Meet the USA: Partnering for Reopening, Recovery and Rebound in the Southern Economic Region
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REGISTRATION GUIDELINE
| Virtual and physical participation are available.
For physical attendees, please register in advance to reserve your seat. Current Decision 3900 of HCMC (3900/QĐ-UBND) allows No limit on the number of participants, but not exceeding the maximum capacity. We request full dose of vaccine or recovered from Covid-19 disease. For virtual attendees, please register to receive the Zoom link. |
Event Description
Don’t miss this important and exclusive AmCham Vietnam event showcasing the rebound underway in Vietnam, and prospects for continued sustainable growth and partnership between the United States and Vietnam! Register NOW!
Vietnam’s economy is reopening and recovering, with a rebound underway, and strong prospects for resiliency and sustainable growth. Please join “Meet the USA: Partnering to Promote Reopening, Economic Recovery, and Rebound in the South Region” on Tuesday afternoon, November 23rd, co-hosted by AmCham Vietnam, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Mission in Vietnam. The event will take place in-person in HCMC’s elegant Intercontinental Saigon Hotel, as well as virtually with simultaneous interpretation provided. AmCham Vietnam Chairman Chad Ovel will welcome Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Marie Damour, who will join virtually from Hanoi to provide keynote remarks, while leaders from HCMC, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Da Nang have been invited as honored guests in-person (except Da Nang, which will join virtually). Other provincial leaders from throughout the country have been invited to join the event virtually. You are welcome to join either in-person or virtually, with in-person attendees invited to join a follow-on networking reception.
The event is designed to highlight the joint commitment of the U.S. and Vietnamese Governments and AmCham Vietnam and our member companies to partner to enable a safe reopening, economic recovery, and rebound in Vietnam, especially in the Southern Economic Region. The first panel, “Partnering on a Safe Reopening and Economic Recovery”, will be moderated by Fulbright University Senior Lecturer and Harvard Kennedy School Senior Fellow Nguyen Xuan Thanh. AmCham Vietnam Executive Director Executive Director Mary Tarnowka will share AmCham member feedback on progress and provincial best practices which are enabling a safe reopening and economic recovery, including results from a recent member survey. Provincial leaders will be invited to highlight actions they have taken to enable a safe reopening and recovery, adjust to “living safely with the virus”, align with neighboring provinces, and take private sector concerns into account, as well as progress to date and prospects for reopening to tourism. The second panel, “Rebound and Resiliency in the Southern Economic Region,” will feature an impressive panel of AmCham Vietnam industry leaders from different sectors across the five provinces, who will provide two-three minutes of remarks summarizing their views on prospects for a rebound, resiliency, and sustainable growth in Vietnam, with Executive Director Mary Tarnowka as moderator.
Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. Register NOW to join in-person or virtually!
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AGENDA
| 2:30 PM | Registration and Refreshment
VIP Meeting |
| 3:00 PM | Welcome remarks by Chairman Chad Ovel, AmCham Vietnam |
| 3:05 PM | Remarks by The Honorable Vice Minister To Anh Dzung, Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| 3:11 PM | Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Marie C. Damour, U.S. Embassy Hanoi |
| 3:16 PM | Introduction by Executive Director Mary Tarnowka, AmCham Vietnam |
| 3:18 PM | Panel discussion 1: Partnering on a Safe Reopening and Economic Recovery
Panelists: Provincial leaders from Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Long An, and Da Nang Moderator: Fulbright University Senior Lecturer and Harvard Kennedy School Senior Fellow Nguyen Xuan Thanh |
| 4:00 PM | Q&A session |
| 4:30 PM | Tea Break |
| 4:50 PM | Panel discussion 2: Prospects for Rebound, Resiliency, and Sustainable Growth Panelists: AmCham Vietnam member company leaders from key industries throughout the Southern Economic Region Moderator: Executive Director Mary Tarnowka, AmCham Vietnam |
| 5:30 PM | Q&A Session |
| 6:00 PM | Closing Remarks – Acting Consul General Robert Greenan |
| 6:05 PM | Networking Reception Begins |
| 7:30 PM | Networking Reception Ends |
COST
| Physical attendees
AmCham Members: VND 1,500,000 Non-members: VND 2,000,000 |
Virtual attendees
AmCham Members: VND 800,000 Non-members: VND 1,100,000 |
| Reservations/cancellations must be received by 24 hours before the event, and must be made on-line or by email. We are unable to accept reservations/cancellations by telephone. | |
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
 Vice Minister To Anh DzungMinistry of Foreign Affairs |
 Marie C. Damour
Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. for U.S. Mission 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. On October 15, 2021, she assumed the position of Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. for U.S. Mission Vietnam. 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, and Vietnamese. |
 Robert Greenan
Acting Consul General, U.S. Consulate in HCMC Robert Greenan is the Acting Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He joined the State Department in 2002 and is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. He most recently served as Director of the State Department Press Office in the Bureau of Global Public Affairs. Overseas, Robert has served as Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S Embassy to Austria, Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, and Deputy Spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. Other U.S. assignments include Deputy Director of the State Department Foreign Press Center in New York City, staff assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs and as program officer for Fulbright and Freedom Support Act academic exchanges in Europe and the Middle East. Robert was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Vladivostok, Russia from 1995 to 1997. He earned a Masters of Public Policy from the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at New York University and a Bachelor of Arts in German and International Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He speaks German, Russian, Arabic and Vietnamese. |
 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. |
PANEL 1
 Vice Chairman Vo Van HoanHo Chi Minh City People’s Committee |
 Permanent Vice Chairman Mai Hung DzungBinh Duong People’s Committee |
 Vice Chairman Nguyen Minh LamLong An People’s Committee |
 Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim YenDa Nang People’s Committee |
Nguyen Xuan Thanh (Moderator) Fulbright University Senior Lecturer and Harvard Kennedy School Senior Fellow Nguyen Xuan Thanh has twenty years of experience in teaching, designing, and implementing development policies in finance and public investment. At Fulbright University Vietnam, Thanh teaches at the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management. Nguyen Xuan Thanh also is a senior fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). Prior to joining the Fulbright School, Thanh served as an official in the municipal government of Ho Chi Minh City. Thanh’s research interests are banking, public investment, and infrastructure development. His recent and ongoing research projects include financing infrastructure development and cross-ownership in Vietnam’s banking sector. At the Fulbright School, Thanh teaches courses on Introduction to Public Policy, Local and Regional Development, Appraisal of Public Investment, and Leadership in the Public Sector. He also teaches regularly in the Fulbright School’s executive education and participate in policy dialogues with public sector agencies in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Thanh earned a B.A. (hons) in economics from the University of New Delhi, an M.S. in economics in finance from the University of Warwick, and an M.P.A. from Harvard University. |
PANEL 2
 Kim Huat Ooi
Vice President, Manufacturing and Operations General Manager Intel Products Vietnam Kim Huat (KH) Ooi is Vice President in Manufacturing and Operations and General Manager of Intel Products Vietnam (IPV). As the General Manager, KH sets the vision for Intel Products Vietnam and drives Intel’s long-term business interests in Vietnam. His responsibilities include overseeing factory operations and employee relations; enriching the Intel image and brand; building strategic relationships with communities, media, governments, and local authorities; and working with the industry ecosystem, government, and society. KH has 34 years of industry experience in semiconductor engineering and manufacturing operations, and most recently held the role of general manager of Penang (Malaysia) Assembly and Test Operations at Intel. Apart from Intel, KH has also worked briefly at Broadcom Inc. as VP of worldwide quality and as COO of Globetronics, Malaysia. Earlier in his Intel career, KH spent six years as a factory manager responsible for operational performance for Intel Atom SoC, networking and communications and chipset products. He also held various roles responsible for manufacturing quality and has earned two Intel Achievement Awards in his career, the first related to processor platform validation on the Intel Pentium® processor, and the second for his contributions to lead-free manufacturing systems.KH holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. |
 Kheng Joo Ung
Managing Director First Solar Vietnam Manufacturing KJ Ung is the Managing Director of First Solar Vietnam. He has been with First Solar for almost 12 years. First Solar is a leading global provider of advanced PV module that do not rely on Chinese crystalline silicon. The mission is to provide cost-advantaged solar panel technology through innovation, customer engagement, industry leadership, and operational excellence. KJ Ung has the key responsibilities to ramp the First Solar’s $1 billion facility in Ho Chi Minh City to meet all essential operational metrics. He has been enjoyed working with the talented local team who have been instrumental to First Solar Vietnam success today. Though First Solar Vietnam is only 4 years old, the site has been commanding significant share of First Solar worldwide production capacity and is currently the most efficient and productive operation. The presence of First Solar Vietnam has made Vietnam one of the top producers of advanced thin film solar module in the world. KJ has extensive knowledge in the semiconductor and thin film solar photovoltaic manufacturing operations. He has been in the manufacturing industry for the last 28 years spanning across semiconductor and photovoltaic industries. KJ has been involved in multiple greenfield and brownfield factories startup in Malaysia, China and now Vietnam which is his 3rd international assignment. KJ Ung holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from University of Technology Malaysia and MSc in Production Management from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. |
 Jahanzeb Khan
CEO & General Director Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage Jahanzeb Qayum Khan is the CEO and General Director of Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage Company (a strategic alliance between PepsiCo Inc and Suntory Holdings Limited). After over twenty five years, SPVB has become one of the leading beverage companies in Vietnam, with five manufacturing facilities, five sales offices and a head office. They provide direct employment for more than 2,800 employees and indirect employment for thousands more. It has thirteen brands, in seven different categories, which are backed with a strong Go To Market strategy. SPVB has almost 400 distributor partners and over 1,900 salesmen who work to ensure our products reach our 400,000 outlets through direct service and 700,000 outlets through wholesalers. As part of our Sustainable Development agenda, we believe in being responsible towards the community we operate in by supporting clean water and education. This is living our company value of ‘giving back to society.’ SPVB is one of the top employers in Vietnam and has recently been awarded 1st place in the Top 10 Most Trustworthy Beverage Companies in Vietnam (non-alcohol sector). Jahanzeb has almost thirty years of work experience in multinational companies. His last nineteen years with PepsiCo saw him working in Pakistan, South Africa, Nigeria, Iran and Thailand. Prior to joining SPVB, he was based in Bangkok as the Vice President, Business Development and Transformation, Asia Pacific. Before that, he was the General Director for Pakistan and Afghanistan, leading both Snack and Beverage portfolios. He became the CEO General Director of SPVB in July 2019. Jahanzeb is a graduate in Electrical Engineering with a degree from the University of Maryland, USA. Jahanzeb enjoys playing golf, hunting, and reading books. He also likes spending time with his wife and children and strives to achieve a good work life balance. |
 Sai Ramana Ponugoti
General Director P&G Vietnam Sai Ramana Ponugoti has led P&G’s Vietnam operations since 2019, serving Vietnamese consumers through leadership brands across all P&G categories: Baby Care, Hair Care, Fabric & Home Care, Skin & Personal Care, Feminine Care, and Oral Care. He works with distributors and retail partners to create value for consumers through defining Commercial strategies, leading Business Operations, and building market strategies—to ensure joint category growth. Sai joined P&G in 2001 as an Account Executive in India. In his various leadership roles, he gained extensive experience leading diverse businesses across trade channels spanning different consumer goods categories. He has demonstrated expertise on developing markets, having worked in markets across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa, and by leading P&G’s Global Innovation center for low-income-markets. He also has extensive experience on ‘Shopper-centric retail innovation’ and partnering with retailers to create category value. Sai is passionate about making a difference to the lives of consumers in developing markets through P&G brands. A strong advocate for talent development, Sai has worked across diverse cultures through his P&G career. He has lived in India, Singapore and Switzerland. Before being appointed as the General Director for P&G Vietnam, Sai was the Sales Head of India, the Middle East, and Africa for Baby Care. He was also a key member of the Regional Business Unit leadership team based in Geneva, Switzerland from 2016-2019. |
 Leonardo Garcia
General Manager, Vietnam & Cambodia The Coca-Cola Company Leonardo Garcia currently serves as the General Manager of Coca-Cola Southeast Asia, Inc. in Vietnam and Cambodia. Leonard recently moved to Vietnam, bringing with him over twenty years of experience (eighteen with The Coca-Cola Company). He has an impressive history of winning customers and building great teams. Prior to his current role, Leonardo led the Taiwan team through accelerated growth and success in the market. He pleased customers and built on the company’s people agenda to create a more sustainable business, in line with the company’s purpose ‘Refresh the world. Make a difference.’ In the Chinese Market, Leonardo was Senior Operations Director of The Coca-Cola Company, where he was responsible for business operations in Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang, accounting for fifteen percent of the company’s volume in mainland China. He managed complex customer/bottler relations with two bottling partners with great success, using his extensive experience in strategic planning, customer and partner relationship management, and financial planning. Since joining The Coca-Cola Company in 2002, Leonardo has held a variety of operational roles with increasing responsibility across mainland China and Brazil. Such roles included Shopper and Trade Director of The Coca-Cola Company in mainland China and multiple commercial, market development, and product analysis roles in Brazil. In Brazil, he managed the McDonald’s business and led market development for different franchises across ten states in. Leonardo graduated from Universidade de Brasília with a degree in business management in 1999, and in 2003 he earned an MBA in Marketing from Fundação Getúlio Vargas – FGV. |
 Andrew Lien
VP & GD of Asia Manufacturing Wanek Furniture Andrew is the Vice President of Asia operations for Wanek Furniture Company and subsidiaries. Wanek Furniture started operations in 2008 and has since grown to be the largest furniture manufacturer in Vietnam. Wanek is currently exporting products sold in 20,000 storefronts, and 155 countries around the world. Prior to moving to Vietnam, Andrew spent 17 years working for Ashley Furniture in the United States, giving him a total of 22 years of experience in managing manufacturing global supply chains. |
 Dien VoAdvisory & Marketing Director Becamex IDC Corp. Serving as Advisory & Marketing Director with over 24 years working experience at Becamex IDC Corp. Becamex is a Provincial Investment and development enterprise patterned on Singapore’s Temasek Holding and one of Vietnam’s leading Industrial Park and Township developers. With a strong footprint in the Southern Key Economic Region, the conglomerate of 25 subsidiaries and affiliates, holds a diversified portfolio with the following core businesses: (1) Investment and Development of infrastructure: industrial parks, townships, real estate, commercial and residential projects; (2) Hospital and Health Care service; (3) Education and Training; (4) Retail and Hospitality; (5) Telecommunication and (6) Public Transportation, all in operation under the Umbrella of the name “Becamex”. Established projects along with well-known brands, include several joint ventures with leading multinational investors, such as Becamex Tokyu Gardens City, Vietnam Industrial Parks (VSIP) 2,00ha in North, south and Central Vietnam which was the first joint venture industrial park in Vietnam and still the most successful of all Vietnam’s Industrial Parks; Eastern International University (EIU); Becamex International Hospital (BIH); Ecolakes Residential Township; Binh Duong Smart City Region; Binh Duong Soccer Team. Especially Binh Duong Province is now implementing the Binh Duong Navigator 2021 focusing on 4 domains, namely technology, people, basics and business. This project uses the Triple Helix model to attract and connect resources from 3 parties: governments, education/research and business communities. Beside being Advisory & Marketing Director, I serve as a member of the Operational Board of Binh Duong Smart City Project and WTC (World Trade) Organisation. |
Chris Blank Founder and CEO Pharmacity Vietnam Chris Blank is the Founder and CEO of Pharmacity, Vietnam’s largest retail pharmacy chain, established in 2011. Pharmacity’s vision is being the most convenient pharmacy chain where you can fully entrust your health and wellness in Vietnam. Chris Blank spent nearly 10 years in the financial services industry, holding several senior managerial positions, including a key role in the development of the largest securities trading and brokerage firm by market share in Vietnam, before establishing Pharmacity. Over 10 years of development, Pharmacity has been a pioneer in the modern retail pharmacy space of Vietnam. With his strong leadership and passion, the company has been rapidly expanding throughout Ho Chi Minh City, and now nation-wide. Pharmacity pharmacies are becoming the local consumer favorite due to its strong value proposition, satisfying customers through its commitment to authentic products with clear origins, convenience, and an attractive assortment of products on offer. Chris Blank has been the chair of AmCham Healthcare Committee since 1 Dec 2018 and is continuing to co-chair the Committee for the 2020 and 2021 terms. The Committee represents for more than 70 members of the AmCham Vietnam Healthcare Network. Chris Blank shall be responsible to lead the Committee to fulfill its vision which is being a key strategic partner for promoting health and wellness and shaping the healthcare industry in Vietnam. |
 Ky Nguyen
CEO/General Director Cai Mep International Terminal Ky is CEO of Cai Mep International Terminal, a joint venture of Danish APM Maersk Group and VIMC & Saigon Port. Ky spent 15 years in Senior Management of CMIT which is major deep-water container terminal in Cai Mep serving VN-US trade majorly and is the only termal being able to handle 20,000 TEu container vessel in Vietnam. Ky has served 3 years as independent non-executive Board Director of Port of HaiPhong in the Northern Vietnam. Ky is FTU graduate and has Maastricht MBA degree. Later Kỳ also graduated APMT Magnum Global Leadeship Development program. |
 Walt Power
CEO The Grand Ho Tram Walt Power, the CEO of The Grand Ho Tram, is one of Asia’s longest serving gaming industry executives. Prior to his arrival in Vietnam eight months ago, Walt spent the last 18 years as one of the leaders of Macau’s gaming industry. He was instrumental in the development, opening, and operation of “Sands,” the first western casino in Macau. A twenty eight year gaming industry veteran, Walt has accumulated extensive international experience through executive leadership positions at gaming resorts in the United States, Argentina, South Africa, the Philippines, and Macau. Walt is a former United States Marine Corps Major and Naval Aviator. During his time in the cockpit, Walt earned the designations of Helicopter Aircraft Commander, Flight Instructor/Evaluator, and Functional Test Pilot. He also served with the first International Peace Keeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon in August 1982, participating in the initial evacuation of non-combatants. Walt earned his Bachelor Degree and Master Degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Walt holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and was a medalist in his age group at the 2014 and 2019 World Master Championships. |
 Don Lam
Chief Executive Officer and Founding Partner VinaCapital Don Lam, a founding partner of VinaCapital, has worked in Vietnam for more than two decades. He has overseen VinaCapital’s growth from manager of a single USD10 million fund in 2003 into a leading investment management firm in Southeast Asia with a diversified portfolio of more than USD3 billion in assets under management. Additionally, Mr Lam established the VinaCapital Foundation whose mission is to empower the children and youth of Vietnam by providing opportunities for growth through health and education programs. In addition to his role at VinaCapital, Mr Lam serves on the Steering Board of the World Economic Forum’s ASEAN Regional Business Council and is a frequent speaker at international investment conferences and in the media. Before founding VinaCapital, Mr Lam was a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (Vietnam), where he led the corporate finance and management consulting practices throughout the Indochina region. He has a degree in Commerce and Political Science from the University of Toronto and is the recipient of an honorary doctorate in business from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Mr Lam is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Canada and is a Certified Public Accountant and holder of a Securities License in Vietnam. |
| Mary Tarnowka (Moderator) 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. |
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Gold Sponsor – VND 40,000,000
Silver Sponsor – VND 25,000,000
Bronze Sponsor – VND 10,000,000
*Customized sponsorship options are also available. Please contact Ms. Lily Nguyen via [email protected] for more information. |