Mai Kieu Lien, CEO and chairwoman of Vinamilk -- Vietnam’s largest diary producer -- is amongst the 50 noteworthy path-breakers in the Asia's 50 Power Businesswomen list, released Wednesday by US business magazine Forbes.

Vinamilk CEO and Chairwoman Mai Kieu Lien, Photo: Forbes

The only Vietnamese woman to be listed, Lien, 58, was described as a dynamic CEO that has built the company “not only into one of Vietnam's most profitable brands but also a respected name across Asia.”

“Dairy promoters have long touted the nutritional qualities of milk, saying it has something for everybody. In Vietnam they have another trump card: Mai Kieu Lien,” the report remarked.

“This is a full surprise to me, and I am very happy,” Lien shared with Tuoi Tre following the news.

“It is also a mark of pride to Vietnamese businesswomen, and it means that the world has recognized the contribution of local businesswomen to national economic development.”

Forbes said that the inaugural Asia's 50 Power Businesswomen focuses on honoring businesswomen who are actively engaged in profit-seeking businesses.

“These women are part of an increasing force in the region’s remarkable economic rise,” it said.

Lien was born in France and educated in Moscow. In 1976, she returned to Vietnam and joined Southern Milk & Café, which is Vinamilk's predecessor, helping to modernize the old state dairy collective. She became chairwoman after privatization in 2003.

In 2010, Vinamilk also received the Forbes Asia’s 2010 Best Enterprise award among Top 200 best enterprises in Asia.

It was the first time that a Vietnamese enterprise to be acknowledged among 151 new others and awarded the title "Best Under A Billion" for small and medium-sized businesses with capital worth less than $1 billion by the professional financial magazine.

Source: Tuoi Tre