Weekly eNewsletter
11th Week of 2021 - March 21, 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, inclusive, business association and welcomes American, Vietnamese, and international companies that share our interest in enabling a fair, transparent, and predictable regulatory environment that values innovation. A community you want to join.
Dear ,
I visited one of AmCham’s newest members over the weekend while in Da Lat, Orlar, and its Co-founders Dr. Lyndal Hugo and Amanda Cornelissen, who grow organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers in organic certified rock, free of contaminants and pollutants commonly found in Asia. Using a vertical growing process, which uses 95% less energy than hydroponics, Orlar’s produce has net negative greenhouse gas emissions, produces no nutrient or pesticide pollution, and allows 100% water-use efficiency. Delicious, clean food, a positive environmental impact. And beautiful, edible flowers! While Orlar currently offers limited online sales to consumers in HCMC, its products are featured in many of Vietnam’s five-star hotels, top restaurants, and supermarkets.
Last week, I was proud to see AmCham Vice Chair Uyen Hồ receive an investment certificate from HCMC People's Committee Chair Nguyen Thanh Phong for Intel's plans to expand its manufacturing facility in the Saigon High Tech Park, part of the new Thu Duc City. Intel paved the way for high manufacturing in Vietnam when it came to HCMC in 2006. Already with over $1 billion in investment and 2700 employees, Intel plans to invest nearly another $1/2 billion as part of it commitment to drive innovation and sustainable growth in Vietnam.
I was honored to speak at HCMC's March 19 Investment Conference with HCMC People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong on behalf of AmCham. AmCham's more than 550 corporate members manufacture high-quality products for export and local consumers, provide world-class professional services, invest in innovative startups, and create jobs in HCMC, Vietnam, and the United States. We look forward to partnering with HCMC authorities to enable a safe reopening to international travel and tourism, a regulatory environment that encourages existing investors to expand and attracts new high quality investors, and a globally competitive workforce. View our remarks here: http://bit.ly/3c1VgWL
This week, please join us for three special events: a Wednesday, March 24th morning AmCham Singapore virtual panel discussion event (free to AmCham members) about the 18th ASEAN Business Outlook Survey, which found Vietnam the top destination for investment in ASEAN; our Wednesday evening March Connect & Cocktails networking reception at Jardine des Send; and our Thursday, March 25th Dialogue with MOLISA on the new Labor Code and implementing regulations and circulars on Occupational Health and Safety, coordinated by our HR Committee with VCCI - HCMC, and the ILO (free to AmCham members, Vietnamese only).


Finally, we would like to invite you ALL to join our AmCham National Conference and Networking Weekend March 26-28 with U.S. Mission Vietnam leadership at the Sheraton Grand Danang Resort! With new governments in both the United States and Vietnam, the AmCham National Conference and Networking Weekend offers an invaluable opportunity to hold a strategy session with senior U.S. Government leadership in Vietnam. 

This year we are honored to welcome Ambassador Dan Kritenbrink, Deputy Chief of Mission Chris Klein, Consul General Marie Damour, and other key members of the U.S. Mission Vietnam’s economic and commercial team.  We will discuss how to partner to promote our shared objective to strengthen the U.S.-Vietnam trade and investment partnership, enable a safe reopening to international travel and tourism, build infrastructure for sustainable growth, and develop a globally competitive workforce.

In addition to the National Conference strategy session, the weekend also should be a wonderful time to enjoy spring weather and beaches in Da Nang without the usual crowds, and spend some informal time both with members of the U.S. Mission team as well as our greater AmCham community, including from Da Nang and Hanoi. Please Reserve NOW to assist planning; Deadline 2pm, Monday, March 22.

Be well and stay safe. We welcome your feedback at team@amchamvietnam.com to let us know how we can serve you better. Mary
Dear AmCham Vietnam - Danang Colleagues and Friends. Thank you so much for turning out in such great numbers for our networking event and launch party for Sunrise Potential Partners and Evergreen Labs’ new space ‘Origin’ at the 2nd floor of the Indochina Riverside Mall. So nice to see everyone having such a great time while also showcasing Glassia 100% sustainable water, as well as Origin selling locally-produced organic fruits and vegetables, and sustainable products, like Savall’s chocolates! We look forward to their continued progress on the shared industrial kitchen and education components.
 
Also, congratulations to all the winners of our lucky draw contest and special thanks to our sponsors Pizza 4P’s and Red Apron for catering the event, as well as our lucky draw sponsors Anantara Resort, the Furama Resort, & the Sheraton Grand Danang Resort for all their assistance in making this a truly special evening!
Advocacy
Our AmCham F&B Committee submitted to the MOH the comments on the current regulations promulgated MOH in healthcare and food safety last week. 

We are finalizing our initial submission of comments to the VBF on the MPS Draft Decree on Personal Data Protection, together with AmCham Hanoi. The VBF and Legal Committee, Healthcare Committee, and Digital Economy and Technology Committee will jointly have a virtual meeting to finalize the joint AmCham position paper at the end of March, tentatively March 30 before submitting to MPS by its April 9 deadline. Please send any comments to advocacyaction@amchamvietnam.com ASAP.. 

Do not forget to register to participate in our workshop on March 25 commenting on Labor Code 2019 and Decree 145/2020/ND-CP co-hosted by VCCI if you are interested in this matter. The registration is open now on our AmCham website. We will have representatives from MOLISA and ILO to join us. If you have any concerns about those regulations, please send to hrleaders@amchamvietnam.com

If you have any advocacy matter that requires AmCham support, please raise it to the relevant Committee leaders and/or advocacyaction@amchamvietnam.com
Committee Meetings & Activities (For AmCham Members Only)
Upcoming Events
Venue: Jardin Des Sens Saigon, 251 Dien Bien Phu St., Dist. 3
Venue: Sheraton Grand Danang Resort, 35 Truong Sa, Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang
March 31, 4:30 - 5:30pm (hybrid-in person and virtual)
Venue: New World Hotel Saigon, 76 Le Lai St., Dist. 1
Venue: New World Hotel Saigon, 76 Le Lai St., Dist. 1
COVID-19 Update from Healthcare Provider Subcommittee Chair
Dr. Mason Cobb and Andrew Meadows
We still live in a pretty safe bubble in Vietnam. The issues are the risks in reintegration with the world, and  vaccine access here in Vietnam.

The "Vaccine Passport" (VaxPass) has two sides. Some vaccinated might continue to shed virus. Thus, Vietnam health authorities still recommend quarantining all arrivals, even those vaccinated. However, the Prime Minister has asked for reconsideration , possibly of a reduced timeframe for quarantine for those already vaccinated..

When Israel had less than half its population vaccinated, COVID incidence dropped 75%, suggesting that the spread is minimal.  Also, with only 20% of the U.S. population vaccinated with only a single dose of two, disease rates also have dropped precipitously.  However, the extreme caution that has served Vietnam so well is being applied until more is known, particularly as new variants continue to emerge.

Astra-Zeneca (AZ) is the work-horse vaccine in VN. AZ is effective, although perhaps less so against the South African variant, detected in Vietnam. The EU had a "tempest in a tea-pot" over a normal incidence of blood clots in AZ vaccine recipients, leading to 12+ countries temporarily halting AZ vaccinations (they are now resuming). The bottom-line conclusion: AZ is safe and effective and Vietnam is rightly continuing to acquire and vaccinate with it.

There is still a race in Vietnam to reach the target of 150,000,000 does by year-end. A ray of hope for early 2022 is Nanocovax, an indigenously-developed vaccine that follows the highest international standards. Nanocovax is expected to be ready by the end of this year.

The current confirmed vaccine count is 55.9 doses of AZ available by year-end. Sputnik 5, the Russian vaccine, may be available, as a Russian official personally has handed over some doses. Although Phase 3 trials have demonstrated its safety and effectiveness, only 30% of Russians, themselves, have the confidence to receive it.

The situation regarding vaccine availability in Vietnam changes nearly daily. With the latest outbreak well-localized and receding, there is some time to sort out the concerns.  

Note from ED Tarnowka:  AmCham advocates for equitable access to the vaccine for foreigners living in Vietnam, as well as consideration of reduced or eventual elimination of quarantine for those already vaccinated and tested negative.  We will continue to provide more information when available.
Offers to AmCham Members
AmCham Membership
If you want to become an AmCham member, register here. If you have already renewed for 2021, you should have received your membership card already. If you haven’t, please let us know. If you haven’t yet renewed or settled your payment, please do so soonest so you can keep enjoying the benefits of AmCham membership! 
AmCham’s Member Discount Program supports local businesses that contribute to our quality of life, and also offer benefits to you, our members. For more information on participating businesses, or if you want to become an AmCham Member Discount Partner, click here.
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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