On 24 September, EuroCham’s Central Vietnam Chapter Delegate for Advocacy, Mr Jose Sanchez-Barroso, spoke at a dialogue between Da Nang People’s Committee and business communities. The meeting gathered representatives of foreign chambers of commerce and city leaders including Mr. Nguyen Van Quang, Party Secretary of Da Nang, Mr. Le Trung Chinh, Chairman of Da Nang People’s Committee, as well as directors of city departments.
Mr Sanchez-Barroso emphasized with the difficulties local authorities have faced during this outbreak of COVID-19 and supported the strategic direction to live safely with the virus. To support this aim, he shared recommendations from European businesses in the central region. First and foremost, Mr Sanchez-Barroso emphasized that companies need a clear roadmap with a date for reopening their commercial operations. He stressed that vaccinations are the key to this reopening, and that private healthcare providers should be a full partner in this effort. He shared some of the difficulties that foreign enterprises continue to face such as a lack of cash flow; loss of orders, customers, and staff; challenges around the ‘three-on-site’ model; and the problems bringing in overseas experts.
Mr Sanchez-Barroso suggested that Vietnam increased the use of digital solutions such as e-signatures and online procedures to reduce person-to-person contact. He also recommended centralized regulations on inter-province travel, and that authorities plan now for a safe reopening of tourism.
Emphasizing EuroCham’s commitment to Vietnam, Mr Sanchez-Barroso also spoke about the chamber’s Breathe Again campaign which has raised over 31 billion VND for essential medical equipment in some of Vietnam’s hardest-hit areas. Concluding his speech, he emphasized that we now need to rebuild the confidence of business communities and consumers. This can be achieved with a clear roadmap, continued unlocking, and accelerated vaccination so that Vietnam can live with the virus and attract more investment though policies that prioritize FDI.
