Lunch today with the delegation from the Vietnam-USA Society (IGEs gateway partner) at the best Vietnamese restaurant in the Washington area (Minhs in Arlington). The delegation was headed by the previous ambassador to the US and included reps from the media, the business community, the governments human rights office, and the Vietnamese embassy. At my end of the table, I am surrounded by the leaders of IGE (Courtney Brode), the Vietnamese human rights office, and Garco (a Vietnamese business that does technology and clothing) -- all women, I might add. Garco is an interesting case study. In 1986, at the time of doi moi (the beginning of Vietnams economic reforms), Garco had 4 factories in one province with 1000 employees. Today -- with much less government regulation -- Garco has 17 factories in 7 provinces with 10,000 employees...and a vision to export into the countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (an economic treaty still being negotiated by key countries on the Pacific Rim). Change takes time, but once the decision is made, it does happen. Imagine: just 46 years ago the US was experiencing the Tet Offensive on its TV screens...now this delegation comes to the US to speak at the American Legions annual conference before coming to DC to meet with IGE (and then to the State Department this afternoon)...before heading to Seattle...I pray that the bilateral relationship continues to deepen thru the candid conversation of honest friendship.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:10:22 +0000
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