From 2005 to 2015, the GBA experienced significant expansion and consolidation.
In 2010, GBA celebrated 15 years of active presence, marking significant milestones in fostering German-Vietnamese business relations.
Between 2011 and 2015, GBA enhanced support services for members, including market entry assistance and networking opportunities. The association expanded its cultural events, strengthening the German community’s presence in Vietnam.
Strategic partnerships were forged with local and international organizations to promote bilateral trade. GBA also increased its involvement in policy discussions, contributing to a more favorable business environment. During this period, GBA’s efforts were instrumental in solidifying its role as a key player in the business landscape of Vietnam.
By 2015, GBA’s membership had grown to over 200 members, and the association organized more than 50 events annually, attracting over 5,000 participants each year.
- Total events organized: 52
- Total participants: 15,948
- Membership development: 160 members
- Activities highlights:
Joint Resolution of Foreign Business Associations and Chambers to the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, opposing the implementation of Decree 46 (on recruitment and management of foreign employees in Vietnam, amending Decree 34) on August 1st, 2011.
Total events organized: 41
Total participants: 17,689
Membership development: 166 members
Activities highlights:
The German Business Association (GBA) and the Swiss Business Association (SBA) made a donation of 340,000,000 VND to the Dariu Foundation in Vietnam.
The funds were raised during the “Charity Gala Dinner for The Dariu Foundation,” organized by the GBA and SBA, with His Excellency Gerhard Schroeder, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, in attendance.
Total events organized: 44
Total participants: 18,120
Membership development: 159 members
Corporate partnership program: officially kicked off. We were happy to welcome for the first time 03 corporate partners: Etihad Airways, EIS and Mercedes Benz.
Activities highlights:
- March 2013: Germany signed the Joint-Vocational Advanced Training Agreement with the Vietnamese Government based on the initiative of the GBA.
- GBA, GIZ, AHK/GIC, and the German Embassy cooperated to build “German Competence Centers” for advanced vocational training for German companies in Vietnam.
- GBA and AHK/GIC launched the first Manpower Plan Survey for vocational training and internships across German companies in Vietnam.
- September 2013: GBA, GIZ, AHK/GIC, and the German Embassy launched the first EZ-Conference on advanced vocational training in HCMC with more than 100 participants.
- GBA cooperated with AHK/GIC and TerraVerde to organize the first German Ball Saigon 2013, which attracted more than 300 guests.
Total events organized: 50
Total participants: 22,636
Membership development: 171 members
Corporate Partnerships: Deutsches Haus, Etihad Airways, EIS, Mercedes Benz and Tebodin.
Activities highlights:
- GBA office was renovated to a new, modern, and refreshing look.
- 9 Jan 2014: Business Thursday in Hanoi was first promoted and became a popular business networking event in joint cooperation between GBA, CanCham, CCIFV, and BBGV.
- 5 May 2014: GBA was the first and only European Business Association to respond with a letter regarding the anti-Chinese rallies in industrial parks in Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An, HCMC, and Central Vietnam.
- 28 May 2014: An EZ Workshop was held in Ho Chi Minh City as part of the implementation of the “Joint Declaration for Advanced Vocational Training,” a flagship project with the Vietnamese government and German companies in Vietnam.
- 10 July 2014: GBA and AHK/GIC signed an MoU for a strategic partnership with the Vietnam-German University in Hanoi.
- October 2014: GBA co-hosted the 5th Oktoberfest Hanoi for the first time with JW Marriott in Hanoi, held on an open ground inside a specially designed tent “Festzelt” like in Munich on the original “Wiesn.”
- 3 November 2014: GBA organized the first Open Dialogue with Vice Chairman Le Manh Ha of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.
- 20–22 November 2014: GBA supported the 14th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK), which took place for the first time in Vietnam.
Total events organized: 56
Total participants: More than 25,000
Membership development: 190 members
Corporate Partnerships:: Deutsche Bank, Deutsches Haus, Etihad Airways, EIS, Mercedes Benz and Tebodin.
Activities highlights:
- Beginning of 2015: GBA Social Media Channels officially launched.
- 18 Jan 2015: 93% of GBA members voted for the potential merger between AHK/GIC Vietnam and GBA Vietnam to become AHK Vietnam (including the vote on the amendment of the GBA statutes to adopt the new AHK charter).
- 20 April 2015: The GBA Board had a meet-and-greet with MoIT Mr. Vu Huy Hoang. During the meeting, Mr. Vu Huy Hoang expressed his expectation to build a stronger economic foundation for the partnership between Germany and Vietnam with contributions from the two representatives of the German community in Vietnam.
- 4 June 2015: The monthly GBA Business Meeting featured H.E. Deputy Minister Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Dong of the Ministry of Transport as the VIP guest speaker. At the meeting, H.E. Ambassador Mrs. Jutta Frasch also shared her farewell speech on “The German-Vietnamese relations and the development in political relations in the past 3 years” with all GBA members. Aspirations from the GBA Board were also published.
- 19 August 2015: The new GBA website and flyer were introduced and launched.
- 17 August 2015: The first Unternehmerkreis in HCMC was organized.
- 28 September 2015: GBA and AHK/GIC entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department for Foreign Affairs of Provinces to connect and promote business between German companies and provincial authorities.
- October 2015: GBA hosted its 23rd Oktoberfest in HCMC, marking the 10th year of cooperation with the Windsor Plaza Hotel and attracting more than 15,000 guests over 7 event days. Following the success of the previous year, the 6th Oktoberfest in Hanoi was extended from 2 days to 3 days and attracted more than 4,000 guests.
- 24 October 2015: GBA, AHK/GIC, Alumniportal Deutschland, and Trained in GermanY jointly organized the 1st TalentBiz-German Job Fair 2015 at Hoa Lu Stadium. It was the first large-scale German job fair organized in Ho Chi Minh City, attracting more than 2,000 students and young professionals, and more than 30 prestigious brands such as Bosch and Siemens participated in the event.
- 21 November 2015: GBA and AHK/GIC were proud to bring back the German Ball Saigon 2015 at InterContinental Asiana Saigon. With more than 250 high-level personalities from the German and international community in Vietnam, friends, and business acquaintances, the 2nd German Ball Saigon received very positive feedback from guests and sponsors.
- 26 November 2015: GBA and AHK/GIC signed a MoU with the MoIT and the VCCI in Berlin to enhance the relationship and strategic cooperation. This MoU also serves as the next step to establish the bilateral German-Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce. The signing ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Truong Tan Sang, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, during his state visit to Germany.
- December 2015: Celebrating our 20th anniversary, all GBA members were invited to our 20 Year Anniversary Celebration in HCMC on 10 December and our Traditional Christmas Goose Dinner 2015 in Hanoi on 17 December.