環太平洋パートナーシップ協定（ＴＰＰ）は「最先端」として特徴付けられ、投資障壁を取り除くことにより締結国の投資家たちにとって投資利益を高めると期待されています。２０１６年２月４日に正式に署名した際、ベトナムはＴＰＰの最大の受益国だと言われており、他の国際協定と比べてＴＰＰの効果に対し大きな期待を寄せています。
外国人投資家はＴＰＰ投資章が彼らのベトナムにおける投資環境に直接影響すると考え最も注目しています。正式にベトナムで実施され、執行可能となるには国会の承認次第である為、ＴＰＰ投資章が外国人投資家にもたらす実際の利点及び効果に関してはさておき、ここではＴＰＰ投資章の条項を簡単に確認します。ＴＰＰ投資章の重要な待遇は以下の通りです。
ＴＰＰ投資章
範囲はいくつかの点において狭くなっていますが、ＴＰＰ投資章は他の二国間そして多国間国際投資協定と同様の投資保護措置を提供しています。
• 内国民待遇：投資受入国は次の状況において国内の競合他社が有利になるように外国人投資家を差別してはなりません。保護の対象はその地域での設立、買収、拡大、管理、経営、運用、売却、そして譲渡に制限されています。
• 最恵国待遇：投資受入国は第三国または他の締結国の投資家に与えている待遇よりも不利な待遇を外国人投資家に与えてはなりません。内国民待遇と同様に、保護の対象は特定の状況に制限されています。
• 公正衡平待遇：投資受入国は投資環境の公正衡平待遇及び完全な安全保証を維持することが義務づけられています。
• 収用の禁止：公共目的のため、差別的ではない方法、迅速な補償、及び正当な法手続きのもとである場合を除いて収用や国有化が禁止されていることがＴＰＰ投資章で細かく制定されています。
• 投資に関連する資金移転の自由：原則的に、出資に関連する資金、資本拠出による利益、契約にもとづく支払いそして紛争から生じる支払いに関する資金を遅延なく自由に移転することが可能です。
• 投資活動に対する特定措置の履行要求の禁止：現地調達や技術移転のような、ある特定の要求は投資家による設立、買収、拡大、管理、経営、運用、売却、譲渡の際に禁止されています。
投資家と国家の国際仲裁手続き
ＴＰＰ投資章には投資家と国家の国際仲裁手続き（ＩＳＤＳ）規定の詳細が含まれています。ＩＳＤＳ規定にもとづき、他の締結国の国民である投資家は投資に関する問題が発生した際に国際仲裁を通して投資予定国に対し訴訟を起こす権利を保持します。その為、ＩＳＤＳは外国人投資家にとって以下の点において強い保障措置と言われています。
• 法廷は訴訟の勝訴当事者に「弁護士費用」を裁定する権利を保持します。
• 法廷は透明性が高い手続きの証として、「聴聞の公開」及び「全ての事案の審理、申立、判断内容を公開」することが義務付けられています。
•（非政府組織のような）第三者の介入が可能となります。
• 裁定は原則的に、損害賠償及び財産の返還に制限しなければなりません。
• 裁定は国内裁判所または国際審査委員会のどちらかで確認することが可能です。
• 仲裁廷は「同様の事例や状況」の下で生じたクレームを含め、平行手続きの危険性を避ける為に異なる仲裁手続きを確立することが可能です。
２０１２年のピーターソン研究所の研究によると、ＴＰＰの効果により２０２５年のベトナムのインカムゲインは総合的に１３％以上高くなり、一方で２０２５年の輸出は３７％以上高くなると予測されています。２０１８年までＴＰＰがベトナムで施行されるとこはありませんが、ＴＰＰ投資章による利点を踏まえ、透明性及び良好な投資環境への期待は確実に高まっています。
***
〈ご注意〉こちらの記事は皆様に情報をお届けする目的でのみ作成・掲載しておりますので、法的なアドバイスとして提供・構成することを目的としておりません。詳細につきましては、当法律事務所の注意書きをご一読下さい。
オリバー・マスマンはドウェイン・モリス・ベトナム法律事務所のディレクターです。上記に関するご質問等はomassmann@duanemorris.comまでお気軽にご連絡ください。
Lawyer in Vietnam Oliver Massmann Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF INVESTMENT CHAPTER
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has been characterized as “state-of-the-art” and expected to enhance the investment benefits for the investors of the contracting parties by eliminating the investment barriers. Given the high expectation to the advantages of TPP in comparison to other international treaties, Vietnam was said to be poised as TPP’s biggest winner when officially signing the TPP on 4 February 2016.
Among the others, the foreign investors draw the most attention to TPP Investment Chapter as it directly affects and influents the investment environment in Vietnam to them. Setting aside the actual benefits and advantages that the TPP Investment Chapter will bring to the foreign investors as it will be subject to the approval of the National Assembly to be officially effective and enforceable in Vietnam, it is worth to highlight briefly the provisions of TPP Investment Chapter. Below are the notable treatments provided in the TPP Investment Chapter.
The TPP Investment Chapter
It can be seen in the TPP Investment Chapter that it provides similar investment protection measures with most bilateral and multilateral international investment agreements, although the scope is narrower at some points.
• National treatment: the host state must not discriminate against the foreign investors in favor of domestic competitors in like circumstances. The protection is limited to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments in its territory.
• Most-Favored Nation (MFN): the host state must not treat foreign investors any less favourably than it treats competitors from another contracting state or any third-party state. As similar with national treatment, the protection is limited to certain circumstances.
• Fair and equitable treatment (FET): the host state must maintain fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security of investment environment.
• Prohibition of expropriation: it is well established in the TPP Investment Chapter that expropriation or nationalization shall not be allowed, except for a public purpose; in a non-discriminatory manner; on payment of prompt; and in accordance with due process of law.
• Free transfer of funds related to an investment: in principle, the transfer of funds related to capital contribution, profits from capital contribution, payment under a contract, payments arising out of a dispute, shall be allowed to make freely and without delay into and out of the territory of the host state.
• Prohibition on “performance requirements”: certain performances are prohibited during the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, or sale or other disposition of an investment of an investor, such as local content or technology localization requirements.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement
The TPP Investment Chapter includes detailed Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions. Under the ISDS provisions, the investors who are nationals of other contracting states shall have the right to bring claims against the host state through international arbitration, in case of investment dispute. The ISDS is said as the strong safeguards to the foreign investors because:
• The tribunal has the right to award “attorney’s fees” to the prevailing party in the case;
• The tribunal shall “conduct hearings open to the public” and to “make public all notices of arbitration, pleadings, submissions and awards”, as a sign of transparency procedure;
• There is room to allow the intervention of third parties (such as non-government organizations);
• The award shall only be limited to monetary damages and restitution of property in principle;
• The award can be reviewed either by domestic courts or international review panels”;
• The arbitral tribunal is allowed to consolidate different arbitration proceedings that involve claims arising under “the same events or circumstances”, with the purpose of avoiding the risks of parallel proceedings.
In a study of Peterson Institute in 2012, it was estimated that Vietnam’s income gains in 2025 with a comprehensive TPP would be over 13 percent higher, while its exports in 2025 would be over 37 percent greater, due to the advantages of TPP. Although the TPP may not become enforceable in Vietnam until 2018, but with the benefits from the TPP Investment Chapter, the expectations of a transparent and favorable investment environment will soon become true.
***
Please contact Oliver Massmann under omassmann@duanemorris.com in case you have questions on the above. Oliver Massmann is General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.
Lawyer in Vietnam Oliver Massmann SOLAR ROOFTOP PROJECT KEY DRIVERS
1. What are the key factors that are driving and restraining the ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER projects market in Vietnam?
In our view, following factors influence investors’ decision in investing in Rooftop Solar Power (RSP) projects in Vietnam:
• Low FIT: the proposed draft law suggests that ‘when electricity generated is higher than electricity consumed, the difference shall be purchased by the purchaser at the connection point, with the electricity tariff is 3150 VND/kWh (excluding value added tax, equivalent of 15 USDcents/kWh). Electricity tariff shall be adjusted according to the fluctuations of the exchange rate between VND/USD’.
• Lack of information on solar power: As a RSP project investment costs are relatively high, investors seek necessary information to support their investment decision. Nevertheless, there is no complete survey or complete source of information on solar energy that investors may access.
• Legal framework: The legal framework for solar power plants are under development. The MOIT is now working on a new draft decree to deal with difficulties that investors may face including application for tax incentives, import of equipment, convenient funding plans, etc.
• Other considerations such as investment costs, technology, etc.
2. Questions regarding cumulative installed capacity:
i. As of December 2013, the cumulative installed capacity for solar PV was 4 MW. What is your estimate of cumulative installed capacity till end of 2015?
The Vietnamese solar PV market is still very small with only around 4.5 MWp installed capacity at the end of 2014. Vietnam is expected to increase to around 7 MWp until 2020 and 1,500 MWp until 2030 with a respective share in renewable power generation capacity of 1.2% (by 2020) and 12.8% (by 2030). I do not have the exact number of cumulative installed capacity in 2015 but I estimate that it should have reached 5MWp.
ii. In your opinion, rooftop solar power installation accounted for how many percent of total solar PV installations? ( 2%?, 5%?)
We do not have access to any official source of latest information on specific numbers of RSP installations and total solar PV installations. Nevertheless, as noted in our answer to your Question 3 above, Vietnam has roughly 15,000 small scale PV off-grid applications, by the end of 2014. Based on such records, the rough percentage of installations of rooftop solar power installations would be 40% of the total solar PV installations (i.e. 6,000 RSP installations for solar home systems and small size PV systems for public use vs. 9,000 ground mounted PV installations for BTS, telecommunication use, public lightening systems and solar signal lights).
iii. What is the expected growth rate from 2016-2020? Is the growth rate of the industry moving in the right direction to achieve the proposed target? (if any?)
It is expected to achieve around 7 MWp until 2020 (growth rate 40% compared to 2016). Yes, the growth rate is moving in the right direction.
3. We are trying to identify the key end-users for ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER systems. What is the percentage (approx.) installed capacity among each of them: Residential, Commercial (Buildings) and Others (Car parking facilities, etc.
We do not have specific figures of RSP system’s installed capacity but according to a recent report of solar power in general, by the end of 2014, roughly 15,000 small scale PV off-grid applications with a total capacity of 3,600 kWp, the vast majority being <200 Wp of size only a few with more than 1kWp, were installed in Viet Nam. Of those, around 5,000 are solar home systems (SHS) with a size of 20-200Wp, 2,100 are telecommunication and BTS systems (300-4,000 Wp) and more than 1,000 are small size PV systems for public use such as in community centers, schools or medical centers (up to 3,000 Wp), which are deployed in rural and mountainous areas or on islands. Furthermore, around 5,000 solar signal lights (20-100 Wp) and 2,000 public lighting systems (50-250 Wp) were installed alongside streets and highways throughout the country.
4. Questions regarding cost:
i. What is the installation cost involved per kWp among different end-user segments in your country? (Residential, Commercial, Community) How is it likely to change in the future?
Residential/Community: $2,500 to 3,000 per kWp
Commercial: $4,500 per kWp
The installation costs can be reduced in future thank to increasing use of locally made products in solar power system and commitments to support including investment costs of the Government of Vietnam.
ii. What is the percentage break-up of installation costs among the various components in a ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER system? (Module, Charge controller, battery, inverter etc.)
Let take an example of a PV at the capacity of 1KWp/2KVA, the percentage of components costs exclusive of costs paid to installation of works by workers will be as follows:
Components Unit Price (USD)
Solar Panel 12 1,636
Battery 6 819
Inverter 1 410
Controller 2 367
3,232
5. What kind of solar panels are largely in demand for ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER systems (Monocrystalline/polycrystalline panels, thin film technologies)? Why? What is the average price range ($/Watt p) for these solar panels in Vietnam?
Monocrystalline/polycrystalline panels are popular in Vietnam as off-grid installed capacity in Viet Nam is dominated by smaller applications such as Solar Home Systems (SHS). Depending the quality and the brand name, the price is different. The average price is 3-5USD/Watt p.
6. How do you hear about new projects and could you please provide me with more examples of key recent projects? How these projects are funded? (banks, financial institutions, government, self-funded)
Basic information of big projects is usually published on the internet. Recently, Vietnam is going to build the first solar power project in Quang Nam with the installed capacity of 120 MW per year, invested by a domestic company Indochina Energy Industry Company Limited.
7. How many system integrators or installers are involved in installing ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER systems? Are there more local players or MNCs? What is the role of system integrator in such contracts? Who are the top 5 system integrators in Vietnam?
We assume that not more than 20 companies, most of them are local and produces components in solar cells/panels and related electronic devices (e.g. – controllers), act as integrators and/or installers. Major players including Hung Gia (Installation), Vtechco (Installation), Vu Phong (Installation), Nam Thai Ha JSC (Solar Materials Incorporated), Red Sun Solar (Solar Cells), Viet Linh AST (solar system), NICS Integration System (Installation).
We do not have specific market shares figures of biggest players in the market but are able to involve a professional market research company to do this job on your behalf.
8. Who are the top 5 competitors/ which brands of solar modules are highly popular in the ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER market?
The rooftop solar power market in Vietnam is still developing and there are not so many competitors yet. The popular names of Rooftop Solar Power Market are Red sun solar, Viet Vmicro JS, Panasonic, Megasun, IREX.
***
Please do not hesitate to contact Oliver Massmann under omassmann@duanemorris.com if you have any questions or want to know more details on the above. Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.
THANK YOU !
Lawyer in Vietnam Oliver Massmann EXPATS WITH DEGREES AND 3 YEARS EXPERIENCE DON’T NEED WORK PERMITS ANYMORE !
Foreigners with bachelor’s degrees and at least three years of experience working in their respective fields are no longer required to obtain work permits in Vietnam, according to a decree approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, IF they work in Vietnam for less than 30 days and less than 90 days in total in a year (Decree No. 11/2016/ND-CP).
The decree contains implementation guidelines for some items related to the management of foreign employees under the Law on Employment.
Under the new decree which was released recently, the following foreign employees are exempted from work permit:
1. Capital contributing member or owner of a limited liability company;
2. Member of the board of management of a shareholding company;
3. Head of a representative office or of a project of an international organization or non-governmental organization in Vietnam;
4. Entering Vietnam for a period under three (3) months in order to offer services;
5. Entering Vietnam for a period under three (3) months in order to resolve an incident [breakdown] or technically or technologically complex situation arising and affecting, or with the risk of affecting production or business with which Vietnamese experts or foreign experts currently in Vietnam are unable to deal;
6. A foreign lawyer issued with a certificate to practice law in Vietnam in accordance with the law on lawyers;
7. A student studying in Vietnam is permitted to work in Vietnam, but the employer must provide seven (7) days advance notice to the provincial State administrative authority for labour;
8. Intra-corporate transferee and within the scope of the eleven (11) services on the List of Commitments on Services of Vietnam with WTO namely business services; information services; construction services; distribution services; education services; environment services; financial services; medical health services; tourism services; culture and entertainment services; and transportation services;
9. Coming to Vietnam to provide expert and technical consultancy services or to undertake other tasks servicing the work of research, formulation, evaluation, monitoring and assessment, management and implementation of a program or project using official development aid (ODA);
10. Being issued with an operational licence in the information and press [sector] in Vietnam by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
11. Being appointed by a foreign agency or organization to come to Vietnam to teach or to conduct research in an international school managed by a foreign diplomatic office or organization in Vietnam, or certified by the Ministry of Education and Training to come to Vietnam to lecture or conduct research in an educational and training establishment in Vietnam;
12. Volunteers with certification from a foreign diplomatic office or international organization in Vietnam;
13. Coming to Vietnam to work as an expert, manager, executive director or technician for a working period under thirty (30) days and for a total cumulative period not exceeding ninety (90) days in any one (1) year;
14. Coming to Vietnam to implement an international agreement signed by a central or provincial level agency or organization in accordance with law;
15. A student currently studying at a school or training establishment overseas and who has an agreement on practical training at an agency, organization or enterprise in Vietnam;
16. Relations of members of a foreign representative agency in Vietnam who are working, after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has so permitted, except where an international treaty of which Vietnam is a member contains some other provision; and
17. A person with service passport working for a State agency, political organization or socio-political organization.
The local Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs will be the in-charge authority to certify foreign employees to be exempted from work permit upon request by the employers within at least seven (7) working days from the work commencement of the foreign employees (except for employees under points (4)-(5) and (13) above.
The Decree will be in full effect from 01 April 2016.
***
Please contact Oliver Massmann under omassmann@duanemorris.com in case you have questions on the above. Oliver Massmann is General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.
Rechtsanwalt in Vietnam Oliver Massmann Steuerrecht Transferpreis Fusionen Übernahmen
Problembeschreibung
In einer Übernahme ist der Verrechnungspreis im Prinzip verhandelbar. Wenn jedoch der vereinbarte Preis weniger ist als der Nennwert der Stammeinlage des Verkäufers zum Stammkapital (Eigenkapital) kann die Genehmigungsbehörde das Geschaeft ablehnen und sich weigern, die Übernahme zu genehmigen. Die Übernahme kann in der Folge auch von der Steuerbehörde untersucht werden, die wiederum den Transferpreis überprüft, um sicherzustellen, dass er den “Marktpreis” oder den ‘Buchwert’ vom Eigenkapital widerspiegelt. Wenn die Steuerbehörde zu dem Schluss kommt, dass der Marktpreis oder Buchwert nicht angemessen reflektiert worden ist, kann sie einen anderen Verrechnungspreis festlegen, den sie für die Steuerverwaltungszwecke geeignet hält. Ausnahmen können für ein lokales Unternehmen gemacht werden, welche erhebliche Verluste erlitten haben. Aus unserer Sicht ist es wichtig, dass das Gesetz klarstellt, dass die Genehmigungsbehörde keine “Überprüfung” der Verrechnungspreise vornehmen kann, denn das ist „per se“ eine rein kommerzielle Angelegenheit. Dies kann nur die Steuerbehörde für Steuerzwecke tun. Es sollte klar sein, dass ein Transferpreis bestimmt nicht den Marktpreis oder Buchwert zu reflektieren hat. Dies kann kein Grund für die Genehmigungsbehörde sein, um die Übertragung zu blockieren, und die Zustimmung zum Verkauf verweigern.
Darüber hinaus schaffem unklare Steuerverbindlichkeiten immer Bedenken fuer die Anleger. Das sollte deshalb durch verbesserte Gesetze klar und eindeutig geregelt sein. Im Allgemeinen unterliegt jede Zuordnung von Kapital dem regulären Kapitalgewinnsteuersatz (dh 22% Körperschaftssteuer der Gewinn aus einer solchen Zuordnung abgeleitet), während der Verkauf von Vermögenswerten der Mehrwertsteuer unterliegt (MWST) (bei einer Standard-10 % Rate), jedenfalls in den meisten Fällen. Die Einkommensteuer der einzelnen Anbieter kann mit verschiedenen Steuersätzen zwischen 5% und 20% für Investitionen und Kapitalzuweisung abhängig von der Art des zu versteuernden Einkommens und dem Steuerzahler angesetzt werden. Der Gewinn aus dem Aktientransfer in eine Aktiengesellschaft kann auch mit 0,1% des Bruttoverkaufserlös der Steuer unterliegen.
Vietnamesische Steuervorschriften sind nicht klar und eindeutig in Bezug auf die Kapitalertragsteuer (falls vorhanden) für eine Offshore-Akquisition (das heißt Transfer zwischen Offshore-Verkäufer und Käufer der Beteiligung an einer Offshore-Zielgesellschaft, die Kapitaleinlage in einem vietnamesischen Unternehmen hält). Die vietnamesische Oberfinanzdirektion ( “GTD”) war der Ansicht, dass keine Kapitalertragsteuer Vietnams anwendbar ist, wenn die folgenden Voraussetzungen erfüllt sind: (i) der Erwerb liegt völlig ausserhalb Vietnam‘s „Offshore“, (ii) das Kapital des Offshore-Ziels und in der Onshore-Tochter bleibt intakt, (iii) das Offshore-Ziel und die Onshore-Tochtergesellschaft erhalten keine Erträge aus der Übernahme und (iv) das Anlagezertifikat der Onshore-Tochter ändert sich nicht. Zum Beispiel: Runderlass 2268 / TCT-CS der Steuerbehoerde vom 28. Juni 2012. Dies ist allerdings im Zusammenhang mit einer aktuellen Entwicklung im vietnamesischen Steuerrecht (insbesondere das Dekret 12/2015 / ND-CP Wirkung zum 1. Januar 2015) zu sehen Die Steuerbehoerde hat in einigen ihrer Erlasse kürzlich vertreten (zum Beispiel Dienstbrief 1595 / TCT-DNL des GTD vom 24. April 2015) dass Offshore-Akquisitionen auch der Wertzuwachssteuer in Vietnam unterliegen. Daraus resultiert wieder eine unklare Regelung und es ergeben sich weitere Fragen, wie diese Anwendung der vietnamesischen Kapitalertragssteuer in der Praxis umgesetzt wird.
Mögliche Gewinne / Bedenken für Vietnam
Eindeutige Regelungen zur Kapitalertragsteuer sind wichtig für die Planung der Struktur einer Fusion oder Uebernahme. Dieser Mangel an Klarheit darüber, ob Steuern anwendbar sind, wie sie anwendbar sind, und / oder die Steuersätze schafft Unklarheit bei finanziellen Verpflichtungen für Investoren.
In der Praxis sind aufgrund dieser Unklarheiten die Transaktionen in Vietnam sind oft für längere Zeit „eingefroren“. Dies wirkt sehr negativ auf den geplanten Zeitrahmen von Transaktionen aus. Es wird dann oft das Angebot zuurueckgenommen und die Transaktion gestoppt.
Darüber hinaus führen die mehrdeutigen steuer rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen und das alleinige Ermessen der Steuerbehörden in Bezug auf die Hoehe der Steuerschulden der Parteien zu Schwierigkeiten bei der Bestimmung und nicht einschaetzbaren Risiken (zBsp. Steuerrückstände oder der Vorwurf der Steuerhinterziehung). Diese Risiken koennten alle verhindert werden:
Empfehlungen und Vorschlaege zu Loesungen:
1. Die Auslegung der Verrechnungspreise muss harmonisiert werden.
2. Es muss Eindeutigkeit und Klarheit bei Berrechnung von Steuerschulden von Fusionen und Uebernahmen geschaffen werden.
3. Das Ermessen der Behoerde muss definiert werden und es muss ein eindeutiger Ermessensrahmen festgelegt werden
Bitte zögern Sie nicht, Oliver Massmann unter omassmann@duanemorris.com zu kontaktieren, wenn Sie Fragen haben. Oliver Massmann ist der Generaldirektor von Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.
VIELEN DANK!
環太平洋経済協定（TPP） WTOレベルを超えた誓約 – 分析
環太平洋経済協定（TPP）の概要
TPPはもともとアジア太平洋地域の貿易自由化を促進する手段として、シンガポール、ニュージーランド、チリ、ブルネイ（P-4協定）の間で2006年に締結した環太平洋戦略経済協定として知られていました。その名の通り、本来の協定の目的は経済問題に対処するためだけでした。2008年9月に米国が参加するとその他の国々も続いて参加し、2013年7月までにオーストラリア、ペルー、ベトナム、マレーシア、カナダ、メキシコ、そして日本とP-4協定の参加国の数が増加することにより、この協定はTPP貿易大臣により「貿易・投資を自由化し、新たなそして伝統的な貿易問題や21世紀の課題に対処する包括的そして次世代地域協定」として合意されています。2015年6月に米国はオバマ大統領に対し貿易促進権限を承認しました。2015年9月にアトランタで開かれた最終交渉ラウンドがもっとも具体的な交渉だと思われ、厳しい交渉会議を重ねる中で今日協定が最終的にまとまり、TPPは2015年10月6日に締結しています。
TPP交渉の成功裡の妥結は世界のGDPの40％（およそ＄28.1兆）を占め、世界貿易の3分の1（＄11兆）、また約8億人の消費者を占める12カ国のクラブにベトナムを追加することでした。
ベトナムはこの貿易協定の最大の受益者と言われています。ベトナムのGDPはベースラインシナリオよりさらに13.6％の増加するとみられています。世界経済フォーラムによると、ベトナムは他のTPP経済、RECP経済とRCEP-only経済と比較して2025年（すなわち28.2％）にGDPで最も重要な変化を有すると予測されています。TPP加盟国のうち2番目に高い高所得の国のマレーシアをおいて、ベトナムの実質所得は2025年までにまた10.5％増加するとみられています。
TPPはベトナムに国際協力の機会、つまり主要市場とのバランスの関係、米国、日本またカナダを含む巨大市場へのアプローチ、輸出入の後押し、輸入赤字の削減、そして外国からの投資を誘致する機会を最大限活用する為に役立つでしょう。さらに、TPPはまたベトナム経済の再編過程を活発的に支援し、規制改革及び改善、また行政改革を改善できるようにするといった機転の手助けを効果的にするでしょう。
何が次世代貿易協定のためのTPPのテンプレートを作り出しているのか‐WTOレベルを超えて何が約束されているのか？
自由貿易地域
商品に対する取引の誓約
TPPの下で商品、サービスの全ての取引に対する関税及び非関税の障壁は減少し実質的に除去されています。加盟国間での商品の取引に対する輸入税は100％減少し、この協定が施行されれば直ちに90％以上除去される予定です。TPPはまた輸出税、再製造品に対する輸入関税、修理調整品の市場介入、輸出入免許の規制強化、独占商品の輸送といったWTOで対処されていない問題をカバーしています。
TPPによる低関税障壁はベトナムに米国、日本、カナダそしてオーストラリアといった巨大消費市場への参入をよりし易くします。TPPはベトナムの輸出を2025年までに37％以上増加を後押しするような、取引上において潜在的なポジティブ効果が変革するでしょう。特に、ベトナムは8月にEUとのFTAを締結し、4大輸出先のうち３つ（つまりEU、日本そして米国）と自由貿易協定の締結を完了しました。
サービス及び投資に対する取引の誓約
全12カ国の加盟国はこの分野での貿易の自由化について同意しています。電気通信、流通、製造業などWTOと比較するとTPPではより多くの分野が開かれています。
さらに、基本的なWTOの原則（内国民待遇原則（NT）、最恵国待遇原則（MFN）、市場参入、現地拠点）を取り入れたほかに、TPPは加盟国の誓約（すなわち、不適合対策）に示されている以外、加盟国の市場は他のTPP加盟国からのサービス提供者に完全に開放しているといったネガティブアプローチもとっています。条件を明確にするために、加盟国は保全の必要性を証明し、他の加盟国と交渉しなければなりません。もし承認されれば、不適合対策は別のリストに含まれる特定のセンシティブな分野での対策を除くリストのみに制限されます。加盟国は既存の条項よりもより良い規制を導入することが許可されています（ラチェット条項）。TPPには性能除去の義務（すなわち、無条件のローカルコンテンツの要求、輸出条件、特定技術の使用、投資計画の場所など）、また上級管理職と取締役会の合理的な要件が含まれています。特に、TPPの投資章では初めて最恵国待遇原則に関して明確そして透明になり、投資が行われる国に関係なく、マルチ体制をしている国は全ての加盟国の最良投資条件を外国投資家に提供しなければなりません。投資家はまた投資登録段階から政府に対して請願することが可能です。
繊維
繊維製品はベトナムの主要交渉分野の１つです。米国からの提案によると、繊維製品の交渉は他の商品に対する市場参入の交渉とは別に行われます。TPPの特恵関税を適用する為には、繊維商品はTPP加盟国の原糸で生産されなくてはならない原糸基準原則を適用します。しかし、TPPには以下の例外も含まれ(i)TPP以外から供給される特定の材料（供給不足リスト）(ii)TPP以外で行われる特定製造段階（例えば、染め、織りなど）、そして(iii)ある国に特定の繊維製品の輸出と引き換えに別の国で非TPP材料を使用できること。
政府調達
TPPでは特定の商品とサービスの調達を特定の量で公開入札の対象でなければならない政府機関や当局のリストを作成します。この章には内国民待遇原則（NT）及び最恵国待遇原則（MFN）が含まれ、現地商品や現地サプライヤーの使用、技術移転の条件、また双方向の取引及び投資などの現地入札者に有利な入札条件を削除しています。これらの規則は全ての当事者に該当し、中国の入札者が低価格で低品質のサービスで入札に勝利している背景から、特にベトナムは入札手続きを改善し、低パフォーマンスや低容量の入札の資格を剥奪することにより彼ら自身の利益を保護する必要があります。
投資家と国との紛争解決
TPPは投資家と予定地での彼らの投資を非差別の要件を導入することにより保護することを目指しています。つまり、公正衡平待遇、完全な保護及びセキュリティー、補償また適正手続きの無い公共目的のためでない収用の禁止、投資に関係する資金の無料転送、国籍に関係なく上級管理職の任命の自由。
TPPはまた投資家と との間で紛争解決する手段として仲裁手続きを含まれています。これには既存の協定と比較しての次のような新しい条項が入っています。（仲裁手続き、提出書類及び仲裁判断の開示、裁判所に法廷助言者の提出をするための関心のある非紛争当事者の参加）
TPPと古い/既存協定の適用
全てのTPP加盟国はそれぞれが当事者であるために（例えば、WTO協定、北米自由貿易協定（NAFTA）、2カ国間協定）、または少なくても2カ国が当事者として既存の国際協定に下づき既存権利及び義務を承認する必要があります。少なくてもTPP加盟国の2カ国当事者間にTPPの条項とその他の協定の条項との間に一貫性がある場合、当事者間で相互に満足のいく解決策に到達するよう協議を行います。TPPのもとで提供される協定よりもさらに有益な商品、サービス、投資、消費者に対する協定がある場合は矛盾してとらえないようご注意ください。
TPPの遂行期日
この条約が正式に有効になる前に次のステップとして各加盟国で批准されるために、貿易大臣はこの条約の署名式を2016年2月4日にニュージーランドで開催します。TPPは施行されません。TPPは少なくても国のGDPの85％を占める6カ国が批准しない限り施行されません。ベトナム産業貿易省のブー・フイ・ホアン大臣によると、TPPは2018年に有効になる見込みです。
***
上記の内容に関しまして、さらなる詳細やご質問がもしございましたら遠慮なくomassmann@duanemorris.comまでご連絡ください。オリバー マスマンはドウェイン・モリス・ベトナム法律事務所のディレクターです。
（ご注意）こちらの記事は皆様に情報をお届けする目的でのみ作成・掲載しておりますので、法的なアドバイスとして提供・構成することを目的としておりません。詳細につきましては、当法律事務所の注意書きをご一読下さい。
The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement – Commitments above WTO Level – An Analysis
Overview on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP)
The TPP was originally known as the Trans- Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership concluded in 2006 among Singapore, New Zealand, Chile and Brunei (P-4 agreement) as a means to promote trade liberalization in the Asia- Pacific Region. As its name indicates, the original purpose of the agreement was only to address economic issues. As the number of participating countries in the P-4 agreement increased, starting with the United States in September 2008 and other countries to follow being Australia, Peru, Vietnam, Malaysia, Canada, Mexico and Japan until July 2013, the agreement is agreed to be “a comprehensive, next-generation regional agreement that liberalizes trade and investment and addresses new and traditional trade issues and 21st-century challenges” by TPP Trade ministers. In June 2015, the United States approved the trade promotion authority for President Obama. The Agreement finally becomes as it is today through tough negotiation rounds, while the last round in Atlanta in September 2015 was considered the most intensive one. The TPP was already concluded on 06 October 2015.
The successful conclusion of the TPP negotiations adds Vietnam to a club of 12 nations accounting for 40% of world’s GDP (about $US28.1 trillion, $39.1 trillion), one-third of global trade ($US11 trillion) and about 800 million consumers.
Vietnam would be the largest beneficiary of this trade pact. Vietnam’s GDP would add an additional increase of 13.6% to the baseline scenario. According to the World Economic Forum, Vietnam is predicted to have the most significant change in GDP in 2025 (i.e., 28.2%) compared with other TPP economies, RECP economies and RCEP-only economies. Vietnam’s real income by 2025 is also forecast to increase by 10.5%, leaving Malaysia’s as the second highest income rising country out of the TPP members far behind.
TTP will help Vietnam make good use of international cooperation opportunities, balance relationships with key markets, approach larger markets including the U.S, Japan, Canada, boost import-export, reduce import deficit, and attract foreign investment. In addition, TTP will also help Vietnam’s economy allocate its resources more effectively, enabling active supports to the processes of restructuring, innovation and improving regulations, and improve administrative reforms.
What makes the TPP the template for next generation trade agreements – What commitments are beyond the WTO Level ?
Freer trade zone
Commitments in Trade in goods
Tariff and non-tariff barriers are reduced and removed substantially across all trade in services and goods under the TPP. Import tariffs are reduced for 100% goods traded among member states, with more than 90% being eliminated immediately when the Agreement takes effect. The TPP also covers issues which have never been addressed in the WTO, including export duties, import duties for re-manufactured goods, market access for re-furbished goods, stricter regulations on import and export licensing, monopolies and goods in transit.
Lower tariff barriers from the TPP will give Vietnam greater access to large consumer markets in the US, Japan, Canada and Australia. The potential positive effect on trade could be transformative, with estimates that the TPP will boost Vietnam’s exports by over 37% until 2025. Notably, Vietnam in August also concluded FTA with the EU, putting it on course to complete free trade agreements with three of its four largest export destinations – the EU, Japan and the US.
Commitments in Trade in services and Investment
All 12 member states give consent to a liberalized trade in this area. More sectors are opened in the TPP compared with the WTO, such as telecommunications, distribution and manufacturing sectors.
In addition, besides incorporating basic WTO principles (national treatment (NT), most-favored nation treatment (MFN), market access, and local presence), the TPP takes a negative approach, meaning that their markets are fully open to service suppliers from other TPP Parties, except otherwise indicated in their commitments (i.e, non-conforming measures). In order to make such reservations, the member state must prove the necessity of such preservation and negotiate with other member states. If approved, the non-conforming measures are only limited to such list, except for measures in certain sensitive sectors which are included in a separate list. Member states are only allowed to adopt policies that are better than what they commit (ratchet principle). The TPP also includes obligations on removal of performance requirements (i.e., no conditions on local content requirements, export conditions, use of certain technology, location of the investment project, etc.) and reasonable requirements on senior management and board of directors. Notably, the TPP Chapter on Investment for the first time makes it very clear and transparent with regards to the MFN principle, that countries operating in multi-state regime must give foreign investors the best investment conditions of all states, regardless of the state where the investment takes place. Investors are also allowed to petition against the Government from the investment registration stage.
Textiles
Textiles are among Vietnam’s core negotiating sectors. According to suggestions by the United States, negotiations on textiles were conducted separately from negotiations on market access for other goods. To be qualified for TPP preferential tariff treatment, the TPP applies the yarn-forward principle, meaning textile products must be produced in TPP countries from yarn forward. However, the TPP includes exceptions that allow (i) certain materials to be sourced from outside TPP (“Short supply list”), (ii) certain manufacturing phases (for example, dying, weaving, etc.) to be conducted outside TPP; and (iii) one country to be able to use non-TPP materials in exchange for its export of certain textile goods to another country.
Government procurement
The TPP makes a list of government entities and agencies whose procurement of a particular̉ goods and services at a particular amount must be subject to public tender. This chapter includes NT and MFN principles, removes tender conditions favoring local tenders such as using local goods or local suppliers, conditions on technology transfer or two-way trade and investment, etc. These rules require all parties, especially Vietnam, in the context of China’s bidders predominantly win the bids with cheap offer price but low-quality services, to reform their bidding procedures and protect their own interests by disqualifying tenders with poor performance and low capacity.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement
The TPP aims at protecting investors and their investment in the host country by introducing requirements on non-discrimination; fair and equitable treatment; full protection and security; the prohibition of expropriation that is not for public purpose, without due process, or without compensation; the free transfer of funds related to investments; and the freedom to appoint senior management positions regardless of nationality.
TPP also includes procedures for arbitration as means of settling disputes between investors and the host state. It covers new provisions compared with existing agreements such as transparency in arbitral proceedings, disclosure of filings and arbitral awards, and participation of interested non-disputing parties to make amicus curiae submissions to a tribunal.
Application of the TPP and older/ existing agreements
Member states of the TPP acknowledge existing rights and obligations of each member under existing international agreements to which all TPP member states are parties (for example, the WTO Agreement, NAFTA, or bilateral agreements) or at least two member states are parties. In case there is any consistency between a provision of the TPP and a provision of another agreement to which at least two TPP member states are parties, these parties will consult with each other to reach a mutually satisfactory solution. Please note that the case where an agreement provides more favourable treatment of goods, services, investments or persons than that provided for under the TPP is not considered as an inconsistency.
Implementation deadline of the TPP
Trade ministers will meet in New Zealand on 04 February 2016 to sign this Agreement for it to be ratified in each member states as the next step before the Agreement officially takes effect. The TPP will not take effect unless at least six countries accounting for 85% of the GDP of the bloc ratify it. According to Minister of Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade Mr. Vu Huy Hoang, the TPP would promisingly take effect in 2018.
***
Please do not hesitate to contact Oliver Massmann under omassmann@duanemorris.com if you have any questions or want to know more details on the above. Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.
Vietnam Economic Times interviewing lawyer in Vietnam Oliver Massmann on impact of new laws for foreigners in Vietnam
1. In your opinion, which are the important regulations taking effect in the year of 2016 that foreigners may care about and the reasons for those?
Answer:
Note: The below answer will only address regulations that have direct impact on foreigners in Vietnam. Other regulations which do not regulate foreigners specifically in their governing scope will then be excluded.
Foreigners should be aware of the following legal documents will be in effect from January 2016 as these new laws will significantly impact their rights and obligations:
– Law on Social Insurance:
o Foreign employees with work permit or practicing certificate or practicing license issued by Vietnam’s competent authorities are now subject to compulsory social insurance.
o Accordingly, foreign employees are entitled to insurance on their sickness, maternity, labor accidents, occupational diseases, retirement and death. These entitlements are the same as what local employees currently enjoy.
o From 01 January 2016, male employees (including foreign ones) are entitled to paternity leave if the wife is on maternity.
In particular, male employees are entitled to 5 working day leave if his wife is on normal maternity. In case of operation or giving birth to an under 32-week baby, a 7-working-day leave will apply. In case of giving birth to a twin, paternity leave is 10 working days, with additional 3 working day leave for each further baby. In case the wife gives birth to a twin or more babies by operation, 14-day paternity leave applies. Please note that this paternity leave only applies within 30 days from the birth date of the baby.
o Male employees when adopting a child under 6 month old are also entitled to the same paternity treatment as in the case of female employees adopting such child.
– Decree No. 122/2015/ND-CP: in relation with the social insurance participation, foreigners should also note the following minimum regional salary, which serves as the basis to calculate payment amount of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance; o Region I: 3.500.000 VND/month (increasing by 400.000 VND/month) o Region II: 3.100.000 VND/month (increasing by 350.000 VND/month) o Region III: 2.700.000 VND/month (increasing by 300.000 VND/month) o Region IV: 2.400.000 VND/month (increasing by 250.000 VND/month)
– Law on Civil Status:
o Foreigners permanently reside in Vietnam must register their civil status with the People’s Committee at ward level instead of the provincial level as previously.
o Children of foreigners born in Vietnam are allowed to register their birth with the People’s Committee at ward level where the mother or father lives.
o Foreigners residing in Vietnam wishing to register their marriage in Vietnam can do so at the People’s Committee at ward level where the wife/ husband lives. Interview is no longer required so that the total time to register a marriage is reduced by half to 15 days (compared with 25 days previously) o Foreigners wishing to apply for a Confirmation on marital status can do so at the People’s Committee at ward level where they register their permanent or temporary residence. The Confirmation on marital status is issued within 3 working days from the receipt of a valid dossier and will be valid for 6 months from the issuance date.
2. Starting January 1st, special consumption tax on cigarette, beer, wine will be raised. How will this affect the economy of Vietnam in the long-term? Also, with this, how do we expect the change in Vietnamese’s consumption habit of these commodities?
Answer: For alcohols of 20oC and above, from 01 January 2016 to 31 December 2016, the tax rate is 55%. This rate will be 60% for the whole 2017 year and 65% from 01 January 2018 onwards. The schedule for increase in special consumption tax rate for beer is the same. Meanwhile, this rate for cigarettes is higher (70% from 01 January 2016 to end of 2018 and 75% from 01 January 2019 onwards).
In my opinion, the increase of such tax rate will on its face increase the State budget. It will somehow reduce the number of people smoking and drinking alcohol, thereby protect public health and prevent negative social issues related to social orders, traffic safety and crimes related to smoking and drinking alcohol.
However, given the fact that the increase is not very high (compared with the increase in minimum regional salary), the retail price of these goods will not be much affected, leading to stagnant change in purchasing power of the products. Adults may still continue to consume these goods. Moreover, the tax increase may create more chances for smuggling which is already very complicated and hard to control in Vietnam.
Thus, together with policies of increasing special consumption tax, the Government should adopt regulations on strict control of smuggling, educate young people’s awareness on serious effects resulting from consumption of alcohols and cigarettes.
3. Starting July 1st, individuals, organizations are not permitted to send commercial information to e-addresses (including email, mobile number, personal sites and other similar means) in the cases the recipient does not accept that. How is your view on this regulation?
Answer: The spread of spam emails and text messages with advertising nature has created strong disturbance for internet and network users. While previous regulations such as the Decree and Circular on preventing spam emails and messages or Circular on managing prepaid subscribers seem to have limited impact, this new regulation is another effort of the Government to fight against the more serious and much more complicated forms of advertisment. I really doubt about whether this new regulation could bring significant positive improvement to the current situation, but highly hope that with cooperation from network operators, strong sanctioning measures from the state authorities, the situation will improve gradually.
Please do not hesitate to contact Oliver Massmann under omassmann@duanemorris.com if you have any questions or want to know more details on the above. Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.
Rechtsanwalt in Vietnam Oliver Massmann STROM UND ENERGIE
In einigen Regionen Vietnams können derzeit ausreichende Netzqualitäten nicht gewährleistet werden und es besteht insoweit ein entsprechender Finanzierungsbedarf, um die veralteten Übertragungsleitungen auf einen technisch aktuellen Stand zu bringen. Die Entwicklung des vietnamesischen Geschäfts- und Investitionsklimas hängt in hohem Maße von einer zuverlässigen Stromversorgung ab.
Es bestehen erhebliche Bedenken, dass der Power Master Plan VII, welcher vom stellvertretenden Minister Vuong bestätigt wurde, Verzögerungen bei der Erschließung neuer Energiequellen beinhaltet, welche zu einem Energieengpass in 2017/2018 führen und Energielieferungen aus dem Norden Vietnams erforderlich machen. Weitere Bedenken werden hinsichtlich des langen Zeitraums zur Mittelbeschaffung für die Finanzierung der Übertragungsleitungen geäußert. Darüber hinaus werden die Bestrebungen der privaten Investoren in neue Energiequellen zu investieren auf lange und komplexe Verhandlungen hinausgeschoben. Auch stellt der staatliche Regulierungsrahmen weiterhin ein Markteintrittshemmnis dar und genehmigte Projekte scheitern aufgrund der fehlendenden Finanzierungsanreize.
Die Arbeitsgruppe Strom und Energie vertritt die folgenden Positionen:
1. Schaffung eines wettbewerbsorientierten Stromgroßhandelsmarktes für Vietnam – Beschluss Nr. 8266/QD-BTC vom 10. August 2015
Die Arbeitsgruppe Strom und Energie hat folgende Kommentare und Vorschläge.
Nach Maßgabe des Beschlusses Nr. 8266/QD-BTC ist eine vollständige Umsetzung bis zum Jahre 2019 vorgesehen. Um eine verlässliche Stromversorgung gewährleisten zu können, schlägt die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE vor, dass dringend Anreize geschaffen werden müssen, um den vietnamesischen Energiemarkt für private Investoren attraktiv zu gestalten. Die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE ersucht das MOIT daher, die Umsetzung dieser entscheidenden Marktreform zu beschleunigen. Während Vietnam Electricity (EVN) weiterhin das Ankaufsmonopol auf dem Strommarkt besitzt, gibt die finanzielle Situation des Unternehmens den privaten Investoren, die gesetzlich dazu verpflichtet sind ihren produzierten Strom an EVN zu verkaufen, weiterhin Anlass zur Sorge.
In Ergänzung zu den stetigen Bemühungen durch weitere Strompreisanpassungen eine Deckung der Versorgungskosten zu erreichen, schlägt die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE dem MOIT vor, den Einsatz neuer Methoden zur Bonitätsverbesserung von EVN in Betracht zu ziehen. Ausländische Geldgeber, die ein Interesse daran haben die Entwicklung der nachhaltigen Energieerzeugung in Vietnam zu fördern, könnten in Fällen, in denen der Stromanbieter aus einem erneuerbarem Energieprojekt stammt, dazu bereit sein, die Bonität von EVN durch spezielle Risikobürgschaften zu verbessern. Ein Mechanismus, der eine Unterstützung seitens der ausländischen Geldgeber in diese Richtung fördern würde, erscheint sehr wünschenswert und würde die Belastung des Finanzministeriums sämtlichen Stromanbietern Bürgschaften zur Verfügung zu stellen beenden. Insbesondere benötigen Projektträger aus den Bereichen der erneuerbaren Energien und Kleinkraftwerke in Vietnam eine entsprechende Unterstützung, da die steigenden Kosten für Handelskredite, Bürgschaften sowie Verzögerungen ein erhebliches Investitionshindernis darstellen.
Die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE hat bereits zuvor darauf hingewiesen, dass viele Energiequellen, insbesondere die Windkraft, nicht dem Mechanismus eines wettbewerbsorientierten Großhandelsmarktes unterliegen. Die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE hat auch auf den Bezug zu anderen detaillierten Vorschriften hingewiesen, die Bestimmungen enthalten, wie Windenergie in Vietnam gefördert wird. Die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE weist darauf hin, dass auch die Windkraft in den Markt integriert werden könnte und beruft sich diesbezüglich auf die erfolgreiche Entwicklung der Windenergie in anderen Entwicklungsländern (z.B. Mexiko) durch den Abschluss von “direkten” Stromabnahmeverträgen (SAV). Die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE würde es sehr begrüßen, wenn das MOIT kurzfristig seine Haltung mitteilen würde, ob die Einführung von SAVs in Vietnam möglich erscheint und wie diese in die Struktur des wettbewerbsorientierten Großhandelsmarktes integriert werden könnten. Die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE würde die Möglichkeit sehr begrüßen, wenn sie ihren Dialog mit dem MOIT zu diesem Thema fortsetzen und dabei die große internationale Erfahrung seiner Mitglieder miteinbringen könnte.
Wesentliches Element eines funktionierenden offenen Strommarkts ist, dass die Hauptakteure ihr Geschäfts unabhängig voneinander betreiben und ihre Beziehungen im Rahmen von Handels-verträgen transparent geregelt sind.
2. Konzept zur Strompreisentwicklung
Obwohl die seit 2012 gefassten Beschlüsse des Ministerpräsidenten in Bezug auf Strompreise den Markt positiv beeinflusst haben, gehören die Kosten für Strom weiterhin zu den niedrigsten in der Region und EVN erwirtschaftet weiterhin Verluste. Dies schränkt Direktinvestitionen in neue Energiequellen und in die Netzinfrastruktur ein und vermittelt Kunden und Unternehmen keinen Anreiz dazu sich selbst energieeffizienter zu verhalten. Um eine nachhaltige Entwicklung des vietnamesischen Energiesektors zu erreichen, schlägt die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE vor, dass das MOIT die Energiepreise weiter anpasst. Da Bürger mit niedrigem Einkommen unter Preiserhöhungen am meisten zu leiden haben, schlägt die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE vor, dass der Staat diese Personengruppe subventioniert (30 kWh / Monat kostenlos) und sicherstellt, dass die ländliche Bevölkerung nicht durch eine Stromlastverteilung an bevorzugte Branchen in Mitleidenschaft gezogen wird. Die Wirtschaft würde insgesamt davon profitieren, wenn das MOIT ein Strompreisentwicklungs-konzept für Endverbraucher kommunizieren würde, in welchem es die Entwicklung hin zu Wettbewerbspreisen unter staatlicher Führung darlegt. Dies würde den Zugang zu den erforderlichen Privatinvestitionen aus dem In- und Ausland öffnen und Endverbraucher dazu anhalten, sich energieeffizienter zu verhalten. Die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE befürwortet die Verwendung der Gebermittel zur Ablösung staatlicher Bürgschaften, da die Grenze staatlicher Sicherungszusagen bereits im Folgejahr erreicht sein wird.
3. Erneuerbare Energie
Wie von Minister Hoang am 9. Juni 2015 dargelegt, stellen fossile Brennstoffe eine endliche Ressource dar, die sogar unwirtschaftlich werden könnte, was Vietnam zu Energieimporten zwingen würde und damit seine Versorgungssicherheit bedroht. Der Umweltschutz, die soziale Sicherheit und die Volksgesundheit stellen weitere Gründe dar, um die Entwicklung im Bereich der erneuerbare Energien (EE) in Vietnam zu intensivieren. Die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE beglückwünscht die Verwaltung hinsichtlich der Beschlüsse des Ministerpräsidenten in Bezug auf Sonne und Biomasse. Unsere ausführlichen Kommentierungen zum Entscheidungs-/Beschlussentwurf über den Mechanismus zur Unterstützung der Entwicklung von Sonnenenergie-Projekten in Vietnam ist der Anlage zu diesem Positionspapier zu entnehmen. Mit Schaffung der richtigen Anreize für die EE-Erzeugung, z.B. im Bereich der Sonnen- und Windenergie, könnte das 5%-EE Ziel für das Jahr 2020 bei weitem übertroffen werden. Die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE ist der Ansicht, dass die EE aufgrund ihrer schnellen Erweiterungsfähigkeit am besten dafür geeignet ist, den aktuellen Energiebedarf Vietnams zu unterstützen. Um die EE zu stärken, unterstützt die Arbeitsgruppe Strom und Energie die Schaffung eines attraktiven Investitionsklimas für die zuvor genannten Sektoren. Insbesondere stimmt die Arbeitsgruppe den Empfehlungen der MOIT Berater (UNDP und GIZ) zu, die eine Erhöhung der Einspeisevergütungssätze (EVS) für Sonnen- und Windenergie sowie eine Vereinfachung des Antragsverfahrens fordern.
Unsere Hauptanmerkung in Bezug auf den Solarbereich ist der niedrige Strompreis in Höhe von USD 0,11 / kWh für netzgekoppelte Solarstrom-Projekte. Die derzeit existenten RE-Tarife scheinen auf dem derzeit niedrigen Niveau zu dem Zweck festgelegt worden zu sein, um Unterstützungen von Geldgebern in Form von Darlehen zu Vorzugsbedingungen und Zuschussmöglichkeit zu erhalten und nicht um private Investitionen anzuziehen.
4. Unmittelbare Stromabnahmeverträgen
Die Arbeitsgruppe Strom und Energie hat mit den MOIT Beratern Informationen ausgetauscht, die an direkten SAV zwischen Stromendverbrauchern und unabhängigen vietnamesisch Stromerzeuger arbeiten geteilt. Aus Sicht vietnamesischer privater Entwickler und Unternehmen, Technologianbieter sowie finanzierender Banken, besteht ein hohes Interesse an einer Umsetzung dieses Modells. Direkte SAV haben auch in Mexiko, Indien und Brasilien gut funktioniert, insbesondere in Bereichen, die ohne staatliche Bürgschaften auskommen.
5. National Power Master Plan VII
Wie vom MOIT am 15. Mai 2014 erwähnt, sieht die Arbeitsgruppe Strom und Energie dem Erhalt des aktualisierten National Power Master Plan VII zur Kommentierung erwartungsvoll entgegen.
6. EVN Rettungsplan
Der durch die EVN überarbeitet EVN-Rettungsplan soll im September 2015 veröffentlicht werden; Die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE sieht der Übermittlung einer Kopie erwartungsvoll entgegen. Die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE entnimmt der Haltung der Weltbank, dass die EVN den 10-Jahres-Reformplan umsetzen sollte, um bestimmte finanzielle Kennzahlen und Standards zu erreichen. Wie bereits zuvor erwähnt, muss ein solcher Reformplan von der Behörde mit der letztgültigen Entscheidungsgewalt ergehen.
7. Nutzung natürlicher Ressourcen
Die Arbeitsgruppe Strom und Energie betont, dass die vorgeschlagene Strategie zur erfolgreichen Nutzung der natürlichen Ressourcen Vietnams zwecks einer stabilen Energieversorgung in Einklang mit der zu erwartenden Umsetzung von Freihandelsabkommen (FHA) steht und zugleich eine Stärkung für den Privatsektor sowie für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen (KMU) bedeutet. Die Steigerung des vietnamesischen BIP sowie der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung insgesamt, welche als Folge der FHA zu erwarten ist, basiert insbesondere auf einer verlässlichen Energieversorgung.
8. Kohlepolitik
Schließlich sei angeführt, dass die Arbeitsgruppe Strom und Energie über den langsamen Fortschritt der geplanten Stärkung der Kohlepolitik besorgt ist, der durch eine erhebliche Reduzierung zu Lasten Vietnam´s natürlichen Ressourcen von Erdgas, Sonne und Wind.
Wie bereits erwähnt, sind Verhandlungen in Bezug auf Betreibermodelle (BOT) zeitlich intensiv und komplex. Die Ausweitung der Kohlenutzung durch den Import von 38 Mio. Tonnen Kohle erfordert einen massiven Ausbau der Infrastruktur bis 2020. Für die AUSLÄNDISCHE INVESTORENGRUPPE ist nicht klar erkennbar, wer die Kosten für den benötigten Infrastrukturausbau tragen soll.
Bitte wenden Sie sich an den Autor Oliver Massmann unter omassmann@duanemorris.com wenn Sie Fragen haben. Oliver Massmann ist der General Director von Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.VIELEN DANK !
Vietnam – Energy Sector – Direct Awards of Public Procurement Projects and The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – What You Must Know
Q: Under what conditions can power projects be awarded without Government tender?
A: Power projects can be awarded directly without Government tender if the projects are not:
a. Investment projects for development using state funding by state agencies;
b. Investment projects for development of state-owned enterprises;
c. Investment projects for development other than those in a) and b) which are financed by the state; has 30% or more of total investment capital contributed by state-owned enterprises ; or less than 30% but more than VND 500 billion of the total investment capital of the project;
d. Procurement projects using state funding to provide public goods and/ or services; or
e. Investment projects in the form of public-private partnership or investment projects using land.
Q: Under which circumstances is direct appointment of an investor applied?
A: Direct appointment of an investor applies in the following cases:
a. There is only one investor registering the project’s implementation;
b. There is only one investor being able to implement the project as the project is related to intellectual property, commercial secret, technologies or capital arrangement;
c. The investor who proposes the project satisfies requirement of implementing the project with the highest feasibility and efficiency in accordance with regulations of the Government.
However, please note that direct appointment of an investor is still a part of a Government tender, meaning that this applies only when the abovementioned cases occur in the Government tender process.
Q: Under which circumstances is direct appointment of a contractor applied?
Direct appointment of a contractor applies in the following cases:
a. An event of force majeure such as disasters, war, change of the state policies, …which are objective, unpredictable and cannot be solved despite using all necessary measures within one’s own capacity. Vietnam is likely to face energy crisis in the coming years due to significant growth in energy demand. Thus, this is a good chance and foreign energy investors and companies should be prepared.
b. Bid packages need to be performed to ensure national secrets. National secrets are information in politics, national defence, security, foreign affairs, economics, science, technology sectors and other sectors that has not been disclosed or will not be disclosed by the state, and if disclosed, it will cause damage to the country.
c. Urgent bid packages need to be carried out to protect national sovereignty, national borders, and islands;
d. Bid packages of providing advisory services, non-advisory services, procurement of goods which must be purchased from previous contractors to ensure the compatibility of technologies and copyright which are unable to be purchased from other contractors; bid packages with research and testing nature; purchase of intellectual property right;
e. Bid packages of providing advisory services for making feasible study reports, construction designs which have been appointed to authors of designs of architectural works who won in a selection or are selected when authors have full capability in accordance with regulations; bid packages of constructing statues, reliefs, monumental paintings, art works in association with author right from the creation stage to construction stage of the works;
f. Bid packages of relocating technical infrastructure works directly managed by a specialized unit for site clearance;
g. Bid packages of providing public goods and services, bid packages with bid package price ranging from VND 500 million to VND 1 billion depending on types of projects.
Q: How is government procurement addressed under the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (“TPP”) ?
A: The TPP on Government Procurement mainly deals with the requirement to open up bidding to companies in other nations when a government buys products or orders a public works project worth over a certain amount. Governments undertake to timely publish information on tender, allow sufficient time for bidders to prepare for and submit bids, maintain confidentiality of tenders. The TPP also requires its Parties assess bids based on fair and objective principles, evaluate and award bids only based on criteria set out in notices and tender documentation, create an effective regime for complaints and settling disputes, etc. These rules require all Parties, especially Vietnam, in the context of China’s bidders predominantly win the bids with cheap offer price but low-quality services, to reform their bidding procedures and protect their own interests by disqualifying tenders with poor performance and low capacity.
Q: How to appeal Government tender decision?
A: The TPP aims at protecting investors and their investment in the host country by introducing requirements on non-discrimination; fair and equitable treatment; full protection and security; the prohibition of expropriation that is not for public purpose, without due process, or without compensation; the free transfer of funds related to investments; and the freedom to appoint senior management positions regardless of nationality.
TPP also includes procedures for arbitration as means of settling disputes between investors and the host state. It is expected to cover new provisions such as transparency in arbitral proceedings, disclosure of filings and arbitral awards, and participation of interested non-disputing parties to make amicus curiae submissions to a tribunal.
***
If you would like to have a legal concept for direct awards or detailed guidance on this topic please contact Oliver Massmann under: omassmann@duanemorris.com. Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.