HCM CITY — VietJet’s President and CEO Nguyễn Thị Phương Thảo has won the ASEAN Entrepreneurs Award 2018 during a ceremony in Seoul last week.

The award recognised Thảo’s significant contributions to bolstering economic and trade exchange between South Korea and ASEAN.

The ceremony was held by the ASEAN–Korea Centre and Korean Maekjung Media Group as part of the World Knowledge Forum.

In his speech at the ceremony, Secretary General of the ASEAN–Korea Centre Lee Hyuk, described the award as an acknowledgement of VietJet’s quality operation, its creative services and contributions during past years.

He said he believed the award will serve as a springboard for VietJet to promote its business and to expand its presence in South Korea, and to make more contribution to economic and trade cooperation.

VietJet’s debut flight between Việt Nam and South Korea was in 2013. Vietjet’s vice president Nguyễn Thị Thúy Bình said the carrier is proud to have positive contributions to accelerating travel and trade exchange between the two countries.

As of 2017, the passenger turnover back and forth two countries reached to more than five million, three times the figure of 2013. The number of airlines flying the same route increased from three in 2013 to 10 in 2017.

There were around 750 flights per week, eight times higher than that of 2013, Bình said, adding that VietJet has carried more than two million passengers, many of whom were first-time ever air travelers.

Established in 2000, the World Knowledge Forum gathers more than 200 businesses and leaders from around the world ranging from environment and international organisations to the world’s biggest corporations and institutions. — VNS