Dear Members,

Happy new year and all the best for you and your families in 2010!

We would like to invite you to the first GBA meeting / annual general meeting in 2010 on:

      Date:               Thursday, January 14th, 2010

     Time:               18:00

     Venue:             Sofitel Plaza Hotel - 17 Le Duan Street - District 1 - HCMC

     Tel: 08-38241 555

The year 2010 is a significant year, marking the achievements in the relationship between Germany and Vietnam during the last 30 years.

In regarding the concern of many GBA members’ companies about the visa issuance for Vietnamese customers / employees, Mr. Daniel Prinz from the German Consulate General would like to lead us through the application procedure and requirements.

The Goethe Institute has been playing a very important role in building and strengthening the relationship between the two countries. Dr. Paul Weinig from the Goethe Institute would like to take this opportunity to inform us about a full activity and festivity calendar to celebrate the year.

Please, find below the meeting agenda with more details

agenda: 

 18.00 - 18.30:    registration & networking cocktail

 18.30 - 20.00:    meeting

·      visa issuance for business partners and employees of German companies abroad

Mr. Daniel Prinz > German Consulate General

►    Mr. Daniel Prinz joined the department of foreign affairs in 1992

►     worked in Tunis, Aschgabad, Prague and Baghdad.

►     started his assignment in Vietnam in August, 2009

·      Germany in 2010 – planned activities and festivities

  Dr. Paul Weinig > Director  - Goethe Institute HCMC City <

 ►        a mediaevalist, research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for History of Science Berlin 1995 - 2001

►        head of language Department, Deputy Director of Goethe-Institute Hanoi from 2002 - 2007

►        director of Goethe-Institute Ho Chi Minh City from 2008 - now

·      delays with the implementation of WTO rules in Vietnam showcased with the example distribution right

Mr. Oliver Massmann > Director – Duane Morris Vietnam LLC <

►    associate and partner at Baker & McKenzie from 1999 - 2007

►        partner at Duane Morris LLP from 2007 – now

►        board member of GBA and executive board member of EuroCham

 ·       financial status as per 31.12.2009

Mr. Thomas Speeger > Executive Director – GBA <

·       election GBA Board 2010

·       GBA upcoming events:

►         round table technical and Vocational training in Vietnam, results of GBA opinion poll

                                                Mr. Andreas Dernbach > HR Solutions Vietnam <

►         wine festival Baden Wuerttemberg scheduled for March 02^nd, 2010 in Ho Chi Minh City

Mr. Holger Benthien > Vice Chairman – GBA <

►         compulsory health insurance for foreigners working in Vietnam shall be covered

                                                Mr. Oliver Massmann > Board Member – GBA <

►         15 year anniversary scheduled for March 21^st, 2010

                                                Mr. Alex Bischoff > Chairman – GBA <

►         economic conference scheduled for April 21^st, 2010 in Ho Chi Minh City

                                                Mr. Jan Noether > Chief Representative – GIC <

►         GBA Oktoberfest 2010 in HCMC / Hanoi

                                                Mr. Thomas Speeger > Executive Director – GBA <

 20.00 – 22:00:    networking-get-together, buffet dinner 

Please, kindly be noted, that for this meeting only GBA members are invited, while guests will not be admitted due to the AGM meeting.

Please also be so kind to register early, so that we can plan for the meeting room and food appropriately. And please note that your confirmation of attendance is binding.

The cost for members for this meeting is:  USD 40 or VND 740.000