Recommended precautions for most healthy individuals are careful hand washing, avoiding touching your face, disinfecting frequently-touched hard surfaces, and practicing social distancing, including avoiding large gatherings.
We know many businesses in Ho Chi Minh City and throughout Vietnam are struggling, due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak. And we know the impact of the outbreak has been particularly hard on small, local businesses.
We at AmCham want to support local businesses which contribute so much to our quality of life in Vietnam by inviting them to join our 2020 AmCham Discount Partnership Program. Please consider joining for your company or refer a favorite local business by sending their email address or a copy of their business card to Membership Manager Sam Hoang at sam.hoang@amchamvietnam.com
Companies can choose what level discount or special offer they provide. We just ask that they follow “Most Favored Association” treatment and provide us at least the same percentage discount or special offer that they may already provide other local associations. In return, we will promote our AmCham Discount Partners businesses and encourage our members to become their regular customers as described below:
✓ A program in which partner businesses promote their business by offering a special discount to more than 1500 AmCham top-profile individuals who are representatives of over 500 AmCham Company Members.
✓ As part of our #AmChamVietnamHCMC #supportlocalbusiness campaign, we will feature select partner businesses on our Facebook page and website
✓ Your company will be promoted widely to all AmCham members, partners, and website subscribers.
✓ Discount offers are free to be listed in our AmCham Discount Partner Handbook on our website at LINK (our website has over 180,000 visitors/year and 500,000 views/year).
✓ Your business can enjoy member rates when booking advertisements on our Member Discount Online , Weekly Update Email and eBlast Email .
✓ Your special promotion programs can be published on AmCham’s website LINK
✓ Fill in the Participation Form HERE .
✓ Book an Advertisement on Discount ONLINE ( Optional ): REGISTER HERE
If have any questions regarding our program, please contact Membership Manager Sam Hoang at sam.hoang@amchamvietnam.com
We value and want to support our local businesses!
AmCham Vietnam was awarded the Certificate of Merit for its contributions, led and coordinated by AmCham’s Human Resources (HR) Committee, to the stakeholders’ consultation process of the Revised Labor Code. Mr. Trung Pham, Advocacy Lead of the HR Committee, represented AmCham’s HR Committee to receive the Certificate from Mr. Hoang Quang Phong, Vice President of VCCI. This award was presented during a meeting organized by VCCI together with other Chambers in Hanoi on March 4.
The meeting also sought the establishment of the Special Task Force Group to develop plans and provide opinions from the employers’ side on various Decrees and Circulars, which will soon be issued to implement the Revised Labor Code. VCCI will lead the Special Task Force Group with the participation of business associations including JCCI, VITAS, LEFACO, VEIA, VASEP and AmCham.
Congratulations to the HR Committee for this recognition of its significant advocacy efforts on the Revised Labor Code- an issue impacting our many of our members.
AmCham Vietnam-HCMC launched a 36-hour flash survey of its members from February 18-20 to measure the business impact in Vietnam of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Over 170 AmCham Vietnam-HCMC members participated; 140 responded to the manufacturing survey questions. Key takeaways below:
More concerned now about economic than health impact: While the overwhelming majority of AmCham members are concerned about both health and economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak in Vietnam, almost 50% are extremely concerned about the economic impact, whereas 25% were extremely concerned about the health impact.
Health Protocols in Workplace: About 90% of members focused on good hygiene, particularly handwashing, and providing hand sanitizer, with 70% also focused on through surface cleaning. More than 75% encouraged employees to stay home if sick or had a sick family member, with 38% allowing optional work from home. About 50% provided links for healthcare updates and/or advice from healthcare providers.
Projected 2020 revenue down: Over 60% expect lower 2020 revenues (with another 28% unable to estimate the impact). One-third expected between 10-20+% decreases.
Expect Vietnam’s 2020 GDP to Drop at least 1%: Almost 3/4 of members expect a negative impact, with half expecting more than a 1% drop.
Biggest challenges: decreased demand, supply chain/logistics issues, cash flow.
Manufacturing Sector: Production Down: About 70% of members in the manufacturing sector currently are operating at or above 70% of normal capacity and 17% are operating between 50- 70%. 13% are operating below 50% of normal capacity.
Supply Chain Disruption Key: Almost 35% of manufacturing sector members report global operations already are “seriously impacted” by supply chain disruptions. An additional 40% expect serious impact on global operations if supply chain disruptions continue for another month.
Travel restrictions in place/meetings and events canceled: Almost half of members have travel restrictions in place for domestic travel with 60% having restrictions on international travel. Almost 70% of members have canceled or postponed meetings or events, while over 40% report difficulty getting people to Vietnam.
School re-opening supported, particularly for international schools: About 2/3 of members believe that, based on publicly available information, schools in HCMC/Hanoi should reopen, and should not continue to stay closed another 6 weeks through the end of March, citing the negative impacts to families and business operations from prolonged school closure, and the effect on the business climate.
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! Happy Tết to our AmCham members and friends as we welcome in the Vietnamese New Year 2020 – the year of the Rat. As Vietnam embarks on the most important festival of year, we wish you all a very special holiday time, where many traditions with family and friends are observed and celebrated all over Vietnam. The colors, flowers, and foods of the season are among some of the special things shared and celebrated. We were honored to join several Tet celebrations, including those of the People’s Committees of Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, among others.
The beginning of the Lunar New Year is a time for renewal — we too at AmCham Vietnam-HCMC have worked the first few weeks of January on our plans and goals for 2020, and are excited to put those into action in February and beyond.
Joining me in that effort is our 2020 Board of Governors, including our new Executive Committee. I am honored to serve again this year as Chairwoman of the Board, along with Vice-Chairs Michael Beckman and Chad Ovel, Treasurer Alan Danner, and Secretary Jonathan Moreno. On January 18, our full board and Executive Director Mary Tarnowka held a half-day planning and strategy session. We are excited to refine and implement the goals identified. Expect AmCham to continue its positive momentum for strategic growth and innovation to better support you!
We were also active this month with continuing advocacy and the launch of two new initiatives. On January 10, I was privileged to represent AmCham Vietnam as its National Chairwoman at the Annual Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) 2019, along with several other AmCham Vietnam representatives leading VBF working groups, other business chambers and associations, and key members of the Vietnamese government. As part of the dialogue, we advanced a platform for the promotion of an enabling regulatory ecosystem, unlocking the full potential of the digital economy, and partnership with Vietnam to develop physical infrastructure to promote sustainable growth and development and a globally competitive, innovative workforce. Click the link for our VBF position paper: English and Vietnamese
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To learn the inside story about the recent VBF dialogue, outcomes, and the business policy outlook for 2020, join our VBF Briefing on February 12.
Less than a week after the VBF Annual Dialogue, we hosted the VBF Power & Energy (P&E) Working Group for its launch of the “Made in Vietnam Energy Plan (MVEP) 2.0.” (Read MVEP 2.0 here: English and Vietnamese) Executive Director Mary Tarnowka welcomed more than 60 industry representatives to the HCMC event where VBF P&E Working Group Co-Chair John Rockhold, and Luong Ba Hung, Director of VBF’s Sustainable Energy Engagement Project, highlighted key provisions of the plan to ensure Vietnam’s energy security and sustainable growth through power generated primarily from renewables and LNG and engaged in dialogue with industry representatives about critical next steps.
We also ushered in two new ways to engage with AmCham Vietnam-HCMC. On January 14, we introduced AmCham’s new Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative coordinated by co-chairs Eddie Thai and Jonah Levey at an Interactive Foundations of Innovation: A Design Thinking Workshop, led by Doodle Brands Chris and Nhu Vo Elkin. Later that day, we hosted our first Capital Markets Committee meeting, with leadership from co-chairs Chad Ovel and Louis Nguyen, where representatives from fund management companies, securities firms, banks and insurance corporations discussed opportunities, key challenges, and potential advocacy issues. Participants also discussed potential synergies with the new Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative, and plans to develop advocacy and outreach with the Vietnam government.
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We look forward to supporting the initiatives and plans by all of our committees in 2020, with continued networking, information-sharing, advocacy, and events already in the works from many of our sectoral committees in the coming months. Be sure to check our website calendar and watch for our weekly email to stay current on our committee activities and events.
Also coming in February is a special workshop hosted by AmCham Vietnam-HCMC, with support from Walmart Foundation and Pacific Links, on preventing human trafficking and forced labor in supply chains. This February 26th workshop will be led by various experts, including industry and topic panelists from various manufacturing and solution providers.
And returning in 2020 on February 26th, is our casual networking event, Connect & Cocktails, to be held in District 2 at Mia Saigon Luxury Boutique Hotel. This monthly event is an opportunity for existing members, their guests, and those curious about AmCham to meet up in relaxed and fun settings to network and learn more about AmCham and how it can work for you!
We are thrilled to welcome over 20 new members so far in January! ABS Institute Co., LTD; American Education and Development Group Inc; American Fashion JSC; ANT Law; ASART Deal Advisory Company Limited; ATT Logistics JSC; Children of Vietnam; Focus Consulting Co., Ltd; Fuji Xerox Vietnam Co., Ltd; HFI LLC; HR1 Vietnam Co., Ltd; IQVIA; Mövenpick Resort Phu Quoc; Nguyen Binh Khiem High School; Onesky Foundation; Online Mobile Services JSC (Momo); Pure Vietnam Company Limited; Tam Minh Technology JSC; United Overseas Bank; Vietcetera; Vietcombank; Vitabella JSC.
Don’t miss out on an exciting year ahead—remember to renew your membership. For even more opportunities and exposure for your company, check out our premium membership levels. As we are set to launch into an exciting year for AmCham Vietnam in HCMC, there will be many ways AmCham can keep you connected, especially as a corporate partner. Contact Cindy Tran at cindy.tran@amchamvietnam.com or Sam Hoang at sam.hoang@amchamvietnam.com for more information on getting more out of your AmCham membership through our premium membership packages.
In closing out the year, thank you members for your contributions to and passion for AmCham Vietnam. To the Vietnamese community and those of us who now call Vietnam home, Happy New Year!
An Khang Thịnh Vượng! Wishing you security, good health and prosperity!
Amanda Rasmussen
Chairwoman
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