Thai billionaire Vikrom Kromadit: I always believe in truth
Thai billionaire Vikrom Kromadit had a talk with Vietnamese readers and introduced his book Establishing a Career with Bare Hands published by First New Publisher in 2009 at Le Van Tam Park in the city’s District 1 on Wednesday. The Daily had a short interview with the chief executive officer of Amata Corporation Public Company Limited, who is ranked Thailand’s 34th richest person with a net worth estimated at 4.7 billion baht (US$145 million).
What are the key factors to make you successful?
Since I was born, I have always believed in the truth, being honest with people. Everything I do should be fair and reasonable to everybody. Finally, I learn lessons from the Japanese that I should have a good vision when doing business, I look at the global market. There are the three main factors helping me to be successful.
Have you ever had failures and how can you overcome them?
Certainly, I have. But the biggest failure that I met was in 1997, a time called the Economic Depression in Southeast Asia. I had a debt worth nearly US$1 billion. After that, I borrowed money from the bank to settle the debt and continued my business. I’m sure that you wonder why the bank lent me such a big amount of money. It’s because I told them the truth. I was honest and worked hard every single day. Therefore, they trusted me.
What inspired you to write the book Establishing a Career with Bare Hands?
I have experienced many things in my life and I want to share them with everybody. I started my business at five years old and when I was eight, I owned a shop.
When you were a child, did you ever think you would be a billionaire?
I opened my own account at the bank at five years old and when I was thirteen, I had US$500. Everyday, I tried my best to make money and become a rich man. Every dollar I make has good meaning for me, for my staff of Amata Industrial Parks, and for my country.
Do you think you succeed because of luck?
I’m an engineer, so I don’t believe in unreasonable things. Everything has a reason and business does too. If you want to succeed in business you should have a big and potential market to consume the products you make. Second, you should have a good production to make good products. Your products should be cheap but have high quality. And the important thing is that you have good after sales services to meet customers’ demands. That’s why Bill Gates and his brand Microsoft are popular and successful.
Do you want to continue writing?
I love writing and now I have nine books which have sold a million copies in Thailand. One of my books was adapted into a drama and will be launched next month on Thai Channel 9. At the end of next year, I will publish my book about my love stories, which I tell about every special woman I have met in my life.
Thank you and wish you all the best.
Reported by Tuong Vi