Donated 1.5 billion VND to plant 6 "soldiers' vegetable gardens" on Truong Sa island

To stand side by side with the island soldiers in terms of material and spirit, the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises has called on businesses to join hands in supporting the construction of a stronger Truong Sa.

TV.PHARM Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company has just sponsored 1.5 billion VND to develop 6 "soldiers' vegetable gardens" on 6 Truong Sa islands and platforms including: Len Dao, Sinh Ton Dong, An Bang, Da Dong B, Truong Sa and DK 1/21 Platform (Ba Ke). This is the source of funds that the Company's Board of Directors contributed to the Truong Sa Fund from their own salaries combined with the company's social welfare fund to support the construction of practical works on the islands to improve the quality of life for soldiers.

Mr. To Hoai Nam - Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Deputy Head of Delegation No. 21, visited Truong Sa Island, said that there are still many shortages on the islands and island points in Truong Sa Archipelago due to their remote geographical conditions and harsh weather. That urged him and businesses to join hands to improve the material life of soldiers.

In 2024, TV.PHARM Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company is one of the Association's strongest supporters of the greening movement in Truong Sa.

“I want to invite businesses to come along so that they can understand more about the lives of soldiers on remote islands, which are hard and deprived, but they are still brave and resilient. From there, the “soldiers on the economic front” will join hands with the island soldiers, providing material and spiritual support for Truong Sa. Therefore, in the past two years, the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises has called on businesses to join hands towards Truong Sa," Mr. To Hoai Nam emphasized.

The Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises expressed his hope that the Ministry of National Defense, the Navy, the units protecting Truong Sa, and relevant authorities will continue to support the business community to go to Truong Sa so that many businesses can see the hardships of soldiers on remote islands and thereby share their experiences to join hands in building a stronger Truong Sa.

Colonel Ngo Van Thanh, Political Commissar of the Naval Technical Department - Head of the working delegation, said that with the movement "The whole country for Truong Sa, Truong Sa for the whole country", the army and people of Truong Sa island district and DK 1 platform always receive attention and support in many aspects from agencies, departments, branches and organizations from the central to local levels, especially enterprises, economic and political organizations of the people nationwide and overseas Vietnamese.

Through the journeys to the sea, we once again affirm the integrity of national sovereignty at sea and promote the socialization of the task of protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland, mobilizing all resources for the sea and islands and encouraging localities across the country to turn to Truong Sa, for Truong Sa, for the sea and islands of the Fatherland. From the joint efforts with the resources of organizations and enterprises to build each island, island point, and platform to be truly strong in defense, good in lifestyle, beautiful in landscape and increasingly greener, brighter, more beautiful, and more stable.

Working Group No. 21 (2024) visited Truong Sa archipelago, DK1/21 Platform from May 18 to 24, with the participation of 272 delegates from the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Ministry of Home Affairs, Yen Bai province, Tay Ninh province, TV.PHARM Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company (member of Aikya Group) and central and local agencies, enterprises...

On the way to Truong Sa, ship KN290 took the delegation to visit and encourage officers and soldiers at 6 islands: Len Dao, Sinh Ton Dong, An Bang, Da Tay C, Da Dong B, Truong Sa and DK 1/21 platform (Ba Ke).

Anyone who has come to Truong Sa archipelago and seen the harsh weather conditions, the poor nutrition of the barren land and the salty sea can fully appreciate the efforts and perseverance of the officers and soldiers in growing vegetables for daily meals.

On the islands, green vegetables are very precious because they are extremely difficult to care for, especially on submerged islands. Because every handful of soil must be brought from the mainland, all items such as broken pots, plastic troughs, punctured buckets, and cement pots are used by soldiers to grow vegetables. In addition, hanging systems are also applied to optimize the space for growing climbing plants such as Malabar spinach, squash, and cucumbers. In particular, the vegetable garden is always surrounded by corrugated iron sheets and nets to prevent wind and salty air from blowing in from the sea, minimizing the negative effects of weather conditions on the growth of green vegetables on the island.

It is known that the planting of green vegetables in Truong Sa has been of interest to naval officers and soldiers for many years. Especially recently, with the help of the mainland in transporting soil, materials for building greenhouses, and providing seeds and plants suitable for the climate, it has helped soldiers at the islands and platforms to be more proactive in planting and caring for green vegetables.

Some pictures of soldiers' vegetable gardens in Truong Sa archipelago: