IT engineer gives new look to water hyacinth, million dollar revenue every year

Can Tho - With a background as an IT engineer, Mr. Ha Anh Truong and his colleagues have "given a new look" to water hyacinth fibers, bringing in millions of dollars in revenue each year.

From local advantage to global thinking

Can Tho land with a dense system of rivers and canals and possesses an abundant source of water hyacinth. Realizing the potential of available raw materials and grasping the global green consumption trend, Mr. Ha Anh Truong (37 years old, Long My ward, Can Tho city) boldly started a business in 2018.

By 2022, he officially established a company specializing in the production and trade of handicraft products from water hyacinth, sedge, bamboo, and rattan. The product portfolio is diverse, from home decorations, dining table accessories to sophisticated fashion products such as hats and handbags.

Engineer Ha Anh Truong (Can Tho) invested in a modern greenhouse to dry water hyacinth. Photo: Ta Quang

Mr. Truong shared his business philosophy: “To conquer demanding markets such as Europe, America or Canada, we cannot rely solely on traditional skills. We need to invest thoroughly in design, quality and especially environmental friendliness.”

Thanks to this sharp thinking, from a small initial facility with only 10-20 employees, Mr. Truong's company has now developed into a 6,500 m2 factory with more than 600 employees. The company has researched and produced more than 300 diverse product models, strictly meeting "green" standards - a key factor for export.

Currently, Mr. Truong’s company exports from 6,000 to 30,000 products each month, with values ranging from several tens of thousands to over 1 million VND per product. These products are available in many large countries such as the US, France and Canada… Thanks to that, the company achieves a revenue of over 1 million USD per year.

The company produces more than 300 diverse product models. Photo: Ta Quang

Not only doing business, Mr. Truong also actively contributes to the community. He has carried out many meaningful projects in local water hyacinth craft villages, including giving scholarships, opening free office computer classes for children, and building charity houses for workers, contributing to improving the lives of the people.

Aspiration to reach far

One of the core factors that contributed to the success of Mr. Truong's company (Ecoka brand) is the construction of an effective closed-chain production system. Currently, the company is cooperating with more than 10 craft villages and cooperatives nationwide, of which 12 cooperatives are operating effectively.

This model not only helps the company take the initiative in supply but also brings practical benefits to the people. The majority of workers are farmers who can take advantage of their free time to weave water hyacinth, earning an additional 4-6 million VND per month, contributing to improving the lives of families in rural areas.

Mr. Truong aims to expand the cooperative network in the future. Photo: Ta Quang

Not stopping at producing traditional handicrafts, Mr. Truong's company always proactively personalizes products according to partners' requests. Especially strictly adhering to international standards on safety, quality, environment and biodegradability. These are the "keys" to gradually conquering demanding markets around the world.

In the future, Mr. Truong aims to expand the cooperative network, invest in creative designs and develop strong brands on international e-commerce platforms, continuing to enhance the value of Vietnamese handicrafts.

Source: https://laodong.vn/kinh-doanh/chang-ky-su-it-khoac-ao-moi-cho-luc-binh-doanh-thu-trieu-do-moi-nam-1538338.ldo