Over the course of two days, a EuroCham delegation participated in a series of high-level meetings with key government officials and organizations. These strategic engagements aimed to amplify the voices of our members and strengthen collaborative efforts towards creating a more enabling business environment in Vietnam.

Day 0ne:

The delegation, led by Chairman Dominik Meichle, and including Vice-Chairman Minh Nguyen, Board Member Tri Mai Hoang, Executive Director Delphine Rousselet, and Head of our Hanoi Office cum External Relations Manager Van Nguyen, commenced their engagements with a meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Nguyen Minh Vu. Discussions focused on:

• Expressing gratitude for MOFA’s support during EuroCham’s GEFE 2022 and GEF 2023 events
• Providing updates on preparations for GEFE 2024 and exploring collaboration opportunities
• Reviewing our successful embassy-business association roundtable initiative in 2023, with plans for another edition this year
• Exploring a training program for foreign affairs officers, with MOFA sharing topics and EuroCham contributing insights on EU regulations
• Aligning agendas for continued provincial field trips in 2024, building on the fruitful collaboration witnessed in 2023

Next, the delegation met with Director General of the Government Office’s Administrative Procedure Control Agency (APCA) Ngo Hai Phan. Key highlights included:

• Introducing EuroCham’s new Chairman and Board of Directors
• Reaffirming EuroCham’s commitment to the Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform (ACAPR), with Vice-Chairman Minh Nguyen serving as Vice-Chair of ACAPR’s Committee 1, dedicated to fostering transparent, efficient, and user-friendly procedures
• Discussing ways to enhance the effectiveness of the dialogue during EuroCham’s annual Whitebook Launch

Day two:

The second day of meetings saw the participation of Chairman Dominik Meichle, Vice-Chairmen Torben Minko and Minh Nguyen, Board Members Tri Mai Hoang, Anita Holgersen, Stuart Livesey, Executive Director Delphine Rousselet, and Head of our Hanoi Office cum Head of External Relations Van Nguyen.

First, the group met with Deputy Head of the Central Economic Committee (CEC) Nguyen Duc Hien, along with representatives from various CEC departments, including the Department of General Economics, Industry, International Economic and Integrity, and the Center for Economic Information, Analysis and Forecasting. Discussions revolved around:

• Introducing EuroCham’s new Board of Directors
• Preparations for GEFE 2024
• Enhancing cooperation between EuroCham and the CEC through agenda sharing, experience exchange, and regular working-level meetings
• Encouraging EuroCham to send policy recommendations to the CEC

After that, we were welcomed by Minister of Planning and Investment (MPI) Nguyen Chi Dung, joined by officials from MPI’s National Innovation Center (NIC), Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), and relevant departments. Key points included:

• Sharing agendas for GEFE 2024 and green growth activities
• Introducing the NIC and exploring areas for collaboration with FDI corporations
• Strategies for attracting foreign direct investment
• Our Whitebook’s advocacy focus on improving Vietnam’s business climate

Our final meeting was with VCCI Chairman Pham Tan Cong and the VCCI’s International Relations Department, where we focused on:

• Preparations for GEFE 2024
• Enhancing knowledge on new EU regulations and advocacy matters through EuroCham’s training programs, events, and workshops
• Fostering closer collaboration between EuroCham and VCCI

Through these discussions, EuroCham solidified its role as a key facilitator in bridging European businesses with Vietnamese opportunities, ensuring that the interests of our members are well-represented and that together we contribute to a thriving business landscape in Vietnam.