EuroCham visited Central Vietnam on 17-18 August 2016

On 17th and 18th August, 2016, a EuroCham Delegation led by Chairman Michael Behrens went on its first official visit to Central Vietnam with the aim to reach out to existing and potential new members and to strengthen relations with local authorities. The idea for this fact-finding mission was both driven by EuroCham’s Board as well as bottom-up by members in the Central region actively asking for EuroCham stronger presence.

Over the course of the 2 days, EuroCham visited 15 European companies active in the fields of Tourism/Hospitality, Real Estate, Consulting, Education and Software/IT Solutions. The networking event hosted at the Meliã Da Nang was attended more than 2 dozen guests. The evening provided a great opportunity to meet other European investors and to exchange experiences on establishing and running businesses in this dynamic region. Michael Behrens gave an overview of EuroCham’s activities and initiated a discussion on what kind of events and support members located in Central Vietnam would like EuroCham to develop. 

The Business Networking with 2 dozen guests in the evening of 17 August 2016

EuroCham’s delegation met with the Investment Promotion and Enterprise Support Agency of Quang Nam province (“IPA Quang Nam”) and with the Da Nang Investment Promotion Center of the People’s Committee. Both meetings focused on the business and investment potential of Central Vietnam and how EuroCham can cooperate with local authorities to support existing and increase European investments in the region. 

EuroCham’s delegation met with the Investment Promotion and Enterprise Support Agency of Quang Nam province

The first meeting with local authorities, on 17th August, took place in the Tam Ky City, where IPA Quang Nam informed EuroCham representatives about the investment incentives of the province and especially in Chu Lai Industrial Zones and discussed possibilities to enhance foreign investment promotion. Mr. Vo Van Hung, Director of IPA Quang Nam, discussed with EuroCham Executive Director, Ms. Almut Roessner, on potential cooperation opportunities between the agency and EuroCham in bringing more European investors to Quang Nam province. 

 EuroCham Delegation met with Mr. Le Canh Duong, Director of the Da Nang Investment Promotion Centre of the People’s Committee of Da Nang

The following day, the EuroCham Delegation met with Mr. Le Canh Duong, Director of the Da Nang Investment Promotion Centre of the People’s Committee of Da Nang (“IPC Da Nang”). The meeting covered the high-tech industries, infrastructure, tourism and logistics.  Special tax incentives and land use preferential treatment are offered in Da Nang’s High-tech Park. The City is going to develop a new sea port in Lien Chieu which shall be complete in 2018 as well as adding four new industrial zones. EuroCham congratulated the City of being ranked No. 1 in the Provincial Competitiveness Index. The Chairman of EuroCham and the IPC Director also agreed that there is strong need to dissiminate information and raise awareness of both European and Vietnamese companies on the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and its benefits in Central Vietnam. Both organizations agreed to work together to promote and organize workshops on EVFTA and networking business events in the nearest future. 

The EuroCham team also shared information with both authorities on partnering EU co-funded projects supporting European investors, namely the EU Vietnam Business Network that provides market access services and the South-East Asia IPR SME Helpdesk giving first-tier support on Intellectual Property Rights protection. 

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