Category Archives: BeluxCham News

Geuther Vietnam – how did we manage the Covid-19 lockdown

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Geuther is a privately invested Belgian Company that started operations in early 2020, just before the Covid-19. Geuther designs, develops, and manufactures wooden and steel baby furniture for large brands in over 35 countries. Around 250 passionate wood experts produce everything from highchairs, stair gates, playpens, cribs, changing tables, …

Starting operations just before the pandemic was already a challenge but surviving without a single positive case during the complete lockdown was almost a miracle. How did we achieve this and what are the key learnings?

1. Navigate through the lack of information available from Authorities

We observed in May-June what was happening in the North and heard from AkzoNobel Commercial Director Maximilen Schréder that Authorities had asked them to stay inside the factory to avoid any virus spread. After exchanging with other factory owners, we decided to

  • increase our stock level of raw material and semi-finished products to have enough when suppliers would have to close
  • build showers, add toilets, buy tents and prepare the logistics to feed our staff
  • prepare all staff mentally for such a move

We locked 200 staff inside the factory starting 5. July at a time when Authorities In Binh Duong were not able to approve such a move. This was 2 weeks before the Authorities made such a move compulsory

2.  Team spirit and the role of managers

The first week was fun, everyone was positive. Some started building a table tennis table with spare material, others built a body-building station or for the less health-conscious a smoking relaxing area, some played badminton, went jogging around the factory, … As time passed, first workers started to complain about the food, about the temperature, … and some wanted to go home as well, especially when hearing from other factories where almost all had gotten the virus.

The role of managers was key in this situation, especially the HR and the team leaders in the factory. They spent hundreds of hours talking with the workers, explaining how lucky they were to be safe and have a job, added some changes to the menu, bought extra fans, arranged online doctor consultations … They organized every weekend special events, cooking classes, game competitions. I became a French teacher for a while!
We of course lost some workers but ended the stay-in on 23. October with 190 staff.

The whole management team also stayed in the factory, including 2 ex-pats, leading their team by showing the example


3. Contribute to the community

Geuther contributed to the Binh Duong Covid fund and had multiple contacts with Authorities and local hospitals to see how we could help. We donated cribs to one hospital where orphans were sleeping on the floor. Our staff produced changing mats in their free time and many workers offered to donate part of their salaries to help those in need. Amazing to see such a community spirit which at the same gave a purpose to their work

Last Saturday, everyone finally went back home and this Monday, 50 more workers who were not able to stay in will be back at work. A unique experience, sometimes misunderstood in the West, but an experience that has forged friendships, respect, and strong bonds among all.

Invitation To Participate In The EuroCham Business Awards 2021

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Dear BeluxCham Member,

As an incredibly tough 2021 will come to an end soon, it seemed an appropriate moment to end the year on a positive note.  Therefore we invite you to participate in the EuroCham Business Awards 2021.

This year, the EuroCham Business Awards 2021 will be a hybrid event and held on 19th November 2021. We encourage you to nominate yourself for 01 (one) or more of the categories below:

  1. Best INITIATIVE to support Vietnam during the 4th wave of COVID-19: This award will recognize the member that has shown great initiative in implementing an efficient and meaningful action to support Vietnam during this crisis, been a model of empathetic business and made a significant contribution to Vietnam.

  2. Best MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE to support workers, staff & their families: This award will recognize the business that has shown great commitment to its workers,   staff and their families during this extremely difficult time, mostly during the total lockdown   (summertime 2021) – It can be anything from financial support to moral support, or essential goods support, or healthcare support, etc.

  3. Best GREEN & SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIVE Business: This award will recognize the     business that came up with environmentally friendly, green and/or sustainable action, or   improved its impact on the environment

Please submit your nominations (one or more) by fill-in BeluxCham_EuroCham Business Awards 2021_Nomination Form and sending it back to us via email: info@beluxcham.com before 5:00 PM (Vietnam Time) on Friday, 5th November 2021.

BeluxCham can submit 01 (one) nomination for each of the above categories to the EuroCham longlist. The EuroCham Judges Panel (which consists of independent persons and are non-related to EuroCham) will select out of that list a shortlist of candidates to go into the grand finale on 19th November 2021. In case we have several member candidates for 1 or more of the Award categories, the Board will consider and select for submission the final BeluxCham candidate for each category before 1St November 2021

[BeluxCham News] Delegate to the EuroCham Board on behalf of BeluxCham Vietnam.

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Dear BeluxCham members & Friends,

We would like to give a quick update on a few highlights of last week.

On Thursday 9 September, the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) attended a high-level meeting with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Government Ministers, and the European diplomatic corps to discuss the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. The four-hour dialogue – held in Hanoi and online – was also attended by Mr. Paul Jansen, the Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam and Mr. Erwin Debaere, BeluxCham’s delegate to the EuroCham Board. Among European business leaders, Mr Erwin Debaere emphasized the impact on companies of the Covid-19 restrictions and recommendations for economic recovery.

The proposals and recommendations were responded supportively to by members of the Government and the Prime Minister at the meeting. Read more here: https://www.eurochamvn.org/node/18865.

Furthermore, at the same date, our sister organization Belgian Vietnamese Alliance welcomed the National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ’s visit to Belgium. On this occasion, The Federal Government of Belgium donated 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines and pledged to extend its support to help Vietnam get more doses from the COVAX Facility.

Meanwhile, in Vietnam, BeluxCham also donated last week to the EuroCham Breathe Again`s campaign. This campaign initiated by our Honorary Consul, Mr Gricha Safarian, has so far collected over 1 million euros to buy medical equipment for hospitals in need. Read more on: https://breatheagain.fund/.

Proud to be part of Team Europe!

BeluxCham fundraising for `Breathe Again` project

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Dear BeluxCham Member and Friends

As you might know, The European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) has launched the “Breathe Again” fund a new, ambitious fundraising campaign to support Vietnam during the fourth wave outbreak of COVID-19.

With cases continuing to rise and healthcare professionals working around the clock to treat patients, EuroCham is encouraging its members to donate to a new fund that will be used to procure much-needed medical equipment for Vietnam’s hard-pressed hospitals.

The initiative is the brainchild of Gricha Safarian, Founder of Puratos Grand-Place Vietnam. EuroCham has agreed to lead and manage the campaign, aiming to utilize its large and diverse membership – counting over one thousand enterprises and investors in all sectors and industries – to ensure the largest possible fundraising effort.

To support this program, Mr. Adam van Overwaele – BeluxCham Culinary Ambassador and BeluxCham decided to set up this culinary fundraising campaign. So, when you place an order with Mr. Adam, all profits will go to the EuroCham “Breathe Again” fund project.

Period of the campaign: until 15/10/2021

*Link to place your order: https://forms.gle/7dck57YJkpn1ejHM7

– After you fill out the order request, we will contact you to go over details and availability before the order is completed.

=> Due to the lockdown situation, for now, we will collect the order and will deliver when possible.

– All profits will be collect and send to Eurocham ‘BREATHE AGAIN’ project every 7 days.

– Please note that the price does not include the delivery fee yet.

– The minimum per order is 250,000 VND

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Adam at +84834500106 or executivechef@belgo.com.vn