ExtendMax wins 2025 IBA People’s Choice Stevie Awards

The year 2025 marks a remarkable milestone in ExtendMax’s journey. Surpassing many major Vietnamese and international corporations, ExtendMax is proud to be honored in the category of “People’s Choice Stevie® Awards for Favorite Companies” at the prestigious International Business Awards (IBA) – one of the world’s most respected business award programs. This is the only Stevie Awards category decided entirely by public votes from the global community, reflecting the genuine trust and confidence of customers in the companies they value and collaborate with.

According to the organizers, this year’s IBA Stevie Awards attracted more than 177,000 votes worldwide. Among thousands of nominations from over 70 countries, ExtendMax stood out as the only Vietnamese company named in the People’s Choice Stevie Awards 2025 category. The honor carries even greater meaning for ExtendMax and CEO Tran Thanh Phuong, as the award presentation in Lisbon, Portugal, coincides with October 10 – Vietnam Lawyers’ Day, a symbolic date celebrating the country’s legal profession.

Even more notably, this marks only the second time a Vietnamese company has ever been chosen by the global community for this prestigious distinction at the IBA Stevie Awards — following Viettel Group, the 2020 winner. ExtendMax’s achievement is not only a source of pride for the company but also a testament to the rising international stature of Vietnamese enterprises on the global business map.

Trust Built on Quality and Dedication

The People’s Choice Stevie Award holds profound meaning for ExtendMax because it is not determined by a panel of judges or industry experts, but by the votes of our clients and partners in Vietnam and around the world — those who have directly experienced and evaluated the quality of our services.

That trust has been nurtured over more than a decade of dedication. Since its founding in 2015, ExtendMax has remained steadfast in its mission to become the most reliable consulting and compliance service provider in Vietnam, helping global enterprises enter the market legally, efficiently, and transparently.

As of October 10, 2025, ExtendMax has proudly received over 600 five-star reviews on Google Business from both Vietnamese and international clients — a reflection of our professionalism, commitment, and effectiveness in handling complex legal and regulatory procedures. Every positive review represents a vote of confidence earned through dedication and quality.

For us, the People’s Choice Stevie Award is more than just a title — it is the collective recognition of our global client community, who continue to choose and trust ExtendMax as a partner on their journey toward sustainable growth.

A Pioneering Milestone for a Vietnamese Enterprise

The victory at IBA 2025 holds even greater significance as it coincides with a historic achievement — ExtendMax became the first Vietnamese company to win the Grand Stevie Award, the highest honor within the entire Stevie Awards system, often referred to as “the Gold among Golds” or “the ultimate Stevie.”

ExtendMax’s winning entry, titled “Pioneering End-to-End IOR/EOR Services in Vietnam’s Compliance Market,” earned the company top recognition for its innovative Importer/Exporter of Record (IOR/EOR) service model integrating technology, legal expertise, and logistics. This unique model — conceptualized and standardized by ExtendMax — has redefined how compliance services operate in Vietnam.

The integrated approach not only delivers measurable efficiency and legal assurance for clients but also establishes a new benchmark for the compliance and trade facilitation industry, enabling global corporations to import, distribute, and deploy ICT products in Vietnam swiftly, safely, and in full legal compliance.

Professional Excellence Reflected Through Landmark Projects

Throughout its development journey, ExtendMax has participated in hundreds of large and small projects, many of which required exceptional legal and regulatory expertise.

One notable example is the project supporting Cisco, a global technology corporation, in importing network equipment for its office in Bac Ninh, Vietnam. Because the products belonged to the group of ICT devices involving encryption and wireless connectivity, the import process required special permits issued by the Government Cipher Committee and the Ministry of Information and Communications. ExtendMax served as the Importer of Record (IOR), directly managing the entire legal process, securing licenses, and obtaining conformity certifications. The project was completed on schedule, ensuring absolute legal compliance and operational readiness for Cisco’s infrastructure in Vietnam.

Another project that showcases ExtendMax’s legal capability is the Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant, a key national energy project led by the Hyundai Engineering & Construction (HDEC) consortium as the EPC contractor. ExtendMax acted as the legal consulting and IOR partner, overseeing the entire regulatory process for high-value IT equipment used in the plant’s control and monitoring systems. Thanks to its deep understanding of Vietnamese law and extensive experience in managing complex documentation, ExtendMax enabled HDEC to complete importation on schedule, ensuring full compliance with technical and legal requirements for this strategic national project.

Client's Recognition for the Entire ExtendMax Team

Sharing about the achievement, Mr. Tran Thanh Phuong – Founder and CEO of ExtendMax – stated:

“For me, the People’s Choice Stevie Award holds a special meaning beyond any other title because it comes directly from our clients – those who have trusted and supported us over the years. This recognition is the result of more than a decade of relentless effort by ExtendMax to deliver transparent, accurate, and effective compliance solutions for global enterprises.
The Grand Stevie and People’s Choice Awards at both the Asia-Pacific and International Business Awards are not only an honor for ExtendMax but also proof that a Vietnamese company can truly create international value through its expertise and credibility.”

Accompanying Mr. Phuong, Ms. Do Thi Ngan – Director of External Affairs at ExtendMax – added:

“We are proud not only of winning such prestigious awards but also because every positive client feedback reflects their trust in the ExtendMax team. This award belongs to all our employees – those who have devoted themselves day and night, constantly learning and working alongside clients to ensure every process is compliant and delivers the highest level of efficiency.”

 

From Customer Trust to Global Recognition

The consecutive victories at the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards and the International Business Awards (IBA) in 2025 stand as a testament to ExtendMax’s sustainable growth in both professional excellence and brand reputation.

From a small consulting firm founded in Hanoi, ExtendMax has steadily evolved into a leading legal and compliance partner for global technology corporations such as Cisco, Lenovo, Arista, and HPE. Beyond supporting international enterprises, ExtendMax also accompanies Vietnamese companies in their journey to expand into regional and global markets.

Customer trust has always been the foundation of every success. With hundreds of five-star reviews and thousands of global votes, ExtendMax considers this recognition not only a great honor but also a powerful motivation to continue innovating, growing, and contributing to the advancement of Vietnam’s business community.