Honouring Traditions, Embracing Growth
Honouring Traditions
Embracing Growth
It gives me great pleasure to be serving as Chairman again after a break of 3 years and for what is my third term as Chair.
Whilst it has been a difficult last 2 years, as a result if Covid, my election coincides with the re-opening of borders and what looks like being a record growth year for Vietnam (in recent times) and a standout world performer.
Both the strategic partnership (Gov. to Gov.) and trade and investment are at all-time highs in part due to the UK Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the UK’s application to join CPTPP.
Our Advocacy Committee has been very active and I was able to attend a meeting of the BCAC and Chairman of the National Assembly HE Vuong Dinh Hue in London in June 22, just after my election. Britcham has also been appointed as a member of the Vietnamese Government’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform, which in addition to our role as a consortium member and Director of the Vietnam Business Forum, will give us greater leverage with the authorities.
We are very strong in the areas of financial services, tax and customs, pharma and education which we think stands the chamber in good stead in understanding and reacting to the various different opportunities and challenges that present themselves here as Vietnam works to achieve its ambitions. We also welcome input or any members interested in regular discussions on these topics with Board and BCAC members.
Britcham continues to strive to give value to members and we are starting to return to a full program of events and meetings and these can be found in our weekly newsletter or on our website.
With all the challenges facing many of the developed economies it is likely that Vietnam will also face some economic and financial challenges but the consensus view of our experts is that we should be cautious and we will face headwinds Vietnam will continue to be a top performer.
I look forward to serving you all and thank the Committee for electing me. I invite members to contact me at any time and for members who do not know me personally please do introduce yourself at any opportunity.
The Secretariat of British Chamber of Commerce Vietnam, started as a luncheon club in 1991, was first licensed in 1998 as the British Business Group Vietnam (BritCham Vietnam). We were the first ever Foreign Business Group to obtain formal recognition in Vietnam. The BritCham Vietnam has now evolved into the British Chamber of Commerce Vietnam which is affiliated with the British Chambers of Commerce in the UK and around the world.
Today, we are a community of more than 500 members, whose names mean world class reputation. The Secretariat is a dynamic and professional team, who are dedicated to promote our members’ business interests in Vietnam, through various business, social, charity and advocacy events and activities.
very year, the team works hard to secure funds for charity. Over the history of our operation, the Secretariat has raised more than VND 20 Billion to support education, healthcare, people at disadvantages, and wildlife protection. Our tradition of giving back to the community is something we honour and will keep working on.
Looking into the future, BritCham Vietnam continues our legacies and looks to expand the horizon of providing stronger supports to our members, adding more values to the community, and being the top influencer in the business network between Vietnam and the UK
Founded in 2014, our Business Centre’s mission is to facilitate better trade ties between British and Vietnamese companies via our range of bespoke trade services. Our trade services are designed to help UK companies quickly kickstart their business in Vietnam, accurately identify commercial and investment opportunities, grow exports and further develop their operations in this part of the world.
Financially independent and part of the British Government’s Overseas Business Network Initiative, The Business Centre has continued the association with other British Chambers of Commerce in South East Asia through regular meetings of BiSEA and also participate in their 2 roadshows to the UK every year.
Working primarily with UK companies looking to work in or export to Vietnam, the Business Centre has continued to make progress in its aim to become self-sufficient and independent of grant funding.
In the past year we have worked with over 200 British companies interested in doing business in Vietnam and successfully supported £47.5 million worth of export wins for the UK. At the same time we have also expanded our range of business services to include sales representation services for UK companies looking to maintain long-term presence in Vietnam, and business registration services for UK companies looking to set up their own company and operate in the country.
Our objective is to support UK companies to trade successfully in Vietnam and to foster stronger trade relation and mutually beneficial collaboration between both countries.
The close partnership with the Department for International Trade of UK (DIT) in Vietnam continues to benefit the Business Centre and we now look forward to providing extensive support and trade services to all business sectors in 2020/21 which will allow DIT to concentrate on their high-value work.
Partner search and one-to-one meetings with potential clients, agents/distributors, or outsourcing partners.
Business registration, Site selection, Factory/Office Set-up & Operations support, HR & Financial Management.
A professional business development representative to act locally on behalf of UK companies, strengthen existing engagements with the Vietnam market on a long-term basis and develop further business relationships within the market.
Organise trade missions, product launches, and seminars/workshops.