LOBBYING IN VIETNAM THROUGH THE VIETNAM BUSINESS FORUM (VBF)

The Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) was established in 1997 during the annual Consultative Group meeting between the Vietnamese Government and its donor partners, as a not-for-profit, non-political channel for nurturing public-private dialogue to develop a favorable business environment that attracts domestic and foreign private sector investment and stimulates sustainable economic development in Vietnam. This is done primarily through high profile bi-annual Forums between the business community and Vietnamese leadership and through specialized Working Groups cutting across sectors.

Serving as a regular and high-level channel of communication between the business community and Vietnamese Government, the VBF is widely recognized as an important actor and reliable partner in shaping reforms that provides concrete results towards delivering a better business environment in Vietnam. Key VBF objectives include working with the Government to create pathways to long-term and sustainable business performance as well as to promote the interests of national and international business community in Vietnam and enhance investment and trade in local and overseas markets. VBF works to provide research, legal analysis, identification of problems and practical solutions.

In early 2012, the coordination function of the Forum's secretariat was transferred from IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, to a Consortium of international and local business associations and chambers of commerce to allow the private sector to play a bigger role in the Forum's sustainable development. The bi-annual Forums are co-chaired by Vietnam's Minister of Planning and Investment, the World Bank's Vietnam Country Director, IFC's Regional Manager for Vietnam and Co-chairmen of the Consortium.

Supports from the Vietnamese Government to the VBF were highlighted by the presence and address of Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung in three recent bi-annual Forums since 2014 and a number of Ministers and Vice-Minister level. The delegation of Government's highest ranking officers shows the Government's commitment to a strong partnership with the business community and the success of the Consortium in coordinating the secretariat function.

The Consortium is led by five Consortium Members and supported by 11 Associate Members which are foreign and local business assocations and chambers of commerce in Vietnam.

Board

The VBF Consortium's Management Board in 2016 is made up of nine representatives from the Consortium's Members:

1. American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam,
2. European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam,
3. Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
4. Korea Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam
5. Japan Business Association in Vietnam

Associate Members

1. Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam
2. British Business Group in Vietnam.

Non-voting Members are: representative from the IFC - a member of World Bank Group and American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam's representative. The Management Board is led by two Co-Chairmen representing local and foreign business community.

1. Mr. Vu Tien Loc: Co-Chairman of VBF Consortium's Management Board, Chairman and President of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry
2. Mr. Ryu Hang Ha: Co-Chairman of VBF Consortium's Management Board, Co-Chairman of Korea Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam
3. Mr. Tomaso Andreatta: Member of VBF Consortium's Management Board, Vice Chairman of European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, Chief Representative of Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A
4. Mr. Sagara Hirohide: Member of VBF Consortium's Management Board, Vice-chairman & Head of VBF Comittee of JBAV, General Manager of Marubeni Vietnam
5. Mr. Christopher David Jeffery: Member of VBF Consortium's Management Board, Board Member of British Business Group in Vietnam, Dean of British University Vietnam
6. Mr. Giles T. Cooper: Member of VBF Consortium's Management Board, National Vice President of Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, Partner of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC
7. Mr. Jonathan L. Moreno: Member of VBF Consortium's Management Board, Vice Chairman of American Chamber of Commerce in HCMC, General Director of Medovations Vietnam
8. Mrs. Virginia B. Foote, Non-Voting Member of VBF Consortium's Management Board, Chairman of American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi, President & CEO of Bay Global Strategies
9. Mr. Kyle F. Kelhofer: Non-Voting Member of VBF Consortium's Management Board, Regional Manager of International Finance Corporation

Secretariat

The Vietnam Business Forum Secretariat (VBF Secretariat) was established in February 2012 to play a coordination role for all VBF activities to ensure smooth function of the VBF and directly reports to the Management Board of the VBF Consortium. The Secretariat is located at the EuroCham premises in Hanoi.

The main role and responsibilities of the Secretariat are:

• Coordinate the Bi-annual Plenary Forum, provide support to the Co-chairmen of the Management Board and Working Group Chairs/Deputy Chairs;
• Support the facilitation efforts of Working Groups to address issues of concern raised by the Working Group and liaise with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to arrange Working Group meetings, Bi-annual Forums and other events;
• Manage information across the Working Groups and consolidate recommendations/strategy that could address the cross-cutting issues;
• Conduct follow-up with Government counterparts on the various issues raised by VBF; and
• Monitor progress, compile progress reports on issues raised by VBF and communicate widely to stakeholders.

Working Groups

1. Agribusiness
2. Banking
3. Customs
4. Government and Integrity
5. Investment and Trade
6. Tourism
7. Automotive
8. Capital Market
9. Education and Training
10. Infrastructure
11. Mining