vietnam as a dynamic and innovative nation that is ready to collaborate with international partners.

At the 2024 Vietnam Innovation Summit in mid-November, he said: "In the past, many businesses followed a win-lose philosophy, but today, to progress and create sustainable value, this must be replaced with a win-win philosophy, where both sides benefit and support each other’s growth."

The deep business philosophy, the spirit of "win-win" cooperation, and a desire to serve the nation have earned Nam and Bamboo Capital the reputation of being a trusted Vietnamese partner for collaboration in investing in large-scale projects.