Weekly eNewsletter
10th Week of 2021 - March 15, 2021
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Message from Mary Tarnowka, Executive Director |
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Dear Colleagues,
I know Disney is not (yet) a member, but do want to recommend “Raya and the Last Dragon”. It is a wonderful movie on so many levels. Representation of Southeast Asian culture in its mythical Kumandra, Vietnamese-American actress Kellie Marie Tran as lead with an almost all-Asian all-star cast and team, complex characters including many strong females, a suspenseful yet ultimately feel-good story, great animation, fashion, and food… And an adorable creature – Tuk Tuk – supposedly a cross between a pillbug, armadillo, and pug, that looks a lot like a pangolin. In theatres in Vietnam and/or on Disney+ around the world.
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Vietnam is already a top destination for investment in manufacturing supply chains. Thursday’s discussion on Enabling Ethical Supply Chain Practices in Vietnam in partnership with the U.S. Consulate and leading international business chambers highlighted how that ability to ensure ethical supply chain practices makes Vietnam an even more attractive destination for FDI. Many thanks to Consul General Damour and expert panelists from around the world - MGF Sourcing’s Mark Neuman from Washington, DC; Saitex’s Virginia Rollando from Sri Lanka; Doximex’s Việt Tran from Hanoi; and Wanek’s Andrew Lien, Matera’s John Vu, and Raise Partners’ Mimi Vu here in HCMC, as well as Gold Sponsor NS BlueScope Vietnam! “Doing Good” is good business! |
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This week, we welcome our members to join hybrid in-person or virtual meetings of our Digital Economy & Technology Committee Tuesday, March 16 from 9-10am, Healthcare Committee from 4:15-5:15pm on Wednesday, March 17, and Agriculture Committee on Friday, March 19 from 9-10am. Register and check links for physical venues.
We welcome all of our Central Vietnam-based colleagues – and those who are visiting - to our Friday evening, March 19th AmCham Vietnam-Da Nang Connect & Cocktails!
Finally, we would like to invite you ALL to join our AmCham National Conference and Networking Weekend March 26-28 with U.S. Mission Vietnam leadership at the Sheraton Grand Danang Resort! With new governments in both the United States and Vietnam, the AmCham National Conference and Networking Weekend offers an invaluable opportunity to hold a strategy session with senior U.S. Government leadership in Vietnam.
This year we are honored to welcome Ambassador Dan Kritenbrink, Deputy Chief of Mission Chris Klein, Consul General Marie Damour, and other key members of the U.S. Mission Vietnam’s economic and commercial team. We will discuss how to partner to promote our shared objective to strengthen the U.S.-Vietnam trade and investment partnership, enable a safe reopening, and drive innovation and sustainable growth.
In addition to the National Conference strategy session, the weekend also should be a wonderful time to enjoy spring weather and beaches in Da Nang without the usual crowds, and spend some informal time both with members of the U.S. Mission team as well as our greater AmCham community, including from Da Nang and Hanoi. Please Reserve NOW to assist planning; Deadline 2pm, Monday, March 22.
Be well and stay safe. We welcome your feedback at team@amchamvietnam.com to let us know how we can serve you better. Mary
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Message from Chris Vanloon, Chairman of AmCham Vietnam-Da Nang Chapter:
Greetings from Danang! Special thanks to Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee Mr. Ho Ky Minh for inviting us to attend and share our opinions at the Conference on Reviewing Economic Diplomacy with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Vietnam. It is always fascinating to review how our city has developed in the past 5 years and discuss ways to develop even further in the next decade. We valued this forum where we as AmCham and other business associations could voice our opinions and learn more in-depth about the city governments plans going forward.
Just a reminder, we will be hosting a special Connect & Cocktails on Friday, March 19, for the Pre-launch Party for our Members Dr. Kasia Weina (also our Vice-Chair) & Jan Zellman from Evergreen Labs at their new space ‘Origin’ on the 2nd floor of Indochina Riverside Tower. The event will be co-sponsored by Pizza 4P’s and Red Apron.
We look forward to seeing you there, growing our AmCham Vietnam-Da Nang membership, and supporting innovation and sustainable growth in Vietnam! https://www.amchamvietnam.com/events/da-nang-connect-cocktails-at-origin-2021/
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The VBF Power and Energy Working Group, co-chaired by AmCham Hanoi Vice Chair John Rockhold, submitted comments on MOIT’s Power Development Plan 8 (PDP8) to the VBF via the Power and Energy Working Group and to MOIT on March 8. Thank you to all who provided comments.
The joint VBF and Legal Committee is taking the lead to compile comments on the MPS Draft Decree on Personal Data Protection in order to submit to the VBF by March 19 as a joint AmCham position paper with AmCham Hanoi. The Personal Data Protection issue will also be discussed at our March 16 Digital Economy and Technology Committee. Please send any comments to AdvocacyAction@amchamvietnam.com ASAP.
AmCham Vietnam's HR Committee will co-host with VCCI on March 25, 2021 a workshop commenting on Labour Code 2019 and Decree 145/2020/ND-CP with the participation of representatives from MOLISA and ILO. The workshop is open for AmCham Members. If you have any comments to the Labour Code 2019 and Decree 145/2020/ND-CP, please send to hrleaders@amchamvietnam.com. The registration for the workshop will be advertised on our website.
Our Advocacy Panel is reviewing F&B Committee comments on the current regulations promulgated by MOH in healthcare and food safety.
Last week, we filed comments on the Draft Circular on the Tax Administration Law, based on comments received by our Tax and Customs Committee, to the VBF on March 10, and to the GDT on March 11. We also filed comments on the MARD Draft Circular on Inspection of Specialized Agricultural Products to MARD on March 11.
If you have an issue you believe requires AmCham advocacy, please raise it to the attention of the relevant Committee leaders and/or to Advocacyaction@amchamvietnam.com
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Committee Meetings & Activities (For AmCham Members Only) |
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Venue: Mai House Hotel Saigon, 1-3-5 Ngo Thoi Nhiem St., Dist. 3 |
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Venue: Origin, 2nd Fl, Indochina Riverside Tower, 74 Bach Dang, Hai Chau District, Da Nang |
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Venue: Jardin Des Sens Saigon, 251 Dien Bien Phu St., Dist. 3 |
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Venue: Sheraton Grand Danang Resort, 35 Truong Sa, Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang
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March 31, 4:30 - 5:30pm (hybrid-in person and virtual)
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Venue: New World Hotel Saigon, 76 Le Lai St., Dist. 1 |
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Venue: New World Hotel Saigon, 76 Le Lai St., Dist. 1 |
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COVID-19 Update from Healthcare Provider Subcommittee Chair
Dr. Mason Cobb and Andrew Meadows
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The year 2020 was all about controlling the devastation of the pandemic; 2021 is all about the vaccine and subsequently lifting the controls from 2020.
No country did a better job since 2020 of controlling the outbreaks than Vietnam. Over-reaction was the successful right reaction. Now, as the latest outbreak is controlled and as the vaccine gradually saturates the population, how will the controls be lifted? When will "Vaccine Passports" be accepted? When will international travel be liberalized?
More immediately, when, who, how do we get the vaccine? Although assisted privately by Vietnam Vaccine Co (VNVC), the importation, procurement, prioritization, distribution and actual jabs will be carefully controlled and organized by Ministry of Health. At the moment, it looks like about 5.6M doses of the 2 dose Astra-Zeneca (AZ) vaccine will be available by the end of April. 60-90M doses are planned for delivery by the end of 2021, but intense negotiations are ongoing to top up to 150M by year-end.
It is not entirely clear, but appears that expats will queue as with locals, but by strict priority which differs somewhat from WHO protocols. This schedule seems optimized for containing any outbreak. Those over 65 and with chronic conditions will be down the list. Priority will be given to frontline workers, including quarantine areas, case trackers, etc. Then, customs and immigration workers. Then military, public safety officials, and teachers. Then, other essential workers such as aviation and transportation. After that, those over 65 years-old and those with chronic conditions will receive their vaccine.
AZ is the main vaccine with negotiations ongoing for Pfizer and others, including Sputnik 5. Any of these vaccines is effective in preventing serious disease and has exceptionally low side-effects, so vaccine shopping is not useful. Since protecting the public from further outbreaks is paramount for the government, the Ministry of Health is recommending that even those vaccinated be required to quarantine, although possibly for a shorter time with a vaccine passport. Discussions are underway with other countries in the region as Vietnam and its neighbors contemplate what “vaccine passports” could allow.
Meanwhile, vaccination rollout is happening faster in the United States, allowing many of our families back home to see some relief.
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If you want to become an AmCham member, register here. If you have already renewed for 2021, you should have received your membership card already. If you haven’t, please let us know. If you haven’t yet renewed or settled your payment, please do so soonest so you can keep enjoying the benefits of AmCham membership!
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AmCham’s Member Discount Program supports local businesses that contribute to our quality of life, and also offer benefits to you, our members. For more information on participating businesses, or if you want to become an AmCham Member Discount Partner, click here.
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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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