EuroCham launches 13th Whitebook at EU-Vietnam Business-to-Government conference

The event brought together more than 150 political and business leaders to discuss how government and the private sector can work together to boost EU-Vietnam trade and investment in the post-pandemic new normal.

The event featured high-level speeches from Nguyen Thi Hong, governor of the State Bank of Vietnam; EU Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti; To Anh Dung, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; Pham Tan Cong, chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Alain Cany, chairman of EuroCham.

The event also saw the official launch of the 2021 EuroCham Whitebook. Now in its 13th edition, the annual publication brings together the insights and ideas of EuroCham’s more than 1,200 members.

In this publication, the chamber’s 18 Sector Committees bring together their international expertise and local experience to suggest practical reforms to the trade and investment environment. If taken on board, these recommendations can help Vietnam to rebound and recover from the pandemic and make it an even more open, competitive, and attractive market for foreign investors.

These issues were discussed through three thematic dialogue sessions: Healthcare, Trade and Services, and Sustainable Economic Growth. Each session heard from representatives of major European enterprises as well as the government providing detailed feedback on the points raised.

In the second half of the event, the MoFA chaired an hour-long dialogue between European enterprises and provincial representatives. Entitled "Meet Europe 2021", local government leaders highlighted opportunities for investment cooperation with European business, while enterprises including Decathlon, Bosch, Temix, and Sanofi shared their perspectives on strategic development in Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Alain Cany, chairman of the EuroCham, said, “Now that we have turned the corner in our fight against the pandemic, we should begin to focus on the future. Our aim must no longer be to just survive, but to thrive.”

“There are huge opportunities for EU-Vietnam trade and investment post-pandemic, with the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) ushering in a gradual reduction of tariffs and a mutual opening of markets. If we can unlock the full potential of this agreement – through partnership between governments and business communities – companies and consumers on both sides will benefit,” he added.

The EuroCham Whitebook is one of the tools that can help achieve this. In this publication, now in its 13th edition, EuroCham members make evidence-based recommendations to improve Vietnam’s business environment. If taken on board, the suggestions from the 18 Sector Committees will help Vietnam to rebound and recover – boosting trade and attracting more investment from Europe.