Business Conference (Ho Chi Minh City)

23 Oct 2023, Monday
8.30am – 4.00pm
Gem Center, Ho Chi Minh City
Dress Code: Business Formal

8:30am
Check in & Networking
9.00am
Arrival of Guests-of-Honour
9.05am
Welcome Address by Mr Colin Goh, CEO, TRCL and Director, Global Cultural Alliance Ltd
9.10am
Opening Ceremony and Speeches by Guests-of-Honour

9.30am
Plenary: Starting Business in Singapore and Vietnam – Do It Right!
by Mr David Ong, CEO, Tricor Singapore

10.00am
Panel Discussion I: Gateway to New Market: A Practical Guide to Starting a Business in Singapore and Vietnam
Moderator: Mr Teng Theng Dar, Chairman, BASE (Business Alliance for Sustainable Economy)
Panel Speakers:
• Mr Seck Yee Chung, Partner, Baker & McKenzie (Vietnam) Ltd
• Mr Nguyen Quoc Vinh, Senior Counsel, Indochine Counsel
• Mr Nguyen Khoa Hong Thanh, Chief Marketing Officer, PNJ Jewelry
• Ms Tey Hui Jie, Regional Director (Thailand and Vietnam), International Operations, Singapore Economic Development Board

11.15am
Tea Reception

11.30am
Panel Discussion II: The Path Ahead: Seizing Opportunities and Managing Risks in Doing Business in Singapore and Vietnam
Moderator: Ms Mandy Nguyen, Operation Director, Startup Vietnam Foundation

Panel Speakers:
• Mr Zac Chen, Director, bOx Pte Ltd
• Ms Esther Nguyen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, POPS Worldwide
• Ms Nga Phuong Tran, Chief Executive Officer, Thien Long Group
• Mr Alan Phua, Chief Executive Officer, Virtue Partners Management (Vietnam) Co. Ltd

12.30pm
Networking Luncheon

2.00pm
Fireside Chat and Matching
Co-organised with Startup Vietnam Foundation
• Creative Industry
• Business Consultancy and Education
• Consumer Lifestyle

4.00pm
End of Conference

Moderators:

Mr Teng Theng Dar
Chairman, BASE (Business Alliance for Sustainable Economy)

A Singaporean having worked with Japan, US, Indonesia and Singapore MNCs to accumulate over 40 years of senior management experience in 12 different countries in Asia, including Australia and the Middle East Region.
During those years with MNCs, he actively led various new joint ventures from negotiation to launch stage, product development & specification design to fit local market requirements, supply chain coordination (known as logistics then) for cost & performance optimisation, and regional coordination works on product launch as well as senior management training programs for the ASEAN region.

Since 2012, he has been actively involved in agribusiness/agritech and successfully facilitated the establishment of Singapore Shizuoka AgriFood Forum to promote R&D, AgriTech and enterprise collaborations with specific focus in urban farming – both aquaculture and urban farming.

In volunteer activities, he is a member of Advisory Board of National Youth Achievement Award Council (NYAA), Steering committee member of ASEAN Japan Meeting Group, Director, Agri BioScience Knowledge Centre LIMITED (NPO) for small scale farmers, Director, Sekoi Sdn Bhd (Singapore – Ipoh start-up hub initiative).

Since 2021, by partnering institute of higher learning and research centres in Singapore, BASE has been serving as the platform to help raise awareness on opportunities and challenges related to low carbon economy, as well as to promote collaborations based on the Research, Innovation, and Enterprise model.

He is a life time member of Japan University Graduates Singapore Association (JUGAS).

Highlights of his career: 1. CEO of Singapore Business Federation (2008 – 2011) 2. Chair, APEC Business Advisory Council, APEC Singapore Year 2009 3. Singapore Non Resident Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman (2008 – 2022)

Ms Mandy Nguyen
Operation Director, Startup Vietnam Foundation

Nine years working in the regional ecosystem as an innovation and entrepreneurship intervention designer and leading various Vietnamese national social impact projects, Mandy is the Operation Director of SVF, a frontier non-profit development organization focusing on accelerating innovation ecosystem and national entrepreneurship. She has led the strategic planning and implementation of federal and local development projects, working with various State government agencies and provinces on innovation fostering, economic empowerment, and entrepreneurship ecosystem development. Mandy set up linkages and facilitated public-private dialogues as the critical pillar for her vision of success for business support programs. Using strong coaching and mentoring skills, she helps improve the performance of leaders and teams to realize their innovative potential. Mandy has extensive relationships with global and national innovation ecosystem stakeholders and knows what makes a solid ecosystem to nurture entrepreneurship and how to make resources accessible for innovation.

Speakers:

Mr David Ong
Chief Executive Officer, Tricor Singapore

David Ong joined Tricor Group, Asia’s leading business expansion specialist, in 2021 as CEO of Tricor Singapore. David holds over 25 years of professional experience in accounting and corporate services. He has proven P&L management and solutions, a strong track record in sales and business development, a broad client network, and robust leadership skills. Prior to Tricor, David served as Singapore & ASEAN Partner, Corporate Services at EY and led company support services at PwC Singapore. Together with Tricor’s global team, David streamlines cross-border efficiencies to help clients seize emerging business opportunities and drive growth across Asia and beyond.

Mr Seck Yee Chung
Partner, Baker & McKenzie (Vietnam) Ltd

Chung Seck is a Senior Partner of Baker McKenzie and leading the M&A, TMT, pharmaceutical and healthcare practices in Vietnam. Over 20 years in Vietnam, he has been dealing with a wide range of investment projects and M&A deals, and advising on corporate, commercial and regulatory compliance matters. This includes foreign direct investment, market access and licensing, private and public M&A, commercial contracts, competition and anti-corruption compliance, data use and privacy. He has been consistently ranked as Band 1 Lawyer for Corporate/M&A in Vietnam by Chambers, regarded as Leading Individual for TMT sector by Legal 500, and named in the Spotlight Table by Chambers.

Mr Nguyen Quoc Vinh
Senior Counsel, Indochine Counsel

Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh Anh (born March 5^th, 1959 in Ha Noi) is Director of InvestPro Law Firm. She is also Vice President of the Vietnam Bar Federation, Member of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Bar Federation. Mrs. Quynh Anh is the first Vietnamese who received the Award by the Federal President Of Austria of the Decoration Of Honor In Gold For Services to the Republic Of Austria.

Mr Nguyen Khoa Hong Thanh
Chief Marketing Officer, PNJ Jewelry

Thanh is currently CMO at PNJ Group, the leading jewelry manufacturer and retailer in Vietnam. Before joining PNJ Group, he was a co-founder and COO at Isobar Vietnam, formerly Emerald Consulting acquired by Dentsu Inc. in early 2015. Thanh has multi-year experiences in marketing communications, public relations and journalism. Thanh holds an MBA from University of Hawai’i at Manoa and a B.A in International Economics from Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

Ms Tey Hui Jie
Regional Director (Thailand & Vietnam), International Operations, Singapore Economic Development Board

Ms Tey Hui Jie is the Regional Director for Southeast Asia at the Singapore Economic Development Board (“EDB”). She leads EDB’s engagements in both Thailand and Vietnam and set up EDB’s first Thailand office in Bangkok in March 2022.

EDB is the lead government agency that plans and implements strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre. Together with her team, Ms Tey is responsible for establishing new relationships and advancing existing partnerships with companies from Southeast Asia, to develop and accelerate their plans for growth and internationalisation through Singapore.

Prior to her appointment as Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Ms Tey assumed various responsibilities in the Advanced Manufacturing Strategy Group and the Technology Hardware & Equipment Accounts Group in EDB, where she led industry development and promotion activities to grow Singapore’s manufacturing sector and build a new robotics cluster for Singapore.

Mr Zac Chen
Director, bOx Pte Ltd

From SME business loans, transaction banking and commodities financing as a commercial and corporate banker in Singapore and China + HK. Zac moved to the client side, working on his 1961 established, 3rd generation family business covering ASEAN + NE Asia.

With his market insights, he embraced the entrepreneurial spirit in his blood that spurred him to establish a fintech venture in Vietnam right from its inception. Initially centered on SME loans, the startup has pivoted towards finance forecasting. Zac is also a Singapore Chamber of Commerce Vietnam Nominated Exco and Vice Chair of the new Startup & Innovation Subcommittee.

Ms Esther Nguyen
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, POPS Worldwide

Esther Nguyen is a passionate media and technology entrepreneur with a successful track record combining and strengthening industries to entertain the masses.

Esther first started making headlines back in 2007 when she founded POPS Worldwide in Vietnam and helped to change the country’s digital music landscape.

She has since been a pioneering force in the development of the entire digital entertainment industry in Southeast Asia. Among its many achievements, POPS has been crucial to the development of the entertainment industry in Vietnam, educating the industry on copyright potential and building an ecosystem that allows the industry to monetize and evolve.

Ms Nga Phuong Tran
Chief Executive Officer, Thien Long Group

Ms Nga Phuong Tran currently serves as the CEO of Thien Long Group Corporation. After graduating from the University of Sydney, Ms Tran gained experience in various finance-related fields by working in Vietnam and the UK. She achieved her ACCA and CFA certifications.

Ms Tran worked in the Finance Department of TLG for nine years before being promoted to CEO in June 2021. During her tenure in TLG, she held various positions, including Company CFO cum assistant to the Chairman and Company COO. Additionally, Ms Tran is an invited member of the Committee of Investor Relations and Development.

Mr Alan Phua
Chief Executive Officer, Virtue Partners Management (Vietnam) Co. Ltd

Alan Phua is the Chief Executive Officer of Virtue Partners Management (Vietnam) and a Nominated Executive Committee Member of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce Vietnam.

Possessing more than 2 decades of leadership experience, Alan started his career in the Finance industry 15 years ago. Previous appointments held included Head of Private Wealth, Recruitment, and Healthcare Services. Alan is also concurrently a Brigade Warrant Officer in the Singapore Armed Forces.

Alan enjoys participating in committees and believes firmly in creating a collaborative and supportive environment where every member is heard and feels welcomed. Professionally, Alan has a diverse network of business professionals from different nationalities.

Alan is able to converse effectively in English, Mandarin and Vietnamese.

Hội nghị doanh nghiệp (Hà Nội)

Ngày 20 tháng 10 năm 2023, Thứ Sáu
9 giờ sáng – 1 giờ 30 chiều
Khách sạn InterContinental Hà Nội Landmark 72, Hà Nội
Trang phục: Trang trọng

8:30am
Đón khách
9am
Khai mạc Hội nghị
9:05am
Khai mạc Hội nghị
Ông Colin Goh, Tổng Giám đốc, The RICE Company và Giám đốc, Global Cultural Alliance Ltd
9:10am
Lễ khai mạc và bài phát biểu của các khách mời danh dự

9:30am
Phiên họp toàn thể: Khởi sự kinh doanh tại Việt Nam & Singapore – Hãy làm đúng!
Ông David Ong, CEO, Tricor Singapore

10am
Phiên Thảo luận 1: Cánh cửa tiếp cận thị trường mới: Kinh nghiệm khởi sự kinh doanh tại Singapore và Việt Nam
Người điều phối: Ông Teng Theng Dar, Chủ tịch, BASE (Business Alliance for Sustainable Economy) Panel Speakers:
• Ông Seck Yee Chung, Partner, Baker & McKenzie (Vietnam) Ltd
• Ông Nguyễn Quốc Vinh, Luật sư cao cấp, Indochine Counsel
• Ông Nguyễn Khoa Hồng Thành, Giám Đốc Chiến Lược Tiếp Thị, CTCP Vàng bạc Đá quý Phú Nhuận (PNJ)
• Bà Tey Hui Jie, Giám đốc khu vực (Thái Lan và Việt Nam), Ban Điều hành Quốc tế, Ban Phát triển Kinh tế Singapore

11:15am
Tiệc trà

11:30am
Phiên Thảo luận 2: Con đường phía trước: Nắm bắt cơ hội và quản lý rủi ro trong kinh doanh tại Singapore và Việt Nam
Người điều phối: Bà Mandy Nguyễn, Giám đốc Điều hành, Quỹ Khởi nghiệp Việt Nam (TBC)
Diễn giả tham gia thảo luận:
• Ông Zac Chen, Giám đốc, bOx Pte Ltd
• Bà Esther Nguyễn, Sáng lập & CEO, POPS Worldwide
• Bà Trần Phương Nga, Tổng Giám Đốc , Tập đoàn Thiên Long
• Ông Alan Phua, Tổng Giám đốc, CEO, Virtue Partners Management (Vietnam)

12:30pm
Tiệc trưa giao lưu

2pm
Gặp gỡ kết nối kinh doanh
Đồng tổ chức cùng Quỹ Khởi nghiệp Việt Nam liên kết
• Ngành công nghiệp sáng tạo
• Lĩnh vực Tư vấn và Giáo dục
• Lĩnh vực Phong cách sống và tiêu dùng

4pm
Kết thúc sự kiện

Moderators:

Mr Teng Theng Dar
Chairman, BASE (Business Alliance for Sustainable Economy)

A Singaporean having worked with Japan, US, Indonesia and Singapore MNCs to accumulate over 40 years of senior management experience in 12 different countries in Asia, including Australia and the Middle East Region.
During those years with MNCs, he actively led various new joint ventures from negotiation to launch stage, product development & specification design to fit local market requirements, supply chain coordination (known as logistics then) for cost & performance optimisation, and regional coordination works on product launch as well as senior management training programs for the ASEAN region.

Since 2012, he has been actively involved in agribusiness/agritech and successfully facilitated the establishment of Singapore Shizuoka AgriFood Forum to promote R&D, AgriTech and enterprise collaborations with specific focus in urban farming – both aquaculture and urban farming.

In volunteer activities, he is a member of Advisory Board of National Youth Achievement Award Council (NYAA), Steering committee member of ASEAN Japan Meeting Group, Director, Agri BioScience Knowledge Centre LIMITED (NPO) for small scale farmers, Director, Sekoi Sdn Bhd (Singapore – Ipoh start-up hub initiative).

Since 2021, by partnering institute of higher learning and research centres in Singapore, BASE has been serving as the platform to help raise awareness on opportunities and challenges related to low carbon economy, as well as to promote collaborations based on the Research, Innovation, and Enterprise model.

He is a life time member of Japan University Graduates Singapore Association (JUGAS).

Highlights of his career: 1. CEO of Singapore Business Federation (2008 – 2011) 2. Chair, APEC Business Advisory Council, APEC Singapore Year 2009 3. Singapore Non Resident Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman (2008 – 2022)

Ms Mandy Nguyen
Operation Director, Startup Vietnam Foundation

Nine years working in the regional ecosystem as an innovation and entrepreneurship intervention designer and leading various Vietnamese national social impact projects, Mandy is the Operation Director of SVF, a frontier non-profit development organization focusing on accelerating innovation ecosystem and national entrepreneurship. She has led the strategic planning and implementation of federal and local development projects, working with various State government agencies and provinces on innovation fostering, economic empowerment, and entrepreneurship ecosystem development. Mandy set up linkages and facilitated public-private dialogues as the critical pillar for her vision of success for business support programs. Using strong coaching and mentoring skills, she helps improve the performance of leaders and teams to realize their innovative potential. Mandy has extensive relationships with global and national innovation ecosystem stakeholders and knows what makes a solid ecosystem to nurture entrepreneurship and how to make resources accessible for innovation.

Speakers:

Mr David Ong
Chief Executive Officer, Tricor Singapore

David Ong joined Tricor Group, Asia’s leading business expansion specialist, in 2021 as CEO of Tricor Singapore. David holds over 25 years of professional experience in accounting and corporate services. He has proven P&L management and solutions, a strong track record in sales and business development, a broad client network, and robust leadership skills. Prior to Tricor, David served as Singapore & ASEAN Partner, Corporate Services at EY and led company support services at PwC Singapore. Together with Tricor’s global team, David streamlines cross-border efficiencies to help clients seize emerging business opportunities and drive growth across Asia and beyond.

Mr Seck Yee Chung
Partner, Baker & McKenzie (Vietnam) Ltd

Chung Seck is a Senior Partner of Baker McKenzie and leading the M&A, TMT, pharmaceutical and healthcare practices in Vietnam. Over 20 years in Vietnam, he has been dealing with a wide range of investment projects and M&A deals, and advising on corporate, commercial and regulatory compliance matters. This includes foreign direct investment, market access and licensing, private and public M&A, commercial contracts, competition and anti-corruption compliance, data use and privacy. He has been consistently ranked as Band 1 Lawyer for Corporate/M&A in Vietnam by Chambers, regarded as Leading Individual for TMT sector by Legal 500, and named in the Spotlight Table by Chambers.

Mr Nguyen Quoc Vinh
Senior Counsel, Indochine Counsel

Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh Anh (born March 5^th, 1959 in Ha Noi) is Director of InvestPro Law Firm. She is also Vice President of the Vietnam Bar Federation, Member of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Bar Federation. Mrs. Quynh Anh is the first Vietnamese who received the Award by the Federal President Of Austria of the Decoration Of Honor In Gold For Services to the Republic Of Austria.

Mr Nguyen Khoa Hong Thanh
Chief Marketing Officer, PNJ Jewelry

Thanh is currently CMO at PNJ Group, the leading jewelry manufacturer and retailer in Vietnam. Before joining PNJ Group, he was a co-founder and COO at Isobar Vietnam, formerly Emerald Consulting acquired by Dentsu Inc. in early 2015. Thanh has multi-year experiences in marketing communications, public relations and journalism. Thanh holds an MBA from University of Hawai’i at Manoa and a B.A in International Economics from Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

Ms Tey Hui Jie
Regional Director (Thailand & Vietnam), International Operations, Singapore Economic Development Board

Ms Tey Hui Jie is the Regional Director for Southeast Asia at the Singapore Economic Development Board (“EDB”). She leads EDB’s engagements in both Thailand and Vietnam and set up EDB’s first Thailand office in Bangkok in March 2022.

EDB is the lead government agency that plans and implements strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre. Together with her team, Ms Tey is responsible for establishing new relationships and advancing existing partnerships with companies from Southeast Asia, to develop and accelerate their plans for growth and internationalisation through Singapore.

Prior to her appointment as Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Ms Tey assumed various responsibilities in the Advanced Manufacturing Strategy Group and the Technology Hardware & Equipment Accounts Group in EDB, where she led industry development and promotion activities to grow Singapore’s manufacturing sector and build a new robotics cluster for Singapore.

Mr Zac Chen
Director, bOx Pte Ltd

From SME business loans, transaction banking and commodities financing as a commercial and corporate banker in Singapore and China + HK. Zac moved to the client side, working on his 1961 established, 3rd generation family business covering ASEAN + NE Asia.

With his market insights, he embraced the entrepreneurial spirit in his blood that spurred him to establish a fintech venture in Vietnam right from its inception. Initially centered on SME loans, the startup has pivoted towards finance forecasting. Zac is also a Singapore Chamber of Commerce Vietnam Nominated Exco and Vice Chair of the new Startup & Innovation Subcommittee.

Ms Esther Nguyen
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, POPS Worldwide

Esther Nguyen is a passionate media and technology entrepreneur with a successful track record combining and strengthening industries to entertain the masses.

Esther first started making headlines back in 2007 when she founded POPS Worldwide in Vietnam and helped to change the country’s digital music landscape.

She has since been a pioneering force in the development of the entire digital entertainment industry in Southeast Asia. Among its many achievements, POPS has been crucial to the development of the entertainment industry in Vietnam, educating the industry on copyright potential and building an ecosystem that allows the industry to monetize and evolve.

Ms Nga Phuong Tran
Chief Executive Officer, Thien Long Group

Ms Nga Phuong Tran currently serves as the CEO of Thien Long Group Corporation. After graduating from the University of Sydney, Ms Tran gained experience in various finance-related fields by working in Vietnam and the UK. She achieved her ACCA and CFA certifications.

Ms Tran worked in the Finance Department of TLG for nine years before being promoted to CEO in June 2021. During her tenure in TLG, she held various positions, including Company CFO cum assistant to the Chairman and Company COO. Additionally, Ms Tran is an invited member of the Committee of Investor Relations and Development.

Mr Alan Phua
Chief Executive Officer, Virtue Partners Management (Vietnam) Co. Ltd

Alan Phua is the Chief Executive Officer of Virtue Partners Management (Vietnam) and a Nominated Executive Committee Member of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce Vietnam.

Possessing more than 2 decades of leadership experience, Alan started his career in the Finance industry 15 years ago. Previous appointments held included Head of Private Wealth, Recruitment, and Healthcare Services. Alan is also concurrently a Brigade Warrant Officer in the Singapore Armed Forces.

Alan enjoys participating in committees and believes firmly in creating a collaborative and supportive environment where every member is heard and feels welcomed. Professionally, Alan has a diverse network of business professionals from different nationalities.

Alan is able to converse effectively in English, Mandarin and Vietnamese.