Vietnam and Japan cooperate for mutual development | ANT Consulting

On November 25th, 2021, within the framework of Japan visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister – Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, the Prime Minister met the President of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). During the meeting, the Prime Minister met leaders of many large Japanese corporations, businesses and banks and signed many investment cooperation agreements between Vietnam and Japan.

The parties highly appreciated JETRO’s practical and effective contributions to Vietnam in recent years in promoting investment cooperation. In the 10 months of 2021, Japan ranked 3rd among countries making investments in Vietnam, with a total registered investment capital of nearly USD 3.4 billion. Up to now, Japan is the second largest investor in Vietnam with over USD 63.9 billion (accounting for 15.8% of total FDI investment).

Vietnam encourages Japanese businesses to invest and set up company in Vietnam, apply investment registration certificates in Vietnam, expand investment cooperation in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing industry, high-quality agriculture, information technology, smart cities, financial and banking services, and banking, innovation. The Government is committed to accompanying the business community, supporting and creating all favorable conditions for business investment activities on establishment of company in Vietnam, bringing about more benefits for the parties, contributing to bringing Vietnam-Japan relations to a new level.

During this visit, the two countries signed more than 40 cooperation agreements with a total investment value of more than USD 3 billion. In addition to investment commitments, during this visit, there were many cooperation agreements on human resource training or other environmental protection solutions signed between ministries, sectors and businesses.

In the meeting, the Prime Minister of Vietnam also met and discussed with leaders of Nippon Foundation, MUFG Group, INFRONEER Group, JBIC Bank, Idemitsu Group and Mizuho Bank on market development, business, human resource training.

The Prime Minister shared with the difficulties of Japanese businesses in Vietnam over the past time, he said that Vietnam has changed to a safe and flexible adaptation, effectively controlling the epidemic. The competent authorities at all levels must discuss with businesses and citizen to deploy solutions appropriate to the situation, bring life back to normal, both open production and business, and effectively prevent epidemics. Vietnam also suggested that Japanese businesses corporate with Vietnamese in epidemic prevention and control, continue to contribute to improving institutions, training human resources, investing in hard and soft infrastructure, and cooperating in areas such as: climate change response, digital economy, green economy, circular economy…

In addition, to ensure investment and trade, Vietnam is expected to start reopening international flights in early December, including flights to Japan. This will make it easier for Japanese investors to make investment, market surveys, and deploy their investment projects.

By the visit, Vietnam wishes to further develop cooperation in investment, human resources and diplomacy with Japan, thereby creating favorable conditions for investors of the two countries to expand their business, form company in Vietnam and contribute to national economic development.

Read More

Many “American eagles” expressed their desire to invest and expand into Vietnam | ANT Consulting

 After the Covid-19 pandemic with unremitting efforts, Vietnam has affirmed its capacity in all aspects with other countries, especially the capability to fight against Covid and quick return focus to business. Therefore, Vietnam is becoming an attractive investment destination for global investors including American companies. With the stable political situation, young and abundant human resources and commitment to investment facilitation from the Vietnam Government, it has become a great motivation for American investors to choose Vietnam as a safe and effective investment destination to set up company and expand business in Vietnam.

On the occasion of Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s business trip to attend the Special Summit to celebrate the 45th anniversary of ASEAN- America relations, many big American enterprises such as Intel, Apple and Google have shared their desire to expand the supply chain, cooperate in technology and move production to Vietnam by coordinating with Vietnamese enterprises that have suitable capability to participate. This is also considered a great opportunity for Vietnam to interact with the world’s leading advanced economy to improve its labor capacity and is a potential market for workers to learn and demonstrate their abilities.

Specifically, Apple wants the Vietnamese Government to continue to have preferential policies to encourage high-tech American enterprises to develop business and invest in Vietnam. On the other hand, Apple also affirmed that it will actively consider the Prime Minister’s proposal on increasing the number of domestic suppliers and raising the rate of using domestic services and goods higher in Apple products in the near future.

In addition, Intel also showed its interest in the Vietnamese market by emphasizing the very important role of Vietnam and Vietnamese factories in Intel’s production chain. Moreover, Intel also highly appreciates Vietnam’s infrastructure and human resources as potential conditions for technology enterprises to continue to expand their operations. Especially in today’s volatile world, Intel’s expansion of investment in Vietnam is a strategic solution.

Currently, Microsoft is working with Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications to deploy digital skills programs both private and public sector, and data science development in Vietnam. Accordingly, technology will help enhance transparency and trust, prevent and fight corruption. Vietnam has a young population, a dynamic country, ready to receive new technologies Microsoft wishes to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of digital transformation, ensuring network security, helping Vietnam achieve the goal of reducing emissions to zero by 2050 and contribute to helping Vietnam build a green economy, digital economy, and sustainable development.

In addition, in order to attract foreign investment, the Prime Minister emphasized that the “sincerity, trust and responsibility” stance, “harmonious benefits, shared risks” between big American and Vietnamese enterprises will help the relationship between the parties is stable and good. In addition, to implement the commitments it has joined, Vietnam is continuing to build and perfect institutions suitable to Vietnam’s conditions and circumstances. Moreover, the development of strategic infrastructure such as digital transformation infrastructure, transport infrastructure, energy infrastructure, healthcare infrastructure… will also be the focus of completion to attract foreign investors to establish business in Vietnam.

Besides, Vietnam continues to improve the open and stable business environment, and effectively handle administrative procedures. In particular, digital transformation will help reduce direct transactions, fight negativity, trouble, corruption, save time and costs for people and businesses. Therefore, Vietnamese businesses need to innovate in both capacity and organization to capture this opportunity well.

Finding the right business partner in Vietnam is also important. We recommend doing research on the reputation of the company and individual shareholders, corporate or individual, gathering publicly available company information, and performing background checks on key personnel to find potential risks in cooperation. Working with a reliable partner can help achieve economic benefits, saving time and money in business.

Read More

Joining CPTPP – Opportunity for Vietnam to Attract Quality Investors | ANT Consulting

 The UK discussed for the first time with all CPTPP members, including Vietnam, to discuss joining this agreement.

Pursuing the goal of joining the CPTPP is one of the UK government’s priorities and is an important part of the free trade strategy.

Becoming a CPTPP member not only opens new opportunities for UK businesses, but also promotes investment and trade as well as develops sustainable economic cooperation between the UK and CPTPP members.

British companies have invested nearly 98 billion pounds (125.27 billion USD) in CPTPP members in 2018. By 2019, the value of trade transactions between the UK and CPTPP member countries is more than 110 billion pounds.

CPTPP will help complement bilateral trade agreements that the UK has entered or is negotiating with CPTPP members.

Currently, the UK and Vietnam are also working hard to translate the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) into the UK-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement later this year. This will ensure continuity and bring commercial benefits to both British and Vietnamese businesses; at the same time, British businesses coming to Vietnam to set up company will also want to take advantage of attractive trade conditions.

The UK is the 15th largest investor in Vietnam in terms of investment accumulation and the 13th largest investment country in 2019. British investors who are present in Vietnam include HSBC financial services firms, Standard Chartered Bank, Prudential; Jardines in real estate; AstraZeneca and GSK in the pharmaceutical sector…

In 2019, bilateral trade in goods and services between Vietnam and the UK reached about 5.8 billion pounds (7.41 billion USD). The total trade turnover between the two countries grew at an average rate of 13% per year in the 2009-2019 period.

According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report, Vietnam’s global competitiveness 4.0 has significantly improved. Vietnam has also announced a national vision for the development of a digital economy with the goal that by 2030, a digital economy will reach 25% of GDP.

These are areas where the UK can help Vietnam such as smart city development, digitalization in construction and healthcare, fintech application to support inclusive business and financial growth.

The CPTPP will reduce tariffs between member countries by 95% and establish modern rules in areas that are increasingly important to UK businesses, including digital commerce, data, finance, and professional and business services. It is expected that areas like fintech, medtech and AI will grow rapidly.

Vietnam is the leading anti-Covid-19 country in the region. This is not only a testament to a strong public health, but also demonstrates Vietnam’s resilience. The International Monetary Fund (IFM) forecasts that Vietnam’s economic growth in 2020 will reach 2.7%. Vietnam has become the fastest growing economy in the region, outside Singapore; increasingly open to global trade…

Read More

Vietnam attracts Korean investment in research and development | ANT Consulting

 In recent times, the investment shift out of China is being carried out by many international investors. Vietnam is a country that has enough factors to receive investment shift, especially in the manufacturing sector with low-cost labor and low expenses. However, at present, Vietnam has changed its method of attracting FDI, instead of taking advantage of low expenses and low-cost labor, Vietnam now aims to take advantage of highly skilled workers and many incentives in research and development activities.

Recently, many Korean investors have plans to change production lines, invest in research and development (R&D) company in Vietnam. Previously, Korean businesses mainly invested in industries such as apparel, bags, and footwear, however, recently many Korean investors have made investments in industries such as high electronics, information technology, automotive and construction equipment, distribution and service industries.

Currently, Korea is the leading country in the list of countries investing in Vietnam. Previously, a joint venture between Korean and Vietnamese businesses proposed to the Dong Nai province government to invest and build a Vietnam-Korea Hi-Tech Park with an area of ​​300 hectares, total investment capital of 150 million USD. The project aims to attract high-tech enterprises from Korea as well as other developed countries to set up company in Dong Nai in order to create quality product values ​​in the fields that shape the industrial revolution 4.0. The project is expected to attract 2 to 3 billion USD of investment capital in about 6 – 9 years after it is put into operation.

In addition, Korean investors have also cooperated with Vietnamese partners to build a Science and Technology Industrial Park with an area of ​​900 hectares in Binh Duong. In addition, many Vietnamese investors have actively worked with high-tech manufacturing partners to promote the participation of key partners as well as prepare the first customers.

With the policy of attracting investment in high technology and in particular the Investment law 2020, there are special investment incentives for newly established investment projects (including the expansion of the establishment project), the centers for innovation, research and development centers with total investment capital of 3,000 billion VND (about USD 150 million) or more, disbursing at least 1,000 billion VND within first 03 years from the date of issuance of the Investment Registration Certificate or the approval of the investment policy; a national innovation center established by decision of the Prime Minister; Investment projects in sectors or trades specially given investment incentives with an investment capital of VND 30,000 billion (about USD 1.5 billion) or more, with a minimum disbursement of VND 10,000 billion within 03 years from the date of issuance of the Investment Registration Certificate or the approval of the investment policy” will be given special incentives in accordance with the provisions of corporate income tax and land law.

As the investment attraction and investment shift preparation of Korean R&D enterprises, Vietnam hopes to become an investment destination for Korean high-tech enterprises in the future to establish company.

Finding the right business partner in Vietnam is also important. We recommend doing research on the reputation of the company and individual shareholders, corporate or individual, gathering publicly available company information, and performing background checks on key personnel to find potential risks in cooperation. Working with a reliable partner can help achieve economic benefits, saving time and money in business.

Read More

Hai Phong Attracted More Than 916 Million USD of FDI

Hai Phong is a seaport city, an attractive destination for foreign investors to explore and invest in Vietnam. In the first three months of 2018, Hai Phong attracted more than 916 million USD of foreign direct investment (FDI), an increase of 332.34% over the same period last year. Among them, 15 new projects have been approved, 12 projects adjusted to increase capital.

The number of active FDI projects in the city is 532 projects with a total registered capital of 15.44 billion USD.

According to the Chairman of Hai Phong People’s Committee, this positive result is due to the city’s efforts to reform administrative procedures, improve the investment environment; focus on removing difficulties for enterprises, boosting trade and attracting investment.

The city has successfully organized many events such as seminars on Japanese investment and tourism promotion; conference to meet enterprises in 2018 with the participation of 400 local and foreign enterprises that are producing and doing business in the area; two business dialogue conferences with a total of 22 quality proposals.

At the same time, the percentage of enterprises that conducted the business establishment procedure through the Internet has reached 67.89%.

Hai Phong also implemented the program “Capacity Building for Supporting Industries in Hai Phong City” with the support of senior volunteers from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); implemented direct support activities at four enterprises and surveyed three firms preparing for the second phase of the project.

The city will focus on investment, accelerate the progress of key projects and works such as Hai Phong international gateway port in Lach Huyen, construction of new technical infrastructure in the North of Cam River.

At Hai Phong International Port, it is expected to inaugurated two launch terminals in mid-2018, which will be able to receive super-weight vessels. The coastal road connecting Quang Ninh with Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa is also under construction.

In addition, Hai Phong also coordinates closely with Quang Ninh province to implement the Bach Dang Bridge project, linking Hai Phong with Quang Ninh, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2018.

Hai Phong will also continue to construct works such as Terminal 2 – Cat Bi International Airport, Tan Vu – Lach Huyen Bridge No. 2 and continue to build the next wharfs of the Hai Phong international gateway port.

Thanks to the synchronous transportation system, Hai Phong has become one of the top local attractions for investors.

ANT Consulting assists clients with Market Entry, Legal Advice, Tax Advice and Outsourcing Services in Vietnam.

We are located in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Talk to our consultants at +84 28 730 86 529 or email us ant@antconsult.vn

Read More

FDI into Vietnam Has Reached over 33 Billion USD

Setting up company in Vietnam

Over the past 11 months of 2017, total foreign investment in Vietnam has reached over 33 billion USD. It continues to show a positive signal that foreign investors choose to set up business in Vietnam more and more.

According to data of the Foreign Investment Agency (Ministry of Planning and Investment), from the beginning of the year to November 20th 2017, the total capital includes newly registered, increased, contributed capital, purchased shares is 33.09 billion USD, increase by 82.8% over the same period in 2016.

Of these, 2,293 new projects were granted investment certificates, with total registered capital of 19.8 billion USD, increase by 52% over the same period in 2016. Moreover, there are 1,100 turns of projects registered to adjust investment capital with total registered capital increase of approximately 8 billion USD, increase by 57.6% over the same period in 2016.

In addition, there are 4,535 capital contribution and shares purchase turns of foreign investors, with a total capital contribution of 5.29 billion USD, increase by 57.6% over the same period of 2016.

Along with the rapidly increase in registered capital, foreign direct investment disbursement also achieved positive results. The figure after 11 months is16 billion USD, increase by 11.9% over the same period in 2016.

Data from the Foreign Investment Agency also showed that in terms of the investment field, foreign investors have invested in 19 sectors. In which the processing and manufacturing industry is attracting much attention of foreign investors with total capital of 14.95 billion USD, accounting for 45.2% of total registered capital.

Electricity production and distribution sector ranked second with total investment of 8.37 billion USD, accounting for 25.3% of total registered capital. The third was the real estate business sector with total registered capital of 2.5 billion USD, accounting for 7.6% of total registered capital.

Regarding investment partners, there are 112 countries and territories have investment projects in Vietnam, of which Japan ranks first with total investment capital of 8.94 billion USD, accounting for 27% of total investment capital. Korea ranked second with total registered capital of 8.18 billion USD, accounting for 24.7% of total investment capital. Singapore ranked third with total registered capital of 4.69 billion USD, accounting for 14.2% of total investment capital.

In terms of the investment area, foreign investors have invested in 59 provinces and cities, in which Ho Chi Minh City is the locality attracting the most foreign investment capital with the total registered capital of 5.68 billion USD, accounting for 17.2% of total investment capital.

Bac Ninh ranked second with total registered capital of 3.28 billion USD, accounting for 9.9% of total investment capital. Thanh Hoa ranked third with total registered capital of 3.16 billion USD, accounting for 9.5% of total investment capital.

ANT Consulting assists clients with Market Entry, Legal Advice, Tax Advice and Outsourcing Services in Vietnam.

We are located in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Talk to our consultants at +84 28 730 86 529 or email us ant@antconsult.vn

Read More

Guangdong, Hong Kong Businesses Seeking Opportunities in Vietnam

Vietnam company formation

60 enterprises coming from Guangdong, Hong Kong (China) are visiting Hanoi, exploring opportunities to set up business in Vietnam.

The conference between Vietnam and Guangdong, Hong Kong enterprises is organized in Hanoi. In addition to 60 businesses wishing to explore investment opportunities with Vietnam enterprises, the conference also attracted delegates including Government and business leaders from 12 provinces and cities of Vietnam, Guangdong and Hong Kong, along with enterprises, leaders of many provinces and cities of Vietnam, especially the provinces bordered with China such as Lang Son, Lao Cai…

The enterprises from Guangdong and Hong Kong operating in the field of manufacturing and trading in the fields of electrical equipment, electrical appliances, consumer goods… Meanwhile, Vietnamese enterprises doing business in such sectors as transportation, general import and export, agricultural products, industrial zone infrastructure…

With the two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Guangdong reached 17 billion USD in 2016, increased by 2.9% compared with 2015, Guangdong is the province playing significant role in promoting the growth of two-way trade between Vietnam and China. In addition, Guangdong’s total production value in 2016 reached 1.160 billion USD, Guangdong continues to be one of China’s leading localities for economic and trade cooperation with Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam consumer market has increasing scale and purchasing power, creating conditions for Guangdong enterprises to bring goods to Vietnam for consumption. In the opposite direction, with a population structure of more than 100 million people, this is also a potential market for a wide range of commodities, especially Vietnam agricultural products. It is expected that the value of Vietnam’s agricultural products exporting to Guangdong will soon reach billions of dollars.

ANT Consulting assists clients with Market Entry, Legal Advice, Tax Advice and Outsourcing Services in Vietnam.

We are located in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Talk to our consultants at +84 28 3520 2779 or email us ant@antconsult.vn

Read More

Many Foreign Brands Are Coming to Vietnam

Realizing that Vietnam is a promising market, foreign enterprises want to do business in Vietnam through the form of franchising. Recently, many consumer goods, fashion and cosmetics brands from Japan and Thailand are promoting the franchise with Vietnamese partners and enterprises.

In the framework of the program “Vietnam – Thailand Enterprises Interaction in The Field of Franchising” which was held in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) recently, there were 40 Thailand enterprises operating in the food, beverage, restaurant, supermarket, health care, cosmetic sectors joined to find partners in Vietnam.

According Mr Nupartpat Sutthitham, Director of the MP Mart convenience store chain (Thailand), currently in Thailand there are 3 MP Mart stores, in which the model is not the same as Family Mart or Circle K. While Family Mart sells mainly food (80%), MP Mart sells mainly fast moving consumer goods, which are produced in Thailand (70%).

According to representatives of MP Mart, the cost to open a store in Thailand with an average area of 150 m2 is approximately 50,000 USD. Realizing the Vietnam market has many opportunities, MP Mart wants to explore and this is the first time this brand comes to Vietnam. The criteria for selection of investors, partners of MP Mart are having financial resources to be able to scaling this model in large numbers in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, according to representatives of Kokekokko – a well-known chicken fast food brand in Thailand with 5 stores, using Japanese spices to marinate chicken. Representatives of this brand also did not hide their intention to find partners with business understanding and financial resources to open stores in Vietnam.

Also in late November of 2016, there were 9 Japan enterprises with 14 fashion brands came to Vietnam to find partners to open franchise stores or distribute products in the domestic market.

According to Mr Akira Kaise, representatives of I Am Company Limited, this fashion brand has been presented in many markets around the world such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Korea, Taiwan, Spain, UK, Netherlands… and this is the first time he comes to Vietnam to study the market.

Representative of I Am Co., Ltd commented that young population, good economic development, increasing people’s incomes… are factors to make Vietnam becoming a potential market for fashion items. In addition to the market penetration, the Company is also interested in outsourcing or investing in Vietnam to take advantage of low labor costs and highly skilled labors.

At the Vietnam market, Japanese businesses are often mentioned in the culinary field, meanwhile, the fashion, cosmetics or beauty brands are not widely known by consumers. Thus, recently, many Japanese cosmetic brands have decided to enter the market of Vietnam and looking for official distributors.

In an activity operated by the Esuhai Company of Vietnam recently in HCMC, there were nearly 10 cosmetic brands of Japan participated. Among them, the brand Kose is well known by many consumers.

According to the representative of Kose, this enterprise has been established since 1946, global sales reached 2.1 billion USD a year and has been presented in 18 countries. However, so far, this brand does not have official distribution channel in Vietnam market. Therefore, along with the promotion of market presence and product introduction, on this occasion, Kose desires to find agents and official partner in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, according to representatives of Nippon Menard Cosmetic Company, owner of the brand Menard, the Company is fully confident to introduce their products to consumers in Vietnam and wanted to find good partners to be able to access to more consumers.

According to the representatives of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in HCMC, Vietnam currently has more than 93 million populations, of which half are women who want to become more beautiful as earnings are improving and willing to spend the budget for beauty and body care. Therefore, this is a favorable time and good opportunity for the Japanese cosmetics brand to penetrate the market of Vietnam.

However, there is the fact that the Japanese cosmetic and fashion products are priced relatively high compared to the average income of local consumers. In addition, the Japanese fashion is not common in Vietnam market. Therefore, this is seen as the first step for the fashion and cosmetic brands of Japan to explore the market and find partners.

How ANT Consulting Could Help Your Business?

Please click here to learn more about ANT Consulting or contact our lawyers and consultants in Vietnam for advice via email  ant@antconsult.vn or call our office at +84 28 3520 2779

Read More