AmCham Vietnam Weekly Update - 15th Week of 2020
|
|
|
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. I
highlighted some actions AmCham is taking to respond to the COVID outbreak and made some predictions re 2020 prospects in
a recent interview with Vietcetera (
LINK
). A summary of recent actions is below:
1. Policy Recommendations
.
AmCham Vietnam-HCMC continues to make an impact. Thanks to your feedback and recommendations, and expert advisers in our COVID19 Policy Task Force (particularly Baker McKenzie's Fred Burke, Nguyen Thuy Hang, Nguyen Thanh Vinh, and Seck Yee Chung), we are providing timely, constructive recommendations to the Vietnamese government on policies to support the control of the COVID-19 outbreak, while minimizing the negative economic impact on the economy and people of Vietnam, and our members.
We saw immediate results of the virtual workshop AmCham hosted with VCCI's Dr. Loc last Friday afternoon, April 3, when on Friday evening, Office of the Government Minister Mai Tien Dung issued a letter #2601 clarifying the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Directive 16, regarding urgent measures for prevention and control of COVID-19, including restrictions on "non-essential'' service establishments (
LINK
). Many of the clarifications were directly in line with recommendations made by AmCham and our members in the meeting. On April 8, the Government issued Decree 41, regarding extension of tax and land rent policies, additional issues raised in the virtual workshop
(LINK).
On April 9, we shared some additional recommendations with VCCI for consideration before Dr. Loc’s meeting with the Prime Minister, scheduled for April 10. We noted measures many of our members are taking to ensure stringent health and safety protocols and encouraged close coordination with companies in the case of any positive cases that arise in the workplace to control the outbreak and minimize the negative economic impact on business operations and the workforce. We requested suspension of tax and customs audits and investigations during the outbreak, and also encouraged consideration of recommendations by the Tourism Advisory Board for hospitality and tourism sector which has been particularly hard-hit by the outbreak.
We know this situation will continue to evolve. Please share your concerns and policy recommendations, ideally sector or industry-based, to our task force (
COVID19policyrecs@amchamvietnam.com
).
2. Contributions of Goods and Financial Contributions by AmCham and our Member Companies to Support the Vietnamese Government's Response.
AmCham Vietnam-HCMC commends the effectiveness of actions taken by Vietnamese Government leaders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is proud of the contributions toward this response made by our member companies. U.S. Ambassador Dan Kritenbrink has highlighted the contribution by AmCham Vietnam of 250,000 surgical face masks to the HCMC Department of Health, and contributions of several of other members of the U.S. business community in recent interviews and op-eds (
LINK)
.
We know many of our members are looking for additional ways to contribute. Our Healthcare Committee leaders are working with local authorities to identify where we can contribute most meaningfully to support the most urgent needs and will share more details next week. Meanwhile, we are happy to highlight contributions from our member companies on our social media and with the U.S. Mission. Please email to
Cindy Tran
.
3. Identifying companies that want to manufacture Personal Protective Equipment 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. Dupont’s export of 450,000 protective suits from Vietnam to the United States was welcomed by a tweet from the President (
LINK
). If your company has interest/capability in manufacturing and exporting PPE, please contact Frank Weiand at
fweiand@linksme.org
for more information.
4. 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
. Make sure you support our Discount Partners, many of which now offer online shopping or delivery services. Click
HERE
for our Discount Partners information.
5. Supporting Vietnam's Front-Line Workers.
To continuously support the Vietnamese Government in the COVID-19 fight, AmCham Vietnam-HCMC would like to call for your contribution of less perishable food items to some of the front-line workers in Vietnam's hospitals and public quarantine areas. We are working with the Vietnam Fatherland Front of HCMC for this campaign. The Fatherland Front will arrange for its representative to pick up products at your factory/warehouse at a mutually convenient time. AmCham will be pleased to highlight these donations on our social media. Contact Office Manager
Cindy Tran
, who can ensure contributions are still welcomed and coordinate delivery.
|
|
6. Partnering with the U.S. Government on the COVID-19 Response
.
In our first virtual Members Night with the U.S. Consulate on April 9,
Consul General Damour discussed the U.S. Mission’s focus on American citizens and commended
contributions by the AmCham and the U.S. business community to the COVID-19 response in Vietnam and said she and her team would ensure that Washington policymakers were also informed of those efforts. (
LINK)
We hope this information is useful to you - your AmCham team is still hard at work, virtually working to support you!! Stay safe and be well! Regards, Mary
|
|
|
AmCham's Entrepreneurship and Innovative Kickoff Townhall
|
|
On April 7, AmCham’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative (EII) held a virtual townhall to determine 2020 priorities. With discussion led by Co-Chair and Dreamplex CEO Jonah Levey and Fulbright University Vietnam’s business guru and best-selling author Stephen Turban, participants shared perspectives. Interest focused on three main areas: 1) more connections between startups and SMEs and more established companies both for mentoring and possible investment opportunities; 2) training or facilitated learning, including how to thrive and not just survive the COVID outbreak; and 3) an opportunity to be informed about and influence policy and regulatory developments about the innovation ecosystem. We are excited about next steps as AmCham continues to invest in the future - the next generation of entrepreneurs! Fellow EII Co-Chair and 500 Startups Vietnam General Partner Eddie Thai is also excited about next steps, but missed the virtual townhall for a good excuse - the birth of his first child!!
|
|
AmCham is Open for Business - Virtually
|
|
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. We hope to reopen the AmCham office for business soon.
|
|
Stay Informed- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak
|
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 257 reported cases, with 75,337 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:
|
|
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:
The number of cases world-wide is still climbing but may be starting to flatten. All over the world, there is much effort both for a vaccine and for a cure. In the USA, effectiveness of chloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, has become very controversial. The evidence for its efficacy is still unclear, and to date there is no proven cure.
The first part of the pandemic in the USA showed that 75% of hospitalizations were males who also had a higher rate of death. Otherwise, the profile of those at risk has not changed, other than noting that 39% of cases in hospital are under 54 years-old. So youth is not an absolute protectant.
World-wide, there is concern that both cases and deaths are undercounted. Unfortunately, that will only be clear retrospectively.
Vietnam is still in the forefront of control of the pandemic with just a few cases added each day as the strict social distancing and stay-at-home policy plus careful case tracking has been effective. The decree for strict measures should expire this week. However, there is now concern about community spread.
New cases have shifted from the original China travel-related cases, to arrivals from UK, Europe, USA, and latest from Russia. The third phase has been increasing for several weeks: that is community spread, from within the country, person to person. Cases with their F1 and F2 contacts are more difficult to track. Fortunately it is still a handful of cases. However, the government may wish to keep it that way and extend the time for the strict policy.
However, closed businesses and the mental health of people with prolonged stay-at-home stints is concerning. More time with a paralyzed economy and being shut-in is not pleasant, but it is effectively controlling the spread of disease.
As they say, "Thank heavens we still have our health".
|
|
AmCham Vietnam Supports Local Business - AmCham 2020 Discount Partner Program
|
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!
|
|
9:30-11:00am. Virtual Event
The spread of coronavirus recently presents unique issues for businesses seeking to protect themselves, their employers and the public. Preparing for and responding to a pandemic raises numerous law issues. Hence, in collaborating with speakers from Baker & McKenzie Vietnam, we bring you the webinar
“Legal Issue in the time of Covid-19”
.
|
|
11:00-12:00pm. Virtual Event
Earlier this week, the Vietnamese government issued Decision No. 13 on FIT 2 Solar Power. This decision has taken over one year and has gone through many revisions since first being circulated for comment in January 2019. What are the new tariff rates for floating and ground-mounted solar projects? What are the implications for rooftop solar? What special provisions were included in the final decision? Find out the answers to these and other questions at an AmCham video conference on April 16.
|
|
Wednesday, Apr 22
Virtual AmCham Connect & Cocktail
|
6:00-7:00pm. Virtual Event
More information will be coming soon.
|
|
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 also welcome other members who want to find out how they can become more involved with the AmCham community.
|
|
 |
Another good news for ITL Corporation during this period is that ITL Aviation is honored to be appointed as an Exclusive Agent, handling freighter Hanoi - Nantong - lncheon (HAN-NTG-ICN) routes for Sichuan Airlines in Hanoi.
Accordingly, ITL Aviation will start handling the freighter HAN - NTG - ICN with 5 flights/ week from Tuesday to Saturday, starting from April 3rd, 2020 on the A330-200F aircraft with 55 ton/ trip.
At present, Sichuan Airlines is operating two flight routes HAN - NTG and HAN - ICN. In addition, together with Sichuan Airlines, ITL Aviation team is making great efforts to develop the networks from Vietnam to other key markets in Korea and Japan.
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
|
ESQUEL is honored to be appointed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade as one of the largest garment units in Vietnam with the task of producing and supplying anti-bacterial facemask to serve domestic market as well as export market. We produce 3 products:
- SHIRTSTOP 3-layers facemask is made from cotton: droplet prevention, dust filtration and anti-bacterial;
- SHIRTSTOP 2-layers facemask is made from cotton: treated anti-bacterial by NANO SILVER technology, effectively up to 99% within 30 washes
- DETERMINANT premium anti-virus facemask: Effectiveness is recognized by authorities in China and Hong Kong
|
|
|
|
We are living through unprecedented times and know that the only way forward is together. WeWork has launched the WeWork for Good initiative to partner with organizations directly engaged in COVID-19 response efforts.
WeWork is contributing workspace at no cost to governments and nonprofits (including those who are existing members) playing an active role in supporting the public health response and the economic resiliency of impacted communities due to COVID-19.
If your organization meets this criteria, please fill out
the form, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible. We will be accepting applications through 4/30/20, subject to change.
|
|
|
|
From
16 April until 30 June 2020, indulge in a well-timed family vacation for only
VND 3,299,000 net/room/night, including daily breakfast, 20% savings on dining and up to 2 kids under 12 stay free.
For reservations, please call 0235 3914 555 or email
hoian@anantara.com. Terms and conditions apply.
|
|
|
Committee Meetings & Activities (For AmCham Members Only)
|
|
9:00-10:30am. Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
Monthly meeting to discuss 2020 priorities.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
4:30-5:30pm. Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
Monthly meeting to discuss 2020 priorities.
|
|
|
9:00-10:00am. Please register to get the link for virtual attendance.
Monthly meeting to discuss 2020 priorities.
|
|
|
Let’s support local businesses - many now operating online or delivery/takeout only to promote social distancing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
AmCham Premium Membership
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
