HCM CITY — HDBank and Vietjet can become top businesses not only in the country but also the region and world, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân said while visiting the two companies on Monday.

The HCM City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank and budget carrier Vietjet Air, owned by the Sovico Group, have been contributing greatly to the country’s economy over the years, she said.

Speaking during her visits on the first day of work after the Tết (Lunar New Year) holidays, she said she was very impressed by HDBank and Vietjet’s annual reports for 2018.

Their combined profit was nearly VNĐ10 trillion (US$430.3 million) and they paid more than VNĐ7.5 trillion in taxes, she said.

“Given their solid foundation and contributions to the economy in the past decade, I believe HDBank and Viejet will continue to progress and become top businesses not only in Việt Nam but also at the regional and global levels.”

HDBank has assets of more than VNĐ216 trillion, 285 transaction offices and 14,000 financial transaction points.

Last year it listed on the HCM Stock Exchange and entered the VN30 Index, which groups the 30 largest stocks by market capitalisation and liquidity.

Vietjet now has 70 aircrafts and flies on more than 100 air routes, two thirds of them international.

Last year it transported more than 23 million passengers, the highest number of any Vietnamese airline.

Nguyễn Thị Phương Thảo, permanent vice chairwoman of HDBank and CEO of Vietjet Air, said the two companies have contributed to the international integration of Việt Nam’s capital and securities markets.

Besides complimenting the companies’ economic achievements, Ngân also hailed them for their social and charitable activities and contributions to the State budget and the country’s economic development.

Ngân also thanked the foreign employees of the two companies for their contributions to the growth of Việt Nam’s economy.

"We see you as important components of our country," she said. — VNS