In an interview with us, Senior Colonel Chu Việt Sơn, Party Secretary and Chairman of 21 Chemical One Member Company Limited, stated that alongside fulfilling national defense production tasks, the unit has effectively leveraged its existing production lines and technologies to develop economic products, achieving outstanding results.

Laying the foundation and building the explosives materials industry

Reporter (PV): Sir, which products stand out as the key contributors to Z121’s brand and competitiveness?

Senior Colonel Chu Việt Sơn: Factory Z121 has been assigned the task of producing all types of ordnance components for weapons and is authorized by the Ministry of National Defense to manufacture certain dual-use products serving the national economy. Z121 is one of the pioneering units that laid the foundation for and developed Vietnam’s explosives materials industry.

The factory is a primary supplier meeting the demand for blasting accessories used in the national economy, particularly for mining and extraction industries. It is also the only unit authorized by the Government to produce fireworks for festivals, holidays, and the Lunar New Year, meeting public entertainment needs and exporting to markets such as Japan, the United States, and the Middle East.

These two product groups can be considered the factory’s traditional strengths and the core elements that define its brand.

Over the years, the factory has consistently fulfilled its assigned missions. During the past decade, its average annual growth rate has reached 7–9%, with production value and revenue steadily increasing—from VND 1 trillion in 2011 to an estimated over VND 2 trillion in 2022 for the first time. These results affirm the soundness of the policy of the armed forces participating in economic production, contributing to the national economy, and ensuring stable livelihoods for officers and employees so they can confidently serve national defense production.

PV: In your opinion, what are the core values that enable Factory Z121 to successfully fulfill its missions?

Senior Colonel Chu Việt Sơn: The factory’s products are highly specialized and sensitive, requiring strict safety standards and exceptionally high technical specifications throughout the production process. Accordingly, all employees are thoroughly trained and regularly retrained, while production lines and technological equipment are continuously inspected to ensure safety.

The factory consistently upgrades its machinery and equipment systems to increase labor productivity, improve product quality, reduce costs, and enhance competitiveness both domestically and internationally. At the same time, it invests heavily in science and technology to develop new products aligned with market demands and consumer preferences, resulting in continuous annual revenue growth.

Z121 has proactively invested in modern production lines that deliver high efficiency, including: upgraded ordnance quality improvement lines; automatic detonator pressing lines; fireworks production technology lines and defense material storage systems; and emulsion explosive manufacturing lines.

Understanding market demand, investing in the right direction

PV: Market demand is constantly changing. What solutions does the factory have to closely follow market trends?

Senior Colonel Chu Việt Sơn: We have identified the factory’s strengths as products related to pyrotechnics, ordnance components, and fireworks, and we therefore concentrate our resources—equipment, human resources, and production facilities—on manufacturing these products. However, to invest in specific products in the right direction, it is essential to have a clear and timely understanding of market demand.

For example, in the domestic fireworks market, recognizing the increasing demand for consumer fireworks, the factory began production early in 2022, planning output at ten times higher than in 2021. Nevertheless, consumer preferences are constantly changing, so the factory has adopted a cautious, step-by-step approach, closely aligning production with actual market demand.

For export fireworks, the factory regularly invites foreign experts to visit, conduct surveys, exchange views, negotiate, and cooperate. At the same time, it sends staff overseas to study market demand, product types required by different markets, and logistics solutions.

PV: Could you share the factory’s orientation for developing economic products in the coming period?

Senior Colonel Chu Việt Sơn: The factory consistently follows the directives of the Party, the State, and the Army regarding production and economic development combined with national defense. We have identified that the factory’s development strategy must closely integrate economic development with national defense, and national defense with economic development. In this framework, defense production is the key political task, while economic production is a fundamental, long-term task to ensure sustainable development.

The factory has set targets of achieving annual revenue growth of over 7% for economic products and annual export value growth of over 10%. Investment will focus on key products with strong export potential, such as fireworks, display fireworks, blasting accessories, industrial explosives, and mechanical products.

At the same time, the factory concentrates resources to ensure stable production, strengthens trade promotion activities, expands markets, and closely combines professional training with the enhancement of corporate governance skills and foreign language proficiency.

PV: It is known that the Trade Fair and Exhibition “Celebrating the Vietnam–Laos Year of Solidarity and Friendship 2022” will soon take place in Laos. What highlights will Factory Z121’s booth feature at this event?

Senior Colonel Chu Việt Sơn: At this exhibition, in addition to our traditional products such as blasting accessories, explosives, and fireworks for festivals, Factory Z121 will also introduce the fire-extinguishing ball product.

We assess Laos as a highly potential market, especially due to convenient transportation conditions and similar consumer preferences. This exhibition will contribute to strengthening and enhancing the traditional friendship and close ties between the State, people, and armed forces of the two countries.