At the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Huu Hao, said the award acknowledged the winners’ efforts in observing regulations on fire prevention and fighting so as to ensure operational safety, reduce damage and maintain sustainable development in the process of global economic integration.  

The event is organised by the Industrial and Telecommunications Service Centre in collaboration with the Department of Industrial Environment and Safety Technology under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Police Department’s Fire Fighting Force, under the Ministry of Public Security.

Despite a fall in the number of fires and explosions in recent years, they have caused huge damage. According to the Police Department’s Fire Fighting Force, 1,948 fires were reported in 2009, including 271 forest fires, and the remaining 1,677 fires caused damage worth VND500 billion, down 3 percent and 18 percent respectively compared to 2008.

The number of explosions in 2009 fell by 40 percent but the toll increased by 56 percent against 2008.   

Fires broke out mostly in cities and provinces which have many industrial zones, such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Hung Yen and An Giang. They accounted for 34 percent of the total number of fires and 77 percent of total damage in the country.