AmCham Vietnam Weekly eNewsletter - 30th Week of 2021

Weekly eNewsletter

30th Week of 2021 - August 1, 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 ,

Colleagues, I know it may seem like everyone you know is leaving HCMC right now, but wanted to let you know some of us are coming back! We had a mini AmCham leadership meeting IRL today. My daughter and I returned today from San Francisco and I met Chairman Chad Ovel in Tan Son Nhat Airport, flying in from Los Angeles. We know 15 nights at a quarantine hotel will seem a very long time, but are happy we have a balcony!

It was very useful to be in Washington DC last week to meet with U.S. government officials and business organizations, as well as the Vietnamese Embassy to discuss member interests – both short and longer-term. It was particularly good to meet with one of the lead staff planning VP Harris’ visit and discuss our concerns re the urgent need for more vaccines and medical equipment. But it is also good now to be back in HCMC, where time zones make it easier to connect, hear your concerns, and advocate on your behalf.

Last week’s visit of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to Hanoi highlighted the importance of the U.S.-Vietnam security partnership, including COVID response and war legacy cooperation. Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit later this month will also focus on regional security and economic issues, as well as the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change. We hope it will also include contributions of additional vaccines and/or medical equipment.

We are excited this week on August 5 to host a virtual event in partnership with the U.S. Consulate on ”Vietnam’s Role in Building Resilient Supply Chains: Short and Long-term Challenges. Charge D’Affaires (Acting Ambassador Chris Klein will provide opening remarks. The expert panel will include the State Department’s lead official handling global supply chain issues, Deputy Assistant Secretary Matt Murray, together with Intel Vietnam VP and Manufacturing and Operations GM KH Ooi, First Solar Vietnam Managing Director KJ Ung, and SSA Marine VP Soren Pedersen. Please register now to join this important event, taking place as Vietnam’s supply chains and U.S. hi-tech and consumer product supplies from Vietnam are under severe strain. We think the event will increase U.S. government and Vietnamese government awareness of the importance of U.S. supply chains in Vietnam, and the continued urgent need for more vaccines and medical equipment for Vietnam’s COVID response, in the lead-up to the VP visit.

Vaccines for Foreign Citizens. Regarding vaccines, some of you may have seen ads from other foreign business chambers asking members and citizens in HCMC and elsewhere in Vietnam to register, for potential vaccines at some later date. We are speaking to the HCMC External Relations Office and the U.S. Mission to determine if a similar effort makes sense or if it is more productive to encourage members to register on the national portal. LINK

Partnering with Vietnamese Government on COVID-19 Response and Vaccine

Show you care! Please contribute NOW for AmCham Care donations of critically-needed medical equipment to support the Vietnamese government’s COVID response!! We know many of your companies were unable to contribute directly to the Vietnamese Government’s Vaccine Fund due to corporate governance concerns. AmCham Cares provides you a transparent mechanism to make contributions NOW for critically-needed medical equipment and supplies and know they will be delivered to where they are needed most.

There is an acute shortage of specialized medical equipment needed for COVID-19 response now, with ventilators at the top of the Vietnamese Government’s list. At least 200 are needed urgently.

Thanks to Healthcare Committee Subcommittee Vice Chair and Medtronic Managing Director IndoChina Paul Verhulst, we have access to state-of-the-art Medtronic Covidien ventilators at cost. We hope you all can do your part as companies or individuals to support Vietnam at this challenging time. Contribute Now to demonstrate AmCham Cares.

We will conduct due diligence to obtain the best value and a transparent process for our donations. If you have access to some of the other needed items or have any questions or concerns, please contact Office Manager Cindy Tran.

We also are happy to highlight any 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”.

Upcoming Events and Committee Meetings. Please join us our Aug 3 event on The Risks of Committing the Crime of "Smuggling" to Enterprises During the Process of Importation of Goods at 8:45PM, and Aug 5 on Vietnam’s Role in Building Resilient Supply Chains: Short and Long-term Challenges at 5:45PM. AmCham members, please join next week’s Education & Training Committee meeting on Wed, Aug 4 at 9AM, and our Manufacturing Committee meeting on Fri, Aug 6 at 9AM.

AmCham Premium Corporate 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.

Support Local Businesses: It is harder under Directive 16 to support local businesses. But please do what you can with the few retail businesses still open. And be prepared to do your part when things reopen – please support the local businesses that contribute so much to our quality of life, but are incredibly hard hit by lockdown measures! Especially our AmCham Members and Discount partners!! LINK. And if you want to become an AmCham Discount Partner, please contact us at LINK.

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 I hope you are all safe and healthy! This week we join our brothers and sisters in HCMC and elsewhere with a full lockdown and curfews. In Da Nang, we have experienced this at the same time last year and it’s important to understand that you shouldn’t put a timeline on these things. You just have to push through and make the best of it because it’s necessary for the community. That stated, it is also impressive to see our member SPP still opening its shop Origin Impact Minimart offering daily fresh fruits, vegetables and even fresh fruit juices as well as Evergreen Labs providing safe recyclable and sustainable drinking water to the community even while COVID-19 is at large in the general population. I commend your efforts and wish you all stay safe and healthy in this coming time.

COVID-19 Update from Healthcare Provider Subcommittee Chair

Dr. Mason Cobb and Andrew Meadows

The War Has Changed.

For more information, LINK (to COVID page).

Advocacy

We continue to focus on COVID-related advocacy, as noted above. We know the situation is fast-changing. Please keep us apprised of your issues and concerns. See LINK for this week’s report. If you have interest in these or any other advocacy matters that require AmCham support, please contact relevant Committee leaders and/or advocacyaction@amchamvietnam.com.

Committee Meetings & Activities (For AmCham Members Only)

August 2: CANCELED: Capital Markets and Financial Services Committee (CMFSC) Meeting

August 4: Education & Training Committee Meeting

August 6: Manufacturing Committee Meeting

August 10: Energy Committee Meeting

August 11: Legal & VBF Liaison Committee Meeting

August 12: Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) 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.