AmCham Vietnam Weekly Update - 13th Week of 2020
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Colleagues, I know you are all dealing with the impact of COVID-19 on your businesses and families. I want to inform you of actions AmCham Vietnam-HCMC is taking in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and request your assistance to help us serve you and our other AmCham members better:
1. Recommending policies to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.
We welcome recommendations from all, particularly those representing sectoral or cross-cutting issues coming through our committee leadership and Board of Governor members. This will likely be an iterative process, but we wanted your input to make an initial submission of recommendations soon.
Both VCCI and MPI have requested suggestions from AmCham and other business associations in Vietnam on the recommended Government of Vietnam response to mitigate the pandemic's business and economic impact. The government has already put in place some flexibility on tax payments and has encouraged banks to offer low-interest loans.
Our Legal and VBF Committee will be compiling recommendations from our other committees and members for Board of Governors consideration and approval. Some ideas to date include requests for additional flexibility on overtime caps, and more ability to use e-filings and e-signatures to facilitate telecommuting and minimize the risks involved with paper documents. We will also be submitting a paper to request greater flexibility on issuance of work permits and visa renewals.
2. Coordinating donations for AmCham's contribution of PPE to HCMC authorities.
Thanks to all your generous donations, and assistance from the AmCham Healthcare and F&B Committees, we will be able to purchase 250,000 surgical face masks for donation to the HCMC Department of Health, to protect medical workers on the front lines! We will arrange delivery next week.
3. Proposing recommendations regarding Essential/Critical Businesses.
We submitted advocacy papers to the People's Committees of HCMC, Da Nang, Can Tho, and Hanoi to seek clarification of implementation of limitations of service sector activities to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, Next week, we will also be working to develop guidelines to propose what criteria to consider in determining essential/critical sectors, should additional restrictions become necessary. We received several helpful suggestions from members of our Manufacturing Committee and F&B Committees, and will be taking into account best practices from elsewhere in the region and world. Please share any relevant country approaches and/or sectoral (not company) recommendations to
COVID19policyrecs@amchamvietnam.com
soonest, ideally by COB Monday.
5. Identifying companies that want to manufacture PPE for export to the United States
.
USAID has asked AmCham for assistance in identifying companies that may want to manufacture PPE for export to the United States. USAID is coordinating this initiative through the LinkSME program. If your company has interest/capability, please contact Frank Weiand at
fweiand@linksme.org
for more information.
6. Supporting Local Business.
We know many businesses in Ho Chi Minh City and throughout Vietnam are struggling, due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak. And we know the impact of the outbreak has been particularly hard on small, local businesses. We at AmCham want to support local businesses which contribute so much to our quality of life in Vietnam by inviting them to join our 2020 AmCham Discount Partnership Program. Please consider joining for your company or refer a favorite local business by sending their email address or a copy of their business card to Membership Manager Sam Hoang at
sam.hoang@amchamvietnam.com.
Make sure you support our Discount Partners, many of which now offer online shopping or delivery services. Click
HERE
for our Discount Partners information.
7. Supporting Vietnam's Front-Line Workers.
HCMC authorities, including Party Secretary Nhan, have actively discouraged contributions of food to those in HCMC's public quarantine facilities the quarantined individuals receive adequate food and additional personnel were required to handle the contributions and deal with the resulting garbage, wasted food. We have highlighted the limited donations by Starbucks, Pizza Hut, and Marou of less perishable food items to some of the front-line workers in Vietnam's hospitals and public quarantine areas. If your company wants to contribute in this regard, please contact Office Manager Cindy Tran, who can ensure it is still welcomed and coordinate delivery.
We hope this information is useful to you - your AmCham team is still hard at work, virtually working to support you!! Stay safe! Regards, Mary
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AmCham Vietnam-HCMC, AusCham, and other International Business Groups in Ho Chi Minh City supported an
Open Letter to the Government of Vietnam
sharing our sentiments and appreciation for their efforts and a commitment on behalf of our members to support them and their departments.
Click
HERE
for the Letter.
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AmCham is Open for Business - Virtually
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Someday, we will reopen the AmCham office for business and we already have new artwork and signage outside to welcome you.
But for now, our AmCham team is hard at work, as are many of you, working from home.
In the interest of the health and well-being of our AmCham team and our members, and to contribute to the overall social distancing and management of the COVID-19 outbreak in Vietnam, all members of the AmCham team are following a Work From Home (wfh) policy. We will continue to hold all our regularly scheduled meetings as planned during this time, but with virtual participation only, at least through April 15.
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In supporting the research of the business impact of COVID-19 on labour and employment issues conducted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (VCCI), AmCham Vietnam-HCMC would like to invite you to participate in the online survey which aims to develop strong recommendations from business community to the Government to respond rapidly on minimizing the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on labour and employment.
The deadline for completing this survey is
March 31, 2020
.
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Stay Informed- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak
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Now classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly throughout the world, including in Vietnam.
Vietnam currently has 153 reported cases, with 57,104 individuals now in quarantine, 0 deaths.
Recommended precautions for most healthy individuals are careful hand washing, avoiding touching your face, disinfecting frequently-touched hard surfaces, and practicing social distancing, including avoiding large gatherings.
For the most accurate, up-to-date information, check:
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If you are a U.S. citizen, register for the STEP program at
travel.state.gov
to receive updates on health and security information from the U.S. Consulate.
Some additional tips below from Dr. Mason Cobb, Vice-Chair of AmCham Healthcare Committee’s Medical Providers Subcommittee.
Due to COVID-19 cases increasing in Viet Nam, the government is doubling down on social distancing with further restrictions on businesses and a near-complete shutdown of travel. The Prime Minister announced new restrictions to be put in place March 28-April 15 to try to control the outbreak. As of Friday evening, March 27, the situation was still being clarified as to what services beyond food, medicine, and petrol would be considered essential. Nonetheless, HCMC has issued guidance to remain at home as much as possible and when out to maintain 2 meters distance from others and to wear a mask.
This is all difficult on our home, family, personal, and business lives. But if we want to get through this pandemic with limited loss of life and disability, we must understand that so far the right things are being done with greater success than most countries. I would like to share this from the Chief of Epidemiology at University of Chicago Medicine, Dr. Emily Landon: "...without taking drastic measures, the healthy and optimistic among us will doom the vulnerable. We need to fight this fire before it grows too high. But these extreme restrictions may seem in the end a little anticlimactic because it’s really hard to feel like you’re saving the world when you’re watching Netflix on your couch but, if we do this right, nothing happens. Yes. A successful shelter in place means that you will feel like it was all for nothing. And you would be right. Because “nothing” means that nothing happened to your family and that's what we are going for here."
Chicago Doctor’s Blunt Speech About COVID-19 Hits Home Across the Country; Read Her Full Speech
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Members! Isn't It Time to Update Your Company Profile?
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Our new AmCham Directory is going to be published soon.
Please send us your updated company profile by close of business
April 3, 2020
. Missing this due date, we will re-print your current profile in our new publication.
Looking forward to receiving your feedback!
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AmCham Vietnam Supports Local Business - AmCham 2020 Discount Partner Program
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We at AmCham want to support local businesses which contribute so much to our quality of life in Vietnam by inviting them to join our 2020 AmCham Discount Partnership Program. Please consider joining for your company or refer a favorite local business by sending their email address or a copy of their business card to Membership Manager Sam Hoang at
sam.hoang@amchamvietnam.com
Companies can choose what level discount or special offer they provide. We just ask that they follow "Most Favored Association" treatment and provide us at least the same percentage discount or special offer that they may already provide other local associations. In return, we will promote our AmCham Discount Partners businesses and encourage our members to become their regular customers as described below:
What is the 2020 AmCham Discount Partnership Program?
✓ A program in which partner businesses promote their business by offering a special discount to more than
1500 AmCham top-profile individuals
who are representatives of over
500 AmCham Company Members.
Why join?
✓ As part of our #AmChamVietnamHCMC #supportlocalbusiness campaign, we will feature select partner businesses on our Facebook page and website
✓ Your company will be promoted widely to all AmCham members, partners, and website subscribers.
✓ Discount offers are
free
to be listed in our AmCham Discount Partner Handbook on our website at
LINK
(our website has over 180,000 visitors/year and 500,000 views/year).
✓ Your special promotion programs can be published on AmCham's website
LINK
How to join?
✓ Fill in the
Participation Form
HERE
.
✓ Book an Advertisement on Discount ONLINE (
Optional
):
REGISTER HERE
We value and want to support our local businesses!
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4:00-5:00pm. Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
At this new member event, you will learn more from our Executive Director, Mary Tarnowka, about AmCham Vietnam benefits, our mission, programs to help new members achieve success, and how to get involved in and maximize your investment in AmCham membership. While this event is designed for new members, we welcome other members. Contact
Ms. Sam Hoang
for more information.
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9:00-10:30am. Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
Please join us for a collaborative, town hall style meeting aimed to identify what topics programming and initiatives we’ll focus on in 2020. Your participation will help ensure we pursue activities and produce events that our community needs.
Our discussion will be led by business guru and #1 best selling author Stephen Turban, whose writing and research on entrepreneurship, organization, and productivity has been published in Harvard Business Review, The Economist, BBC News, Freakonomics Radio, Washington Post, Bloomberg Press, PBS NewsHour, Inc, Quartz, Tech Republic, and the Times, among others.
Stephen will also be sharing insights about entrepreneurship in Vietnam… the challenges and the promise.
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8:30-10:30am.
Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
At Le & Tran, we strongly believe that all disputes must be resolved on the basis of the law, factual evidence and logical reasoning. The litigation and arbitration strategies and system of tactics and techniques we utilize are firmly grounded on this basis and always deliver a fair and equitable result which is reflective of the nature of the dispute. Le & Tran’s commitment to this philosophy has resulted in the establishment of a reputation for integrity and success.
With the assistance of AmCham Vietnam, Le & Tran has previously organized numerous seminars concerning litigation and arbitration which have been well-received by the business and legal community. For this event, we will not focus on any particular topic; instead, you are welcome to question or discuss (and even challenge) Mr. Stephen Le, our preeminent Trial Lawyer, regarding any legal question or solution you may have.
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5:45-8:30pm, New World Saigon Hotel, 76 Le Lai Street, Dist. 1.
Join for AmCham Members Night with the U.S. Consulate General Team on Thursday, April 9 from 5:45-8:30PM at the newly-renovated New World Hotel Saigon.
This will be a special opportunity to meet your AmCham Vietnam-HCMC Board of Governors, welcome our new members, hear updates on AmCham Vietnam’s 2020 strategic goals and objectives from AmCham Chairwoman Amanda Rasmussen, and hear from U.S. Consul General Marie Damour and her Consulate General team about their 2020 priorities and events.
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6:00-8:30pm, The Reverie Saigon, 22-36 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1
Come and join us at a special Connect & Cocktail outdoors with our Board Members and Committee Leaders at the Poolside of The Reverie Saigon. Don't forget to bring many of your business cards to network and mingle.
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Due to the outbreak of the respiratory infection caused by a new coronavirus (Covid-19), on March 11, 2020, WHO declared a worldwide pandemic. This disease continues to inflict a considerable amount of damage on domestic commercial activities and the international economy as well. Therefore, many companies are concerned about the impact of Covid-19, especially with regard to the liability and compensation for breach of commercial contracts. Is Covid-19 a “force majeure” to mitigate or exempt from contractual liabilities?
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Being a member of AmCham, your company is entitled to 10% off master bill for all Corporate events.
Easier to connect with others and experience state-of-the-art features
- Pillarless Grand ballroom up to 800 guests
- 14 possible configurations
- Built-in LED screen 9m * 4m
- Built-in 86-inch IPTV in meeting rooms
- The latest sound & lighting system
*Terms & conditions apply
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For the first time ever, Park Hyatt Saigon’s signature delicacies are officially available for delivery service. Experience world-class culinary offers, with personalised service, at your home!
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PwC’s Global NextGen Survey - Vietnam in focus" is launched for the first time in Vietnam in 2019 with the active participation from NextGens nationwide.
The survey catalyzed a promising report in which the Nextgen manifested their ambitions as stated “not just to become deeply involved in their family businesses, but also to lead”. We hope you find them as inspirational as we do.
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RMIT University Vietnam and the Hinrich Foundation launched the first-ever Master of Global Trade degree program to equip upwardly mobile staff with exceptional strategic and 21st century managerial skills essential for sustainable company growth. The Hinrich Foundation awarded scholarships to 28 staff nominated by 17 firms, including Samsung, HSBC, Siemens, Sam Agritech, Duc Thanh Wood, KPMG and BIDV. Read the news release
here
. To secure your firm’s co-branded scholarships of $16,000 each, contact us at
partners@hinrichfoundation.com
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Only VND 10,000 /square meter for AmCham Members. Enhance your protection with
Rentokil Surface Sanitation Treatment.
An effective surface sanitation through Rentokil’s disinfection misting treatment has been proven to be
highly effective against major strains of viruses, bacteria and fungi, including airborne and viral diseases such as Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus, and over strain of bacteria including: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella flexneri, Bacillus subtilis (*), Candida albicans Mycobacterium
tuberculosis. Perform regular surface sanitisation services both indoors and outdoors to reduce disease-causing microorgansims and provides you with a peace of mind. Click
HERE
for more details.
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Committee Meetings & Activities (For AmCham Members Only)
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2:00-3:00pm. Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
Joshua Breidenbach, Co-founder and Creative Director of Rice and Brian Wright, International Business Development of LaLiga will share you some tips for Successfully Managing Remote Teams, from 10 to 25 to 3000+ staffers; and
What tools do we use to be productive? Event wil be moderated by Hao Tran, CEO, Co-Founder at Vietcetera Media
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8:30-10:00am.
Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
- Update on school closings
- Update on Skills Gap Workshop
- Update on Student Well-being plans
- Update on ideas to create “AmCham Education Development Initiative”
- Open discussion
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4:00-5:30pm.
Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
Monthly meeting to discuss 2020 priorities.
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9:00-10:30am. Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
Monthly meeting to discuss 2020 priorities.
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5:00-6:15pm. Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
Regular monthly meeting of the committee to review upcoming events, discuss and prepare positions on key issues, laws and regulations relating to trade and investment between Vietnam and the United States.
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4:15- 6:30pm. Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
Regular monthly meeting of the committee to review upcoming events, discuss and prepare positions on key issues, laws and regulations relating to trade and investment between Vietnam and the United States.
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9:00-10:00am. Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
Monthly meeting to discuss 2020 priorities.
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Let’s support local businesses - many now operating online or delivery/takeout only to promote social distancing.
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AmCham Premium Membership
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The AmCham Premium Membership 2020 is a leadership-level membership for companies contributing strategic support for AmCham's mission and programs.
Our Premium Membership comes with a range of exclusive benefits. One all-inclusive Premium Membership's annual billing simplifies your businesses' sponsorship efforts.
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We love our AmCham members! Do you know all the benefits you get with your membership? Maybe you only remember the ones you've used recently, but there are many ways even our basic level members benefit at AmCham.
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The American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam
New World Hotel Suite 323
76 Le Lai Street, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Phone: +84 28 3824 3562
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