As 2018 approaches a close I would like to wish all BBGV members and friends a Very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year for 2019. The past year has been rewarding, interesting and challenging for BBGV. We hosted several business seminars such as the CPTPP briefing, Women in Business and the mid-year Outlook for 2018.
BBGV was also pleased to continue its support for Charities and we undertook our fundraising via the Corporate Football Tournaments and Fun Runs in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City raising 2.35 bn VND for charity. During 2018 BBGV organized a total of 59 events including the regular and popular networking events. This year the networking events included several other chambers to widen the scope of opportunities to meet with new people. Working closely with Department for International Trade (DIT) in Vietnam, the BBGV Business Centre has: Received 2 trade missions to Vietnam. Significantly we have identified and arranged 140 matchmaking meetings for British companies with Vietnamese counterparts. Over the past 12 months the BBGV Business Centre was approached by 264 companies enquiring about the potential of the Vietnam Marketplace. A significant increase over the previous year.
The BBGV Secretariat and Business Centre staff, continue demonstrate their commitment and support to the company via their hard work every day both with member companies based here in Vietnam and with those looking at the commercial opportunities on offer here. The Board membership saw some changes at the AGM and the members continue to provide support and guidance in the running of the organisation. The support from the Board members with their strategic direction and commitment has created some significant achievements during 2018. In November, BBGV has obtained full corporate membership of the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF), which will be significant in the representation we can make on business matters affecting our members. The British Advocacy Committee, comprising of the Heads of some of the largest British companies operating in Vietnam, continued to provided support to BBGV in its engagement of key business issues and was instrumental in the support to gain the full VBF membership.
The BBGV working relationship with Department for International Trade and FCO in Vietnam continued grow in strength and collaboration, the Board and myself are grateful for all the support received from both Ambassador Giles Lever and his successor Ambassador Gareth Ward as well as that of the Consul General to HCMC, Ian Gibbons.
As ever there will be challenges ahead in 2019 and beyond but I am sure that BBGV will rise to meet them and move forwards as it has done so in the past.
The support and involvement of so many BBGV member companies and individuals over the past year has been very welcomed and appreciated. BBGV now looks towards 2019 and strengthening the voice of British business in Vietnam even further through delivering excellent services via our Business Centre clients as well as to all BBGV members through our extensive list of events and activities planned to take place.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me any time at peter.rimmer@bbgv.org
With best seasonal wishes to you all,
Peter Rimmer
Executive Director BBGV.
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