The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AusCham) is committed to representing and promoting the interests of Australian businesses operating in Vietnam. We are a licensed foreign business group and are proud to be the key instrument in providing essential business and cultural support to our members and sponsors.

AusCham operates on a Chapter Basis, with Chapters in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. While these chapters operate independently, we combine on issues of national concerns. Each Chapter has its own committee with a national executive (consisting of the President, Vice President, National Secretary and National Treasurer) representing the overall interests of AusCham.

AusCham's Chapters are the means through which our members have a voice to express their views about the business environment in Vietnam. AusCham actively co-ordinates topical breakfast seminars, social networking functions, governmental relations and promotes some of the highest profile charity events in Vietnam.

Members of AusCham are either Australian citizens, persons working with Australian projects in Vietnam or persons working with organisations having a link to Australia or Australian business in Vietnam.

Our members are market leaders in Vietnam in areas such as banking, construction, manufacturing, human resources, legal and accounting services and telecommunications. The breadth of corporate membership sees the complete cross section of companies, from the large International companies to small and medium enterprises across all industries.

History

AusCham was originally established in 1995 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as independent initiatives of the then Australian Ambassador and Consul General. Until 1998, the two groups developed separately, although consulted with one another to present a common approach when dealing with both the Vietnamese and Australian governments.

With the passage of legislation on foreign business groups, the two groups formally combined to create the Australian Business Group of Vietnam (ABGV). The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee issued ABGV's license in September 1998. This was one of the first business group licenses issued. Following registration of the initial charter, it was amended in January 1999 to provide for the Chapter structure, which was approved and registered in mid 1999.

The first elections of Chapter Committees under the new structure were held in June

1999. The first National Executive was appointed in July 1999, with John Dick of Freehills, Ho Chi Minh City elected President and Jon Ackerman of ANzoil, Hanoi, elected Vice President.

Whilst maintaining events on a chapter basis, as a national group, ABGV was extremely active in participating in both the World Bank sponsored Private Sector Forum and Vietnamese Government meeting initiatives.

In 2003 the group decided that its role and the business community were evolving and therefore it shifted focus to a representative organisation. The name was changed to The Australian Chamber of Commerce and we started to represent our members at all levels within the Vietnamese Government including executive roles in The Vietnam Business Forum.

By working closely with the Australian Embassy and the Australian Trade Commission, the group pushed and continues to fight for a level playing field in the ever-changing commercial investment environment in Vietnam.

To find out more about AusCham’s charity initiatives please contact AusCham on Charity@auschamvn.org