Direct Selling

Mission: “To protect, serve and promote the effectiveness of member companies and the independent business people they represent. To ensure that the marketing by member companies of products and/or the direct sales opportunity is conducted with the highest level of business ethics and service to consumers.”

Some highlights of our activities …

Roundtable Discussion of Direct Selling in Vietnam, Nov 12, 2010

Direct Selling Industry Panel Discussion & Networking Night, May 15, 2009

Direct Sales in Vietnam total $ 133 million in 2010, with 900,000 people participating.

Additional Background

The AmCham Vietnam Direct Selling Committee cooperates with the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA), whose mission is to build understanding and support for direct selling worldwide. The association supports direct selling companies and associations by:

• Developing, maintaining and promoting the highest global standards for responsible and ethical conduct.
• Advocating the industry’s positions and interest with governments, media and key influencers.
• Serving as a trusted global resource for information on direct selling.
• Facilitating interaction among direct selling executives on issues of importance to the industry.

Founded in 1978, the WFDSA is a non-governmental, voluntary organization globally representing the direct selling industry as a federation of national Direct Selling Associations. The United States Direct Selling Association serves as the Secretariat for the Federation and is based in Washington DC.

Human Resources

Monitors and reports on personnel, employment, and human resource development issues in Vietnam in general and in AmCham member firms in particular. Activities include: Create informational networking opportunities for AmCham member firms’ HR managers; Maintain liaison with the Vietnamese Government and other local HR organizations; Manage the AmCham Scholarship Program selection process and award ceremony, in cooperation with the AmCham Scholars Alumni/ae (ASA) Club and CSR Group. Action teams within the Human Resources Working Group include: Industrial Relations (with a focus on the revised Labour Code, the annual Minimum Wage adjustment, etc.), Education & Training (Work Force Development), Compensation & Benefits, Networking, and AmCham Scholarship Management Team (in cooperation with CSR Committee and the AmCham Scholarship Alumni/ae Club).

IT Information Technology

Mission: Help expand sales of AmCham member firms’ ICT goods and services and help new-to-market members develop. Serve as a forum and focal point to discuss and review industry and government ICT developments. Provide industry positions and viewpoints on relevant sectoral issues. Build the bandwidth of communication between industry in Vietnam and industry in US and increase business between the two. Projects include: (1) develop information for prospective outsourcing customers and (2) develop information needed for new investors’ market entry decisions.

Any AmCham member that provides or needs ICT solutions is welcome to attend meetings of the ICT Group. Please use the Register Online button so we will be prepared. If you attend IT Group meetings regularly, please contact Rick about joining the IT Group as a member, either “active” or “passive.”

Legal & VBF Liaison

Mission: Monitors and strives to influence legislation and administrative regulations in Vietnam. The committee conducts seminar and speaker programs designed to increase awareness of major legal issues and also serves as a focus for the American law firms in Vietnam. In addition, the committee actively participates in the work of the “Vietnam Business Forum,” along with other international business associations and Vietnamese authorities, to help improve the environment for foreign direct investment in Vietnam.