Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Tuesday, Oct 12, 2021

We would like to invite you to participate in an exclusive AmCham Vietnam Chairman’s Circle virtual event, “U.S. Mission-AmCham Vietnam Dialogue: Defining an Agenda for a Strategic Economic Partnership”, to be held on Tuesday, October 12, from 9:00-10:00 am. This invite-only event will include U.S. Mission Vietnam Chargé d’Affaires Chris Klein, Consul General Marie Damour, and key members of the U.S. Mission Team. We know many of our recent AmCham Vietnam meetings, advocacy, and events have been focused on the COVID outbreak and the impact of lockdowns, particularly on manufacturing operations and supply chains in Vietnam. The idea for this dialogue is to take a step back, gain perspective, and look at opportunities for longer-term U.S.-Vietnam partnership. We will take as our starting point the key strategic priority themes identified in our March 2021 National Conference in Da Nang, as we jointly work with U.S. Mission colleagues to define an agenda for a U.S.-Vietnam Strategic Economic Partnership.

We are honored that CDA Klein is making time in his busy schedule to share his perspective, together with key members of Mission Vietnam’s economic leadership team. We hope you will join as well. Limited participation available – please register now.

Agenda

9:00 AM Introduction by AmCham Vietnam Chairman Chad Ovel
9:02 AM Opening Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Chris Klein and Consul General Marie Damour
9:07 AM Brief Recap/Overview Key Themes from March U.S. Mission-AmCham Dialogue ( 2 minutes each)

  1. Strengthening Trade and Investment: Laying the Groundwork for an FTA – Jahanzeb Khan
  2. Enabling a Safe Reopening and Recovery/Rebuilding Supply Chains – Jonathan Moreno
  3. Building Infrastructure to Support Sustainable Development – Soren Pedersen
  4. Developing a Globally Competitive Workforce – Uyen Ho/Kim Green
9:20 AM Q&A and Discussion Moderated by ED Mary Tarnowka
9:55 AM Closing Remarks by CDA Klein

Speakers

Christopher Klein

Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy Hanoi

Christopher Klein is the Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of U.S. Embassy Hanoi. He entered the Foreign Service in 1998. He served as Deputy Executive Secretary in the State Department from 2017-2019. His previous Washington assignments included Deputy Director of the Office of China and Mongolia Affairs and Special Assistant in the Bureau of East Asia-Pacific Affairs. He served twice at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York – first as Staff Assistant and Political Officer early in his career, then as Political Minister-Counselor from 2013-2017. His overseas assignments included the U.S. Embassies in Paris, Baghdad, Beijing, and Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he was a journalist; his work appeared in The Moscow Times, New York Newsday, and The National Law Journal. He graduated from San Francisco State University and the National War College.


Marie C. Damour

U.S. Consul General in Vietnam

Marie C. Damour is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, having joined the State Department in 1993, and is assigned to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as Consul General beginning in August 2019. She has previously served as Director in the Office of Maritime Southeast Asia in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, as well as in the Office of Policy Coordination and Public Affairs in the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Previous overseas assignments include Deputy Chief of Mission in Wellington, New Zealand; Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs in Brasilia, Brazil; and Chief of Visa Services at the U.S. Embassy in London. She has also served domestically as Special Assistant in the Office of the Secretary, as well as Consular Chief overseas in Iraq, Vietnam, and Mauritania. Ms. Damour is a graduate of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia; she speaks French, Portuguese, Vietnamese.


Chad Ovel

Chairman, Partner, Mekong Capital

Chad Ovel has lived and worked in Vietnam continuously since 1996. He is a Partner at Mekong Capital, a Vietnam-focused Private Equity firm, specializing in consumer driven businesses. Established in 2001, Mekong Capital has the most extensive private equity track record in Vietnam having completed 35 private equity investments, of which 26 have been fully exited. Chad has led Mekong Capital’s successful investments in various sectors including pharmaceuticals, real estate, logistics, casual dining, and retail.

Before joining Mekong Capital, Chad had a successful track record as a CEO leading the rapid growth of ScanCom Vietnam, a foreign-owned furniture export manufacturing business, and AA Corporation, a local company operating in the sectors of construction, retail and manufacturing.

Chad is originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He holds a BA from Carleton College and an MBA from University of Chicago.

Moderator

Mary Tarnowka

Executive Director, AmCham Vietnam

Mary Tarnowka joined AmCham Vietnam as Executive Director in August 2019. She continues to carry out AmCham’s long-term mission to strengthen the U.S.-Vietnam trade and investment partnership and serve as the “voice of American business” in Vietnam, established when it was founded informally just after the trade embargo was lifted in 1994. Under her leadership, AmCham Vietnam has been revitalized. It is one of the largest, diverse, and inclusive foreign business associations in Vietnam. Its network of active committees and extensive range of events provide members valuable opportunities for professional networking, business intelligence, advocacy, and business promotion. AmCham strives to be the most strategic and influential business association in Vietnam – that drives innovation and sustainable growth and helps its members succeed. A community you want to join!

Mary is an international trade and economic expert with decades of experience managing organizations and policy advocacy in Asia. Prior to joining AmCham, Mary served as the U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City. As a career diplomat and member of the Senior Foreign Service, Mary has served throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including postings in Seoul, Delhi, Shanghai, and Taipei, as well as at the State Department’s China Desk and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Before joining the State Department, Mary worked as a CPA and Tax Manager at KPMG’s San Francisco Office. Mary also serves as a Director on the Board of VinaCapital GS Energy.

COST & REGISTRATION

Limited seating: 30 maximum. Registration will be on a first-come first-served basis, and will close on Monday, October 11 at noon.

Please confirm your attendance by replying to [email protected].

Registration fee: VND 700,000

We are unable to accept reservations/cancellations by telephone.