VIETNAM AND EUROPEAN UNION WILL ELIMINATE OVER 99% IMPORT TARIFFS ON EACH OTHER

At a press conference on October 30th in Vietnam informed of important agreements between Vietnam and European Union (EU), Mr. Bruno Angelet – Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) said that early August 2015, the EU and Vietnam has announced the conclusion of negotiations but the negotiation group continues to resolve the remaining technical issues, while improving documents.

Once completed, the Agreement must be approved by the National Assembly of Vietnam, the Council and the European Parliament. Accordingly, Vietnam and the EU will eliminate over 99% of import tariffs.

For the few remaining tariffs, both parties will grant each other tariff quota or tariff reduction. This can be seen as the highest level of commitment that Vietnam has achieved in the FTA has been signed so far.

In the investment sector, the commitments to ensure an open business and investment environment to help promote high quality investment flows of both the EU and other partners in Vietnam. Thus, Vietnam has the opportunity to become the connection for trade and investment activities between EU and other countries in the region.

In addition, the commitments related to investment, liberalization of trade, service, Government procurement and intellectual property protection… will also open up opportunities for both sides to approach each other’s markets and ensure balance overall benefit.

EU can become the best partner in the future of Vietnam because Vietnam is also becoming one of the most dynamic countries and have good relationship with EU in the region. EU can support Vietnam in many fields such as governance models and provide excellent services in the field of infrastructure, training and education, the judiciary and law, health, social insurance and sustainable energy.

ANT Consulting is here to assist you from the outset; providing intelligence, information, management or support and administrative services that assist market entrance, and ensure efficient business start-up operation.  Our services are as following:

• Market Entry
• Tax Advice
• Legal Advice
• Outsourcing Services

We strive to save your cost by guiding you towards economical solutions that comply with local legislation and procedures. We support you through early logistic solutions and carry you through as your business grows.  We aim to bridge the gap between international best practices and local cultures and assist foreign companies and organizations entering Vietnam market to overcome commercial and regulatory issues.

We could be reached at email: ant@antconsult.vn or tel: +848 3520 2779 .  To learn more about us, please visit www.antconsult.vn

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ITALIAN BUSINESS EXPAND INVESTMENT IN BINH DUONG

Ambassador of Italy in Vietnam and Binh Duong provincial leaders have attend the opening of the investment support office of Emilia Romagna (Italy) in Binh Duong.

This is the first representative office of the business community, investors of Emilia Romagna in Vietnam, which functions to create a bridge of cooperation between the two countries and promote Italian businesses to invest in Binh Duong.

On the same day in Binh Duong province, the ceremony to sign a memorandum of cooperation between Becamex IDC Corporation (under Binh Duong Provincial People’s Committee) with the Emilia Romagna region, Bonfiglioli Group and Unimore University (Italy). Content of the memorandum is to cooperate in economy, science, technology and education between the parties.

The Italian Embassy in Vietnam said Emilia Romagna is a dynamic economic region with many Italian famous enterprises in the field of manufacturing industry.

Through the opening of a representative office for the business community in the Binh Duong and signed a cooperation will open more opportunities, create the wave of investments by Italian enterprises to Vietnam in general and Binh Duong in particular.

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NESTLÉ SET UP THE 6TH FACTORY IN VIETNAM

This is the 6th plant of Nestlé in Vietnam and the 2nd factory located in Hung Yen. The project has investment capital of 70 million USD, which is expected to come into operation in 2017.

Nestlé Vietnam Company has just started construction of a new factory in Thang Long II Industrial Park in Hung Yen. As reported by the company, the new plant with capital investment of 70 million USD was built on an area of 10 hectares and expected to go into operation in 2017, creating jobs for hundreds of local workers.

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In 3 years, Nestlé has continually set up new plants and expand existing plants. The investment activities are continued to expand expressed the firm belief in the rapid development of Vietnam’s economy. At the same time, assessing that Vietnam is having many advantages in attracting investment with a young and dynamic population, growing consumer markets and favorable business environment.

Nestlé Group specializes in manufacturing and supplying nutrition and health products. Founded in 1866 and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, till now, the group has developed 447 plants in 86 countries with 339,000 employees, owns more than 2,000 brands with 10,000 products.

Estimating that every day, there are about 1 billion of Nestlé products are sold worldwide. Nestlé operates in Southeast Asia since the early years of the last century, the first sales offices located in Saigon in 1912. In 1995, Nestlé Vietnam was born. So far the total investment capital of Nestlé in Vietnam reached over 520 million USD, employs approximately 2,000 employees and operates 5 plants.

Earlier, in 1992, Nestlé joint ventured with Long An Trading Company to founded La Vie Co., Ltd. In 2001, the company continues to build La Vie mineral water plant in Nhu Quynh town, Van Lam district, Hung Yen with registered capital of more than 10.3 million USD.

As noted by the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Nestlé Vietnam is one of the 100% foreign investments that have invested very soon in Vietnam. Since going into operation so far, the company has maintained a fairly annual growth rate, especially in 2015, the growth rate of the company reached approximately 15%.

According to the Swiss Ambassador in Vietnam, Switzerland is in the list of 20 largest investors in the world. In Vietnam, investment projects of Swiss firms are growing significantly. The Swiss company has been operating in Vietnam for many years, contributing more than 2 billion USD of investment capital in Vietnam, bringing the Swiss became the 4th largest investor in Vietnam, surpassing Germany.

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Vietnam Expecting Strong Capital Wave from Apple

Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Binh Duong and Bac Ninh will create the most favorable conditions to invite and welcome Apple projects to be invested in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City

Apple has proposed to build a database center serving Asia in Vietnam. The project has a total investment of approximately 1 billion USD. Presently, Apple is looking for place to put on the project construction headquarter.

According to Mr Nguyen Van Hung from HCMC’s Department of Planning and Investment, the leaders of the City have surveyed and contacted with Apple in the United States. The City always ready to welcome the high-tech projects.

Moreover, according to Mr Le Hoai Quoc from HCMC hi tech park, their management board has also actively contact with representatives of Apple in the previous year. The general view of the city as well as the management board is looking forward and welcoming the projects with high technological content. Therefore, the city has been very interested and willing to introduce to the Apple representatives about the preferred location for their investment projects. However, it seems they have chosen Hanoi.

Binh Duong

Similarly, in Binh Duong, Binh Duong People’s Committee also said that they are looking forward to welcome Apple’s projects to Binh Duong.

If their choice is Binh Duong, Apple will enjoy all the best preferential policies according to the criteria of high technology sector.

Binh Duong has favorable conditions, clear mechanisms and policies to attract investment with the most beautiful and modern infrastructure in the country.

In terms of location, Binh Duong is the HCMC’s gateway center. It is just 30 minutes driving from Tan Son Nhat airport to Binh Duong. All the conditions are not inferior to Bac Ninh and Bac Giang.

Binh Duong is the place that gathering most of the supporting technology manufacturing enterprises from Japan and South Korea. Hence, if Apple headquarter is located here, this province certainly can meet part of their business requirements. Binh Duong seems to be the only one area in Vietnam that develops high technology.

Bac Ninh

Bac Ninh is the province that is attracting a lot of high-tech projects, including Samsung as one of Apple’s major competitor.

This seems to be opportunities for both investors to compete with each other because everything is equal.

In addition to the general incentives policy of the Government, Bac Ninh is ready to offer their own incentive policies. In any case that the supporting was not enough, Bac Ninh will looking for further support.

In terms of the incentives policies for high-tech enterprises, Bac Ninh is currently leading the country, other provinces still have to learn from Bac Ninh to develop their policies. Moreover, Samsung and Nokia are still located in Bac Ninh therefore Apple will feel satisfy.

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Nielsen: Vietnam Is a Land of Potential Opportunities

According to Nielsen, Vietnam consumers is the motivation for economic development as they are willing to spend more and are also living in the lands of the potential opportunities. By 2020, Vietnam middle class will grow double, from 12 million people in 2014 increased to 33 million people in 2020.

Vietnam is among the top countries with the most optimistic consumers in the world, with more income and more spending. The percentage of increasing in per capita income rose in 2012 by 44% compared to 2010. The average growth rate of the monthly spending per person in 2012 increased by 32% compared to 2010. Therefore, Vietnam people have a strong desire for a better life, demanding about quality when 73% of people are willing to pay for higher quality.

Health is an important issue while there are 39% see health as the most concerning problem in life. Vietnam consumer’s monthly savings is to prepare for future problems, while 34% goes for the future of children, 12% is for health and 11% savings for house purchasing.

Consumers in Vietnam are also having more opportunities for shopping than ever. Modern trade channels are gaining significant role when 42% of consumers buy groceries at the supermarket more often. However, the utility factor is gradually becoming a way of life and developing quickly because of the accordance with the youth and officer with 23% of students and 36% of officer go shopping in the supermarket, convenient shop.

However, grocery store is still the dominant shopping channel in the market, while over 80% of sales of fast moving consumer goods coming from grocery stores, with 1,3 million stores across the country.

Technology offers more opportunities to help Vietnamese consumers connect. Smartphone is booming in Vietnam when nearly 1 in 2 Vietnamese people owning a smartphone, most of rural consumers watch TV daily. Online sales channel has also been in the market with 28% of Vietnamese consumers prefer online shopping.

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Can Vietnam Become a New Production Center of The World?

Vietnam now is a machining and production center, just behind Singapore on the total investment amount of China.

China is following the model of the Japanese economy and then has higher production costs. Therefore, Chinese enterprises are now diverting into neighboring countries to find the location for new manufacturing facilities.

With great potential for growth, young population structure and lower wage costs, Vietnam will benefit from the development of infrastructure associated with competition for positions in regional influence between China and other major economies.

This is an opportunity for Vietnam to improve its position in the value chain by becoming a global center of production of low-value commodities.

To enhance accessing to investment capitals, becoming a center of manufacturing, global outsourcing and enhancing the position in the value chain, in the long term, Vietnam will actively screening the list of projects FDI under the strategy and development-oriented by the Government.

Vietnam needs to invest in education and training to develop workforce skills. In addition, Vietnam also needs to focus more on investment in environmental infrastructure, especially in transportation and services.

Along with the continuous integration in ASEAN and by the importance of this region for the 4 largest economies in the world, Vietnam has many advantages to attract multinational companies to invest in order to take use existing opportunities of Southeast Asia area.

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Can Vietnam Become a New Production Center of The World?

Vietnam now is a machining and production center, just behind Singapore on the total investment amount of China.

China is following the model of the Japanese economy and then has higher production costs. Therefore, Chinese enterprises are now diverting into neighboring countries to find the location for new manufacturing facilities.

With great potential for growth, young population structure and lower wage costs, Vietnam will benefit from the development of infrastructure associated with competition for positions in regional influence between China and other major economies.

This is an opportunity for Vietnam to improve its position in the value chain by becoming a global center of production of low-value commodities.

To enhance accessing to investment capitals, becoming a center of manufacturing, global outsourcing and enhancing the position in the value chain, in the long term, Vietnam will actively screening the list of projects FDI under the strategy and development-oriented by the Government.

Vietnam needs to invest in education and training to develop workforce skills. In addition, Vietnam also needs to focus more on investment in environmental infrastructure, especially in transportation and services.

Along with the continuous integration in ASEAN and by the importance of this region for the 4 largest economies in the world, Vietnam has many advantages to attract multinational companies to invest in order to take use existing opportunities of Southeast Asia area.

Read More

Nielsen: Vietnam Is a Land of Potential Opportunities

According to Nielsen, Vietnam consumers is the motivation for economic development as they are willing to spend more and are also living in the lands of the potential opportunities. By 2020, Vietnam middle class will grow double, from 12 million people in 2014 increased to 33 million people in 2020.

Vietnam is among the top countries with the most optimistic consumers in the world, with more income and more spending. The percentage of increasing in per capita income rose in 2012 by 44% compared to 2010. The average growth rate of the monthly spending per person in 2012 increased by 32% compared to 2010. Therefore, Vietnam people have a strong desire for a better life, demanding about quality when 73% of people are willing to pay for higher quality.

Health is an important issue while there are 39% see health as the most concerning problem in life. Vietnam consumer’s monthly savings is to prepare for future problems, while 34% goes for the future of children, 12% is for health and 11% savings for house purchasing.

Consumers in Vietnam are also having more opportunities for shopping than ever. Modern trade channels are gaining significant role when 42% of consumers buy groceries at the supermarket more often. However, the utility factor is gradually becoming a way of life and developing quickly because of the accordance with the youth and officer with 23% of students and 36% of officer go shopping in the supermarket, convenient shop.

However, grocery store is still the dominant shopping channel in the market, while over 80% of sales of fast moving consumer goods coming from grocery stores, with 1,3 million stores across the country.

Technology offers more opportunities to help Vietnamese consumers connect. Smartphone is booming in Vietnam when nearly 1 in 2 Vietnamese people owning a smartphone, most of rural consumers watch TV daily. Online sales channel has also been in the market with 28% of Vietnamese consumers prefer online shopping.

Read More

Samsung Expands Investment in Vietnam

With the success of Samsung Electronics in Vietnam, many other members of the Group has also interested in expanding investment in Vietnam in such fields as energy, insurance.

As reported by the General Director of Samsung Vietnam, the business activities of Samsung Electronics have performed well. Until May 2015, the total workforce working in the factories of Samsung in Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen are more than 100,000 people. Due to many new models and more phone lines with more orders, Samsung Vietnam has recruited many more manpower. Currently, the total workforce working for the Samsung factory in Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen are more than 110,000 people.

Not only focusing on production development, Samsung is still very focused on research and development (R&D). Currently, Samsung Vietnam has one R&D center located in Hanoi with over 1,400 employees.

The Samsung investment panorama in Vietnam is very impressive. Samsung has invested in Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen from 2009, up to now, the total investment is approximately 7 billion USD. As of July 2015, the total export value of Samsung in Vietnam reached 26 billion USD, contributing to the development of Vietnam. Samsung has created jobs for more than 100,000 people.

Recently, Bac Ninh has granted investment certificate of expansion project for Samsung Display Company Ltd Vietnam with total investment capital of 3 billion USD, investing in the factory that is specialized in research and development, manufacturing of new generation monitors with high resolution for mobile devices…

ANT Consulting is here to assist you from the outset; providing intelligence, information, management or support and administrative services that assist market entrance, and ensure efficient business start-up operation.  Our services are as following:

• Market Entry
• Tax Advice
• Legal Advice
• Outsourcing Services

We strive to save your cost by guiding you towards economical solutions that comply with local legislation and procedures. We support you through early logistic solutions and carry you through as your business grows.  We aim to bridge the gap between international best practices and local cultures and assist foreign companies and organizations entering Vietnam market to overcome commercial and regulatory issues.

We could be reached at email: ant@antconsult.vn or tel: +848 3520 2779 .  To learn more about us, please visit www.antconsult.vn

Read More

Vietnam is Increasingly Attracting Capital from the US

VIETNAM IS TAKING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GROW ITS ECONOMY AND IMPROVE THE LIVING STANDARD. THIS IS NOT A VAIN DREAM SINCE VIETNAM HAS YOUNG AND PLENTIFUL WORK FORCE. THAT IS WHY MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES WISH TO COME AND SET UP COMPANY IN VIETNAM.

• Japan Increases Investment in Vietnam in Finance and Services
• Why Japan Investors Invest in Vietnam

The year 2015 marked the 40 years since the war end and the 20 years of normalized the relationship between Vietnam and the US. Vietnam began the process of innovation since 1986 but not until 1995,foreign investment in Vietnam began to flow in when the Government established formal diplomatic relations with the United States and joined the National Association of the South East Asia (ASEAN).

In recent years, foreign investment in Vietnam has accelerated. The Korean company is particularly excited with this market. Samsung Electronics is operating and building three plants at three locations – Ho Chi Minh City, Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh. In total, this giant electronic corporation has poured more than USD 10 billion in Vietnam.

Vietnam is also expected soon to welcome a “wave” of investment from the US. The Procter & Gamble (P&G) – a consumer goods manufacturer is building a factory in Binh Duong with the cost of 100 million USD. The plant will produce Gillette razors.

Since starting operations in Vietnam in 2008, Intel is also pouring money into this market. This semiconductor giant is planning to manufacture in Vietnam the most of advanced processor for personal computers in the future.

Moreover, other big names come from the US that are expanding operations in Vietnam are Starbucks and McDonald’s. They opened their first store here in December 2013 and February 2014.

There are a number of factors that make foreign investment in Vietnam explode. One of the most important reasons is the low labor cost. Labor cost hikes in China are the reason why many multinational manufacturers turned their attention to Vietnam where the cost is 50% cheaper. Besides, the purchasing power of Vietnam consumer is increasing, inflation has been curbed and many easing regulations to boost growth are also the reason why continuous investments are poured tin..

However, the biggest attraction for most foreign investors is the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) about free trade in which Vietnam is one of 12 countries that participate in negotiations. In mid of this year, General Secretary of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong will visit the United States. TPP agreement will be the main topic of the conversation with the US officials. If the two countries can reach an agreement, the US will become even more important partner of Vietnam’s economy in the future.

In a press conference in HCM city in January 2015, US Ambassador in Vietnam – Mr. Ted Osius was upbeat about the impact of the TPP to Vietnam economy and the US investment here. TPP agreement “will allow the US to become the number one investor and trading partner of Vietnam” he said.

In about 4.5 million Vietnamese living overseas, about 2 million are living in the US. In particular, many people have made a name in the business world. They are Mr. Henry Nguyen – who brought McDonald’s to Vietnam and Mr. David Thai – founder of Highlands coffee chain.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, approximately 180,000 companies in the United States are owned by Vietnamese, achieved a total revenue of 20 billion USD. Strengthening ties between the two countries could stimulate greater cash flow stream across the Pacific.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam is estimated to spend 500 billion USD in over 10 years to develop the infrastructure necessary for sustainable growth. However, Vietnam can only able to meet 40% of the above figure, through the Government budget, ODA and private capitals.

That is why the Government wants to attract FDI. The Vietnam Government has set a target to create an industrial economy by 2020. Six priority areas are agriculture, forestry and fisheries processing, agricultural machinery, electronics, shipbuilding, environmental and energy saving, automobile production.

The transition from growth based on FDI into industrial-based growth can be rather difficult. However, Vietnam has shown it is serious and is still on track.

ANT Consulting is here to assist you from the outset; providing intelligence, information, management or support and administrative services that assist market entrance, and ensure efficient business start-up operation.  Our services are as following:

• Market Entry
• Tax Advice
• Legal Advice
• Outsourcing Services

We strive to save your cost by guiding you towards economical solutions that comply with local legislation and procedures. We support you through early logistic solutions and carry you through as your business grows.  We aim to bridge the gap between international best practices and local cultures and assist foreign companies and organizations entering Vietnam market to overcome commercial and regulatory issues.

We could be reached at email: ant@antconsult.vn or tel: +848 3520 2779 .  To learn more about us, please visit www.antconsult.vn

Read More

Vietnam is Increasingly Attracting Capital from the US

VIETNAM IS TAKING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GROW ITS ECONOMY AND IMPROVE THE LIVING STANDARD. THIS IS NOT A VAIN DREAM SINCE VIETNAM HAS YOUNG AND PLENTIFUL WORK FORCE. THAT IS WHY MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES WISH TO COME AND SET UP COMPANY IN VIETNAM.

• Japan Increases Investment in Vietnam in Finance and Services
• Why Japan Investors Invest in Vietnam

Vietnam is increasingly attracting capital from the US

The year 2015 marked the 40 years since the war end and the 20 years of normalized the relationship between Vietnam and the US. Vietnam began the process of innovation since 1986 but not until 1995,foreign investment in Vietnam began to flow in when the Government established formal diplomatic relations with the United States and joined the National Association of the South East Asia (ASEAN).

In recent years, foreign investment in Vietnam has accelerated. The Korean company is particularly excited with this market. Samsung Electronics is operating and building three plants at three locations – Ho Chi Minh City, Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh. In total, this giant electronic corporation has poured more than USD 10 billion in Vietnam.

Vietnam is also expected soon to welcome a “wave” of investment from the US. The Procter & Gamble (P&G) – a consumer goods manufacturer is building a factory in Binh Duong with the cost of 100 million USD. The plant will produce Gillette razors.

Since starting operations in Vietnam in 2008, Intel is also pouring money into this market. This semiconductor giant is planning to manufacture in Vietnam the most of advanced processor for personal computers in the future.

Moreover, other big names come from the US that are expanding operations in Vietnam are Starbucks and McDonald’s. They opened their first store here in December 2013 and February 2014.

There are a number of factors that make foreign investment in Vietnam explode. One of the most important reasons is the low labor cost. Labor cost hikes in China are the reason why many multinational manufacturers turned their attention to Vietnam where the cost is 50% cheaper. Besides, the purchasing power of Vietnam consumer is increasing, inflation has been curbed and many easing regulations to boost growth are also the reason why continuous investments are poured tin..

However, the biggest attraction for most foreign investors is the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) about free trade in which Vietnam is one of 12 countries that participate in negotiations. In mid of this year, General Secretary of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong will visit the United States. TPP agreement will be the main topic of the conversation with the US officials. If the two countries can reach an agreement, the US will become even more important partner of Vietnam’s economy in the future.

In a press conference in HCM city in January 2015, US Ambassador in Vietnam – Mr. Ted Osius was upbeat about the impact of the TPP to Vietnam economy and the US investment here. TPP agreement “will allow the US to become the number one investor and trading partner of Vietnam” he said.

In about 4.5 million Vietnamese living overseas, about 2 million are living in the US. In particular, many people have made a name in the business world. They are Mr. Henry Nguyen – who brought McDonald’s to Vietnam and Mr. David Thai – founder of Highlands coffee chain.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, approximately 180,000 companies in the United States are owned by Vietnamese, achieved a total revenue of 20 billion USD. Strengthening ties between the two countries could stimulate greater cash flow stream across the Pacific.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam is estimated to spend 500 billion USD in over 10 years to develop the infrastructure necessary for sustainable growth. However, Vietnam can only able to meet 40% of the above figure, through the Government budget, ODA and private capitals.

That is why the Government wants to attract FDI. The Vietnam Government has set a target to create an industrial economy by 2020. Six priority areas are agriculture, forestry and fisheries processing, agricultural machinery, electronics, shipbuilding, environmental and energy saving, automobile production.

The transition from growth based on FDI into industrial-based growth can be rather difficult. However, Vietnam has shown it is serious and is still on track.

ANT Consulting is here to assist you from the outset; providing intelligence, information, management or support and administrative services that assist market entrance, and ensure efficient business start-up operation.  Our services are as following:

• Market Entry
• Tax Advice
• Legal Advice
• Outsourcing Services

We strive to save your cost by guiding you towards economical solutions that comply with local legislation and procedures. We support you through early logistic solutions and carry you through as your business grows.  We aim to bridge the gap between international best practices and local cultures and assist foreign companies and organizations entering Vietnam market to overcome commercial and regulatory issues.

We could be reached at email: ant@antconsult.vn or tel: +848 3520 2779 .  To learn more about us, please visit www.antconsult.vn

Read More