ADVOCACY UPDATE (MAR – APR 2021)

I. EVENTS
 On 8 April in Hanoi, EuroCham welcomed H.E. Tran Thanh Huan, congratulating him on his new position as Director-General of Local Diplomacy Facilitation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read more here.
   
      

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On 6 April, EuroCham Chairman Alain Cany, made his first official visit to the Office of Government where he was welcomed by Minister-Chairman H.E Mr. Mai Tien Dung. The visit was organised to thank Mr. Dung for his administrative reforms as well as his tireless support for EuroCham during his term, including his leadership as the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform (ACAPR). Read more here.

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On 6 and 7 April: a EuroCham delegation met with MOIT Vice-Minister Do Thang Hai and the Department of European & American markets. Following this meeting, it was agreed that a half-day Vietnam–EU Trade Forum would be organized (tentatively in July 2021) with MOIT, the EU Delegation and EuroCham to re-assess the 1-year implementation of the EVFTA and discuss potentials for investment cooperation.
    
On Friday 19 March, the HCMC People’s Committee organised a “Preliminary Conference for the Activities of the Investment Working Group and Recommendations for Improving the Investment Environment of Ho Chi Minh City”. H.E. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, Chairman of HCMC PC, chaired the event, which also featured contributions from EuroCham. Read more here.
     

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II. SECTOR COMMITTEE

Cosmetics:
On 30 March and 1 April, Cosmetics Sector Committee members joined the GDC meeting on the Decree on testing of imported goods. Cosmetics SC members will continue to follow this issue closely, since it will heavily impact the industry.

Digital Sector Committee:
Digital Sector Committee elected Ms. Ha Nguyen, AWS, as the new Vice-Chair and issued its first newsletter of 2021.
  
Food, Agri and Aqua Businesses (FAABS):
FAABS has been preparing for the ‘Breakfast Talk’ event on 13 May to attract more members. On 30 March and 1 April, FAABS members also joined the GDC meeting on Decree on testing of imported goods.

Green Growth Sector Committee:
GGSC has created a group dedicated to water with Mr. Frank Pogade from Water Solutions. The SC also organised an AGM on 31 March to reflect on its activities in 2020 and plan for 2021. This includes proposals to establish a new Working Group with a new Head and Vice-Chairman in charge.
  
IQMED-G&B Sector Committee:
IQMed held a meeting with the EU Delegation to Vietnam on 6 April and follow up on the meeting by conducting a survey. The Sector Committee also sent a comment to DAV on the issue relating to minor variation.
  
HR & Training Sector Committee: 
HR&T SC has sent letters to MOLISA and HCMC PC, HCMC Departments on the issue of work permits. The Committee also attended VBF HR & Education Working Group meeting to discuss advocacy plan on this topic; and sent a letter to GDT on PIT treatment for COVID-19 expenses.
  
Pharma Group: 
Registration remains PG’s top priority for 2021, and the SC has proposed solutions to accelerate the registration timeline. PG has also provided feedback on the Pharma Law 2016 and is preparing registration data for the EU Delegation after the meeting on 6 April.
   
Legal Sector Committee:
Legal SC has provided comments on the Draft New Insurance Business Law to VBF.
    
Medical Devices & Diagnostics Sector Committee:
On 24 February, MDDSC – together with APACMed and AdvaMed – provided comments to DMEC regarding registration for Circulation of Medical Devices. Then, on 30 March, MDDSC and the RAWG attended a meeting with DMEC regarding the programs and plans to cooperate with Chambers in medical devices field.
  
Mobility Sector Committee:
On 12 March, Mobility Sector Committee held a meeting with the EU Delegation to Vietnam on the current issues in mobility industry.
  
Nutritional Foods Group:
On 30 March and 1 April, NFG joined the GDC meeting on the Decree on testing of imported goods in which GDC took into account several of NFG recommendation. NFG will continue to follow this issue closely since it will heavily impact the industry.
  
Transportation and Logistics Sector Committee:
TLSC has elected Mr. Juergen Weber as new Chairman and, on 30 March and 1 April, joined the GDC meeting on Decree on testing of imported goods.

Tax and Transfer Pricing Sector Committee:
Tax & Transfer Pricing Sector Committee has provided comments on the Draft Circular guiding the implementation of Law on Administration 2019.
  
Tourism & Hospitality Sector Committee:
The Tourism & Hospitality Sector Committee has completed its chapter for the Whitebook, given an interview to ‘Destination Review’, and continues to progress an MOU which is being revised by DOT. The current plan is that this MOU will be signed on 13 May at the Tourism Exhibition. The Chair of EuroCham and leaders of HCMC will sign with an audience of EU consulates and diplomats.

Wines and Spirits Sector Committee:
On 6 April, W&S SC held a successful meeting with the Vice Minister of MOIT. In this meeting, it was confirmed that members can sell their products on e-commerce platforms as long as they follow strictly Vietnamese regulations.
  

Common activities:

6 April: Healthcare Sector Committees IQMED-G&B and Pharma Group met with Head of Trade Section; updating on the progress of Marketing Authorization (MA) extension and upcoming strategies and activities with MOH. Following this meeting, SCs will update their MA’s extension benchmark and send back to the EU Delegation.

12 April: EuroCham sent a letter to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) commenting on the draft Decree on Personal Data Protection. MPS held a workshop on Friday 16 April where EuroCham was represented by Bruno Sivanandan and three participants from our SCs.