AmCham Vietnam Weekly Update - 3rd Week of 2021

AmCham Vietnam Weekly Update -

3rd Week of 2021 - January 25th, 2021

Executive Director Update

Dear Colleagues,

Your AmCham team was very busy last week - in HCMC, Da Nang, and Hanoi - but I found a few minutes along the way to enjoy the blue skies, beach and mi Quang in Da Nang. Beaches and weather are beautiful now!

The biggest event affecting the U.S.-Vietnam relationship last week took place in Washington DC last week - the inauguration of 46th President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Many of us stayed up to watch the event live. In the end, there was a peaceful transfer of power. President Biden declared, "Democracy is precious, democracy is fragile, and at this hour, democracy has prevailed. He added, "We must end this uncivil war that has pit red against blue, rural versus urban, and conservative versus liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts, if we show a little tolerance and humility, and we're willing to stand in the other person's shoes." I also was especially moved by 22-year-old National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, whose inaugural poem ends "For there is always light. If only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it.". https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/01/20/inaugural-address-by-president-joseph-r-biden-jr/..

A statement from the U.S. Chamber is at https://www.uschamber.com/series/above-the-fold/our-nation-s-elected-leaders-americans-hired-you-it-s-time-do-the-job.

Meanwhile, the National Party Congress takes place this next week in Hanoi, with lots of rumors regarding who will get the top positions in the Vietnamese government.

Last week, we co-hosted a 2020 VBF Outcomes and 2021 Outlook event Tuesday evening with KOCHAM, JCCI, EuroCham, and BritCham. Early on Thursday (and very early for those of us who stayed up late to watch the inauguration), we met with USAID Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock and her team. On Thursday, we also held meetings of both our Digital Economy and Technology and Tax and Customs Committees, and welcomed new leadership volunteers. Our Manufacturing Committee leadership met to consider 2021 priorities - and also welcomes new leadership volunteers. Please contact Committees Manager Lily Nguyen at lily.nguyen@amchamvietnam.com if interested.

I joined the Manufacturing Committee meeting by Zoom en route to the airport, and traveled to Da Nang to visit the Da Nang office of Logitech and join the Da Nang People's Committee Tet celebrations Thursday evening, to pay a courtesy call with Chairman Le Trung Chinh on Friday. Friday, I flew to Hanoi to meet with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Bui Thanh Son and DG for the Americas Le Chi Dung Friday afternoon, before joining the year-end celebration of our F&B Committee Friday evening. On Saturday morning, I had the honor to have breakfast with U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink. More details and photos in Recent Events below.

We are delighted to welcome our new AmCham members

We hope to welcome many of our members - new and continuing - to our January Connect & Cocktails on Tuesday evening, from 6:00-8:30PM at the new Modern Cantonese restaurant, Black Vinegar, at the New World Hotel, just after our 5:00PM AmCham 101 Orientation for New Members - and others who want a refresh on how to make the most of their AmCham membership. For those who have not been to the New World Saigon Hotel recently, it has undergone a major renovation - and is once again a very elegant hotel! Black Vinegar is also getting lots of acclaim from local foodies for its cuisine, including an all you can eat Sunday dim sum brunch...

Wednesday morning, our Logistics and Supply Chain Committee will hold an informative session on an issue of importance to many on Vietnam's Container Shortage - Challenges and Solutions. We hope those of you in the Education sector will join our Wednesday webinar on safe recruitment, and that many will join our Thursday AM event on Aligning Your Career Goals and Ambition with special guest speaker and Oxalis Adventure (Son Doong caves plus!) Founder Nguyen Chau A. Friday morning, we will hold our January meeting of the Agriculture Committee, and will learn about a new USDA promotion campaign for U.S. agricultural products!

Finally, for those of you living in Da Nang or Central Vietnam, or for those wanting to get away and personally experience beautiful beaches and blue skies, both members and potential members are welcome to join us Friday evening for our January Da Nang Connect & Cocktails at El Gaucho!

Message from AmCham Vietnam - Da Nang Vice Chair Chris Vanloon

Greetings from Da Nang and I hope you all are getting ready for Tet. Special thanks this week to Mr. Nguyen Dang Minh Vu, General Director of Lovepop Vietnam and his team for taking the time to show us their impressive 3D greeting card manufacturing facility. Generating over 35,000 handmade greeting cards a day for export and distribution in the United States, the factory, which employs over 700 workers sets the highest standards for safety, working with state-of-the-art laser cutting machines, offset printers and an army of talented graphic designers and skilled laborers. Lovepop was able to exceed expectations in 2020, even thru the Covid 19 pandemic and is increasing its facilities in 2021 to enter European and Australian markets. Truly impressive and we wish the Lovepop team the best of luck in the New Year of the Buffalo!

Advocacy

As leadership changes in both the U.S. and Vietnamese government, it will be especially important for AmCham and our member companies to develop and maintain close working relationships and understand their priorities, and to find ways to work with them and other chambers and organizations to advance shared interests, We were privileged to have the opportunity this week to meet with leaders of many of our fellow chambers at the VBF event, Da Nang leadership, MFA leadership, Ambassador Kritenbrink, USAID Mission Director Yastishock, and key F&B partners from MOH, VCCI, CIEM, VASEP, and Vietnam Dairy Association. And for Vice Chair Uyen Ho to meet with HCMC Chairman Phong when she represented AmCham at an award ceremony for top brands on Thursday!

Also, as discussed in our Digital Economy and Technology Committee, we plan to draft and submit comments on the new e-commerce regulations. Please contact digitaleconomy@amchamvietnam.com if you wish to share specific concerns or recommendations.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, January 26:

AmCham 101 - New Member Orientation

5:00-6:00pm, New World Hotel Saigon, 76 Le Lai Street, District 1

At this new member event, you will learn more from our Executive Director, Mary Tarnowka, about AmCham Vietnam benefits, our mission, and programs to help new members achieve success, and how to get involved in and maximize your investment in AmCham membership. It is also a way to meet other new AmCham Vietnam members. While this event is designed for new members, we welcome other members on a space available basis. If you cannot join this meeting physically, you can still register to join virtually via Zoom.

Who should join?

· New members

· Existing members who want to learn more

Contact Ms. Ruby Nguyen if you have any questions.

Tuesday, January 26:

AmCham Connect & Cocktails at Black Vinegar

6:00-8:30pm, Black Vinegar, 1st Floor, New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, District 1

AmCham will continue our monthly informal networking event – AmCham Connect and Cocktails! Our AmCham Connect & Cocktails provides an opportunity to meet AmCham members and other professionals in an informal after-work setting over a glass of wine, beer, or a cocktail. Please plan to join for a great night of networking and our essential Lucky Draw!!

This month, we will meet at the New World Hotel’s brand-new modern Cantonese restaurant, featuring Executive Chef Tony Guo, which is getting a lot of buzz for the restaurant’s elegant décor and top-notch food, including an all-you-can-eat dim sum Sunday brunch!

Wednesday, January 27:

“Safe Recruitment in Education from Compliance to the Reality of International Standards”

6:00-7:00pm. Please register to receive an email confirmation with additional webinar details.

During this webinar, Safeguarding Consultant Suzanne Murray will share her journey of developing a strategic approach to implementing safer recruitment standards and SCR compliance in schools. Routed in a “Culture of Care” and proactive procedures to safeguarding, we will explore the need for a Single Central Record (SCR) and compliance, which meets international standards. We will also consider the importance that staff awareness, competence, and quality training play in supporting the teams in the day-to-day operational aspects of establishing and maintaining a “fit for purpose” SCR in schools.

Thursday, January 28:

Aligning your Career Plan and Ambition

8:30-10:30am, The Reverie Saigon, 22-36 Nguyen Hue Boulevard & 57-69F Dong Khoi Street, District 1

Start the new year right. Focus on your ambitions, career plans, and quality of life.

Alignment between your ambitions and career plans produces a better quality of life with higher levels of happiness, fulfillment, passion, and energy. Please join our discussion with special guest speaker, Founder & CEO of Oxalis Adventure Nguyen Chau A, to learn how to identify your ambitions and align them with your career plans. You may want to plan an Oxalis adventure, too!

Friday, January 29:

AmCham Vietnam - Da Nang Connect & Cocktails at El Gaucho

6:00-9:00pm, El Gaucho, GF, Indochina Riverside Mall, 74 Bach Dang Street, Hai Chau, Da Nang

Join us for a great night of networking in Da Nang. AmCham Vietnam- Da Nang will hold its next monthly informal networking event – AmCham Connect and Cocktails – at El Gaucho!

Please come to learn more about AmCham, meet fellow AmCham members, and other professionals in an informal after-work setting.

Committee Meetings & Activities (For AmCham Members Only)

Jan 27: Logistics & Supply Chain Committee Meeting: Container shortage in Vietnam – What are the challenges/solutions ?

Jan 29: Agriculture Committee Meeting

Feb 1: Capital Markets & Financial Services Committee (CMFSC) Meeting

Feb 3: Education & Training Committee Meeting

Feb 4: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee Meeting

Feb 9: Energy Committee Meeting

Feb 23: Legal & VBF Liaison Committee Meeting

Recent Events

Your Board of Governors hard at work! Our HCMC Board, joined by Da Nang Vice Chair Chris Vanloon, met last Saturday to define our values and identify strategic goals for 2021. Lots of good collaboration going on. And dedication! Chairman Chad Ovel joined us from Iowa his 12-4am!! More HERE for more photos.

Fantastic turnout from other Vietnam Business Forum consortium members and Working Group leads for our 2020 VBF Outcomes and 2021 Outlook event!

Hope to see more VBF member companies actively participate in the working groups - we value the experience and expertise of our existing members but new perspectives and a little diversity welcome!

Honored to meet yesterday with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Ambassador Long, and later DDG for Americas Le Chi Dung, and today with Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink to discuss opportunities for AmCham to contribute to strengthened US- Vietnam trade and investment ties with the new BIden-Harris Administration and a soon-to-be new government in Vietnam. Too busy talking to remember to take photos - thank you Ambassador Long!

AmCham’s Food and Beverage Committee is one of the largest and most active of our 18 committees, particularly on advocacy, given the critical importance to all of us of ensuring access to safe, healthy food and beverages. The year-end event in Hanoi celebrated the cooperative partnerships of the F&B committee with MOH, CIEM, VCCI, VASEP, Vietnam Dairy Association, the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service and others to share global and regional best practices and sound science to inform Vietnam’s regulatory system.

Congratulations to Committee Leadership, particularly Co-Chair Dupont’s Vinh Le and PepsiCo Food’s Nam for efforts throughout the year, and this event!

Honored to meet with Da Nang People Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh, together with AmCham Vietnam-Da Nang Vice Chair Chris Vanloon from Indochina Riverside Towers and Board Member Liviu Lese from Universal Alloy Corporation. Together with DOIT Director Le Thi Kim Phuong and IPA Vice Director Do Thi Quynh Tram, we committed to working together to enable economic recovery and sustainable growth in Da Nang through promoting domestic tourism and a safe reopening to international tourism as well as attracting U.S. investment in high tech and advanced manufacturing and professional services. Specifically, we agreed to partner to support development of a globally competitive workforce in Da Nang, and integration of Da Nang-based SMEs in global supply chains.

AmCham Vietnam's Executive Director Mary Tarnowka was honored to represent AmCham Vietnam-Da Nang Chapter, together with Vice Chair and Indochina Riverside Towers’ Chris Vanloon and Board members UAC’s Liviu Lese and Evergreen Labs Kasia Weina at the Da Nang People’s Committee Tet celebration at the lovely Furama hotel. And to receive a Certificate of Merit for AmCham’s contributions!

In her remarks, Executive Director Mary Tarnowka discussed on AmCham’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties between the United States and Vietnam generally, and Da Nang specifically, as well as our AmCham members' interest in partnering for economic recovery and sustainable growth. We look forward to growing membership and programs of our AmCham Vietnam's Da Nang Chapter, including meeting many members and soon-to-be members at our Connect & Cocktails event next Friday, January 29!

We were honored to host a very substantive roundtable discussion with USAID Vietnam Mission Director, Ann Marie Yastishock, and her team, together with industry experts from AmCham’s Energy, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Education, Tax and Customs, VBF and Legal, Digital Economy and Technology, and ESG Committees. Chairman Chad Ovel joined virtually from Iowa. The meeting highlighted the wide range of USAID’s Economic Growth programs in Vietnam and its 2021-2025 priorities, including trade and investment facilitation, economic growth, SME capacity building and supply chain connectivity, digital transformation, healthcare, education, environment protection and sustainable growth programs and priorities, and provided an opportunity to discuss related U.S. business interests and concerns. This exchange was a great start - on the first day of the Biden-Harris Administration! We look forward to following up in smaller groups to discuss potential partnerships between AmCham Vietnam and USAID Mission Vietnam in priority areas.

AmCham Executive Director Mary Tarnowka, together with Da Nang Vice Chair Chris Vanloon, was also pleased to visit the Da Nang offices of Logigear, one of the first American tech investments in Da Nang founded by Chairman Hung Nguyen, and to meet Denny Nguyen and Thang Nguyen, where more than 100 software engineers develop software testing and security solutions for a range of international clients.

COVID-19 Update from Healthcare Provider Subcommittee Chair Dr. Mason Cobb

It seems to be a week of second-guessing vaccines and new information regarding COVID-19. Vaccine roll-out continues in several nations with varying degrees of early success. Some reports from national health authorities have suggested that vaccine efficacy following the first dose may not be what was seen during research trials. No specific data accompanied these reports, but it is concerning news, nonetheless. It is not uncommon for real-world experience to differ slightly from clinical trial data, as the trials are highly controlled environments and populations. Additional observation during real-world use is essential to understand how to adjust future phases of vaccination initiatives.

Several nursing home patients in Norway died following receiving the Pfizer vaccine. This appears to be due to the disordered immune response in the very old and infirm. The vaccine is still considered safe, but special caution in this group should be taken and their health status carefully checked before receiving the vaccine.

Nano Covax, the Vietnamese-developed vaccine, is promising in early trials. Still no solid information from the government regarding vaccine acquisition and distribution.

The most significant development with the COVID-19 crisis in recent weeks has been the increasing frequency of mutations. Currently, leading scientists are following four major variants: UK, South Africa, Brazil, and US (California, where it is implicated in the explosion of new cases, overwhelming healthcare resources). Currently, none of these mutations has been seen to cause more severe disease. However, a recent study from South Africa suggests that the vaccine may not be fully protective, and that a previous infection may not fully protect against catching the variant. Also, the rate of natural immunity against a 2nd infection is only 83%. So, reinfection can occur, and a patient can become a spreader again. As new variants arise, this may become a more widespread problem.

The major concern is the transmission of these mutations appears easier – meaning many more may become infected. Even with precautions bordering on lockdown, cases increased significantly in Southern UK when the variant arrived. An infected patient carries a heavier viral load, so therefore may transmit more easily and may be more prone to continue to spread, even after recovery.

Considering this increasing threat, Vietnam will be quarantining ALL arrivals from offshore for 14 days. Arriving flights before the Tet Holiday will be severely restricted, as well.

Another evolving concern: “long haulers” with residual problems may be more common than we thought. After recovery from the initial infection, many continue to suffer from shortness of breath with lung disease, heart disorders (demonstrated even in 30% of college athletes), loss of taste and smell, perhaps for life. Persistent fatigue, headache, and brain fog are other common continuing symptoms. Unfortunately, these can occur in mild cases and younger people. The incidence of some continuing symptoms is between 30 and 70%.

On a positive note, some people make “super antibodies” that are extremely protective against future exposure. Studying and synthesizing the antibodies may offer the best modality of treatment in the future and may mitigate some of the spreading dangers of the new variants.

Psychologically, we all wanted 2020 far behind us. It is likely that much or most of 2021 will still be bedeviled by COVID-19. But vaccines are on the way and better treatments are evolving rapidly.