Because He Had His Own Reasons
After finishing high school in 1969, Nguyễn Như Khuê went to Germany to study mechanical engineering. While in Germany, he actively participated in the patriotic student movement along with fellow Southern Vietnamese students. Those passionate days of activism strengthened their bond, and students like Nguyễn Như Khuê burned with the dream of returning to Vietnam after graduation to help build a unified and prosperous nation.
In 1977, Nguyễn Như Khuê returned home for a visit. However, his ambitions and dreams did not take root or materialize as he had hoped. Returning to Germany, he joined a major German corporation, later moving to work for ICI, a British multinational and one of the world's five largest chemical companies at the time. His frequent business trips took him to many countries smaller than Vietnam in population but highly developed, and to remote lands with nothing but newly built factories—established by people from those very regions. Witnessing the miraculous growth and resilience of these small nations and remote places fascinated him but also left him feeling deeply unsettled and nostalgic for his homeland.
In 1993, he was assigned to Singapore as the Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific region at Krauss Maffei (Germany). His global experience allowed him to observe that Vietnam's economy remained modest compared to its neighbors. This reignited his determination to return home and contribute. So, he gave up everything and returned to Vietnam.
Nguyễn Như Khuê embarked on a new journey, founding Lotus Chemical Technology in 1994 in Ho Chi Minh City. The company specialized in PVC plastic granule production and plastic equipment trading, bringing modern plastic technology to Vietnam. From earning a high salary, he became someone with no salary at all—borrowing money to build factories and pay employees. From enjoying company-provided housing and transportation, he found himself riding a motorbike and living in his office. At times, he questioned, "Am I on the right path?" But he had his own reasoning.
He shared, "Every country starts from poverty. Germany, Japan, South Korea, Singapore… none of them were wealthy to begin with. But they were determined to rise. Ordinary people cannot do it alone—it requires the responsibility of the intellectual elite."
"For years, I worked abroad, repaying my 'debt' to myself and my family through my personal and professional growth. But there is one 'debt' I have yet to repay—the debt to my country. That is the responsibility of an intellectual," Nguyễn Như Khuê reflected.
Between 2009 and 2013, Lotus became the largest plastics exporter in Vietnam, reaching an annual export value of $60 million. Once conditions were stable, Nguyễn Như Khuê ventured into a new field: high-tech plastics.
Many friends advised him, "Khuê, why take on more burden? Just invest in real estate or another service sector, and you'll make easy money." To some extent, he acknowledged that they were right.
"But what is the true value of contributing to society?" he questioned. "For a country to develop sustainably, it needs a strong manufacturing foundation. It cannot rely solely on services. We must master technology to create real products instead of merely importing goods year after year."
In a time when societal values are often distorted, he remains steadfast in pursuing true value rather than chasing monetary gains. He chooses to invest rather than speculate, remaining loyal to the path of manufacturing. He also embraces the difficult challenge of advancing high-tech plastics.
Today, Nguyễn Như Khuê continues to work tirelessly, driven by the belief that Vietnamese people deserve the best services and the highest quality products—made by Vietnamese hands. "If we do not respect ourselves, who will?" he asserts.
He firmly believes that if every individual takes pride in their identity and respects their national dignity, the country will grow stronger, and each family and individual will thrive.
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