Phan Vu-Japan Pile celebrate 15 years of partnership in building sustainable value

May 26th at 11:06

26-05-2025 11:06:17+07:00

Phan Vu Corporation and Japan Pile Corporation celebrate the 15th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year. On this occasion, Phan Khac Long, chairman of Phan Vu Corporation, and Akira Kurose, chairman of Japan Pile Corporation, shared their joint vision for the future.

The construction and infrastructure industry is undergoing a transformation, with increasing demands for technology, quality, and sustainable development.

Phan Vu-Japan Pile celebrate 15 years of partnership in building sustainable value

Phan Khac Long, chairman of Phan Vu Corporation (left) and Akira Kurose, chairman of Japan Pile Corporation

How has the 15-year cooperation journey between Phan Vu and Japan Pile unfolded?

Long: The past 15 years have been a meaningful and valuable journey for both sides. From the very beginning of our cooperation, Phan Vu and Japan Pile have shared a strategic vision based on mutual respect, trust, and joint development. Japan Pile has not only been an investor but also a strategic partner who has stood by Phan Vu in many pivotal decisions.

Starting as a minority shareholder with a 5 per cent stake in 2011, Japan Pile had increased its ownership to 51 per cent by 2013. Since then, they have accompanied Phan Vu in scaling up operations, transferring technology, and enhancing management capabilities. This strategic partnership has not only reinforced Phan Vu’s position in the domestic market but also enabled us to gradually expand into Southeast Asia.

Thanks to this cooperation, Phan Vu has gained access to advanced technology, modern management processes, and international standards in quality, safety, and sustainable development. At the same time, we have actively shared our market knowledge, customer networks, and the unique characteristics of Vietnam’s infrastructure sector. I can confidently say this is a model partnership, creating value together, growing together, and moving forward together.

What specific changes has Japan Pile’s partnership brought to Phan Vu’s operations?

Long: In terms of technology, Phan Vu has comprehensively upgraded its manufacturing process for pre-stressed spun concrete piles, applying Japan’s advanced technical standards. Japan Pile has also helped us improve our quality management system, occupational safety, and equipment maintenance.

From a development strategy perspective, Japan Pile’s involvement has given Phan Vu a more stable financial foundation to expand factories, invest in modern equipment, and develop human resources.

Additionally, we’ve gained better access to Japanese contractors and investors operating in Vietnam, a market known for its high standards but rich with potential.

Phan Vu’s revenue rose from about VND900 billion ($36 million) in 2013 to nearly VND 3.8 trillion ($152 million) just before the Covid-19 pandemic, an increase of more than fourfold.

I believe the most important factor has been our mutual understanding and trust, which have sustained our strong partnership over the past 15 years. We share a strong consensus on core values such as transparency, professionalism, a commitment to quality, and long-term development. Both sides prioritise common interests over short-term gains and maintain open dialogue, respecting cultural differences and diverse management styles.

Moreover, we continuously update our strategies according to the times and adapt our collaboration model to each stage of development. Thanks to this, our relationship has not only endured but grown deeper and more effectively.

What are your expectations for the next phase of the Phan Vu and Japan Pile partnership?

Long: We will continue to expand the scope of our collaboration, not only in pile manufacturing but also in comprehensive foundation solutions, high-tech engineering services, and even large-scale infrastructure projects that incorporate innovation and creativity.

In the context of Vietnam’s strong push for infrastructure investment, urbanisation, and green transition, I believe that with the continued partnership of Japan Pile, Phan Vu will play an increasingly important role in the sustainable construction ecosystem.

Both parties will continue to exchange personnel, technology, and management models to enhance our competitive capabilities, not only in Vietnam but also across Southeast Asia and, in the near future, Asia as a whole.

We remain committed to the direction and path we have chosen over the past 30 years: maintaining our leading position in the foundation pile construction industry and focusing on innovation to grow more sustainably.

If we were to set a concrete target, it would be striving to achieve $500 million in revenue by 2030.

What is your assessment of the partnership between Japan Pile and Phan Vu?

Kurose: My evaluation of the partnership between Japan Pile and Phan Vu, looking at both the past 15 years and future prospects, is highly positive.

Looking back, I can affirm that Japan Pile and Phan Vu have built a truly ideal and distinctive partnership. Through the exchange of core elements such as technology, capital, and human resources, both companies have grown significantly. Japan Pile’s advanced technological capabilities, combined with Phan Vu’s strong local presence in the Vietnamese market and our mutual support in management resources, have greatly contributed to expanding our business operations and improving profitability for both sides.

Looking ahead to the next 15 years, I would especially like to emphasise continued human resource development as a foundation for creating synergy across the entire Asia Pile Group, beyond the individual success of either company. I believe that gradually building a system where people from different cultures can collaborate for a shared goal will deliver immense value to the group’s long-term growth strategy.

I don’t see the next 15 years as merely an extension of our past successes. On the solid foundation of trust and understanding that has been built, both companies need to elevate the relationship to a new level. We aim to strengthen cooperation in areas such as technological integration, joint market strategies, and optimal resource allocation to fully leverage our synergy and enhance the group’s overall competitiveness.