Dear members and friends,
 
The year 2015 is considered as the year of Vietnam’s deep integration into the world’s and regional economy when it has finished negotiations of several important trade pacts. Not only concluding negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union, Vietnam has also recently signed another Free Trade Agreement of higher level and wider coverage, being the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (“TPP”). At regional level, the ASEAN Economic Community (“AEC”) has been established since 01 January 2016 and Vietnam has proved to be very active in the development of the community. With such deep multilateral and regional integration, Vietnam is expected to be an attractive investment environment for investors and witness a significant growth in the upcoming years. However, in order to take the most advantage of these agreements, foreign investors need to fully understand Vietnam’s commitments in, among others, market access in service sectors under these agreements. While the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services, the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement follow the “positive approach” in the WTO’s Schedule of Specific Commitments in Service Sectors, the TPP takes a “negative approach”, meaning Vietnam’s market is fully opened to service suppliers from other TPP Parties except for certain specified non-conforming measures. Moreover, the same service sector could be subject to different preferential treatment under different trade agreements.
With the aim to helping German companies best position themselves to get optimal access for investing and doing business in Vietnam, the German Business Association would like to invite you to participate in our GBA Business Meeting with topic:

“Vietnam – Major Trade Pacts – The Trans-Pacific Partnership, EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the ASEAN Economic Community- What is in for you! Opportunities and Challenges”.
 

Date: Monday, March 07, 2016
Time: 17:45 – 22:00
Venue: Intercontinental Asiana Saigon 
Corner of Hai Ba Trung Street & Le Duan Boulevard, Dist.1, HCMC
Tel: 08- 3520 9999

Agenda:
17:45 – 18:30:Registration and networking cocktail
18:30 – 20:30:Meeting and presentations
20:30 – 22:00:Dinner and networking opportunity

Meeting chairman:Mr. Oliver Massmann – GBA Board Member

Meeting program:

1.Vietnam – Major Trade Pacts – The Trans-Pacific Partnership, EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the ASEAN Economic Community- What is in for you! Opportunities and Challenges
Mr. Oliver Massmann, General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC
Mr. Oliver Massmann practices in the area of corporate international taxation and on power/water projects, matters related to oil and gas companies and telecoms, privatization and equitization, mergers and acquisitions, and general commercial matters for multinational clients in relation to investment and doing business in Vietnam. He is the only foreign lawyer as Member to the Supervisory Board of PetroVietnam Insurance Corporation, Vietnam’s largest industrial insurer. Mr. Massmann is currently working on several investment projects as well as taxation matters and advising the Ministry of Electrical Power on building the power generation infrastructure in Myanmar.

2.Analysis of Rules of Origin in the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership with reference to Commonalities in the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement
Mr. Nestor Scherbey, General Director of Customs, Trade & Risk Management Services (Vietnam) Co. Ltd.
Mr. Scherbey is currently an independent consultant and principal of Customs, Trade & Risk Management Services, Ltd. based in South Carolina. He is a WTO agreements expert who also serves as a Representative, American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand and heads the Customs Working Group of AmCham Vietnam. Nestor is currently establishing an office in Vietnam to assist American companies with preparations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and, to assist with modernization of the Vietnam Customs under a successor of the U.S.AID STAR program.

3. Update on upcoming events
Mr. Oliver Massmann, GBA Board Member
Last & up-coming events from January to April will be informed to keep you updated the events monthly.
 
Meeting fee:

• Early bird discount for registration by March 02, 2016:
 GBA/ SBA/ NORDCHAM member: VND 950,000       Non-member: VND 1,200,000

(Please kindly note that registration on early bird discount is binding confirmation. Cancellation of attendance need to be made latest by Thursday, 03 March or you will be charged due to the hotel obligations.)

• For registration after March 02, 2016:                                            
GBA/ SBA/ NORDCHAM member: VND 1,200,000     Non-member: VND 1,500,000

The whole GBA team looks forward to welcoming you at the meeting.

Please be so kind as to register with Ms. Mai Anh, Tel: 08 38 23 97 72 or maianh@gba-vietnam.org to enable us to plan successfully. 

   
With best regards,  
GBA Team
 
German Business Association
05th floor – Somerset Chancellor Court
21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street
District 1 – Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam

t:   (+84) 8 38 23 97 72 – ext:112
f:   (+84) 8 38 23 89 09
e:   maianh@gba-vietnam.org 
w:  www.gba-vietnam.org