Vietnam‑US Counseling Council Gets Approval

Vietnam‑US Counseling Council Gets Approval

The Vietnamese government has allowed the establishment of the Vietnam‑US Counseling Council to help with enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnamese enterprises, according a recent decision signed by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

The key mandates of the council are to give independent assessment and proposals to advise the Prime Minister and State bodies on improving the competitiveness of the Vietnamese economy in general and specific industries in particular.

The agency will study and propose measures on economic development, and serve as a forum for Vietnamese and US businesses to give their opinions on improving the country's policies for the improvement of Vietnam's business environment. They will also explore possible mechanisms to promote economic cooperation between the two countries, especially in attracting US investment into Vietnam.

The council will convene two sessions a year, alternatively in Vietnam and the US. Members of the council include senior officials as well as business leaders of the two countries.

* List of Vietnam‑US Counseling Council members

- On the Vietnamese side

1.Nguyen Bich Dat, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment – Chairman;

2. Le Thi Bang Tam, Deputy Minister of Finance – member;

3. Pham Gia Tuc, Secretary General of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) – member;

4. Nguyen Hoa Binh, Chairman of the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam – member;

5. Tran Ngoc Canh, General Director of PetroVietnam – member;

6. Vu Duc Giang, Director of Phuong Dong Garment Joint‑stock Company – member;

7. Nguyen Sy Hung, Chairman of Vietnam Airlines – member;

8. Trinh Thanh Hoan, General Director of the Vietnam Insurance Corporation – member;

9. Ngo Phuoc Hau, Chairman and General Director of An Giang Fishery Import‑Export Company – member;

10. Tran Thien Hai, Director of Minh Hai Fishery Import-Export Company – member.

-On the U.S. side

1. Ernest Bower, founder of Brooks Bower Asia – Chairman;

2. Evan Greenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACE – member;

3. Allan R. Mulally, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group – member;

4. Jeffrey Shaefer, Vice Presi­dent of Citigroup – member;

5. William B. Berry, Presi­dent of Conoco Phillips – member;

6. John G. Rice, President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Energy – member;

7. Ted Gavrilis, President of Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems – member;

8. Irwin Mark Jacobs, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Qualcom Incorporated – member;

9. Joseph McGrath, Chief Executive Officer of Unisys Corporation – member;

10. Paul Hanrahan, Presi­dent and Chief Executive Of­ficer of AES Corporation – member. 

• Saigon Times Daily, Liberated Saigon