Mission Veneto

Promozione

in Hanoi & HCMC

(P.4)

Agreement

ICHAM

Etihad Alitalia

(P.8)

Former PM Enrico Letta

visits Vietnam (P3)

Seminar

“Vietnam—Italy” (P.6)

Mission

Agrofood (P.7)

Happy New Year of

the Goat!

Dear Members and Friends,

First of all I would like to thank you all for your support to ICHAM activities in 2014.

The year which just ended marks many significant activities undertaken by the Chamber to

implement and consolidate trade relations between Italy and Vietnam, the promotion of Made-in-

Italy and Italian investments in Vietnam.

2014 was a very successful year for the relations between the two countries, especially with the

visit to Vietnam of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, the first meeting of the Joint Economic

Commission on occasion of the visit of State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International

Cooperation Sen. Benedetto della Vedova, and the opening of the Italian Consulate General in

Ho Chi Minh City.

During 2014 we also organized a large number of business missions to Vietnam for Italian

enterprises and missions to Italy for Vietnamese enterprises, in full compliance with the strategy

to develop bilateral trade between the two countries. This has created a genuine shared interest

between both countries in a broader and deeper cooperation.

Our success would not be possible without a constructive spirit and collaboration with the Italian

Embassy in Vietnam, the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy, the Italian Consulate General in Ho Chi

Minh City, Unioncamere Emilia Romagna, Centro Estero Piedmonte, Veneto Promotion,

Promos Milano, Marchet Ancona and EVBN—EU Vietnam Business Network.

We hope to continue to have your support in 2015, which we believe will be another fruitful year

full of challenges and successes; a year which will behold one of the world’s most expected

event—EXPO 2015 to be held in Milan from 1 May to 31 October. I also wish that the EU-

Vietnam Free Trade Agreement Negotiations will have a successful conclusion in this year .

I take this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful Year of the Goat full of success, health,

happiness and prosperity.

Michele D’Ercole

President

Page 2

Former Italian PM Letta visits Vietnam

aims to boost competitiveness for small

- and medium-sized enterprises, he

noted.

On his part, Enrico Letta emphasised

the city’s economic development and

position in Southeast Asia as well as in

Asia in general, saying that southern

economic hub is an important place for

Italy to promote its investment in the

region. He said he will call on Italian

firms to expand their business network

in the locality.

During his visit to Ho Chi Minh City,

the former Italian prime minister

toured well-known historical sites and

met with the leaders of the Ho Chi

Minh City National University to

discuss bilateral cooperation in the

education sector.

Ho Chi Minh City welcomes further

cooperation with Italy in the fields of

industry, science-technology, and

education-training, said Le Thanh

Liem, Vice Chairman of the People’s

Committee of the southern economic

hub.

He made the statement while receiving

former Italian Prime Minister Enrico

Letta on January 12. He stressed the

importance of the opening of the Italian

Consulate in the city, saying that it

helps connect both sides cultural and

socio-economic cooperation activities.

The official pledged to create

favourable conditions for Italian

businesses to learn about and invest in

Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnamese

businesses are looking forward to

taking part in an Italian project which

“I

encourage

the Italian

companies

strengthen

biteral

cooperation

between

Vietnam and

Italy”said

the Former

P.M

Mr. Enrico Letta (fifth from the right) with Italian Ambassador to Vietnam HE Lorenzo Angeloni, Consul

General Carlotta Colli, Icham President Michele D'Ercole, ICE Director Bruna Santarelli, Eurocham Vice

President Tomasso Andreatta and representatives of Italian business community in Vietnam.

Page 3

In the framework of trade

promotion programs, Unioncamere

Veneto and the Veneto Region, in

collaboration with Veneto Promozi-

one and the Italian Chamber of

Commerce in Vietnam (Icham)

organized trade mission to Vietnam

from 17 to 24 January, 2015.

B2B meetings were held at the

meeting rooms (19th Jan in Ho Chi

Minh City and 21st Jan in Hanoi).

20th and 23rd were days available

for companies to make business

visits agreed with the Vietnamese

counterparts following the meetings

of the previous day.

The mission focused mainly on

sectors: Machinery, Construction

and Building Materials, Environ-

mental Equipment and Tecnology,

Food Industry, Wood-working

Techno logy, Meta l -work ing

Technology - Equipment, Furniture.

Page 4

Veneto Trade Mission in Vietnam

A press conference

introducing the Vietnam

Cultural Days and

Vietnam Cultural Space

Exhibition in 2015 was

held in Italy’s national

museum—Il Vittoriano

in the capital of Rome on

January 12.

The Vietnam Cultural

S p a c e E x h i b i t i o n

featured unique of

culture, art and tradition

of Vietnam such as the

Gong culture of the

Central Highlands,

h and ic r a f t s , po t t e r y,

traditional Ao dai, musical

accessories such as T’rưng,

monochord, Vietnamese

two chord fiddle…

Th r o u g h f i l ms a n d

documentaries, visitors

have experienced lives of

local people and 10 famous

destinations in Vietnam as

going sailing along Mekong

River, watching sunrise on

Ha Long Bay, visiting caves

in Phong Nha- Ke Bang

national park, My Son

sanctuary, Hoi An ancient

town….

During the week, many

act iv i t ies take p lace

including a workshop on

promotion of tourism,

economy and cinema

c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n

Vietnam- Italy. Some

movies, including Blind

Knight, Don’t Burn, Living

with History are projected to

promote Vietnam’s image.

Vietnam Cultural Days in Rome

From left: Vietnamese

Ambassador to Italy

Nguyen Hoang Long, Vietnamese Actress

Truong Ngoc Anh ,

ICHAM Executive Director Pham

Hoang Hai.

Page 5

Economic Seminar

“Vietnam-Italy”

Within the framework of Vietnam Cultural Days in

Italy, the Vietnamese Embassy in Rome together

with Confindustria and Unindustria held the

economic seminar Vietnam-Italy on 14th January

in Italy’s national museum—Il Vittoriano.

The seminar was led by the Vietnamese Ambassa-

dor to Italy H.E. Nguyen Hoang Long, aiming at

discussing the opportunities of cooperation and

investment in Vietnam for Italian enterprises,

analyzing the results of the mission "Italy to Viet-

nam", which took place last November in Hanoi

and Ho Chi Minh City, and finding how to help

Italian enterprises expand business to the Asian

market.

The event was attended by high profile speakers

including: Riccardo Maria Monti – ICE Presi-

dent; Marta Leonori – Assessor of Productive

Activities of Rome; Guido Fabiani – Assessor of

Productive Activities of Lazio region; Dr. Attilio

Tranquilli – Vice President of Unindustria, Union

of Industrialists and Enterprises in Rome,

Frosinone, Latina, Rieti and Viterbo; Dr. Daniel

Kraus – Deputy General Director of Confidustria;

and Pham Hoang Hai – Executive Director of

ICHAM.

In his speech ―Vietnam – the new challlenge‖, Mr. Pham stressed that Vietnam aims to increase

domestic consumption, with entrepreneurs who want a direct relation in the same way as in Italy, with a

middle class that is growing rapidly and will be the future of nation.

Representatives of successful Italian companies in Asia were also present at the event, such as Piaggio,

Gattinoni, Ariston Thermo, Alitalia Maintenance Systems S.p.a – AMS, etc.

Page 6

wear to bring the creativities

of Italian design to Viet-

nam. Furthermore, the top-

ics of how to work together

in the fields of training,

education, know-how to

develop a sustainable

creative industry were also

discussed during the meet-

ing. The meeting has re-

sulted in a positive feedback

and a first concrete coopera-

tion on occasion of a semi-

nar on EXPO 2015 to be

held in March in HCMC.

Further to Memorandum of

Understanding signed in

December 2014 between

Vietnam Design Associa-

tions (VDAS) and ICHAM,

on 28th January a meeting

was held at the headquarter

of International Design &

Art Center (ADS) in Ho

Chi Minh City between

Italian Consul General

Carlotta Colli, Icham Presi-

dent Michele D'Ercole and

ADS managers. The aim

was to strengthen the

cooperation in the area of

sectors such as: interior

design, fashion and foot-

sectors are: Gourmet & Fine

Food, Food Products &

Ingredients, Wine, Spirits &

Beer, Tableware & Accessories,

Equipment For Catering-Bakery-

Confectionery-Bar & Coffee. As

one of EVBN’s five main

partners, ICHAM supported the

mission by finding potential

partners for 3 companies: Togni

s.p.a (Italy), Dirafrost (Belgium)

14 companies from Italy,

Belgium, Estonia, France,

Lithuania, Spain, Portugal,

Poland took part in the

―Agrofood Trade Mission‖

from 19th to 25th January in

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The event was organized by

Eu - Vietnam Business

Network (EVBN), project

funded by EU. The main

and Vieira De Castro (Portugal).

Besides B2B meetings, the

European companies had

opportunity to visit points of

sales and join the food festival

―Le Bon Marche‖ for 2 days

exhibition. The event was a

good occasion for European

companies to introduce products

and know-how directly to

Vietnamese counterparts.

Icham President Michele D'Ercole with

representative of Togni S.p.a

From right: Icham President Michele D'Ercole;

Consul General Carlotta Colli

and ADS representatives

Some ADS designs

Page 7

ICHAM: Meeting with ADS

EVBN AGROFOOD TRADE MISSION

“ETIHAD

–

ALITALIA

is one of

ICHAM main

sponsors

and will

become the

“Official

Airline”

General Manager Etihad

Vietnam, Frederic Huynh

Quan Dat & ICHAM

President Michele D’Ercole

A two-year agreement of sponsorship and

cooperation was signed between Etihad

Alitalia and ICHAM in a meeting on 5th Feb

at Etihad office.

Accordingly ETIHAD – ALITALIA will become the airline

of reference for ICHAM and the Italian business community

thanks to its special promotional offers. This agreement also

provides for a range of activities to promote Expo 2015 in

Vietnam and encourage even more growth of the business

relations between Italy and Vietnam.

During the month of January, the new strategic plan of Etihad

Airways - ALITALIA announced that it will increase

connections from Abu Dhabi to Milan Malpensa, Rome

Fiumicino and new routes to

Venice and Bologna.

ETIHAD – ALITALIA is one of

ICHAM main sponsors and it will

become the ―Official Airline‖.

Along with the s trategic

partnership of Etihad Airways -

Alitalia, we are proud to promote

this partnership especially for

members of Icham.

Page 8

Etihad Alitalia—ICHAM

Sponsorship Agreement

Italian Ambassador to

Vietnam HE Lorenzo

Angeloni, Consul General

Carlotta Colli, Icham

President Michele

D'Ercole, ICE Director

Bruna Santarelli

Inauguration of LAGO Apartment

LAGO Apartment / STORE SAIGON

was inaugurated , this is the first

Apartment LAGO STORE in Asia and

the world. For the first time a point of

sale LAGO is opened within an

apartment offering an innovative

experience both sales and purchase.

LAGO Apartment / STORE SAIGON is on the 31th floor of the

tower V3 of Sunrise City, will be also the perfect container to

convey the Italian character in the world, hosting events on the

topic of Achievements of Italian. This event was attended by the

Italian Ambassador Lorenzo Angeloni, Italian Consul General

Carlotta Colli, ICE Director Bruna Santarelli, Icham President

Michele D'Ercole and other representatives of Italian and

Vietnamese enterprises. The LAGO entrusted the distribution of

their products in Vietnam to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, who with

the brand "bellavita" already distributes some prestigious Italian

brands in Vietnam.

Page 9

ICHAM Press Clipping:

Vietnam attracts Italian investors

This is an article published on 19 January 2015 to "Viet Nam Economic News" - a website

update online all economic news of Vietnam in particular and the world in gereral. This

interview is conducted with the precious collaboration of Michele D'Ercole - ICHAM

President

(VEN) - In a talk with Vietnam Economic News’ Nguyen Huong, Italian

Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam President Michele D’Ercole said that the

presence of Italian businesses in Vietnam would increase in 2015 and the years

to come.

VEN: What are your views on Italian investment in Vietnam in the recent

period?

Mr. Michele: For the last five years Italian investment in Vietnam has grown in

terms of both quality and quantity. Italian businesses in Vietnam are present in

different sectors such as motorcycle, oil and gas, energy, information and

telecommunications technology (ICT), machinery and equipment, food

processing, coffee, logistics, financial and banking services.

Currently, over 50 Italian businesses are operational in Vietnam, including

Piaggio, Eni, AristonThermo, Generali, Bonfiglioli, Datalogic, Perfetti Van

Melle, Unicredit, BNP Paribas, IntesaSanpaolo, Pacorini, Danieli, Tenova,

Microlys, Carvico Hung Yen Knitting and Dyeing, Esanastri, and i-Italy, with

total capital of over US$300 million.

The feedback about Italian investment in Vietnam is very positive, as no

Italian company in the country has terminated their operations. They have

achieved very good production results and ensured high quality of their

products. The geographical location that Vietnam has in Asia gives Italian

businesses great opportunities to increase their sales in the Association of

South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) market as well as all Asian countries.

.......

The full article is available at:

http://ven.vn/vietnam-attracts-italian-investors_t221c197n52599.aspx

Page 10

Page 11

Lunar New Year Celebration at HCMC People’s Committee

On occasion of the Lunar New Year, the

People’s Committee of HCMC held a

cordial meeting with representatives of

consulates and foreign organizations in

the City. The meeting took place on

10th February at the City Hall.

ICHAM would like to thank the Office Manager of HCMC,

Ms. Thao Nguyen, for her excellent work dedicated to the

Chamber for the past 2 years.

Congrats on this milestone and best wishes for your new

career in Italy!

Good Luck, Thao!

Ms. Thao (third from the left)

together with ICHAM President and team

A warm welcome to our new members:

ICHAM & Members

UPCOMING EVENTS

Annual General Meeting

18:00, 3/3/2015

HN: Sofitel Plaza, 1 Thanh Nien, Ba Dinh Dist.

HCMC: 15F, Landmark, 5B Ton Duc Thang, Dist.1 3 March

Page 12

MARKET INFO

Page 13

VIETNAM: THE 2ND MOST ATTRACTIVE BUSINESS DESTINATION IN ASEAN

“Vietnam seems

to rank the

second position

among the most

attractive

destinations of

the American

investments

directed in

ASEAN member

countries after

Indonesia”

According to the results, the

majority of investors (66%) ex-

pects an increase in incomes and a

general growth of enterprise within

2014, while an even larger part of

them (82%) expects the same

results within the end of 2015. That

sort of confidence is clearly led in

part by the changes occurred in

Vietnam-U.S. bilateral relations,

which particularly from 2013 have

started a sudden but steady

economic approach.

Yet, what has become the very

―pivot‖ of American interests is the

ASEAN region as a whole, and it

counts now 90% the percentage of

According to the survey led by

the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

in Singapore, Vietnam seems to

rank the second position among

the most attractive destinations of

the American investments

directed in ASEAN member

countries. While Indonesia keeps

the first place, the reasons of

Vietnam’s achievement can be

substantially found in a reliable

government and political system,

low workforce costs, and in the

availability of adequate spaces

for plants and offices.

investors expecting an increase in

profits for the next five years.

In wider terms, the survey

underscores the great confidence

the U.S. market has about the

Southeast area, seeing the

completing of economic and

commercial cohesion, forecasted

for the year 2015 with the

establishment of the ASEAN

Economic Community, and the

effects the ratification of TPP

(Trans Pacific Partnership) would

be able to bring in the pathway of

the two markets’ approach.

Page 14

Along with political and economic integration,

Vietnam is experiencing a growing alignment with the

ASEAN’s regional industrial trends.

As for the other countries of Mekong area, Vietnam

too has become one of the main destinations of the

shifting of international FDI from China to the

Southeast Asia.

In particular, Vietnam emerged as an important

electronics exporter, with E&E (electrical and

electronic) overtaking coffee, textiles and rice. Since

the largest part of population is dominated by young

people, local electronic market is currently far from

saturation, and the commerce opportunities continue

to increase.

A similar increase in production has been registered

for textiles and medical devices: in the first case,

Vietnam is willing to increase sector investments by

USD 25 billion within 2020, while in the second case

the greying process globally starting in regional

population seems to predict a growth in ASEAN

medical devices market.

VIETNAM KEY BUSINESS SECTORS

"“With

a population

largely made up of

young people,

the electronics

market is far from

saturated,

allowing growth of

investment

possibilities"

Page 15