1 Dec 2019

Welcome to the PaperOne™ customer feature, where we interview our customers to find out more about them, their company, their thoughts about the industry and their partnership with APRIL Group.

For this month’s spotlight, we spoke with Ms Thu Ha, Vice Director of IPM Company Limited. Headquartered in Vietnam, IPM specialises in development and infrastructure, and has a strong domain in the local paper and pulp industry.

Here are the highlights of our conversation:

PaperOne™: Hi Ms Thu Ha, it’s a pleasure to speak with you. Tell us more about yourself and what you do at IPM.

Thu Ha: Happy to be here. My sister and I established IPM Company Limited in 2003, and today we have expanded our operations to include investments in various segments including education, services and real estate investment consultancy. Presently, I am the Vice Director of the company, as well as the Managing Director of our pulp and paper division.

PaperOne™: Why and how did you decide to partner with APRIL to bring PaperOne™ products to Vietnam?

Thu Ha: We were looking for a supplier that could provide us with high quality paper to complement our printing and inserting machines. So in 2002, our friend introduced APRIL to us. And from 2003 onwards, we started importing paper from APRIL not only for our office use but also for trading and distribution in Vietnam. After 16 years of partnership with APRIL, we successfully introduced their products to the North of Vietnam, where they now enjoy a sizeable market share and annual growth.

We offer a full range of APRIL products, such as offset paper for manufacturers and suppliers, as well as office papers to cater to the Vietnamese consumers.

PaperOne™: It’s interesting that you and your sister decide to go into this venture together. Can you share more about how that decision came about?

Thu Ha: We have been very close since we were kids. Before we decided to start this business together, we worked in similar industries. My sister, Mrs Quynh Chau had been working in pulp and paper business since 1995, while I worked for a printing ink manufacturer since 2000. We spotted an untapped business opportunity with stable profits and good cash flow, so through our combined expertise, started supplying envelopes and offering various printing solutions for a variety of industries, such as telecommunications, insurance and education.

PaperOne™: Do you think this relationship has helped differentiate IPM from other players in the industry?

Thu Ha: Definitely. My sister and I believe that relationships are key in doing business in Vietnam. This is why we work towards building and maintaining strong relationships with our partners, and being supportive no matter the circumstances. Because of the trusting and supportive culture, we have developed long-standing relationships with them, with our shortest partnership being 10 years while our longest partnerships have been with us ever since we started 16 years ago. Even beyond business relations, we have established strong friendships with our customers too.

PaperOne™: That’s heart-warming to hear. Beyond going the extra mile for your customers, are there any Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities that IPM does for the community?

Thu Ha: We believe in giving back to the local community, and one of the ways is by providing relief to individuals and refurbishment for schools affected by storms and typhoons across Vietnam. In central Vietnam where flooding is common, we also provide free food and amenities to those affected. Annually, we offer monetary support to a group of doctors who make their way up to the mountains in Ha Giang Province to provide treatment and medication for the rural villages.

PaperOne™: One last question: in your opinion, what is the most interesting fact about paper that others might not be aware of?

Thu Ha: I am very involved in managing the demand and supply of pulp and paper, so I am able to witness first hand whenever there is a potential downturn or boom in the Vietnamese economy. Through this, I’ve come to observe that the consumption of paper is a good gauge of the health of the domestic economy. Interestingly, international relations also strongly influences the paper consumption in Vietnam.

To find the most suitable PaperOne™ products for your business, contact us at customer_service@aprilasia.com