AmCham Vietnam Weekly Update -
50th Week of 2020 - December 13th, 2020
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Executive Director Update |
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Colleagues, we regret the delay in getting out this week’s weekly update. We were busy holding our 25th Annual AmCham Governors’ Ball – Old Hollywood Christmas, and our 8th Annual AmCham Breakfast with Santa.
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We were delighted so many of you were able to join and celebrate a glamorous evening with AmCham friends and colleagues at our Ball, while also supporting our AmCham scholarship programs. Special thanks to our Sponsors, Donors, Jen Scheller and the Ball Committee, MC Bui Viet Ha, Auctioneers Greg Ohan and Hao Tran, AmCham Scholarship Alumni, Victoria Healthcare, and our dedicated AmCham team for making it possible! And thanks to all who supported our scholarship program through your purchase of raffle tickets, and bids at the Silent Auction and Live Auction!
And many thanks to our Live Auction Winning Bidders:
1. MORTLACH Single Malt – 25-Year Old, 50cl – donated by DIAGEO
Bid Winner: Mr. Le Anh Duc
Bid: $3,000
2. Memorable Experience from Hoi An to Quy Nhon, aboard The Vietage – donated by Anantara Hoi An Resort, Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, and The Vietage
Bid Winner: Mr. Granger Whitelaw
Bid: $2,500
3. Réhahn’s limited-edition photo: “Rainbow II” – donated by RÉHAHN
Bid Winner: Ms. Giau Le
Bid: $7,500
4. Son Doong Cave Expedition 4 days 3 nights – donated by Oxalis Adventure Tours
Bid Winner: Ms. Thuy-Hang Nguyen
Bid: $5,000
5. A lacquer on wood painting, “COUNTRYSIDE MARKET”, by Artist Tran Dinh Khuong – donated by Ben Thanh Art
Bid Winner: Mr. Phillip Nguyen
Bid: $20,000
And since many of you were too busy enjoying the festivities to bid, we have opened the Online Silent Auction to the public and extended bidding for selected items until Tuesday, December 15 at 9PM, just after our 2020 Annual General Meeting. Please continue to support our AmCham Scholarship Programs, as well as giving back by contributing to our AmCham NGOs! LINK: https://event.auctria.com/ffd35843-7c0c-4041-b591-7a1350d82872/
Many thanks to all who joined AmCham’s Santa’s Breakfast - a community celebration of Christmas, with our friends from Loreto! Special thanks to our wonderful sponsors, especially ISHCMC, tiNiWorld, Logical Moves, and our organizer extraordinaire Chris Byrne, MC Stacy McCandless, special guest singer Felicity, and Santa’s helpers! And thanks to Santa who came so far to visit us!! More photos here: https://drive.google.com/…/1Ez-Oi08shQQbm27OXhj1iuXpL_e4MZ5_
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Our online voting system for the 2021 AmCham Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City Board of Governors closed at 11:59 PM on Thursday, December 10. We are now all excited for the final results which will be announced at our 26th Annual General Meeting and Members’ Night on December 15, from 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM at the New World Hotel. At this Meeting, AmCham leaders also will update you on 2020 strategic results and key developments. We look forward to your participation as AmCham continues our mission to promote trade and investment between the United States and serve as the “voice of American business” in Vietnam. Register to participate here!
Speaking of membership, we have been sending out 2021 Membership Renewal notices via email. We hope you all will renew promptly and that many will consider upgrading to become premium corporate members!
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Message from AmCham Vietnam - Da Nang Vice Chair Chris Vanloon
Greetings from Da Nang! Special thanks this week to First Solar for their tour of their Solar Panel factory in Saigon. Truly an impressive factory and we hope to see their business continue to grow and possibly expand to Da Nang! Also a thank you to our member Mr. Le Truong Ky, CEO & President of Dinco Construction and Engineering for organizing our meeting with the Da Nang Young Entrepreneur Association. This Association was established in 2001 and has over 600 members in all areas of commerce throughout the City. We believe that this is the start of a great collaboration through 2021 and beyond as their individual businesses grow and potentially become new members of AmCham Vietnam-Da Nang.
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VBF: Prime Minister Phuc held a one-hour mini-VBF meeting on Thursday, December 10. AmCham 2020 National Chair Ginny Foote and 2020 VBF Representative Fred Burke represented AmCham.
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Today, we received notification that the 2020 Vietnam Business Forum will be held on Tuesday, December 22. As AmCham members, you are eligible to attend. Register at the link: https://vbf.org.vn
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Section 301 Investigations: We and AmCham Hanoi already filed requests to testify at the virtual public hearings on both timber and currency under the Section 301 investigations by USTR, on December 28 (AmCham Vietnam-HCMC) and December 29 (AmCham Hanoi), respectively. USTR will post information regarding access to virtual public hearings at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/enforcement/section-301-investigations/section-301-vietnam. In addition, USTR will contact persons who are testifying at the hearing regarding the procedures for participation. USTR will also consider rebuttal comments submitted by January 6, 2021. Rebuttal comments should be strictly limited to demonstrating errors of fact or analysis not pointed out in the written submissions or hearing testimony and should be as concise as possible.
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Agricultural Issues: Regarding earlier communication by FAS Vietnam on SARS-CoV-2 food testing, FAS Vietnam recently updated that on December 10, 2020, the Office of Agricultural Affairs (OAA) at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi met with the Vietnam Food Administration (VFA) of the Ministry of Health (MOH) to discuss the VFA/MOH policy on SARS-CoV-2 testing of imported food products/packaging. VFA emphasized that this policy was to conduct ‘monitoring’ of potentially high-risk imported products upon which time they would report to Vietnam’s COVID-19 steering committee. A readout of this meeting has been sent to members of our Agricultural and Food and Beverages Committees. Please contact Events and Committees Manager Lily Nguyen at lily.nguyen@amchamvietnam.com if you would like to receive a copy.
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Join this webinar to have a closer look at the RCEP – the latest and largest of multilateral agreements to be signed, to learn about its impact on the supply chains in and around Asia, as well as the opportunities that it uncovers and pitfalls for U.S. companies operating in the region. Register here!
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A Global Generosity Movement
Share the spirit of the holidays by giving back! Let’s make a real impact in Vietnam by donating to some of AmCham’s NGO member organizations! We can continue to contribute after GivingTuesday as a true gift for the holiday season.
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Committee Meetings & Activities (For AmCham Members Only) |
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December 15 AmCham Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee Meeting
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I was excited to finally visit First Solar’s impressive manufacturing facilities in Cu Chi, together with AmCham Vietnam-Da Nang Vice Chair Chris Vanloon! Many thanks to First Solar Vietnam General Manager KJ Ung and team for an informative tour of one of the largest U.S. FDI projects and employers in Vietnam- promoting innovative, sustainable growth!! |
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Honored to join senior Vietnamese government officials and Bechtel (virtually) to represent AmCham as a VBI Fast Track Partner at a workshop today in Tay Ninh Province. Discussed models for developing Moc Bai Mega Industrial City as a green industrial park and manufacturing hub in Southern Vietnam aligned with national strategic transportation and infrastructure development plans. Expertly advised and accompanied by AmCham Board member and Tay Ninh native, Ly Le! |
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We had an informative presentation and Q&A session on VIetnam Logistics in 2020 and the Outlook for 2021 by Paul Khoa, VP of VIetnam Logistics Business Association, Founder & Owner of T&M Forwarding, and Owner of DTK Logistics. There was great networking at the follow-on reception coordinated by AmCham’s Logistics and Supply Chain and Manufacturing Committees. Link to photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmSHiDgF
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Last week, we also had meetings of our Education and Energy Committees; Capital Markets and Financial Services; and our Healthcare Committee Leadership team. Please contact Events and Committees Manager Lily Nguyen at lily.nguyen@amchamvietnam.com if you wish to be added to the emailing list for any of our 18 Committees and Initiatives (LINK to website https://www.amchamvietnam.com/amcham-committees/)
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COVID-19 Update from Healthcare Provider Subcommittee Chair Dr. Mason Cobb |
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Vietnam appears to have again effectively controlled its third outbreak, including contact tracing and testing of over 3000 F1s and F2s.
Meanwhile, there are now more than 3000 deaths/day in the United States.
Lots of focus is now on vaccines, with distribution beginning, already in the UK and soon in the U.S. of the Pfizer vaccine. The Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is now in use in UK & about to begin in USA. It has tested at 95% effective with substantial immunity after the 1stof the 2 shot sequence (21 days apart).
Those with serious allergic reactions to other substances may be at risk for an allergic reaction from it. In general, only 5% have minor side-effects, such as mild flu symptoms.
The Moderna vaccine should also be approved soon. Its profile appears to be similar to the Pfizer version.
Both are synthetic mRNA, a new technology that mimics the Corona virus spike protein & thus tricks the body into producing immunity against it.
Several other vaccines are in the home stretch. Vietnam is developing its own vaccine, as well.
These vaccines are generally safe and effective - they will hopefully be the game-changer that the world is seeking.
Meanwhile, while we may miss going home for the holidays this year, we can enjoy the freedoms here, including celebrating with friends and family, and travel to many beautiful domestic destinations here in Vietnam.
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A party who files a labor claim is obligated to submit evidence: the plaintiff to prove its claim(s) and the defendant to prove its counter claim(s). When litigating in this area, parties should be aware of that there are a number of evidentiary rules which are particular to labor disputes. This article is a discussion of various notable decisions in labor litigation concerning the collection and submission of evidence, which have an effect on the admissibility of evidence in a court of law. Please contact us at info@letranlaw.com if you have any questions.
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Take a break from your regular festive celebration and rejuvenate yourself in the pristine nature. This year, we bring a great combination on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve exclusively for you and your loved ones at An Lam Retreats Ninh Van Bay and An Lam Retreats Saigon River.
Enjoy night stays, roundtrip pickup service, Christmas dinner, New Year’s Eve dinner, music performances, and many more.
T: (+84) 0908 568 991
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Autumn, winter, spring or summer, Nha Trang’s hot for them all. Enjoy the never-ending summer vibes on your favorite beach, lounging at our outdoor swimming pool, and not to forget the breathtaking scenery right from window at Citadines Bayfront Nha Trang! Book our amazing deal of up to 50% off from now until 31 December 2020, starting from only VND 900,000 per night! BOOK DIRECT HERE or contact us at enquiry.nhatrang@the-ascott.com. *T&C Applied.
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We have lined up a series of memorable events for you, your loved ones and the whole family to enjoy, including family-friendly activities, spa and wellness programs and delightful culinary experiences, all specially crafted to enchant the senses and reconnect with each other and nature.
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Please join us to welcome new AmCham members of this month!
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Let’s support local businesses. If you have any questions regarding our program, please contact Membership Services Assistant Ruby Nguyen at membership@amchamvietnam.com
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AmCham Premium Membership |
The AmCham Premium Membership 2020 is a leadership-level membership for companies contributing strategic support for AmCham's mission and programs. Our Premium Membership comes with a range of exclusive benefits. One all-inclusive Premium Membership's annual billing simplifies your businesses' sponsorship efforts. |
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We love our AmCham members! Do you know all the benefits you get with your membership? Maybe you only remember the ones you've used recently, but there are many ways even our basic level members benefit at AmCham. |
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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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