Who We Are
» Hide this section

The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AusCham) is a licensed foreign business group in Vietnam established to represent the interests of Australian business operating in Vietnam.

AusCham operates on a Chapter Basis, with Chapters in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The Chapters generally operate independently but combine on issues of national concerns, the AusCham Update and the AusCham website. 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 the AusCham.

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

AusCham's 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 Australian companies like Telstra and ANZ Bank to small and medium companies across all industries.

» Hide this section

History
» Hide this section

Australian Business Groups were 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. With the passage in Vietnam of legislation on foreign business groups, 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 Hoc 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. The second President of ABGV, elected for the 2000/2001 year was Andrew Hilton from the Hanoi Chapter and Nigel Russell of Phillips Fox elected Vice President.

In 1998 John Gourlay of BHP Steel Products, was elected as a life member for his services in the establishment of ABGV, Ho CHi Minh City and in 1999, Peter Allan of Telstra, was elected as a life member for services in establishment of ABGV Hanoi.

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

» Hide this section

Ho Chi Minh City Chapter
» Hide this section

The first meeting of forerunner of the Ho Chi Minh Chapter was held on 24 June 1995 at the Saigon Floating Hotel on the request of the then Australian Consul General, Peter Baxter. There were 30 participants. From this meeting, a steering committee was formed charged with guiding the group through the establishment stages.

The first elected committee took office in June 1996, with John Dick as Chairman and John Gourlay as Vice Chairman. John Dick held office as Chairman until 1999, when Damian Clowes of PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal became Chairman (1999 - 2000). Nigel Russell (Phillips Fox) was elected Chairman for the 2000/2001 year.

Since 1995, the activities of the HCMC Chapter have expanded from a once a month lunch discussion, to an organization providing an effective voice for the Australian business community in southern Vietnam, both in terms of clarifying business issues with the Vietnamese authorities and providing feedback to Australian authorities.

In the past, senior Australian government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer, Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer, NSW Premier Bob Carr and then Minister for Trade Senator Bob McMullan have addressed the HCMC Chapter and learnt of Australian business issues in Vietnam. In April 1998, former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was guest of honour at a dinner for 260 members and guests, as the HCMC Chapter celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Australia and Vietnam.

The HCMC Chapter works closely with the Australian Consulate General and the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, with whom it has regular meetings including participation in combined business group meetings. Numerous Peoples Committee officials including Vice Chairmen and heads of government departments have spoken at the regular monthly luncheons held by the Ho Chi Minh City Chapter.

In May 2000 as part of the My Thuan Bridge Opening activities, the Ho Chi Minh City Chapter held a half day seminar entitled "Vietnam in an Asian Business Environment" attended by over 140 people, at which Vietnamese government officials, economists and Australian investors shared their views of Vietnam's development. Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Alexander Downer delivered the luncheon address.

Other business activities include monthly business lunches with general and panel discussions as well as guest speakers and annual field trips to the provinces surrounding Ho Chi Minh City, to meet with provincial Peoples Committees and investors. In the past 4 years the group has held two trips to Dong Nai province, and trips to Binh Duong and Baria Vung Tau. A large contingent of members also participated at the official ceremony for the opening of the My Thuan Bridge.

On the social side, the HCMC Chapter activities include an annual ball and monthly Sundowners, providing a perfect opportunity for visiting business people to meet the local Australian community. The HCMC Chapter holds a sport weekend at Phan Thiet, where the annual ABGV HCMC Chapter golf tournament is held, playing for the perpetual "Peter Baxter Trophy". The Ho Chi Minh City Chapter also holds the annual "Australia Day in Ho Chi Minh City", which has the distinction of being the largest Australia Day celebration outside Australia.

International Red Cross for the flood relief appeal, the Fred Hollows Foundation, the Saigon Children's Charity and the Committee for Care and Protection of Children.

The Strength of the HCMC Chapter lies in the variety of business, most of whom are small and medium enterprises. Members are drawn from the senior management of companies based in Southern Vietnam and lead a 3000 strong Australian community in Ho Chi Minh City. The members represent a wide range of industries, in manufacturing, construction services and construction materials, law, accounting, human resources, telecommunications, banking, tourism, education and numerous trading companies.

Official membership of HCMC Chapter now numbers 140, representing approximately 100 business, mostly Australian.

» Hide this section

Hanoi Chapter
» Hide this section

The Hanoi chapter was officially established in 1998, primarily as a social networking group for the Australian business community. The ABGV as it was then known, organised a series of community events which have now become annual fixtures on the Hanoi social calendar.

In 2003 the group decided that its role and the business community in Hanoi was evolving and therefore it shifted focus to a representative organisation. The name was changed to The Australian Chamber of Commerce started to represent its 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 everchanging commercial investment enviroment in Vietnam.

The group holds monthly sundowners drinks and a series of business briefings throughout the year. It has also become the forum through which visiting Australian dignitaries and politicians can access the Australian business community in Vietnam.

The chambers executive committee is made up of a cross-section of members from the local biusiness communities and includes Australian as well as Vietnamese nationals. All have strong links to Australia and a desire to help raise Australia’s status in the local investment enviroment.

IIn 2007 the chamber had over 150 members from the private sector, government, NGO’s and Australian University alumni.

With the establishment of a regional forum for Auscham, the chapter can go from strength to strength and become an great resource for Australian companies looking at access the increasingly popular Vietnamese marketplace.

» Hide this section

Activities
» Hide this section

Under the ABGV Charter, the activities of ABGV are defined to include:

1. Organising internal information dissemination;
   
2. Organising activities relating to exploring commercial and investment opportunities and issues;
   
3. Participating in activities relating to exploring commercial and investment opportunities and promotions organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other relevant Vietnamese authorities;
   
4. Organising meetings between its members and Vietnamese State management authorities on commercial, investment and service issues;
   
5. Through the Committee, submitting petitions and suggestions to Vietnamese State management authorities in order to protect legitimate interests of its members and to contribute to the creation of a healthy business environment;
   
6. Publishing and distributing internally news bulletins in accordance with the Law on Publication of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
   
7. Promoting business ties between Australia and Vietnam for the mutual benefit of members and their Vietnamese counterparts.
   

In furthering these aims, business activities include:

• monthly guest speaker lunch
  
• publishing position papers (including recommendation for discussion items with JTECC)
  
• meetings with Government officials (Australian and Vietnamese)
  
• special business events
  
• field trips to see provincial business development
  
• panel discussions
  
• functions with other business groups
  

In advancing Australia cultural activities, AusCham is involved in staging an annual Australia Day event in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, an Australian Ball in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as supporting the Australian Embassy and Consulate General in promoting Australian educational programs and cultural exhibits.

For any Australian business establishing in or trading with Vietnam, the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, whether in Hanoi or HCMC, is an avenue for accessing information and assistance - or just meeting like-minded souls.

» Hide this section