Tag: massmann

Posted on by Dr. Oliver Massmann

Lawyer in Vietnam Oliver Massmann the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement will drive Foreign Direct Investment into Vietnam

1. How does TPP drive FDI inflow into Vietnam ?

Commitments by TPP members on trade in goods and services will have a positive impact on improving the investment environment and attracting more foreign investment in Vietnam. Participating in the TPP will offer Vietnam the chance to continue creating institutions — like market economy, support for reform of Vietnam’s economic growth model and economic restructure. Vietnam, as being part of the TPP game, must also follow its strict principles, including transparency and regulatory coherence, to improve the business environment in a way to make it transparent and more predictable. Vietnam’s commitments on other fields such as intellectual property, environment, labor, government procurement, etc., will also create an attractive environment in Vietnam.

2. Besides textile and garment sectors, in your opinion, what are the sectors that Vietnam could boost FDI inflow thanks to the TPP?

Footwear and seafood are sectors that also receive many benefits. These products have been largely exported to the U.S, Japan and Canada. With reduction and elimination of import tariffs in these countries as a result of the TPP, exports value will gain breakthroughs and contribute to an increase in the national export value.

3. What will TPP mean for Vietnam’s FDI inflow in the long term?

There would be a diversion of FDI from China to Vietnam as companies move factories to the low-wage country and low labor costs. FDI from other countries to Vietnam would increase to take advantage of TPP preferential treatment. In the long term, a new trend of FDI would be formed in Vietnam as a result of the TPP. How the trend would be needs detailed analysis on the content of the agreement and how it works in practice.

4. What has been driving the growth of FDI inflow into Vietnam? Will they last?

Transparency, predictability and stability of the investment environment, the strengthening of protection for intellectual property rights, improved quality of the workforce, clearer and better investment legal framework are among factors that boost FDI growth in the upcoming time.

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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.

Posted on by Dr. Oliver Massmann

ベトナムで太陽光発電を開発する為の政府の奨励措置 オリバー　マスマン（著） ドウェイン・モリス法律事務所

ベトナムは世界の日射マップ上で年間に最も日光があたる地域に位置する国々の中の一国です。特に電力需要や従来の電力生産源への危険性が増加している今、太陽光発電を開発することはベトナムに利益をもたらすでしょう。
再生可能エネルギープロジェクトへの投資を促進する為に、商工省（MOIT）は太陽光発電に対する奨励措置として特に投資資本、税金や土地使用権利に関する首相の第一決定書の草案を提案しています。これらの奨励措置は光電子方法を使用する太陽光発電プロジェクトが適用されます。以下の分析は最新版決定書草案を基にしており、正式決定書が承認された場合更なる変更点があるかもしれません。
投資奨励措置
【投資資本】投資家は太陽光発電プロジェクトへの投資をする為に、国内外の組織または個人から資本を集めることが可能です。このプロジェクトは投資信用と輸出信用奨励措置を受ける資格があります。具体的には、投資家は最大12年間プロジェクトの総投資資本の70％まで融資を申請することが可能です。さらに、投資家はまた最大12年間、輸出入契約価値の85％までを融資という形で輸出信用奨励措置を受けることが可能です。
【輸入税】太陽光発電プロジェクトはプロジェクトの固定資産を生み出す為に商品を輸入する際の輸入税が免除されます。例えば、ベトナムでは入手ができないプロジェクト運営のために必要な部品、材料、半製品などが該当します。
【法人税】現在の税制規則によると、太陽光発電プロジェクトもまた投資奨励措置を受ける分野のプロジェクトと同様に法人税免税または減税の優遇措置を受けることが可能です。例えば、10％の法人税率は15年間適用され、4年以内は免税となり、その後9年間は50％減税などがあります。
【土地】送電線網と繋がる太陽光発電、電線また変電所は特別投資優遇措置の資格があるプロジェクトと同様に土地使用や土地賃貸の免税または減税措置を受けることが可能です。とりわけこの優遇措置にはプロジェクトの開始日から3年以内は土地賃貸の免税が含まれています。
誰が買い手となるのか？
決定書草案によると、ベトナム電力（EVN）または委任された団体が電力購入者となります。電力売買は商工省により規定されたテンプレート版の契約に従い交渉また電力売買契約に署名することによって行われます。契約期間はプロジェクトの運営開始日から20年間となっています。当事務所では商工省のテンプレート版の契約の発行に関してお手伝いをしています。
関税率の供給
EVNは太陽光発電プロジェクトで生産された全ての発電量を電力購買価格がベトナムドンで1,800 VND/kwh から3,500 VND/kWhの間の価格になった時点で購入する責任があります。（これはアメリカセントで12 cents/kWh と16.7cents/kWhに相当します。）
建物の屋根に装置し送電網と繋ぐ太陽光発電プロジェクトに関して、電力生産量が消費量より多い場合は、その差異は3,150 VND/kWhの価格になった時点で購入されます。（VATは含まれず、15cents/kWhに相当します。）この価格はベトナムドンとアメリカドルの変動相場を基に調整されます。電力生産量が消費量よりも少ない場合、送電網から送られる電力は電力購入者が請求される通常の商業価格で購入しなければなりません。
上記の関税供給率はまだアジアのその他近隣諸国と比べると低い状態です。タイでは新関税供給率はタイバーツで90MW以下の太陽光発電の場合5.66THB/kWh（およそアメリカセントで15.7cents/kWh）となります。屋上太陽光では、関税供給率はそのプロジェクトの規模次第で変動します。250から1,000KWの屋上太陽光発電では、関税供給率は6.01 THB/kWh（およそ17 cents/kWh）となります。10から250KWまたは10KW以下の屋上太陽光発電の関税供給率はそれぞれ6.40 THB /kWh（およそ18 cents/kWh）または6.96 THB /kWh（およそ19 cents/kWh）となります。現在の決定書草案によると、ベトナムは屋上太陽光発電プロジェクトの規模の相違に関しては特に何も明記がなく、電力消費と生産量の相違を基に関税供給率を定めています。しかし一方で、フィリピンの屋上太陽光発電に関する関税供給率はベトナムの関税供給率よりも高くなっています。つまり、フィリピンペソで9.68P/kWh（およそ21 cents/kWh）。ベトナムの関税供給率はまだドラフト段階であり、最終版では無い為予測では次の草案では近隣諸国の比率に合わせて修正がされ高くなると思われます。これは投資を誘致する為に極めて重要となっています。
終わりに
決定書草案が承認されれば、ベトナムで太陽光発電を規制する史上初の法的文書となります。ベトナム政府はこの分野への外国人投資家を誘致する為、そして一日あたり5kWh平方メートルという平均日射のベトナムの豊富な太陽エネルギーを最大限に活用する為に努力しています。外国人投資家、アメリカの投資家は特にベトナムのクリーンエネルギーへの投資に注目しています。ベトナム政府はこのプロジェクトの支援を集める必要性に気づき、奨励措置を提供しています。このプロジェクトが短い期間では投資家の期待に応えられないかもしれませんが、この動きは肯定的に取られています。ベトナム、米国及びTPPその他加盟国に影響を与えるTPP開発条約は一般的にエネルギー分野、特にクリーンエネルギーの開発への道しるべとなるでしょう。従って、これらの要因は米国の投資家や同様にTPPの他のメンバーに成長市場そして豊富な投資奨励措置を提供しています。

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。取り扱い分野は国際企業税務、発電/水処理プロジェクト、石油・ガス及び電気通信企業、民営化と株式化、M&Aそして多国籍企業のクライアントのベトナムに対する投資とベトナム事業経営に関する一般企業法務を担当しています。ご連絡はomassmann@duanemorris.comにお願い致します。
〈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。

Posted on by Dr. Oliver Massmann

Lawyer in Vietnam Oliver Massmann BREAKING NEWS The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement VIETNAM WILL REAP HUGE BENEFITS

Trade ministers reached an agreement on the TPP on Monday (05 October 2015) after five days of intensive talks, following their failure to reach consensus in Hawaii in late July.
The TPP is one of the largest trade agreements ever to be negotiated, involving some of the largest nations in the world with an annual gross domestic product of nearly $28 trillion that represents roughly 40 percent of global GDP and one-third of world trade. Countries participating in the negotiations include those throughout the Asia- Pacific region, namely Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. The TPP is touted to be the 21st century trade agreement, set a template for regional and global trade and investment and incorporate next-generation issues.
The TPP addresses a number of rising trade issues which have been stumbling blocks to global trade recently, such as e-commerce, financial services and cross-border electronic communications. Other cross-cutting issues are also covered, such as role of state-owned enterprises in the economy, government procurement, and other topics.
Vietnam would be the largest beneficiary of this trade pact as a result of its strong trade ties with the United States, and its highly competitive positions in industries such as manufacturing where China is gradually losing its competitive advantage. Vietnam is also considered as one of the countries among Japan, Malaysia, Brunei, New Zealand that the United States would like to establish formal trade agreements. Statistics shows that by participating in the TPP, Vietnam’s GDP would add an additional increase of 13.6% to the baseline scenario.

Some major points in the TPP are as follows:
Free trade zone: tariff and quotas have been long used as trade measures to protect domestic industries from cheap overseas goods and efficient sources of collecting revenue for the states, especially for developing ones. However, tariff and quotas have been used less compared with other non-tariff measures in the past years. With the TPP, tariff and non-tariff barriers are even reduced and removed more substantially across all trade in services and goods. TPP Parties, especially Vietnam, would gain many benefits from the upcoming business opportunities and open market access resulting from the trade pact.
Trade in goods
With tariff and non-tariff reduction and elimination on industrial goods, high quality- jobs will be supported and trade in a 800-million people market will increase. Most tariff elimination will be implemented immediately, with tariff on some other products will be reduced over a committed period of time. For elimination and reduction of restrictive policies on agricultural goods, food security will be enhanced. Vietnam’s agricultural products will have more opportunities to be exported to other TPP members and gain their competitive advantage due to cheap labors and natural endowments.
Trade in services
Trade in services is of utmost importance to all TPP Parties. Thus, all 12 countries give consent to a liberalized trade in this area. Besides incorporating basic WTO principles (national treatment, most-favored nation treatment, market access, and local presence), the TPP takes a negative approach, meaning that their markets are fully opened to service suppliers from other TPP Parties, except otherwise indicated in their commitments.
Comprehensive trade: The TPP includes commitments that seek to encourage participation and development of businesses of all levels and sizes. Small-and medium-sized businesses, which are quite popular in Vietnam, will receive assistance from other countries to understand the agreement, take advantage of their opportunities, build their own trade capacity to grow fast in the future.
Government procurement: All TPP parties commit to ensure transparent, predictable and non-discriminatory government procurement markets. National treatment and non-discrimination are core principles. 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.
State-owned enterprises: Vietnam and Malaysia have many state-owned enterprises. The United States and others have some as well which are involved in public services and other activities. TPP negotiators have place emphasis on how to regulate operation of such enterprises, preferential treatment granted to these enterprises, non-discrimination of the state-owned enterprises against other countries’ goods and services. Participating in the TPP would then be a driving force for Vietnam in its privatization process of 432 state-owned enterprises in the 2014-2015 period. The remaining Vietnamese state-owned enterprise will also need to undergo strict reform procedures to meet standard requirements in the TPP.
Transparency and anti-corruption: The TPP includes rules on goods governance, bribery and corrosive anti-corruption, which have long been considered as one of the factors that discourage investors when deciding their business expansion, especially in countries like Vietnam with corruption index ranking Number 119 out of 175 countries globally according to Transparency International. The TPP Parties have agreed on adopting or maintaining laws criminalizing corruption behaviors by a public official affecting international trade or investment. Parties also commit to effectively enforce their anticorruption laws and regulations. As part of the TPP, Vietnam’s business environment in terms of transparency and “cleanliness” would be much improved, paving the way for more foreign investment in the upcoming time.
Other important trade and trade-related issues are covered in 30 chapters of the TPP, ranging from customs and trade facilitation; sanitary and phytosanitary measures; technical barriers to trade; trade remedies; investment; intellectual property; labor; environment; dispute settlement; etc. All TPP parties are conducting procedures to release the text of the agreement, which would then have to be approved domestically in each country member.
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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.

Posted on by Dr. Oliver Massmann

Lawyer in Vietnam Oliver Massmann Core Features of new Investment Law for Investors

1) In your opinion, what are the most important features of the new investment law from an investor’s perspective?

It is considered as the most-investor friendly investment law ever in Vietnam. It provides clearer investment procedure timeline, consolidated conditional business sectors, defined capital ratio to be qualified as foreign investors which determines which licensing procedure applies. Notably, it explicitly states that there would be no investment registration certificate required for M&A transaction.

2) What impact do you expect these to have? How effective do you think this law will be?

The investment environment will become more attractive. Investors would face less burdens and unexpected statutory requirements. A new wave of M&A is expected to come. However, the real effectiveness of this law would need to be assessed at a later stage when the implementing decrees are issued. As long as these documents have not been adopted, positive changes that the new investment law is said to bring are just theoretical.

3) How does this law fit in with the current investment climate of Vietnam, and the growth and development path the country is taking?

Vietnam is making great efforts to integrate into the world’s economy. The EU-Vietnam FTA is at the final stage whereas the TPP is also expected to be concluded soon. The Government of Vietnam is fiercely improving the business and investment environment and making great attempts to achieve key economic indicators of top regional countries until 2016. Resolution No. 19/NQ-CP/2015 of the Government dated 12 March 2015 has set out the Government’s strong commitments and positive changes to improve the business environment and strengthen the economy’s ability to compete in 2015 and 2016 by pushing for reforms to reduce time-consuming and burdensome administrative procedures; enhancing governmental offices’ transparency and accountability; and adopting international standards. These positive changes could be seen clearly in the tax, insurance and customs related sectors.

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.

INTERESTED IN DOING BUSINESS IN VIETNAM? VISIT: www.vietnamlaws.xyz

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Posted on by Dr. Oliver Massmann

ベトナムの弁護士　オリバー・マスマン 電力部門における分配の自由化－ビジネス参入のチャンス？

1. 近年の電力・ガソリン・石炭配給の独占状態が解消することにより経済上で期待される好影響は何か？
「回答」ベトナム電力市場では、ベトナム電力（EVN）が電力送電、配給に関して独占状態であると知られており、ベトナムは未だにオングリッド独自の電力計画で生成される全ての電力をENVが購入するといった一人売り手形態の特徴があります。投資家はEVNと電力売買契約（PPA）の交渉をすることは非常に困難だと認識しています。一方でEVNはペトロベトナム社とヴィナコミン社に対し膨大な負債をし続けています。
　国家独占状態を対象とする商品やサービスのリストの採用はEVNの電力独占状態に制限をすると予想されています。国家は多目的水力発電や原子力発電、送電の運営などと同様に巨大発電所の国家電力システムの事業運営をすることで独占状態を維持してきましたし、社会経済や国防、国家安全保障に関して非常に重要性を持っていました。石油やオイルの取引はもはや国家独占の対象となりません。
　これは市場介入への国際協定やいくつかの国営企業の民営化計画に従い、政府にとってポジティブな動きでもあります。政府は2016年の初めに施行予定のベトナムの電力卸売市場への一歩を踏み出しました。電力市場に今後多くの投資家が参入すると予想されています。消費者は誰から電気を購入するかという選択肢が増えていくでしょうし、競争性が高く、公平な電力市場が徐々に形成され、結果として非常に魅力的な投資環境になっていくと期待されています。
2. 個人投資家、特に外国人投資家にとってどのように重要となるか？
「回答」競争性が高く、参入しやすい市場になることで、外国人投資家はこの分野への投資をより魅力的に感じるでしょう。もはや生成した電力をEVNに販売する必要がなくなり、他の配給会社へ売ることや、独自のシステムを介して配給、送電することが可能になります。
　外国人投資家はまたEVNと電力価格の交渉をするといった障害から解消されます。近年のバンベト証券株式会社の調査によると、ベトナムの電力小売価格は2005年の781VND/kWh (3.5 US cents/ kWh)から2015年には1,622VND/kWh (7.3 US cents/ kWh)と、この10年間で約2倍に上昇しましたが、カンボジア、タイ、シンガポールなどAPECの他国に比べるとまだ低い状態です。これが投資家にとってこの分野に出資するのを躊躇う主な原因となっています。しかし、投資家の為の資本の回復と合理的な利益を確保することを目的とする電力事業計画によると、電力価格は2016年から値上げする予定です。従って、電力小売価格は2020年には8-9 US cents/ kWh値上げするとみられ、今後5年以内に18.4％まで上昇すると予想されています。電力価格は市場の需要、供給を反映し、外国人投資家は投資決定しやすくなると期待されています。
3. 経済の独占状態を減少させるためにベトナム政府に対してどのような助言があるか？
　ベトナムは市場経済の地位を確立している途中段階です。この目的を実現するために、政府は市場への介入を制限し、公正な競争性を作り出し、独自に運営可能な市場にする必要があります。多くの国々では、公正な競争性は独占状態の可能性を制限することにより作り出されています。もし単に政府が市場状況に応じて価格変動だけを許可する場合は、独占状態がさらに続き、市場に影響を及ぼす可能性があります。また、価格規定や独占状態の減少と同様に、政府は民営化計画を促進させ、投資家たちの為に真の競争性の高い市場を作りだす必要があります。
〈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。ご質問等はomassmann@duanemorris.comまでご連絡ください

Posted on by Dr. Oliver Massmann

Endlich – Ausländer können in Vietnam Häuser und Eigentumswohnung erwerben

Vietnam – Sie sind Ausländer und wollen ein Haus oder eine Eigentumswohnung erwerben?
Kommen sie zu uns! Wir helfen Ihnen damit auch alles richtig funktioniert

Seit dem 1. Juli 2015 gelten die neuen Gesetze zum Wohnungsbau und Immobilienhandel. Diese beiden Gesetze erlauben es nun auch Ausländern Grund und Boden sowie Häuser und Eigentumswohnungen zu erwerben. Am 10. September 2015 wurde die Implementierungsrichtlinie zum Gesetz zum Immobilienhandel erlassen und wirft endlich Licht auf das Gesetz. Die Richtlinie wird ab dem 01. November in Kraft treten. Für die anderen Gesetze für die es noch keine Umsetzungsrichtlinien gibt har das Bauministerium die zuständigen Stellen angewiesen, sich an die neuen Gesetze zu halten und bis es Umsetzungsrichtlinien gibt, sollen die Behörden die Gesetze mit Hilfe der Richtlinien zu den alten Gesetzen auslegen solange es dadurch nicht zu einer Verletzung des neuen Rechtes kommt. Details werden nun im Folgenden erklärt.

1. Eigentumserwerb

Das Gesetz zum Wohnungsbau besagt, dass es Privatpersonen, denen die Einreise gestattet ist und die nicht mit speziellen Rechten ausgestattet sind oder diplomatische oder konsularische Immunität genießen, nun erlaubt ist, Wohneigentum in Vietnam zu haben. Die Regierung wird detaillierte Richtlinien erlassen, die es ausländische Privatpersonen erleichtern soll, den Eigentumserwerb auf rechtlich sicheren Boden zu stellen. Diese Richtlinien sind jedoch leider noch nicht erlassen worden.
Investoren und juristische Personen können Wohneigentum zu Investmentzwecken erwerben. Es muss jedoch ein Investment-Zertifikat vorgelegt werden, welches im Falle einer erstmaligen unternehmerischen Tätigkeit zunächst beantragt werden muss.
Ganz grundsätzlich müssen die Projekte im Einklang mit dem neuen Gesetz zum Wohnungsbau sowie anderen relevanten Gesetzen sein.

Es gibt zwei verschiedene Möglichkeiten für ausländische Privatpersonen und Organisationen Eigentum zu erwerben. Zum einen kann es sich um ein Investitionsprojekt handeln, bei dem in den Bau von Wohneigentum investiert wird, zum anderen ist es auch möglich, dass das Wohnhaus oder die Eigentumswohnung nach Fertigstellung erworben wird.
Für ausländische Privatpersonen, die mit einem vietnamesischen Staatsbürger verheiratet sind, geht das Gesetz sogar noch weiter und stellt sie auf eine Stufe mit vietnamesischen Staatsbürgern und gibt ihnen dieselben Rechte wie vietnamesischen Staatsbürgern, die Möglichkeit auch langfristig Eigentum zu erwerben.

2. Beschränkungen

Es muss jedoch beachtet werden, dass man in Vietnam als Ausländer Eigentum nur auf 50 Jahre erwerben kann. Die vietnamesische Regierung kann diese Zeitspanne jedoch auch auf Antrag verlängern. Nach dem neuen Gesetz ist es sogar erlaubt, das Wohngebäude zu vererben, solange es in der vorgesehen Zeitspanne geschieht.

Es gibt jedoch Beschränkungen, eine davon betrifft vor allem den Umfang an möglichem Wohneigentum. Der Erwerb ist beschränkt auf 30% der Wohnungseinheiten in einem Gebäude oder 250 Häuser in einem Gebiet. Artikel 68.4 des vierten Entwurfs Dekret zu LRH limitiert jedoch noch weiter, dass ausländische juristische oder natürliche Personen von max. 10% des gesamten Wohnraums in einem Gebiet Eigentümer sein dürfen. Das vierte Entwurf Dekret führt eine weitere Einschränkung ein, während Artikel 159.2 (b) des Gesetzes zum Wohnungsbau ausländischen natürlichen oder juristischen Personen es nur verbietet sich Häuser innerhalb der nationalen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungsbereiche zu kaufen. Das Entwurf Dekret erweitert dieses Verbot und verbietet es, dass ausländische natürliche oder juristische Personen Eigentum in Gebieten erwerben, in denen Ausländern schon nach dem Gesetz für Aufenthalt und Reise der Aufenthalt beschränkt oder verboten wird.

Die Entwicklung dieser Regelung bleibt also abzuwarten.

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Bitte zögern Sie nicht und kontaktieren Herrn Massmann unter omassmann@duanemorris.com; falls Sie die Chance ergreifen möchten und Eigentum erwerben wollen oder falls Sie Fragen zu dem oben gelesenen haben sollten. Oliver Massmann ist Generaldirektor und Partner der US Kanzlei Duane Morris in Vietnam.

Posted on by Dr. Oliver Massmann

Foreign ownership of houses and condominium in Vietnam is now possible

Vietnam – You are a foreigner and want to buy a House or Condominium ?
Come to us! We help you to succeed

Since 1st July 2015 two new laws are in place, the Law on Real Estate Business and the Law on Residential Housing. Those laws allow foreigners to purchase Real Estate, Houses and Condos. On 10 September 2015, the Decree implementing the Law on Real Estate Business is adopted, shedding light on provisions of the related law. The guidance will start taking effect from 01 November 2015. For other provisions that have not received any implementation guidance yet, the Ministry of Construction instructed the authorities to follow the new law and until the new implementation rules are available, the new law should be implemented according to the old implementation guidelines as long as it does not breach the new law. Details will be explained below.

1. The right to own property

The Law on Residential Housing provides that foreign individuals who are permitted to enter the country are allowed to own property in Vietnam. They should also not belong to the category who are entitled to preferential treatment rights, or diplomatic or consulate immunities in accordance to law. The Government will issue a detailed guidance on how foreign individuals could provide its eligibility to own property in Vietnam. This guidance is, unfortunately, not in place yet.

Foreign investors and organizations are allowed to purchase real estate with an investment purpose. The investor or organization will need an Investment Certificate (or Investment Registration Certificate under the new Investment Law). From a general perspective, domestic investors or foreign investors who already have existing projects in Vietnam can easily meet easily this requirement. However, it could be problematic for investors who make first time investment in Vietnam with the investment project being the transferred one.

In general, there are two different possibilities to become owner of property in Vietnam. The first option is to make investment in construction projects of residential housing in Vietnam. The second option is to purchase the house or condo after its completion of construction.

The Law on Residential Housing is granting even more rights to foreign individuals who are married to a Vietnamese citizen, whereas they have the same rights as Vietnamese citizens and have the opportunity to purchase property on a long-term basis.

2. Restrictions

It must be noted that foreigners can only own houses for a duration of 50 years. The Government puts an exemption in place and can decide itself after application if and for how long it will extend the ownership duration.

Under Article 161.2(a) of the Law on Residential Housing, foreign individuals and foreign invested enterprises are able to purchase multiple properties in a residential development project including buildings and separate landed villas/townhouses. The maximum quantity allowed to purchase is 30% of the total units in a building and 250 houses in a local area. However, Article 68.4 of the fourth Draft Decree of the Law on Residential Housing limits that foreign organizations/ individuals may only own maximum 10% of the total number of individual housing in each residential housing project. This could be a restriction not in compliance with the Law on Residential Housing.

Another restriction in the fourth Draft Decree of the Law on Residential Housing is also introduced. While Article 159.2(b) of the Law on Residential Housing only prohibits foreign individuals and organizations from buying houses in national defense and security area, Article 67 of the fourth Draft Decree of the Law on Residential Housing does not allow them to own residential houses in areas where foreigners are prohibited or restricted from residing or traveling as stipulated under the Law on Residence and Travel.

The development of this regulation needs to be awaited.

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Please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Oliver Massmann under omassmann@duanemorris.com; if you wish to take the opportunity and purchase property or if you have any questions on the above. Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.

Posted on by Dr. Oliver Massmann

Lawyer in Vietnam Oliver Massmann Liberalization of Distribution in Power Sector – Your Chance to get into business ?

1. What positive impacts will the absence of the current monopoly in distribution and production of power, petrol and coal have on the economy?

Answer: In Vietnam’s energy market, EVN has long been known as the state monopoly in transmission and distribution of electricity. Vietnam still features the Single Buyer Model with EVN’s purchase of all electricity generated from on-grid independent power projects. Investors find it extremely hard to negotiate the Power Purchase Agreement with EVN. Meanwhile, EVN keeps operating at loss with huge debts to PetroVietnam and Vinacomin.
The adoption of the list of goods and services subject to state monopoly will then limit the power of EVN. The State only maintains its monopoly over the operation of multi-purposes hydropower and nuclear power plants, transmission, facilitating as well as operation of the national electricity system of big power plants and those having special importance in terms of socio-economic and national defence and security. Trading in petroleum and oil is also no longer subject to state monopoly.
This is a positive movement of the Government in accordance with its international commitments on market access and its plan on privatization of certain state-owned enterprises. The Government has taken a step closer to Vietnam Wholesale Electricity Market, which is aimed to be launched at the beginning of 2016. More players will participate in the power market. The consumers would have more choices from whom they will buy electricity. A competitive and fair power market will be gradually formed, resulting in greater attraction to investment.

2. How important is it to private investors, especially foreign ones?
Answer: With an open and competitive market, foreign investors will find it more attractive to invest in this sector. They are now no longer required to sell the electricity they generate to EVN but can sell it to other distribution companies or even transmit/ distribute through their own system.
Foreign investors will also no longer face obstacles in negotiating the power price with the EVN. According to a recent report by Ban Viet Securities Joint Stock Company, although power retail price in Vietnam has doubled during the past ten years, from VND 781/kWh (3.5 US cents/ kWh) in 2005 to VND1,622/ kWh (7.3 US cents/ kWh) in 2015, this is still low compared with other countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore in the APEC. This is among major reasons that discourage investors from pooling their capital into the sector. However, power price is planned to increase from 2016 according to power increase schedule, which aims to ensure capital recovery and reasonable profits for investors. Accordingly, power retail price may increase at 8-9 US cents/ kWh in 2020, equivalent to an increase by 18.4% within the next five years. Power price should also reflect the demand and supply in the market. Foreign investors then find more incentives when making their investment decision.

3. What is your recommendation for Vietnam’s government to reduce its monopoly over the economy?
Vietnam is on its way to obtain its market economy status. In order to realize this objective, the Government should limit its intervention in the market, create fair competition and allow the market to operate on its own. In many countries, fair competition is created by limiting the possibility of monopoly. If the Government only allows the price to fluctuate according to the market situation, there will still be monopolies dominating and influencing the market. Then, together with the price policies and reduction in its monopoly, the Government should expedite the privatization process, make it substantial in nature to effectively create a real competitive market for the players.
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Please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Oliver Massmann under omassmann@duanemorris.com if you have any questions on the above. Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.

Posted on by Dr. Oliver Massmann

Anwalt in Vietnam Oliver Massmann Bergbau

Vietnams Wirtschaft hängt stark vom Bergbau ab. Die Direktive Nr. 2/CT-TTg vom Januar 2012 und das Dekret Nr. 15/2015/ND-CP sowie ein Besuch des australischen Premier Ministers haben die Bedeutung der Benutzung von modernen und hochtechnologisiert Bergbaugerätschaften hervorgehoben. Trotzdem ist die Gesetzgebung, welche den Bergbausektor betrifft sowohl für ausländische als auch für lokale Investoren ungünstig, vor allem gibt es hohe Lizenzgebühren und Steuern sowie weitere Abgaben, auf die im Folgenden eingegangen wird:
• Zahlung für das Bergbaurecht: Um das Abbaurecht für beispielsweise Erz zu erhalten, müssen die Unternehmen gemäß dem Dekret Nr. 203/2013/ND-CP eine Zahlung von 1-5% des Wertes des reinen Erzes tätigen. Diese Abgabe ist nicht praktisch und wird ausländische Unternehmen davon abhalten in die Bergbauindustrie zu investieren. Der Grund dafür liegt wohl darin, dass viel zu viel für die Abbau- und Bergbaugerätschaften bezahlt werden muss. Dementsprechend werden die Investitionen in die Werkzeuge reduziert, da man die Abgabe aufbringen muss. Als Resultat daraus werden keine fortschrittlichen und umweltfreundlichen Technologien von den Abbaufirmen verwendet, was in einem nicht effektiven Abbau resultiert. Das Gesagte vorangestellt, wird der Regierung empfohlen, dass Dekret zu erlassen und die Abgabe auf jährlicher Basis zu verlangen und diese erst nachdem Abbau eintreiben.
• Umweltschutz-Abgabe: Das Circular Nr. 158/2011/TT-BTC ist die Rechtsgrundlage für eine Umweltschutzabgabe, welche sich nach Menge des Rohmetalls Erz auf jährlicher Basis berechnet. Die Berechnung dieser Abgabe beruht einzig auf den Abbaumengen, nicht auf der eigentlichen Umweltverschmutzung durch die jeweilige Miene. Diese Verordnung ist nicht gerecht, Bergbauunternehmen, die modernere und umweltschonende Technologie nutzen und damit einen geringen Einfluss auf die Umwelt haben, zahlen den identischen Betrag wie Bergbauunternehmen, die veraltete Gerätschaften haben und die Umwelt zerstören. Diese Regelung fördert nicht das Bedürfnis von Bergbauunternehmen in neue Technologien zu investieren oder gar die Umwelt zu schützen. Das Circular sollte sich darauf beziehen, dass die Umwelt-Abgabe auch den wirklichen Umweltverschmutzungen Rechnung trägt und daran gemessen wird.
• Lizenzgebühren auf Mineralstoffe: Gemäß der Resolution Nr. 712/2013/UBTVQH13 hat sich die natürliche Ressourcensteuer für viele Mineralien deutlich erhöht, z.B. für Wolfram (18%), Titan, (16%), Kupfer (13%), Eisen (12%), usw. Obwohl die natürliche Ressourcensteuer für Gold, Silber, Aluminium, Bauxite, Zinn, Blei und Zink nicht gestiegen ist, liegt sie bei 10%. Zusätzlich hat das Finanzministerium entschieden, dass die Abbausteuer für natürliche Ressourcen bis zum 1. Januar 2016 für fast alle Rohstoffe um 15-50% steigen soll. Das wird die Steuerlast von Bergbauunternehmen erheblich erhöhen und es ist sehr gut möglich dass einige Unternehmen insolvent gehen. Deshalb sollte die Regierung diese Veränderung noch nicht verabschieden.
• Körperschaftssteuer für Bergbauunternehmen: Das Dekret Nr. 122/ND-CP, welches eine Vielzahl der Paragraphen des Regierungsdekrets Nr. 124/2008/ND-CP verbessert und ergänzt, indem es detailliert und richtungsweisend die Einführung einiger Artikel des Gesetzes für Körperschaftssteuer Nr. 14/2008/QH12, reduziert die Unternehmenseinkommenssteuer auf 25%, ausgenommen sind jedoch Bergbauunternehmen welche kostbare und rare natürliche Ressourcen abbauen, bei diesen liegt die Steuer bei 50%. Mit dem neuen Dekret, soll die Steuer auf 40% reduziert werden, was notwendig ist, da mehr als 70% der Bergbauunternehmen in wirtschaftlich schwierigen Regionen liegen. Das Dekret besagt jedoch auch, dass es für den Abbau von Mineralien keine weiteren Vergünstigungen geben wird.

Die Lizenzgebühren, Abgaben und Steuern, welche Bergbauunternehmen in Vietnam zahlen müssen sind hoch, es ist jedoch unklar wie diese eingefordert werden und was im Anschluss daran mit den Geldern passiert. Die Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft ist nicht darüber informiert, was mit den Verwaltungsgebühren geschieht. Die Umweltschutz-Abgabe sollte dafür genutzt werden, dass die Umwelt der Mienen wieder aufgebaut wird, denn deshalb zahlen die Unternehmen diese Abgabe. Die Regierung sollte mehr Informationen veröffentlichen bzgl. der Lizenzvergabe und finanziellen Verpflichtungen welche die einzelnen Bewerber für die Bergbaulizenz haben.

Weiterhin sollte die Regierung zurzeit keine Steuererhöhungen anstreben, denn die Erhöhungen und die Lizenzgebühr werden dazu führen, dass es immer weniger Investoren in der Bergbautechnologie gibt. Im Gegenteil, es wird weiterhin die veraltete Technologie genutzt, was genau entgegen der Direktive des Premier Ministers läuft.

Zusammenfassend kann gesagt werden, dass die Regierung, um mehr Investitionen im Bergbausektor und die Nutzung von neuerer Technologie zu fördern, eher die Art der Steuereintreibung kontrollieren sollte, anstatt die Steuern zu erhöhen, sowie mehr Transparenz in der Gestaltung der Abgaben und Steuerverwaltung anstreben sollte.

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Oliver Massmann ist Generaldirektor und Partner der US Kanzlei Duane Morris in Vietnam. Herr Massmann spricht fließend verhandlungsfest Vietnamesisch und arbeitet seit 20 Jahren als Wirtschaftsanwalt in Vietnam. Sie können Herrn Massmann erreichen unter: omassmann@duanemorris.com

VIELEN DANK !

Posted on by Dr. Oliver Massmann

Lawyer in Vietnam Oliver Massmann New Vietnam investment law won’t help public sector

“As only a minority of the shares is offered for sale, the investors are not quite interested.” Oliver Massmann, General Director, Duane Morris Vietnam LLC
A new investment law that took effect in July is likely to keep investment flowing to Vietnam’s private sector but won’t help Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung achieve this year’s target for selling minority stakes in several hundred public-sector firms.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s push to sell minority stakes and reduce bloat in nearly 300 Vietnamese state-owned firms by the end of the year is unlikely to be successful despite recent reforms in business laws implemented in July that make it easier for foreign investors to acquire companies.
“This seems to be an ambitious target as the number of privatized enterprises is only 61 in the first six months of 2015,” Oliver Massmann, general director at the Hanoi office of corporate law firm Duane Morris LLP, tells MGO via email. “Moreover, as only a minority of the shares is offered for sale, the investors are not quite interested in the transaction, especially when they would not have any decision-making power or their involvement in the management of the enterprise is very limited.”
Public sector firms account for 30 percent of Vietnam’s GDP, and the country has been seeking to privatize and restructure them in order to reduce their debt, confine spending to core business activities, and help them acquire strategic foreign partnerships. According to a piece Mr. Massmann wrote for industry magazine The Asia Miner last year, state enterprises own 70 percent of property in Vietnam and account for 60 percent of commercial bank credit.
But despite initiating the process of restructuring and reforming public firms several years ago, Vietnam has been unable so far to address a number of factors that are hampering the divestment process.
Vietnam law continues to cap foreign ownership at 49 percent in listed firms, which many public sector enterprises are. And in most cases Vietnam is not selling stakes anywhere near the 49 percent limit — or even large enough to give investors decision-blocking powers.
In addition, it remains difficult for investors to value the shares that are being offered, given the lack of adequate audit reports. As a result, the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance is carrying out valuations of each firm. As recently as last month, Asian Development Bank’s chief economist Aaron Batten noted that only 8 percent of state firms publish financial reports on their websites, according to a report in the English-language daily Viet Nam News.
Due to these unresolved factors, Vietnam also fell short of its disinvestment target in 2014. Now, with stock markets in the region wobbly, public sector firms are likely to have an even harder time than they did last year, when as many as 143 firms were able to privatize some shares, according to Vietnamese media reports.
Mr. Massmann clarified, however, that the lack of investor interest in public enterprises comes against the backdrop of an improved overall investment and business climate in the country.
The 2014 Investment Law, which went into effect July 1, does away with something called an investment certificate, a business registration for foreign investors that was supposed to be approved in 45 days but in practice took four to six months to process, according to Mr. Massmann’s firm.
The law has also reduced the number of “conditional” business activities, areas of the economy in which investors have to seek approval with provincial planning departments. Construction, urban planning and education continue to remain conditional activities, but even in these sectors, acquisitions should become much easier, business analysts say.
Meanwhile, earlier tax law changes have also drastically cut the hours businesses spend on tax preparation and filing,
Vietnam has made “positive changes to improve the business environment and strengthen the economy’s ability to compete in 2015 and 2016,” Mr. Massmann tells MGO.
The apparel and textile manufacturing sector has drawn a large share of investment this year and is likely to continue to do so. Seafood processing, electronics manufacturing and retail and banking are also likely to attract investment into next year.
Mr. Massmann also foresees that the government will try to make investing in state firms more attractive by increasing the share of equity for sale, something that has so far been resisted by the management of many state firms, who perhaps fear that equity shares that allow for closer scrutiny of corporate governance could expose poor management or even corruption.

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Please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Oliver Massmann under omassmann@duanemorris.com if you have any questions on the above. Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.

© 2009- Duane Morris LLP. Duane Morris is a registered service mark of Duane Morris LLP.

The opinions expressed on this blog are those of the author and are not to be construed as legal advice.

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