Message from the Chair – January 2020

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

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.

Upcoming Events

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!

New Members

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.

Membership & Sponsorship

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 [email protected] or Sam Hoang at [email protected] 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