AmCham Vietnam Weekly eNewsletter - 41st Week of 2021

Weekly eNewsletter

41st Week of 2021 - October 17, 2021

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!

www.amchamvietnam.com

Dear ,

I am SO happy to see reopening finally happening in HCMC and throughout the country – both so our members can resume operations – and so I have more access to my favorite products, a greater variety of ice cream bars, including KitKat and Oreo brand, and my favorite butter-roasted Robusta coffee from the Central Highlands, now that transportation links have been restored! To ensure I can enjoy all those ice cream treats with a clear conscience, I am continuing my workouts with a friend’s boxer/trainer, now in-person vs via Zoom. Unfortunately, there is nowhere to hide when I plank…

We know last week was eventful for many of you as you implemented reopening plans. Some of you just burst your 3 on site factory bubble for the first time. At least one company VP had his first hot shower and night’s sleep in his own bed in months! As a result, we decided to postpone our planned survey so as not to distract you. That said, we always welcome your feedback at advocacyaction@amchamvietnam.com for policy advocacy generally, MFGTF@amchamvietnam.com for manufacturing and supply chain issues, or team@amchamvietnam.com for general suggestions and feedback.

Last week was an eventful week for AmCham, too. A couple highlights follow:

“Defining an Agenda for a U.S-Vietnam Strategic Economic Partnership”. AmCham Vietnam and U.S. Mission Vietnam leaders met on Oct 12th to discuss strategic priorities: 1) Strengthening Trade and Investment: Laying the Groundwork for an FTA, 2) Enabling a Safe Reopening and Recovery: Rebuilding Supply Chains, 3) Building Infrastructure to Support Sustainable Development, and 4) Developing a Globally Competitive Workforce.

U.S. Mission leadership, including CDA Chris Klein, Consul General Marie Damour, Economic Counselor Lynne Gadkowski, Commercial Counselor Charlie Ranado, Agricultural Counselor Robert Hanson, USAID Director of Economic Growth Greg Leon, and USCDC Country Director Dr. Eric Dziuban, stressed the benefits of the close collaboration between the U.S. Mission and AmCham, including on making the case for U.S. vaccine donations, and shared their views on next steps for partnering.

On a bittersweet note, AmCham thanked CDA Klein for his partnership, including joining strategy sessions at AmCham’s National Conference in Da Nang in March, and bid him farewell in advance of his imminent departure on October 15th to serve in a senior position in Washington.

We are delighted that the Embassy will continue to be in capable hands with Consul General Marie Damour now serving as Charge and Robert Greenan as Acting CG in HCMC, while we are glad U.S. Senate confirmation of Ambassador-designate Marc Knapper.

AmCham Vietnam values our partnership with the U.S. Mission, including with Honorary Board Liaisons HCMC Economic Section Chief Alex Tatsis and Principal Commercial Officer Stephen Jacques. Many thanks to all members of the Chairman’s Circle who joined the Dialogue! We look forward to more opportunities for discussion next time!!

Navigating the Bounceback. Participants at AmCham’s “Navigating the Bounceback” event on October 14th obtained insights on prospects for Vietnam’s economic reopening and recovery and consumer trends from Prime Minister Economic Advisor and Fulbright University Vietnam Lecturer Nguyen Xuan Thanh, World Bank Vietnam Lead Economist and Program Leader Jacques Morisset, VinaCapital Chief Economist Michael Kokalari, and Cimigo Managing Director Richard Burrage.

In case you missed “Navigating the Bounceback", you can purchase the video link and presentations by expert panelists now, and watch or listen at your convenience. Download this video to inform your business planning with critical business intelligence and expert insights from. Register now for immediate access.

For non-member: VND300,000 / recording. LINK.

For member: VND200,000 / recording. LINK.

Upcoming Events and Committee Meetings

Last Call by Midnight, Sunday, October 17^th: Recommendations for AmCham Vietnam 2021 Board of Governors Nominations. The AmCham 2021 Board of Governor election process has kicked off! The AmCham Vietnam Nominating Committee is seeking your recommendations for candidates for the AmCham Vietnam Board of Governors in Ho Chi Minh City. Voting AmCham members may recommend themselves or another person. There are nine positions open on the Board. The Nominating Committee is seeking candidates willing to actively serve for a two-year term, Jan 2022 - Dec 2023. The recommendation form explains who may recommend/be recommended, the process for recommending and formal nomination, and other important information.

And Save the Date for our Meet the Candidates Night on Nov. 11th, which we hope can be held in a hybrid format at Cocotte’s Sila Tower beautiful indoor-outdoor venue in D3.

National Board Meeting,Thursday, Oct 21^st. AmCham’s National Board, including members of the Executive Committees from the Boards of Governors in HCMC, Hanoi, and Da Nang, will meet this week in a hybrid format to discuss how to enhance our coordination and strategic effectiveness in representing our collective members’ interests. We look forward to being able to meet again in-person!

Upcoming events. If you are a new member or want a refresh on how to make the most of your AmCham membership, please join our virtual AmCham 101 - New Member Orientation at 4:30PM on Tuesday, October 19. Please also join our event on Wednesday, October 20 at 9AM Coming Rules On Personal Data Protection: Big Changes Ahead, an interactive webinar with legal experts from Russin & Vecchi, discussing likely coming changes to Vietnam’s Personal Data Protection law: Learn the changes in privacy management expected to come into effect in December 2021. Although some changes are still open, overall, changes are likely to be large and complex. Join to understand where to start, create a plan, and then build slowly and steadily to full compliance.

If you are interested in prospects for a U.S. trade agenda in the Asia-Pacific, please join the AmChams of the Asia-Pacific (AAP) event on Friday, October 22, from 8-9:30AM, “Will 2022 be a Watershed Year for Trade in Asia-Pacific”, featuring Founder and Executive Director of the Asian Trade Center Singapore Dr. Deborah Elms and McLarty Associates Sr. Director Tami Overby, both with decades of experience with U.S. trade. Also, save the date for AAP’s Wednesday, October 27, 9-10:30AM event, “Back to Business: an Update on Travel for Asia-Pacific”, featuring updates on travel restrictions and requirements for many destinations in the region, including China, Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, the latter featuring AmCham member TMG Founder and Chairman and Tourism Advisor Board Chairman Tran Trong Kien. Both these events are complimentary to members of AmCham Vietnam, and available to other on a fee-basis.

Don’t forget to celebrate Vietnam’s Women’s Day on Wednesday, October 20^th! As we heard in our Navigating the Bounceback event last week, one of Vietnam’s key economic strengths is the high participation in the workforce of Vietnam’s well-educated and hardworking women. But make sure you recognize the talented women on your team everyday – not just once or twice per/year…. And Save the Date now for AmCham’s sightly-delayed Women’s Day event organized by our Women in Leadership Committee, “Empowering Women in the Workplace”, tentatively scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 4^th, from 4:30-6PM, followed by a networking reception at the Reverie, if local regulations allow. Stay tuned for more details!

Committee Meetings. Several of our AmCham Committees will meet this week as well. All AmCham members are welcome to join our Digital Economy & Technology Committee Meeting on Tuesday, October 19 at 9AM in which Econ Chief Alex Tatsis will provide a USG policy update; our Healthcare Committee Meeting on Wednesday, October 20 at 4:15PM; our HR Committee Meeting on Thursday, October 21 at 10AM, and also on the same day our Tax & Customs Committee at 5PM, and our Agriculture Committee Meeting on Friday, October 22 at 10AM.

Please CLICK NOW AND SAVE TEN LIVES! Reopening finally is beginning in HCMC, but many of its residents, our neighbors, are still struggling to find enough to eat. Join hands with AmCham CARES, support those in need, and be inspired with Recipes for Revival from ten of Vietnam's top tastemakers!!

With a donation of just 350,000 VND or increments of 350,000 VND if you want to contribute more, you will receive a link to download our special eBook “RECIPES FOR REVIVAL, Inspired by Vietnam's Top Tastemakers", including: Layla and Summer Experiment's Jay Moir; The Ox Not Only the Ox's Ngo Thanh Hoa; Quince's Julien Perraudin; Le Corto and P'ti's Sakal Phoeung, ANAN and NHAU NHAU's Peter Cuong Franklin; TUNG Dining's Hoang Tung, Master Chef Jack Lee, Chill Sky Bar and Vigor Dining's Emilio Moscati; Ivoire's Kasey Doan, and Maison Marou's Stephanie Aubriot.

In addition to buying an eBook for yourself, you can also buy eBooks as gifts for family members, friends, and colleagues. AmCham will send them on your behalf, with a brief note: Dear XXXXX, You are receiving this e-cookbook, “Recipes for Revival, Inspired by Vietnam’s Top Tastemakers” as a gift from YYYY. The cookbook is designed as Food for the Soul, an act of loveand respect for those who improve our quality of life through their delicious food, pastries, and cocktails, which we dearly miss. And an act of love and compassion to provide food and other essential products to those in our communities who are struggling to make ends meet. Click to download e-cookbook.

It is not too late to contribute! Please contribute NOW personally or for your company to support Vietnam and HCMC at this challenging time. AmCham CARES provides you a transparent mechanism to make contributions NOW for critically-needed medical equipment and supplies and know they will be delivered where in Vietnam they are needed most. We also welcome contributions from 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 at cindy.tran@amchamvietnam.com.

The highly transmissible Delta variant is 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 government, 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 are happy to highlight 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 December 2 “Giving Thanks Dinner”.

AmCham Premium 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.

To support the HCMC People’s Committee’s COVID-19 control measures, AmCham Vietnam will continue to hold all our Committee 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. The fully-vaccinated or immune members of AmCham’s team are returning to the office this week, starting on Tuesday, October 19^th. We will be able to start meeting in-person on a limited basis with fully-vaccinated individuals. More details to come!

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

Greetings from Da Nang! I am happy and thankful to report that the City Government has begun to ease restrictions further. Restaurants have been able to reopen with 50% capacity in-person dining, as well as cinemas and other limited entertainment options. This is a great step towards pursuing the goal of the ‘New Normal’ and as always we are grateful for the proactive nature of the government during this difficult period.

However, while these efforts are highly welcome, it is worth noting that the COVID pandemic has affected and continues to affect the most vulnerable of our society more acutely. Our AmCham Da Nang Chapter will be working with our local NGO members to see how best we can support them at this difficult time. Stay tuned for updates! Best wishes for a safe and healthy week to come! Chris

COVID-19 Update from Healthcare Provider Subcommittee Chair

Dr. Mason Cobb and Andrew Meadows

Counting What Counts

For more information, LINK (to COVID page).

Advocacy

AmCham Vietnam continues to be focused on COVID-19-related advocacy and support to our members, both at the Central and provincial-level. We were delighted to finally see the release of Resolution 128: Promulgating the Provisional Guidelines “Safe Adaptation, flexible, effective control of the COVID-19 epidemic”, and Temporary Instructions from Ministry of Health for medical professionals to implement Resolution 128, which provide guidance to provinces to implement policies supporting safe reopening and economic recovery.

AmCham also sent a letter to the Prime Minister last week to request a postponement of the October 31 deadline for Vietnam’s Wind Feed-in-Tariff, to account for COVID delays, and also submitted a letter to the Prime Minister via the Vietnam Business Forum expressing concerns about the increased reliance on coal in Vietnam’s current draft of PDP8. We will be discussing advocacy concerns about various pending digital economy regulations at our Digital Economy and Technology Committee this Tuesday at 9AM.

We know that many provinces have also issued a multitude of directives and dispatches to guide reopening and welcome your feedback on their effectiveness. If you have concerns regarding how to maintain manufacturing operations during COVID, please send to our Manufacturing Task Force, at MFGTF@amchamvietnam.com. See LINK for this week’s report. Please continue to share your feedback on policy challenges and recommended solutions to relevant Committee Chairs and advocacyaction@amchamvietnam.com

Committee Meetings & Activities (For AmCham Members Only)

October 19: Digital Economy & Technology Committee Meeting

October 20: Healthcare Committee Meeting

October 21: HR Committee Meeting

October 21: Tax and Customs Committee Meeting

October 22: Agriculture Committee Meeting

Key Media Updates

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.