U.S. negotiators met with several apparel brands and retailers and made a detailed presentation about their new approach to "short supply" in TPP. In brief, the new U.S. proposal is to create two short-supply lists: one for permanent benefits, and one for temporary [3 years] benefits. Unlike the short-supply provisions in other U.S. Free Trade Agreements, the TPP concept is intended to be a simpler approach that will provide preferential market access from day one of the agreement. Gail Strickler, Assistant USTR, Textiiles & Apparel.

 

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CapitaLand's wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has achieved strong progress since the launch of its global sustainability drive, 'Go Green @ Ascott', in March 2012. Ascott has made significant strides in the areas of environment, health and safety as well as reduced water and energy consumption, as it strives to become the world's leading green serviced residence company. 

Your ever-changing business climate makes long-terms customer relationships more important than ever. To develop those relationships, your salespeople need to sell strategically, they need to understand everything about an account, and they need to utilize rigorous strategic methods to secure business - and keep it. That's why they need Winning Account StrategiesTM, a workshop designed for salespeople and managers who already possess a solid foundation in sales call skills, but are ready for the next step: a more strategic approach to maximizing sales opportunities and relationships with key customers

 

By 2020, "heavy investment in emerging tourism markets will widen traveller choice, increase competition and potentially drive down prices and profit margins across the spectrum of hotels" (*). In the face of challenge, chains need to expand to new markets and independent hotels need to keep pace with big brands or join them. Therefore, to maintain a competitive edge is one of the most critical tasks that CFOs and top-level managers in this industry need to fulfill. 

 

A 10% increase of business bankruptcies in 2012 has showed a significant signal of increasing bad credit risk in Vietnam. Today, D&B's (Dun & Bradstreet) powerful analytical tools and data coverage of 125,000 companies in Vietnam make the task of reducing bad credit risk easier, and hence improving cash flow. Get D&B report today to enjoy a 10% discount valid until April 30th,2013 

The chart shows U.S. imports from TPP countries, excluding Canada and Mexico. Vietnam was already the third largest supplier in 2011, overtook Singapore in 2012, and could soon overtake Malaysia to be the leading supplier. As an export market, Vietnam ranks quite low.

   

"The U.S. has been negotiating market access only with those countries with which we do not already have FTAs.Those negotiations are being conducted bilaterally at a pace that is responsive to the offers from the other countries. The key county is Vietnam, a very large market. We're looking to insure that we have significant market access in areas of interest to the U.S. Vietnam is looking for improved access in footwear and textiles. We are slowly making progress on a package that will be balanced, and addresses the interests of both countries, but we have to do so in a way that is comfortable for both countries." Barbara Weisel, Assistant USTR and Chief U.S. TPP Negotiator.

AGS Four Winds VIetnam opened offices in Vietnam this month, as momentum continues with the AGS group's expansion in Asia. The two new branches are located in the main commercial hub HCMC & a satellite office in the capital of Hanoi. AGS Four Winds Vietnam is headed by Kevin Hamilton. Originally from the UK, he has 7 years removal and logistics experience within Vietnam and proven management   expertise across multiple industries. 

 

The first three factors would boost Vietnamese exports and terms of trade under the TPP. The last two amplify these benefits by stimulating productivity gains. Higher incomes in turn enable Vietnam to invest more and grow more rapidly.  

Samsung Electronics began work on a hi-tech complex worth US$3.2 billion in Thai Nguyen following the success of its cell phone factory in Bac Ninh, which started operation in April 2009. After three years, Samsung increased its investment in this factory to US$1.5 billion in 2012 and decided to transform it into a technology complex. The factory produced some 100 million products in 2012, over 95% of which was exported to the EU, the Middle East, Russia and some Asian nations, bringing in some US$12.7 billion, or 11% of Vietnam's total export turnover.

The $4.2 billion Ho Tram Strip integrated resort is facing a delay due to the pull-out of the first resort's operator and financing problem. The developer, Asian Coast Development (Canada) Limited (ACDL), announced that MGM Resorts International (MGM) would no longer manage the first of the Ho Tram Strip's five resorts. The two sides did not reveal reasons for the termination of the agreement which they entered into five years ago.

 

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The Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has circulated a number of draft decrees guiding the new Labour Code and the new Law on Trade Unions. In accordance with Vietnam's commitments in the  Bilateral Trade Agreement, in the report of the Working Party on the Accession of Vietnam to the WTO, and as ratified by the National Assembly in Resolution No. 71, Nov 29, 2006, we are preparing for workshops and dialogue meetings with MOLISA in the coming days, most probably in March. We will keep you informed as to the date, time, and location of the workshops and dialogue meetings.