Weekly eNewsletter
36th Week of 2021 - September 12, 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!
Dear ,
Another week of lockdown had passed. I am still impressed by the incredible variety of delicious Vietnamese fruits available, even in lockdown, and the beautiful views of the Saigon River, with bluer skies than ever. I was out after dark and violated curfew Friday night, but all for a good cause, a 4-hr meeting with HCMC People's Committee Chairman Mai Friday afternoon, on how to safely reopen and recover. 
 
This week, we are focused on sharing our feedback on the draft HCMC reopening plan tomorrow, meeting with the Ba Ria Vung Tau People’s Committee Chairman on Tuesday afternoon, sharing member concerns with Da Nang authorities, a special U.S. Mission Energy Team briefing at our Energy Committee Meeting Tuesday at 4PM, and our next COVID-19: Virus, Variants, and Vaccines Update Wednesday at 11AM.
 
We valued the feedback from all of you who participated in our recent member survey and were delighted to see so many join us at our Members Night with the U.S. Consulate Team, Thursday, Sept 9th. We also welcomed feedback on concerns from the 111 members (!) who joined us at the special Manufacturing Committee meeting Friday at 2PM, particularly those who shared your recommendations on the HCMC plan. To respond to concerns of our members, the Board has established a Manufacturing Task Force, led by AmCham Vietnam Board Member, former AmCham Vietnam Chair, and Co-founder and former Chair of the Manufacturing Committee, and Diversatek Vietnam General Director Jonathan Moreno, who has already played a key role consolidating feedback on the HCMC reopening plan from his quarantine hotel!  We will be following up on plans for other provincial outreach. Finally, we truly appreciate those of you who have contributed to AmCham CARES, both to support critically- needed medical equipment and to donate to NGOs providing food and essential products to those in need.
Meeting with HCMC People's Committee. I was honored to represent AmCham to join HCMC People’s Committee Chairman Phan Van Mai, for a September 10th (4-hr!) CONFERENCE: Consulting Enterprises on Ho Chi Minh City's Draft COVID-19 Management and Recovery Plan after September 15th, 2021. We were joined by representatives from EuroCham, JCCH, KoCham, and SBG, a few local business associations, and four company representatives, including Intel, First Solar, and Datalogic, to share our general concerns and learn more about HCMC's draft reopening plans, expected to be announced on September 15th. AmCham is coordinating comments on the draft plan now through our committees. Vice Chair Le Hoa Binh, who moderated the private sector discussion, was designated to coordinate implementation of the plan.

AmCham is committed to supporting the Government’s COVID-9 dual goals of protecting lives and livelihoods, ensuring the health and safety of the people, and enabling economic growth and recovery. We support the Prime Minister’s strategic policy direction to adapt to “living with the virus safely”. AmCham is invested in Vietnam’s success. AmCham is optimistic about the future of Vietnam and HCMC. LINK to this week’s Advocacy Report for more details.

HCMC ITPC Meeting with Vietnam International Arbitration Center
Friday morning, I joined other foreign business associations Friday morning, Sept 10th on-line, for an event: "Investment Promotion in the Time of COVID: Changes and Measures to Reduce Risks for Foreign Investors", organized by the HCMC Trade Promotion Committee, together with the Vietnam International Arbitration Center, now chaired by Dr. Vu Tien Loc, former chair until just last week of VCCI.
Survey Results. 240 AmCham members shared their views: Vaccinations matter most and they are happening now, particularly in and around HCMC. Vaccinations are the key to Safe Reopening and Economic Recovery.
Business operations already have been affected significantly. Roadblocks are a key inter-provincial policy concern. Supply chain production is already shifting. Members are most concerned about others in need. The survey results reported above reflect the responses of 240 AmCham members in a flash survey conducted August 23-25, 2021. The earlier survey was conducted August 3-5. Results from both surveys available at LINK
Upcoming Events and Committee Meetings
 
Please join our special Energy Committee Meeting on Tuesday, September 14 at 4PM featuring U.S. Mission Vietnam experts; our Legal & VBF Liaison Committee Meeting on Wednesday, September 15, at 5PM, our HR Committee Meeting on Thursday, September 16, at 9AM; and also our Agriculture Committee Meeting on Friday morning, September 17 at 9AM. 
Show you care! Please help save lives and 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.
 
AmCham is invested in Vietnam's success. Last year, thanks to generous contributions from our members, AmCham donated 250,000 surgical masks, Thermo Fisher PCR testing and analysis systems, and a fully-equipped Ford ambulance to Vietnamese health authorities. AmCham now is carrying out another AmCham CARES fundraising campaign. We expect to deliver four Medtronic ventilators, worth over $200,000, as well as more than $100,000 of other urgently-needed medical equipment later this month to support the Government's response.
 
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 are looking into donations of ventilators and other medical equipment, including BIPAP and CPAP non-invasive ventilators, and SpO2 oxygen monitors. 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 at 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 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 November 18 “Giving Thanks Dinner”.

Rochdale Spears, in collaboration with the program “Help Vietnam Breathe – Vì Nhịp thở Việt Nam” of VinaCapital Foundation (VCF), donated 4 ventilators, 500 sets of level 3 personal protective equipment (PPE), 750 PCR test kits to Binh Duong General Hospital and Tan Uyen Commune Health Center and 1,550 care packages for struggling workers in Binh Duong province with a total value of nearly 3 billion VND (125,000 USD), joining hands with the local authorities and people of Binh Duong to fight against the current large-scale outbreak.

Recent Events
AmCham’s Members’ Night with the U.S. Consulate General Team welcomed many new members. Chairman Chad Ovel provided an update on our recent member survey and advocacy actions, while Consul General Marie Damour briefed us on developments, including the recent visit of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the signing of a lease agreement for a new U.S. Embassy building in Hanoi, and joint efforts with AmCham to support U.S. global supply chains in Vietnam. She also participated into a “frank and robust” Q and A session with members of the Consulate team, including Economic Chief Alex Tatsis, Principal Commercial Officer Stephen Jacques, Economic Specialist Patrick Gaffney, and American Citizens Services Chief Thomas Bollati.
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 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 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
Greetings from Da Nang and l hope you are all well! A start to reopening for Da Nang is underway and I am glad to report that our daily numbers have dropped significantly. Hopefully, as the weeks progress in September, we will see more and more businesses and services reopening with more people being vaccinated.

We are honored to have been requested by our city leaders to assist in identifying and responding to the needs of Foreign Direct Investment businesses in regards to a safe reopening as well as future growth in the FDI sector. Some of you have already been in touch with me. If you have specific concerns you wish raised, please send to  advocacyaction@amchamvietnam.com soonest, ideally by Monday, September 13. As always, we are committed to the growth of the city as well as the central region and we appreciate the government's strong support for the feedback from our organization and members.

Once again, stay vigilant and we look forward to a continued safe reopening!
COVID-19 Update from Healthcare Provider Subcommittee Chair
Dr. Mason Cobb and Andrew Meadows
A Ticking Clock or a Light at End of the Tunnel?

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 joined two events organized by HCMC ITPC last Friday, September 10th, both virtually and in person, the latter chaired by HCMC People's Committee Chairman Phan Van Mai, to provide feedback and business concerns and recommendations for a safe reopening. We will be providing feedback to HCMC authorities on the draft reopening plan Monday, based on feedback we have received from our Committees. We will also be providing feedback to Da Nang authorities in writing early this week, and virtually to Ba Ria Vung Tau's Chairman on Tuesday. 
Tuesday afternoon will also provide an opportunity to hear from U.S. Mission energy experts and share concerns about the regulatory environment at our Energy Committee meeting Tuesday at 4PM, including a proposal to extend the Wind FIT. Our Advocacy Panel will also be reviewing advocacy from our F&B Committee on advertising, and the Healthcare Committee’s White Book.

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)
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.
Upcoming Event
September 15 - SAVE THE DATE
COVID-19 Update Briefing
Virtual participation only. Please register to receive the Zoom link.
Virtual participation only. Please register to receive the Zoom link.
September 24 - SAVE THE DATE
Building a Resilient Organization with a Coaching Culture event
Virtual participation only. Please register to receive the Zoom link.
Virtual participation only. Please register to receive the Zoom link.
Offers to AmCham Members

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