This year has been quite busy for the Australia Vietnam Business Council (AVBC) with various events and visits to Viet Nam. At the begining of 2022, I held a meeting with Alex Goddard, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NSW) who invited me to attend the Department’s Function held in Sydney in February. I was ialso invited to meet James Fairley, Investment NSW earlier in 2022, to give him an overview of the current structure of the Australlia Vietnam Business Council, as well as the organisation’s activities for the year, such as the Australia-Vietnam Conference held in June 2022.
I also had a meeting in April 2022 at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra to give the department an update on the AVBC current organisational structure and activitives for the year. On a business trip to Viet Nam in April, I had the opportunity to meet the Australian General Consul (Viet Nam), Ms Sarah Hooper to discuss AVBC overview and activities for 2022. I was also invited to attend the ASEAN Conference in Melbourne in May, which was coordinated by ASEAN Senior Advisor, Mr Francis Wong.

I was quite pleased with the outcomes of the organisation’s inaugural Australia – Vietnam Conference 2022, which was held at the Boulevard Hotel, Sydney on the Wednesday, 22 June – Thursday, 23 June 2022. The conference was attended by delegates from the Australian and Vietnamese corporations, small & medium enterprises, business organisations & networks and government agencies who attended the conference from the Greater Sydney Region, Regional NSW, ACT, QLD and VIC, as well as from Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

The conference main objectives were to boost bilateral trade and economic development and investment opportunities between Australia and Viet Nam through the Enhanced, Economic & Engagement Strategy (EEES) collaborated and signed between the two countries. The Australia-Vietnam Business Conference was proudly sponsored by the Thanh Phong Group (TPG), ACY Securities, BAO BAO Production & Trading and Rich Group VN. The conference was also supported by BESydney, NSW Government, Investment NSW and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Australia Vietnam Confernce 2022 Program included various speakers recognised as Business Champions, Executive Directors (Corporations) and CEOs (SMEs), as well as Business Decision Makers from the Australian and Vietnamese Public & Private Sector, who delivered various presentations which included: an insight into bilateral trade & investment opportunities, global markets & current portfolio impacts, agritech, decarbonization & sustainable renewable energy, manufacturing of renewable bi-products, world leadership networking, better data-driven decisions that improves business performance, hydro energy technology and manufacturing of products ‘Made in Vietnam’.

The feedback obtained from Delegates attending the Australia – Vietnam Conference 2022 were highly received, especially about the variety of speakers from various Vietnamese and Australian industries. Delegates highlighted the importance of exchanging B2B information, as well as business matching and networking opportunities that were very beneficial over two day program. Some Delegates also recommended that the Australia – Vietnam Conference should be conducted at least every 2 years, and to include workshops with facilitators involved with exports and investment opportunities between Australia and Viet Nam.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the AVBC Business Relations Management Team, who organised the Australia – Vietnam Conference 2022: Ms Azalia Ah Mat, CEO & Head of Marketing, Mr Alan Tang, Executive Director Media & Communications. Mr Marco Zammarrelli, AVBC Executive Senior Advisor, Dr Tran Nguyen, Head of Business Development and Mr Sherwood Griese, AVBC Service Coordinator, Head of Event Service. The Australia Vietnam Business Council Committee will conduct the next Australia – Vietnam Conference to be held in Sydney, Australia in June 2024.

During the August – October period, I had travelled to Viet Nam on various business trips, as well as meeting with AVBC corporate members based in Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Noi. Whilst in the country, I had a meeting with AVBC Member, Mr Paul Vorbach, who is the Founding Managing Director, AcademyGlobal a leading corporate and government training firm based in Sydney. I would also like to welcome AVBC Member, Mr Tuong Nguyen, AcademyGlobal Business Development Manager, South East Asia based in Viet Nam.

Kiem Dinh
President
Australia Vietnam Business Council
Contact: +61 414 566 026
Email: ausvncouncil@gmail.com