Professional Image Redux.  As we focus on professional image as a key leadership skill, I realized we needed to pay homage to AmCham’s own sartorial style icon, Sesto Vecchi. Called by some the “Godfather of Law” in Vietnam, Sesto is the Co-founder of Russin & Vecchi, one of Vietnam’s first and pre-eminent foreign law firms. He has more than 40 years of experience in Vietnam practicing corporate and commercial law. Sesto was a founding member of AmCham Vietnam in 1994 - and was Chair of an earlier pre-1975 AmCham in Saigon. Sesto is always indisputably the best-dressed man in the room, and elegant for every occasion. His usually understated former banker lunchmate at Le Corto yesterday also looked more refined than usual, sporting a lavender gray silk pocket square and a new beard. He told me he could only aspire to be as elegant as Sesto, but hoped some of his elegance would rub off in his presence. I personally know no one else in town who can rock a seersucker suit and white bucks like Sesto… 

AmCham at Prime Minister Meeting with FDI Business Community on Saturday, Sept 17.  According to the most recent MPI agenda, AmCham will be one of three foreign business chambers represented at a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, together with KoCham, and EuroCham. JETRO will represent the Japanese business community. AmCham members META, Dell, Boeing, and HSBC are also scheduled to speak at the event. Our draft statement, coordinated with AmCham Hanoi, and based on input from our Board and Committee leaders, is attached. The actual remarks, to be delivered by AmCham Hanoi Chair John Rockhold, will be drawn from this text to meet the 5-minute target. LINK to remarks, LINK to agenda.

Please Complete AmCham’s Governance Task Force Survey by Monday, Sept 19.  AmCham’s Governance Task Force wants your feedback as it plans next steps to strengthen our corporate governance to better serve our members. If you can’t find the survey (sent on Sept 8^th) amongst your emails, please contact Office Manager Cindy Tran. LINK for background on the survey.

Call for Recommendations of Candidates for 2023-2024 AmCham Vietnam Board of Governors in HCMC by Monday, October 10th.  AmCham Vietnam is seeking a diverse and inclusive Board for 2023-2024 that represents our membership and provides strategic guidance, oversight, and resources to our AmCham team and volunteer Committee leaders to help us achieve our Mission to promote trade and investment between the United States and Vietnam and serve as the voice of American business in Vietnam.

We are seeking Board members who can help us achieve our Vision to be 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, inclusive business association and welcomes American, Vietnamese, and international companies that share our interest in enabling a fair, transparent, predictable, and efficient regulatory environment that values innovation. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as environment, social and governance values and aim to be a community you want to join. If you are interested or know someone who might be a good candidate, please see more information at LINK.

Register now to join Vietnam's Economic Outlook - Thriving in Uncertain Times on Thursday evening at 5PM, Sept 15 to update your H2 forecasts and inform your 2023 business plans. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from leading experts, including policy insights from Fulbright University Vietnam’s Nguyen Xuan Thanh, macroeconomic analysis from VinaCapital’s Mike Kokalari, and the latest on consumer trends from our Chair in HCMC, aka Mastercard’s Winnie Wong at this Business Intelligence Event, organized by AmCham’s Capital Markets and Financial Services Committee Co-Chairs, VinaCapital’s Eric Levinson and Citi’s Shawn Khong, The event will take place at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza, with registration at 5PM, panel discussion and audience Q&A from 5:30-7PM, and a follow-on networking reception until 8PM. Register now! LINK

Upcoming Committee Meetings.  AmCham members are welcome to join, in-person or virtually:

September 14, 5PM: Legal & VBF Liaison Committee Meeting

September 16, 4PM: Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee Meeting

AmCham Represented in Sept 12th Meeting with PM on Macroeconomy. AmCham Vietnam and AmCham Hanoi Board Member and Citi Country Officer RamC presented at the event, drawing from the AmCham position paper prepared for the Sept 17th meeting. AmCham Hanoi Vice Chair and MetLife Country Head Guarav Sharma also attended. RamC commended the Government’s macroeconomic policy management to date, and urged financial reforms, as well as continued reforms to mobilize private capital to enable Vietnam’s energy transition, unlock the full potential of its digital economy, and ensure sustainable growth of the manufacturing sector. AmCham and EuroCham were the only chambers invited. Other speakers included representatives of the WB, IMF, UNDP, WHO, JICA, KOICA, and various economists. The overall mood about Vietnam’s outlook was bullish and optimistic, despite external risks from global inflation and potential recession in Europe & USA. Many speakers urged continued reforms to ensure continued sustainable growth and innovation.

MOIT Minister Nguyen Hong Dien Joins September 8-9 Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Ministerial in LA. MOIT Minister Dien joined the IPEF Ministerial in Los Angeles, led by USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimundo. Ministerial Statements on the four IPEF Pillars at LINK. Analysis of key takeaways by the American Association of the Indo-Pacific (AAIP), a new organization developed to strengthening American business and investment in the Indo-Pacific, with membership open to U.S.-headquartered companies. LINK 

Refining Your Professional Image with Trang Le. AmCham held a inspiring, interactive session on Refining Your Professional Image With Madame Trang Le. With lots of photographers!!

First impressions matter. Trang Le taught us tips to make those first impressions positive and project powerful, professional images. We learned what styles are most flattering for our body types and how to get out of our black or gray ruts and embrace color. Many thanks to Trang Le and all our participants for joining the first in AmCham’s new Professional Leadership Skills Development series! LINK

AmCham Premium membership offers the opportunity for qualified companies to highlight your status as business leaders and your strategic support for AmCham Vietnam’s mission and programs. Premium Membership offers a range of benefits, and exclusive VIP access. Customized packages are available. To learn more, see LINK or contact Office Manager Cindy Tran.

Thank you for your continued support – let us know how we can do better at [email protected]! Mary Tarnowka

Please join us this Friday the 16^th of September from 6 pm for our next networking event at the Novotel Danang Premier Han River, 36 Bach Dang, to meet together and also celebrate our Member RSM Danang Branch’s 1 year opening party! 

AmCham’s draft remarks for the September 17th PM Meeting with the FDI Community are attached LINK, as is a position paper we sent to The Ministry of Health’s Drug Administration Vietnam regarding the draft National Strategy for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry in Vietnam for the Period to 2030 and a Vision to 2045 LINK, AmCham is also finalizing a second position paper on Nutritional Labeling. Ministerial statements about the four Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Pillars LINK and key takeaways from AAIP. LINK

Vietnam Business Forum Update by AmCham VBF Representative Fred Burke. LINK

Meanwhile, we welcome your feedback on these and other issues to ensure we are aware of your top concerns. This report and prior Advocacy Reports are available on AmCham’s Advocacy page. LINK. Please send your feedback on what is working, what issues remain, and recommended solutions to relevant Committee Chairs and [email protected]

September 14, 5PM: Legal & VBF Liaison Committee Meeting

September 16, 4PM: Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee Meeting

September 20, 9AM: Digital Economy & Technology Committee Meeting

September 21, 4:15PM: Healthcare Committee Meeting

September 22, 9AM: HR Committee Meeting

September 22, 5PM: Tax & Customs Committee Meeting

September 23, 9AM: Agriculture Committee Meeting

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.

Sofitel Saigon Plaza, 17 Le Duan Blvd., Dist. 1

Novotel Danang Premier Han River, 36 Bach Dang St., Hai Chau, Da Nang

September 17 - between 2:00 to 5:00pm -

97 Xuân Thủy, Thao Dien, Dist. 2

Hotel Des Arts, 76 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St., Dist. 1

More details coming soon.

The Reverie Saigon, 22-36 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1

Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa