Mhawbi Station, Photo: Max Energy.
Dare to Dream: Bold for Change
When talking about Max Energy, it is necessary to also talk about Max Myanmar Holding Co., Ltd. One of the reasons is the founder, U Zaw Zaw, who not only has an interest in developing the capacity-building capabilities of the country but also in moving Myanmar forward.
The journey began with Max Trading Co., Ltd., in 1993. Since then, the company has expanded into the construction sector as well as start a rubber plantation company, Shwe Yaung Pya, in 2005. In 2008, it diversified into the country’s infrastructure through Max Highway to ensure that the public has access to good roads and is able to travel in remote areas, which was not imaginable previously. In 2010, the gas filling station chain Max Energy was established to serve energy demands. Max Myanmar had a joint venture with Novotel in 2015 and successfully opened the first Novotel Max Hotel in Yangon. As Myanmar is in need of raw building materials, Max Myanmar strategically established Max Cement in 2016.
In a nutshell, Max Myanmar has had consistent growth and is making an impact on society by providing job opportunities to local people, mainly by creating skilled labor for the country and contributing to the country’s GDP. The company also emphasizes capacity-building for those who are required to acquire new skills and upgrade their skills in today’s competitive globalized market.
Responsible business
The Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business is an initiative to encourage responsible business activities throughout Myanmar. The Centre is a joint initiative of the Institute for Human Rights and Business and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.
It has launched its third Transparency in Myanmar Enterprises (TiME) / Pwint Thit Sa report, in which the Max Myanmar Group is consistently recognized among the top three companies. Principle 10 of the UN Global Compact states: “Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.” The TiME Index has committed to this Principle, and the Max Myanmar Group has been highly regarded by ranking first in anti-corruption programming in the 2016 report.
Max Energy and the Ayeyarwady Foundation
Through the Ayeyarwady Foundation, Max Energy has actively been supporting the development of Myanmar during the company’s 20-year history and has given back its best in gratitude to the country. Foundation activities include initiatives in the health sector, the education sector, youth development and support programs, responsible business practice programs, and disaster management.
As per the famous Myanmar proverb “health is wealth,” having good health is a blessing. On the other hand, if one is in bad health, it will have a huge impact. Only citizens who are physically and mentally fit are able to contribute their best to the political, economic, and social sectors so that the country can prosper in the long run. In order to achieve these goals, the Ayeyarwady Foundation is donating medical funds and providing medical aid and assistance to impoverished people as well as building medical facilities, such as a 550-person-capacity pediatric hospital in Yangon.
The education sector is imperative for advancement in every country, and especially so in developing countries such as Myanmar. The Foundation has contributed to the education sector by constructing Basic Education High Schools for the Pyay and Yekyi townships and more than 10 primary schools across the country.
In addition, it offers several scholarship programs. These include scholarships to children who are at a tender age but who, primarily for economic reasons, are not able to continue their basic education. It also provides scholarships for academic excellence to students who have passed the matriculation exams but who could not afford to pursue a university education. Furthermore, Max Myanmar was among the forerunners to rush to the natural disaster areas during the Nargis Cyclone and provided emergency relief such as medicine, food, and clothes.
Empower younger generations
According to the World Bank, Myanmar’s unemployment rate in 2014 was 3.3 percent. One of the reasons for unemployment could be a lack of skills, knowledge, and/or experience. To resolve this, having internship programs and vocational training is imperative.
Max Energy’s internship program allows young and mature students to gain valuable work experience and the necessary training. Following are excerpts of interviews with MBA students from the Yangon University of Economics:
“Why did you apply for an internship at Max Energy?”
“As women, we need to have more experience and qualifications in order to be ahead of others.” (Ma Ei Mon Oo and Ma Aye Ma Ma Phyo)
“I believe that I would be able to apply the knowledge I have learned during my MBA.” (Ko Swe Nyein)
Women in power
One of the UN Global Compact’s Sustainable Development Goals is gender equality. It is focused on achieving gender equality and the empower of all women and girls, at work and in society.
Max Energy has done very well in this area because it has established high-level corporate leadership for gender equality (Principle 1) by recruiting women for the top jobs of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Head of Marketing (HOM). Following are excerpts of interviews with the CFO, Daw Nu Nu Wai, and the HOM, Daw Khin Pyi Sone Oo.
“What do you think are the challenges facing women when climbing the corporate ladder?”
CFO: “I don’t think women have more challenges than men. It is a mindset all women must have that we are as capable as men in every situation as long as we are focusing on capacity-building (Principle 4: Promote education, training and professional development for women).”
HOM: “Being a woman is already a challenge in society as well as at work in Asian countries. However, Max Energy has given me an opportunity to learn, grow, and lead the team with compassion, which includes younger generations (Principle 2: Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and nondiscrimination). Nevertheless, women have to work as hard as men in order to stay competitive, such as in technical matters, and create work-life balance.”
“How can women be successful in life?”
CFO: “Women have to empower themselves in order to empower other people, their communities, and the world (Principle 6: Promote equality through community).”
HOM: “Have clear objectives, don’t be ambiguous, use your Emotional Intelligence wisely and be strong!”
About Max Energy
Max Energy is a private-owned chain of gas stations operating in Myanmar with more than 900 employees. As the slogan “Max Energy for Your Satisfaction” reveals, we are 100 percent committed to achieving the highest levels of customer satisfaction while maintaining our position as one of the market leaders in Myanmar in the gas station business.
Prior to 2010, all gas stations in Myanmar were nationally owned and the economy was not free-market. Consumers were given quotas for the amount of gas they could purchase at the designated gas stations, which made it extremely inconvenient for consumers.
In 2010, Myanmar’s political reform process was initiated and the government introduced national privatization programs to revitalize the country’s economy. Since then, Max Energy has expanded the gas station business throughout the country with the aim of achieving the highest levels of customer satisfaction by providing high-quality products with accurate quantities at reasonable prices.
Max Energy was therefore awarded with the ISO 9001:2008 – Quality Management Certificate.
Max Energy Co., Ltd. was incorporated in 2010 as one of the strategic business units (SBU) of Max Myanmar Group of Companies. Max Energy has the ownership of 31 Filling Stations through the length and breadth of Myanmar, operating with more than 800 employees. Our Filling Stations are situated at the most favourable locations for the convenience of our customers. Our Filling Station locations cover major divisions of the country including Nay Pyi Taw (Capital City), Yangon (Commercial City), Mandalay, Ayeyarwaddy, Bago, Mon State, and we are expanding more strategic locations across the country.
The Products available in our Filling Stations are Octane 92 RON, Octane 95 RON, Diesel and Premium Diesel. We ensure that we will consistently provide high quality products in precise quantity to our customers. All our products are directly imported from overseas such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand. Moreover, all our Filling Statins operate with advanced technology dispenser machines with state-of-the-art software and thus we can promise our precise quantity to our customers.
The Services we offer in our Filling Stations include but not limited to: 24/7 operations, convenience store attached, credit-sales for corporate customers and excellent customer service. We always focus on offering convenience of every customer. Service is our motto and we are committed to the continual improvement in the Quality of our Services.
Source: Max Energy homepage