[Vnbiz] Interesting article by former PM

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

Dear anh Craig & CACC,

Good question, Craig.  There are lots of things involved and we have touched
upon them once in awhile since ever in this forum--historical mistrust,
anti-commie politics overseas, governments policy of discriminating against
Vietkieu, lack of civil society, cultural clash, etc.  Probably we can name
many more reasons.

But it is obvious that at the top level the leadership is very serious about
OVs.  We are hearing talks about multi-citizenship and home ownership for
Vietkieu, etc.   These are very major issues.  Probably the real issue is
now at the operational level of Committee for Overseas Vietnamese to work.
The Committee simply needs movers and shakers to make things happen.  I
think the OV community has been ready for along time.  Many of us are doing
many things in Vietnam, but for things to be done systematically it has to
be very active at the government level. But, government alone may not be
enough.  The law on civil society has to be much more open for OV
organizations to do work effectively too.

In the meantime, have just sent a letter to the Committee on OVs proposing
OVs teaching Vietnam college courses via Internet, and some other projects.
They have forwarded my letter to Ministry of Education.  Will see.

Have a great day!

Hoanh
2008/4/15 Craig Stevenson <cstevenson2000 at gmail.com>:

> [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
>
>
> Hi All:
>
> As long as I have participated on this board, I have had one nagging
> question, which I have never raised.  As many may realize, my perspectives
> are social, my interests are toward stability not consumption, and my belief
> is for the self-sufficiency of nations.  As one who looks to the third
> sector to solve problems, people helping people, I wonder why there is not
> some large endeavor built from Overseas Vientnamese to help in some
> situations.  This has been done in many other countries.  I believe in the
> US alone there are nearly 600 Vietnamese associations which should, could,
> pull resources to set up a knowledge and skills transference scheme.  Now I
> am not saying that O.VNese know best but to give a short example.  I know
> most of my Vnese friends back home from my former boss, and great friend,
> Tuan.  He is strongly connected to the local Vnese community in my area by
> virtue of being the guy who makes all the signs for all the Vnese
> businesses.  He was a volunteer in the community for a long time and then
> went on to run a non-profit, while running his business at the same time.
> He has years managing millions of USD a year in both government run, and
> private business, contracts.  His one brother is a Software Engineer, his
> other brother is an Engineer who designs energy efficient lighting
> fixtures.  His nephews, on his (ex) wifes, side are both Surgeons.  His son
> is a Pharmacist.  His friend has been in the Seafood business, both
> production and processing, for as long as I know.  Dozens of friends own
> their own businesses.  Their family members are everything across the
> spectrum.  I just know that there are a wide range of skills, and a
> diversity of knowledge.  I just don't know why, at least to my knowledge,
> there isn't a strong effort by Overseas Vietnamese, by the government, to
> get them involved to benefit communities.  I understand that there might be
> political issues, but guarentee, with most of the Overseas Vietnamese that I
> know, that this isn't an issue at all.  My friend returns to Vietnam yearly
> and spends time with his family, and his new wife's family, where he mostly
> focuses on business opportunities for building his life in Vietnam when he
> is an old man.  But I know that there must be thousands of Vietnamese both
> willing and able to contribute who have a very high level of skill base.
>
> Looking at the Indian growth projectory vis a vis the Chinese.  Many
> believe the Indian will eventually surpass the Chinese.  Where the Chinese
> have used the capital of Overseas Chinese to develop its productive
> capacity, the Indians have relied far less on foreign capital by leveraging
> the skills of its Overseas, and domestic, Indians.  There are initiatives
> such as India-Corp (like Peace core) where Indians have created a model for
> sending overseas into poor communities doing work as the Peace-Corp.  Why
> not the Vietnamese-Corp?  I know many Vietnamese, born abroad, who have come
> back to Vietnam and are working with this in mind, I know them because I
> work with several of them.  It just seems that there is some strength in the
> Vietnamese culture that extends beyond birthplace, and political leanings,
> and should be leveraged to attack some problems that might be existant in
> society.
>
> Craig
>

-- 
Tran Dinh Hoanh, Esq., LLB, JD
Washington DC
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