Weekly eNewsletter
31st Week of 2021 - August 8, 2021
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AmCham Vietnam’s Vision:
The most influential, strategic, and dynamic business association in Vietnam, that drives innovation and sustainable growth, and helps our members succeed. AmCham is a diverse and inclusive business association. We welcome American, Vietnamese, and international companies that share our interest in enabling a fair, transparent, predictable, and efficient regulatory environment that values innovation. A community you want to join!
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I hope you are all staying safe, strong, and sane. I had some friends worried about me when I posted on Facebook a video of an army of ants on our balcony rapidly carrying a crumb from our lunch. It was impressive teamwork! But seriously, do remember to take time to take time to take care of yourself in these challenging times to preserve your health, wellbeing, and sanity!
My daughter and I are now in Day #8 of quarantine and hope to be released soon under the new rules for those fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, the hotel staff is taking every precaution to ensure we and they stay safe. And I am pleased to see more vaccinations taking place, including with orderly queues across the street at the VietComBank Tower. I am grateful for the balcony where I can enjoy early morning coffee - or afternoon tea - as I write this update now.
This was a busy week for advocacy. We received a request on Wednesday morning from the Vietnam Business Forum asking us for our AmCham 2021 priorities by 5PM to share with the Ministry of Planning and Investment for an upcoming meeting with the Prime Minister. See detail at Advocacy Report. Thank you to all who participated in our Flash Survey last week.
Your feedback on our Flash Survey - AmCham Vietnam COVID-19 Concerns was extremely helpful to my remarks at a townhall meeting with VCCI Chairman and President Dr. Vu Tien Loc on Wednesday afternoon, and for input we shared with the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) for a meeting announced on Friday afternoon and held today, Sunday morning in Hanoi with the Prime Minister (with virtual links to provincial People’s Committees), to discuss the government’s COVID-19 response with the business community and relevant ministries.
We had a very informative event with Stephen Le of Le & Tran on The Risks of Committing the Crime of "Smuggling" to Enterprises During the Process of Importation of Goods, a productive meeting of our Education and Training Committee and look forward to re-energizing some initiatives postponed.
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Upcoming Events and Committee Meeting
We plan to share survey feedback with you, together with more details on our COVID-19 advocacy to date and any Vietnamese government response, as well as a COVID-19 public health update, on Thursday morning at 9AM – SAVE THE DATE – participants and details still being confirmed.
Please join us our Aug 10 event on Comprehending and Analyzing the Key Provisions of Procurement Contracts to Avoid Common Pitfalls at 8:45AM. We look forward to welcoming many of you at our Energy Committee meeting on Tuesday, August 10 at 3PM with our guest speaker Lexcomm Vietnam's Managing Partner Pham Ba Linh who will share with you the Project finance considerations in LNG and power projects in Vietnam, VBF and Legal Committee Meeting on Wednesday, August 11 at 5PM, and ESG Committee Meeting on Thursday, August 12 at 4PM, Monsoon Carbon's Managing Director Angus McEwin will share information on The Use of Carbon Credits in Vietnam.
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As Vietnam’s supply chains and U.S. hi-tech and consumer product supplies from Vietnam are under severe strain, we hosted a virtual event in partnership with the U.S. Consulate on ”Vietnam’s Role in Building Resilient Supply Chains: Short and Long-term Challenges.
Charge D’Affaires (Acting Ambassador) Chris Klein provided opening remarks. Thanks for the valuable sharing from expert panel included the State Department’s lead official handling global supply chain issues, Deputy Assistant Secretary Matt Murray, together with Intel Vietnam VP and Manufacturing and Operations GM KH Ooi, First Solar Vietnam Managing Director KJ Ung, and SSA Marine VP Soren Pedersen. The event increased U.S. government and Vietnamese government awareness of the importance of U.S. supply chains in Vietnam, and the continued urgent need for more vaccines and medical equipment for Vietnam’s COVID response, in the lead-up to the VP visit.
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Partnering with Vietnamese Government on COVID-19 Response and Vaccine |
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Show you care! Please do your part to help now through AmCham Cares, by contributing cash or in-kind for critically-needed ventilators and medical equipment via AmCham, or directly to our NGO members and partners providing COVID relief.
Please contribute NOW to donate ventilators for Vietnam to support the Vietnamese government’s COVID-19 response. AmCham Cares provides you a transparent mechanism to make contributions NOW for critically-needed medical equipment and supplies and know they will be delivered to where in Vietnam they are needed most.
While new cases are plateauing in Vietnam and HCMC, critical cases remain high and medical equipment is desperately needed. AmCham Cares is focused on ventilators for Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong, the most acute needs according to the Ministry of Health and Fatherland Front. Thanks to Medtronic, we have access to state-of-the-art Medtronic Covidien ventilators at cost, with availability in Singapore for delivery about two weeks after our order date. Please contribute NOW personally or for your company to support Vietnam and HCMC at this challenging time. We also welcome contributions from other business associations and non-members and will ensure all donors are recognized. Contribute Now: https://bit.ly/3i4FHRn to demonstrate AmCham Cares! If you have any questions, please contact AmCham Office Manager Cindy Tran: cindy.tran@amchamvietnam.com
The fourth wave of COVID-19 in Vietnam and the highly transmissible Delta variant are causing extreme hardship for many Vietnamese people, especially disadvantaged groups such as migrants and informal workers. We know many of AmCham’s members and friends want to contribute to help, but don’t know how best to do so. In addition to contributing directly via AmCham Cares to donate critically-needed medical equipment to support the Vietnamese governments, we provide information below about various AmCham INGO members’ COVID-19 relief programs in Vietnam, as well as links to some local NGOs vetted and supported by LIN. Contribute now personally or via your company. LINK
We also are happy to highlight any COVID-related contributions from our member companies on our social media. Please email details, including photos, to Cindy Tran. We will also recognize contributions of our member companies to support the Vietnamese government’s COVID response, as well as other innovative and impactful Corporate Social Responsibility Programs or Environment, Social, and Governance initiatives at our November 18 “Giving Thanks Dinner”.
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Many thanks to Medtronic Vietnam for its generous contribution through AmCham Cares to the HCMC Fatherland Front of 10 SpO2 oxygen patient monitoring systems to support HCMC COVID-19 prevention and control measures. On August 4, AmCham Vietnam was delighted to handover the equipment to the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Trung Vuong Hospital as recommended by HCMC Department of Health. We also thanks Chris Thompson and ST Group Asia for their donation of 5300 antibacterial cloth masks to support HCMC COVID-19 response.
AmCham Premium Corporate Membership offers the opportunity for qualified companies to highlight their status as business leaders and their strategic support for AmCham Vietnam’s mission and programs. Premium Membership offers a range of discounts, benefits, and exclusive access. Customized packages are available. To learn more, see LINK or contact Office Manager Cindy Tran at cindy.tran@amchamvietnam.com.
Support Local Businesses: It is harder under Directive 16 to support local businesses. But please do what you can with the few retail businesses still open. And be prepared to do your part when things reopen – please support the local businesses that contribute so much to our quality of life, but which are incredibly hard hit by lockdown measures! Especially our AmCham Members and Discount partners!! LINK. And if you want to become an AmCham Discount Partner, please contact us at LINK.
To support the HCMC People’s Committee’s COVID-19 control measures. AmCham Vietnam will continue to hold all our meetings and events at a Level IV rating this week – all virtual. Please see https://bit.ly/ACEventRating for more information about AmCham’s COVID-19 event ratings. All members of the AmCham team are following a Work from Home (wfh) policy. Our team is still working hard to serve you. We regret our home (or quarantine hotel) wifi is not as strong as at the New World Hotel.
We welcome your feedback at team@amchamvietnam.com to let us know how we can serve you better. We wish you a safe and healthy week ahead! Mary
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Lockdown continues in Da Nang, too. Stay strong, everyone. We will come out of this as an even stronger community. Stay well and stay safe! |
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COVID-19 Update from Healthcare Provider Subcommittee Chair
Dr. Mason Cobb and Andrew Meadows
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All Hands on Deck.
For more information, LINK (to COVID page).
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We continue to focus on COVID-related advocacy. We also shared with VBF our 2021 priorities, coordinated with AmCham Hanoi. And we are finalizing position papers on the Draft Environmental Law and Draft Decree 101 on non-cash payment, while welcoming comments on Draft Decree 72, Internet Services and Online information. We know the COVID situation is fast-changing. Please keep us apprised of your issues and concerns. See LINK for this week’s report. If you have interest in these or any other advocacy matters that require AmCham support, please contact relevant Committee leaders and/or advocacyaction@amchamvietnam.com.
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Committee Meetings & Activities (For AmCham Members Only) |
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Stay informed about key developments affecting your business by checking frequently – updated regularly on weekdays. On weekends, stay informed and connected through AmCham’s Facebook, Linked IN, and Instagram. LINK to our Key Media Updates.
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August 10, 8:45 - 11:00am
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- English PowerPoint presentation
- Communication and translation in Vietnamese
Virtual participation only. Please register to receive the Zoom link.
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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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