VCCI Chairman Vu Tien Loc and Director of VCCI’s branch in Hai Phong Phi Van Duc present certificates of merit to individuals with excellent achievements. (Photo: An Dang/VNA)

 30 prominent businesspeople were honoured and awarded certificates of merit by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

Entrepreneur Bach Thai Buoi, dubbed the "King of Ships" in the early 20th century, was posthumously given the “Outstanding businessman” title.

Nguyen Thuy Huong, Director of the Ha Long Pearl Company, one of the 30 awardees, said: “Business people must contribute to the development of the community. In the current context, when it’s easy to access other economies, our responsibility is even greater.”

Vietnam now has more than 600,000 enterprises. More than 8,000 new companies were established in the northern coastal region last year, with a total registered capital of nearly 2.4 billion USD, creating millions of jobs.