The economic relationship between Vietnam and the U.S. has prospered for the last 10 years, witnessing significant expansion in trade, with Vietnam emerging as the US’s chief trading partner in ASEAN. Accordingly, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in both countries have many opportunities to participate in new trade relationships. However, these benefits also come with many challenges related to the business practices and the complexity of international trade.
NOBLE NETWORK WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2019
Noble Network Investment Management Consultancy JSC was officially established on June 19, 2019 for the purpose of bridging the gap between Small and Medium Enterprises in the US and Vietnam. More than 90% of Noble Network’s formation capital was from US investors. At that time, its headquarter office was established to include Directors Loren Thomas Lancaster and Ngo Long Giang, and its first two employees covering trade consulting and accounting, at Floor 2, Building 25T2, Lot 05, Tran Duy Hung Street, Trung Hoa Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi City.
THE FIRST MILESTONE
The first important milestone when embarking on Noble Network’s new journey was signing a bi-directional Services Agreement on August 12, 2019 with Noble Network’s largest investor, Front Range Venture Connections, Inc., based in Colorado, USA. This agreement established the foundation for Noble Network to efficiently serve customers while expanding international operations in Vietnam and the US.
By the end of its first year, with five employees, Noble Network had launched a total of three projects with US customers, under the Service Agreement with FRVC. Our first clients specialized in beef, bamboo retracting ladders, and plastic products.
CONTINUE EXPANDING BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
The number of projects at Noble Network steadily grew in the second year. In 2020, the company witnessed further expansion of its business activities and an increase in the number of customers in both the Vietnamese and US markets. Notably, Noble Network successfully executed the first project with a Vietnamese customer. Our projects in 2020 included companies specializing in steel, COVID -19 personal protection garments, and medical supplies.
The year of 2020 also marked the initial success of Noble Network in establishing the “Noble” network—a network where noble business leaders, executives, investors and educators come together to empower socially aware companies and their leaders. In 2020, the network welcomed its first six (6) small and medium-sized enterprises members in Vietnam and the US.
REVENUE GROWTH DURING THE PANDEMIC
In 2021, the “Noble” network expanded to include 10 members. The number of projects executed by Noble Network JSC increased to seven (7), with an additional five (5) new projects. The number of employees doubled compared to 2020, reaching 10 employees, and the company achieved healthy revenue growth and profitability by providing valuable consulting services to its customers. Example projects focused on fitness equipment, securities analysis, agriculture education, medicinal products, and plastic recycling.
Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Noble Network continued to develop, overcoming obstacles and achieving the highest revenue since its founding, surpassing 1.2 billion in 2021 and 2 billion in 2022. Profit reached record levels to the point where the assets of the company more than exceeded its initial capital investment. Company trips to business headquarters and manufacturing facilities of partners and customers in 2022 strengthened cooperative relationships, leading to signing many new cooperation agreements. The number of employees also increased from 10 to 12 by 2022, with the addition of specialist roles to enhance service quality. Project examples in 2022 included plywood and glassware.
NEW BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN 2023
In 2023, the year kicked off with a multi-day trip to the Trade Winds ASEAN: Thailand event in Bangkok, in March, to meet with international business leaders, diplomates and the Thailand Prime Minister. The event aimed to help US businesses looking to increase export sales in the Southeast Asian region. At this event, Noble Network promoted art glass cups made by a client business in Colorado, USA, to potential customers in the region, showcasing our ability to facilitate trade not only in Vietnam but also throughout the Southeast Asian region.
Throughout the year, many ongoing projects were maintained. Notably, the art plastic cup production project between a US business and a manufacturing business in Vietnam – as Noble Network’s first Vietnan export production project was officially launched. Example projects included consulting on vitamin supplements, rice farming, wheat farming, tiny homes.
2023 signifies the start of Noble Network’s plan to expand its business into the import, export, customs brokerage, and freight forwarding sector. For this new business model addition, Noble Network has been seeking government approval to directly engage in trade transactions, facilitating the movement of capital and goods between businesses in the two countries. We plan for this expansion to be completed in 2026 after sufficient capital is on-hand and invested anew in Noble Network while we develop new professional skills among our employees.
CONTINUING TO DEVELOP, LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE
Noble Network has been providing services to numerous small and medium-sized enterprises in the United States and Vietnam for the last 5 years. The company’s customers and partners operate in various industries such as food, consumer goods, finance, and agriculture… The year of 2024 is proving to be a healthy continuation of our history while we lay the foundation for our new model extension. With a team of young, dynamic, and professional staff, Noble Network always aims to deliver the best quality of service to customers. This first 5-year milestone signifies the significant and successful growth and development of Noble Network JSC.
In the future, Noble Network will continue to expand, develop, and strive to achieve many additional important milestones, and to develop new capabilities to better serve our customers. We are truly grateful for the overwhelming support we have received to empower and realize Noble Network’s mission and vision. We are honored to watch our noble values and positive corporate philosophy increasingly embraced in Vietnam and the US as we celebrate together the value we are creating among the companies we serve.