Equitization of state-owned enterprises presents significant challenges, yet People’s Doctor, Pharmacist Trần Thị Đào, General Director of Imexpharm, navigated these early hurdles with remarkable leadership and vision. Her strategic direction and determination enabled Imexpharm to transform and assert its position in a highly competitive market. Under her guidance, the company not only overcame the initial difficulties but also expanded its footprint, with its products increasingly dominating both domestic and international markets. Ms. Đào's leadership has been instrumental in positioning Imexpharm as a prominent force in the pharmaceutical industry.
The company’s profits grew from 4.5 billion VND in 2004 to 45 billion VND in 2006, reaching 28.9 billion VND in the first half of 2007. Dividends rose from 18% in 2001 to 22% in 2004 and 28% in 2006. Charter capital increased from 22 billion VND in 2001 to 44 billion VND in 2005, and reached 84 billion VND in 2006. The material and spiritual well-being of the company's employees has been stable and improving, with the average monthly income per employee rising from 3.5 million VND (2001–2004) to 5 million VND in 2006.
To achieve these successes, Ms. Trần Thị Đào and the Board of Directors have directed various departments to continuously improve technology, enhance product quality, update designs, and diversify product lines. The company has proactively invested billions of VND annually in upgrading facilities, renewing technical equipment, and expanding production. By the end of 2004, the company owned two pharmaceutical factories that met Vietnam’s first GMP-ASEAN standards for good manufacturing practices, along with a laboratory that met GLP standards for good laboratory practices, and a warehouse that met GSP standards for good storage practices. It became the first pharmaceutical company in Vietnam to engage in contract manufacturing for international pharmaceutical corporations. By 2006, its factory achieved GMP-WHO certification.
In addition to production development and increasing company profits, Ms. Trần Thị Đào has prioritized personnel management and training, organizing numerous programs to enhance the professional skills of employees while implementing a policy of rejuvenating the workforce. Currently, 130 out of 450 employees hold undergraduate or postgraduate degrees.
As the company’s General Director, Ms. Trần Thị Đào is a role model of dedication and passion for work, leading an honest lifestyle and practicing frugality to combat wastefulness. She has led the company in participating in various charitable and humanitarian activities in the local community, such as supporting five Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, contributing to the Fund for the Poor, building houses of compassion, donating to gratitude funds, and contributing 100 million VND to the construction of the Đặng Thùy Trâm medical clinic. Notably, her company has also contributed over 1 billion VND annually to the Imexpharm Scholarship Program in many localities.
Through her relentless efforts, Ms. Trần Thị Đào has earned numerous accolades, including the titles of Outstanding Entrepreneur, Chiến sĩ thi đua cấp nghành, chiến sĩ thi đua toàn quốc (National Emulation Soldier), Bông hồng Vàng Award (Golden Lutus) Award, Excellent Manager Award, and the Golden Cup for Visionary Entrepreneurs. In 1995–1996, she was honored with a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister and the Third-Class Resistance Medal. In 1998 and 2000, she was awarded the Second- and Third-Class Labor Medals.
Building on her achievements, Ms. Trần Thị Đào continues to explore market opportunities, leading the company to invest in high-quality production lines to serve Vietnamese consumers and construct a Cephalosporin injectable medicine factory in collaboration with Canada’s Pharmascience at the Vietnam–Singapore Industrial Park. The factory is expected to become operational in 2008.