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TPP: Major textiles FDI in Vietnam, Happy Fourth of July
FEATURES
 
Hong Kong's Texhong, Pacific Textiles, and Korea's Kyungbang are investing several hundred million USD in yarn-spinning and fabric-weaving facilities in Vietnam, in preparation for the Trans-Pacific Partnership FTA and duty-free exports of apparel from Vietnam to the USA. USTR Froman said at his Senate confirmation hearing, "We have made clear that we need clear rules of origin with yarn-forward at the center, we need rules against trans-shipments ... the yarn-forward fule is a central part of our approach to textiles."  
TPP Trans-Pacific Partnership
 
AmCham members join Vietnamese entrepreneurs from the Leading Business Club in a networking and information-sharing seminar on the Trans-Pacific Opportunities and Challenges, including detailed, specific requirements for Vietnamese companies to join supply chains of U.S. buyers, and take full advantage of the opportunities that will be offered in the Trans-Pacific Partnership FTA.

 
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an increasingly important U.S. economic partner. Goods trade reached $198 billion last year and services trade totaled $30 billion in 2011 (latest available data). U.S. foreign direct investment in ASEAN markets totaled more than $159 billion in 2011. Collectively, these ten countries (Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) have a market of approximately 600 million consumers, GDP of more than $2.2 trillion, and economic growth that has been faster than the world average for the past decade. 
Its overheated economy faces a period of adjustment, and for some countries it could prove very painful. In recent years, success followed success: Indonesia is becoming the region's first trillion-dollar economy, and achieved an investment-grade credit rating in late 2011, something the Philippines also attained earlier this year; manufacturing has been booming in Malaysia and Thailand; and the Philippines began to challenge India is for offshore services. However, just when everything seemed to be going so well, cracks have begun to emerge in the foundations of the Southeast Asian boom.
Committee Activities
When:     Tuesday, Jul 9, 2013 - 5:00pm - 6:00pm 
Where:    Baker & McKenzie Offices

 

When:     Wednesday, Jul 10, 2013 - 8:45am - 10:15am
Where:    Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon
 
When:      Monday, Jul 15, 2013 - 8:00am - 9:30am 
Where:     New World Hotel Saigon
Events, Meetings & Special Offers

 

The new Labour Code, effective 1st May 2013, not only impacts local employees and organizations, but also foreigners that work in Vietnam. It also brings to the market of Human Resource Outsourcing (HRO) the new breeze of labour sub-leasing.

 

Take the liberty to rediscover USA the way you have never discovered it before...

Juicy steaks with different cuts imported all the way from USA prepared live by our Master of Grill just "as you like it".

Riverside Cafe - Round Level | 28th June - 7th July, 6:00pm - 10:00pm

VND 990,000++/person (25% off applies to all members of AmCham)

 

Have a happy Fourth of July with a dazzling Stars 'n Stripes Celebration at Hotel Equatorial HCMC.

From July 4th to 14th, Chit Chat at the Cafe team is offering a patriotic Sunday brunch and daily dinner buffet deal for US Independence Day. Choose from all your buffet favorites for just VND840,000++/ adult including free flow of wine, beer and soft drinks.

Orientica Restaurant offers the best of US cuisine for a special dinner featuring a truly memorable experience with 6-course menu and a selection of premium wine. VND1,098,000++/ adult on 5th July. 

 

Every Thursday Night, Level 23 Nightspot will be launching a networking night where people can connect with others to share experience and build up a new connection. Celebrate America's Independence Day on the 4th of July and French National Day on the 14th of July, also superb French cuisine every Friday night at Saigon Café. Choose your Italian favorite pizza or pasta among delicious selections at Mojo Café on Dong Khoi during the month of July.

 

Global Food Technologies, with its corporate offices in the San Joaquin Valley of California, is excited to assist Fresno State in inviting interested Vietnamese National Students to attend the VietAbroader Conference. The conference will be held July 20th, 2013 in Ho Chi Minh City and July 21st, 2013 in Hanoi. 


Lee Hecht Harrison | DBM Vietnam will be delivering Coaching Practice for LeadersTM on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 in HCMC. This course is designed to assist leaders in gaining skills and confidence in conducting coaching conversations. The session focuses on educating participants on the Results Based Coaching Model, as well as six proven coaching practices. Lee Hecht Harrison | DBM (www.lhh.com) is the global leader in Talent Mobility with over 300 offices worldwide focused on delivering superior results in Career Transition, Leadership Development, Employee Engagement and Change Management.

 

Crown Relocations has moved and we have a new Ho Chi Minh City office. We're fully operational and we're providing relocations services to clients from our modern and conveniently central office.

The new office address:
2nd Floor Coteccons Office Tower
236/6 Dien Bien Phu Street, Ward 17, Binh Thanh District, HCM City, S.R., Vietnam  

 

AmCham HCMC offers many opportunities to market your company's products and services to AmCham members, the business community and the general public. Our services include: 

- Event Sponsorship

- Event Management Support 

- Networking Online (Advertising) on AmCham website

- Announcement in Weekly Update Email

- Print advertising in AmCham Membership Directory 

- Print advertising in AmCham Membership Discount Handbook

- Advertising on AmCham Discount Online 

News and Issues Updates
MPI Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) reported that foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments in the first half of 2013 hit $10.47 billion, up 15.9 per cent from one year ago. $9.3 billion was committed in manufacturing. FDI in property was 4% of the total; retail and construction, 1.7% and 0.7% respectively. "Most FDI projects in terms of manufacturing this year in Vietnam come from export-oriented foreign companies. Therefore, their investments are not affected by Vietnam's economic slowdown." FIEs' exports in the first half of 2013, excluding crude oil, accounted for 2/3 of Vietnam's total exports.  
 
Vietnam already rejected the common visa concept when it was first mooted in 2010. HCMC authorities have urged the Vietnamese government to approach Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos to discuss ways to adopt the single visa policy. In Vietnam, the thinking seems to be going against the trend, with talk of scrapping existing visa waivers instead of extending them. Last month, Vietnamese Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai instructed the foreign and tourism ministries to report on how visa waivers for nationals of seven Asian and European countries have benefited Vietnam's tourism industry so that the government can decide if it will continue or scrap the policy.

Intel Products Vietnam is looking for more local suppliers to raise the ratio of local content in the products it manufactures and assembles at its facility in Saigon Hi-Tech Park. Jeff Prunty, director of global sourcing and procurement at Intel, said the majority of components for production at the Intel Vietnam plant are imported from other countries with Intel factories, mostly from Malaysia. Local content in the products made at the Intel Vietnam factory is only 10%. Intel currently has nearly 20 local suppliers, most of whom are FDI companies, whereas the company is looking for Vietnamese suppliers.
 
The four-year project "Support to development in industrial relations, ... " will be implemented by the ILO, MoLISA, and other relevant agencies with financial support from the US Government. The non-refundable official development assistance aims to help Viet Nam effectively enforce the new labour laws, make employers' and workers' organizations more influential, promote collective bargaining and social dialogue, and develop the minimum wage law and a good wage fixing mechanism. 
One year ago, many Vietnamese apparel manufacturers had never even touched wool. Now, they can't seem to get enough of it. Australia's Woolmark® launched its "Out of Vietnam" project last year, with the aim of developing 12 manufacturing partners.Today there are close to 50 companies using Australian wool. After training courses to explain wool's properties, benefits and features for manufacturing and producing garments, the next step was to introduce suppliers of Australian wool yarns. Now that they are producing quality wool garments, AWI will introduce them to global retail and brand buyers. 
 
The AmCham Member Discounts Program is provided as a Membership Benefit. It serves as a mutually beneficial opportunity for both AmCham Members and AmCham Discount Partners. Members must present their AmCham Membership Card to receive special, privileged discounts offered by AmCham Discount Partners. A listing of discount offers is available in the annual Membership Discount Handbook (hardcopy) and on the AmCham website
New World Hotel Saigon #323
76 Le Lai Street, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City