At the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung said that garment and footwear are the nation’s crucial industries as they create jobs for more than 4 million people.

He acknowledged the two industries’ all-out efforts to cushion the impact of the global economic recession and reap high profits in production.

Such voting will help encourage other businesses to work harder to weather the economic storm and maintain their growth, said Mr. Hung.

Le Quoc An, Chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas), said that Viettien Garment Joint Stock Corporation, Viet Thang Textile Joint Stock Company and Thai Binh Holding and Shoes Manufacturing Company have been the most prominent firms in recent years.

He added that, as the global and national economies have bounced back and started to grow again, garment businesses have developed investment strategies in the post-crisis period. They have set targets of earning US$10.5 billion in exports next year and US$16-18 billion by 2015.

The ceremony was jointly held by the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association and the Saigon Economic Times.