Weekly eNewsletter
50th Week of 2021 - December 19, 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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Traveling during a pandemic is challenging as each country keeps changing its rules. My daughter and I received our negative PCR test results with relief Friday morning, only to learn at check-in at SGN Friday night that as of Dec 16th, Poland now requires a COVID test within 24 hours on arrival – or an optional 14-day quarantine. Thankfully, we were able to do a rapid antigen test in Warsaw on arrival and arrived in Krakow Saturday afternoon – whew! We definitely did not come for the weather. It was freezing rain as we visited the Christmas market in the town square, but a little mulled wine helped us keep warm. We hope it gets cold enough for snow soon. Meanwhile, we are enjoying Polish breakfasts, complete with kielbasa and homemade cookies.
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U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper confirmed. Ambassador Knapper is a career diplomat and member of the senior foreign service with over 25 years of service mostly in East Asia, including previously as Political Counselor in Hanoi, as well as postings in Tokyo and Seoul. He is also a gifted linguist, who speaks Vietnamese, Japanese, and Korean.
Prior to arriving in Vietnam, Ambassador Knapper served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Japan and Korea in the State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
AmCham Vietnam looks forward to welcoming Ambassador Knapper to Vietnam soon and working with him to strengthen the U.S. - Vietnam economic partnership!
I personally look forward to working again with Ambassador Knapper, whom I served with long ago in the State Department’s Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs, and more recently in U.S. Embassy Seoul.
LINK to Ambassador Knapper’s July confirmation hearing statement.
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Save the Date for AmCham Spring Governors' Ball. It’s not too early to start planning for the 2022 Spring AmCham Governors’ Ball! Save the date for April 2, 2022! We are sorry we are not holding our AmCham Governors’ Ball and Santa’s Breakfast this December, but we are planning our Spring Governors' Ball on April 2nd. And another one on December 10, 2022. Hopefully, it will be a gala year!! Just so you remember what a gala event can be, photos from last year are in this LINK. And remember, the Ball is not just a wonderful social event and a way to connect with the AmCham community in HCMC, it is a fundraiser for AmCham’s scholarship programs!! If you are interested in serving on the Spring Ball Committee, please contact cindy.tran@amchamvietnam.com
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2021 Ministry of National Defense (MND) Defense Economic Expo (VIDEX). I was honored to represent AmCham Vietnam at MND’s VIDEX, including speaking at a panel discussion on Digital Transformation and Joining Global Supply Chains, with fellow panelists from the National Assembly, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Viettel. Some MND-affiliated companies like Saigon Newport already are active AmCham members. AmCham and our member companies welcome the opportunity to partner with more Vietnamese defense companies and help them become part of global supply chains. The U.S. Defense Attache’s office and U.S. defense industry welcome the opportunity to expand defense partnerships. And USAID’s LinkSME program supports Vietnamese SMEs in non-defense sectors to build capacity and facilitate access to financing. Thanks to AmCham member company Kami Network, which coordinated the event and digital exhibition, for inviting me to join the event. I was impressed with Viettel’s tech equipment, the portable medical suitcases (for use on the Spratly and Paracels), and robots for use in quarantine facilities and warehouses.
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Upcoming Committee Leadership Opportunities and Meetings.
Events. More to come soon – we plan an event-full 2022!
Upcoming Committee Leadership Opportunities and Meetings. Many committees are now soliciting interest from potential candidates interested in serving in leadership positions. Elections for most committees will take place in January or February. If you are interested in serving in a leadership role, please contact existing Committee leaders, Board Liaisons, or Events and Committees Manager Lily Nguyen at lily.nguyen@amchamvietnam.com. While several committees have canceled late December and early January meetings for the holidays, committee meetings that take place are now open to both in-person (for fully vaxed) and virtual participation. Please register in advance. All AmCham Vietnam members are welcome to join.
Logistics & Supply Chain Committee Meeting on Wednesday, December 22 at 9AM with guest speaker Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) Strategist, Director of Department of Industrial Forecast and Enterprise Development Tran Toan Thang who will present the Global Supply Chain Shift in the Context of Covid-19: Impacts on Vietnam’s economy and policy responses.
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AmCham CARES' Donation
We are thrilled to announce that, in partnership with EuroCham and AusCham, AmCham CARES raised $5200 (120 million VND) from our special eBook “RECIPES FOR REVIVAL, Inspired by Vietnam's Top Tastemakers". AmCham CARES will donate 60 million VND each to Food Bank Vietnam and Saigon Children’s Charity to support their activities in providing food and other necessities to those in our communities who are struggling most in these challenging times.
Our sincere thanks to members and friends who joined hands with AmCham CARES, support those in need, and be inspired with Recipes for Revival from ten of Vietnam's top tastemakers!! Many thanks to Epicure Vietnam and Oriental Media's Chris Thompson and Jade Huynh for their design and editing of the ebook, and Vietnam's Top Tastemakers", including: Layla - Eatery & Bar and Summer Experiment's Jay Moir; The OX Not Only OX's Ngo Thanh Hoa; Quince Saigon's Julien Perraudin; Le Corto and P'ti Saigon's Sakal Phoeung; Anan Saigon and NHAU NHAU's Peter Cuong Franklin; TUNG Dining's Hoang Tung; Master Chef Jack Lee; Chill Skybar and VIGOR - Dining Club Saigon's Emilio Moscati; Ivoire's Kasey Doan; and Maison Marou Saigon's Stephanie Aubriot.
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AmCham Membership Renewal. It’s that time of year to renew your AmCham membership for 2022! Please be on the lookout for 2022 Membership Renewal notices. Please renew promptly, and if you don’t receive your renewal notice, please contact Membership Manager Sam Hoang! In these uncertain times, we hope you find AmCham’s support to you and your companies more valuable than ever. Our AmCham team has been working harder than ever this year to deliver value and support you, our members, during these challenging times, particularly through our Committees, Business Intelligence events, and Advocacy. We look forward to your continued support, and welcome new members. As you join or renew your membership, please consider becoming a Premium Member.
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 discounts, benefits, and exclusive VIP access. Customized packages are available. To learn more, see LINK or contact Office Manager Cindy Tran at cindy.tran@amchamvietnam.com.
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! To those who celebrate – best wishes for a Merry Christmas! Mary
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Greetings from Da Nang and I hope you are all well! Special thanks to Ms. Nguyen Bao Chau from KPMG for representing AmCham at the December 15th signing ceremony of a strategic partnership agreement between THACO Group and PITTS Enterprises, an Alabama-headquarterd truck-trailer manufacturer, including the first shipment of THACO semi-trailers direct from Vietnam to the United States. At the event, THACO Industries General Director Do Minh Tam explained that the total contract value between THACO and PITTS is worth $565 Million, with the 1st shipment of 870 semi-trailers to the USA, and plans to export 15,500 semi-trailers in 2022, and 25,000 semi-trailers in 2023. THACO Group makes a strong commitment to ship 1,200 units/month to the USA, after this 1st shipment. THACO now becomes a strategic partner and is the exclusive manufacturer of semi-trailers for PITTS Enterprises. Pitts Enterprises VP of Sales Edgard Gill acknowledged challenges faced, including the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic and broken supply chains. However, he acknowledged that with the commitment and strong effort of THACO, and support and trust from local authorities, both THACO and PITTS Enterprises achieved this milestone today.
AmCham Vietnam Da Nang is organizing a Christmas Charity Reception at The Origin Learning Hub – Level 2 of the Indochina Mall, 74 Bach Dang Street on Thursday the 23rd of December from 6:00-8:30PM. This is a chance for AmCham members, friends, and non-members to come together after a long time to give thanks to our NGO community partners and celebrate the holiday season! Catering will be sponsored by Pizza 4P’s, champagne and wine by Red Apron, and the space is donated by Sunrise Potential Partners through their Origin Learning Hub. There will be a mini-Christmas market with local handicrafts, including artwork and embroidered items, for sale, as well as a Lucky Draw. Entrance price includes free appetizers and free flow of beverages. All proceeds, including any additional voluntary contributions, will go to AmCham Vietnam Da Nang's NGO partners: Children of Vietnam, OneSky, STREETS International Vietnam, and VinaCapital Foundation. It will be an honor and a pleasure to see you there. Please feel free to invite your friends and members of your team to join! If you would like to contribute a prize for the Lucky Draw, please contact Ms. Thu at thu.t.pham@riversidecenter.com.vn. Any contribution would be highly appreciated!
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COVID-19 Update from Healthcare Provider Subcommittee Chair
Dr. Mason Cobb and Andrew Meadows
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Are We There, Yet?
For more information, LINK (to COVID page).
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We currently are drafting AmCham’s input for Vietnam Business Forum, now scheduled for January 14-15 in Hanoi, focused on Restoring and Developing Supply Chains. We are also drafting position papers on Decree 72, Management of Internet Services, and proposed criteria for “Healthy Nutrition Foods”. Meanwhile, we expect to continue to focus advocacy on the new Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) and will seek opportunities to demonstrate how U.S. technologies can help Vietnam accelerate its energy transition to meet COP26 commitments and meet its sustainable development goals. Our meeting with Binh Duong authorities is now tentatively set for January 18th. See Advocacy Report for more details. LINK. Please send your feedback on what is working, what issues remain, and recommended solutions to relevant Committee Chairs, advocacyaction@amchamvietnam.com, and our Manufacturing and Supply Chain Task Force, at MFGTF@amchamvietnam.com.
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Committee Meetings & Activities (For AmCham Members Only)
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December 21: Digital Economy & Technology Committee Meeting - canceled - Happy Holidays!
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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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At The Origin Learning Hub, Level 2, Indochina Mall, 74 Bach Dang Street, Da Nang
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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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