On 16 May, EuroCham hosted a collaborative meeting with the Ambassador of the European Union to Vietnam Julien Guerrier at our Ho Chi Minh City office. The gathering brought together EuroCham’s Vice-Chair in charge of  Advocacy Jean-Jacques Bouflet, Vice-Chair Xuan Thang Nguyen, Executive Director Delphine Rousselet, Head of Hanoi Office cum External Relations Manager Van Nguyen, Advocacy Manager Diep Truong, Advocacy team members, and representatives from Pharma Group, IQMED, Mobility, Green Growth, Sustainable Finance, Wine and Spirits, and Transport & Logistics sector committees.

As part of our continuous engagement with the EU Ambassador, we are committed to  providing valuable insights in EuroCham’s advocacy efforts across various themes such as trade and economy, consumption, health, and sustainability.

Both EuroCham and Ambassador Guerrier underscored the importance of effectively implementing the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) as a fundamental aspect of bilateral relations.

Focusing on Key Areas of Cooperation:

• Transportation and Logistics: Emphasis was placed on the implementation of EVFTA provisions related to transportation and logistics, including the effective utilisation of the Registered Exporter (REX) system.
• Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP): The importance of advancing initiatives under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) was highlighted, aiming to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly energy practices.
• Electricity Purchase and Rooftop Solar for Businesses: Discussions revolved around facilitating the adoption of rooftop solar solutions by businesses and streamlining processes related to electricity purchase agreements.
• Pharma Law and Market Authorizations: Concerns were raised regarding regulatory challenges in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly pertaining to the approval process for market authorizations. Efforts to address these issues were discussed to foster a more conducive environment for pharmaceutical innovation.
•  Homologation Requirements for Automotive CKD, CBU, and Parts: The need to streamline homologation requirements for automotive Completely Knocked Down (CKD), Completely Built Unit (CBU), and parts was highlighted to facilitate trade and investment in the automotive sector.
• Special Consumption Tax and VAT for Wine and Spirits: Discussions centred on the harmonisation of special consumption tax and value-added tax (VAT) regulations for wine and spirits, aiming to create a fair and transparent regulatory framework.

By engaging in open dialogue and addressing key areas of concern, we are honoured to work with the Ambassador of the European Union to Vietnam Julien Guerrier to strengthen economic ties and facilitate trade and investment opportunities between Europe and Vietnam.