VietNamNet Bridge - Apple is reportedly following administrative procedures to set up a business in Vietnam. Opinions from well-informed circles say Apple has been working in Vietnam for about one year and has nearly 100 workers.
Buu Dien reporters said the HCM City People’s Committee’s working schedule for the second half of August includes a report about the procedures for establishment of Apple Vietnam Company Ltd.
HCM City’s Vice Mayor Tat Thanh Cang was scheduled to hear the report at 1 pm of August 19. This might be a subsidiary of Apple, the technology firm based in Cupertino, California in the US.
Some local newspapers also quoted sources as saying that Apple has chosen its representative in Vietnam and has begun contacting Vietnamese agents at the beginning of 2015.
Buu Dien successfully contacted the man, but he refused to make comments. However, the email account he provided to reporters showed the domain name ‘Apple.com’.
An Apple’s sales agent said Apple has been doing business with Vietnamese agents through Apple Thailand. Local agents know the domestic market and the language.
While Apple does not have an official representative office or legal entity in Vietnam, it has had authorized agents which distribute the company’s products.
Apple’s IPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have topped the list of 10 best-sellers in Vietnam since the day they hit the market late last year.
According to IDC, Apple ranked second in value among the largest smartphone manufacturing firms in the first quarter of 2015.
As for tablets, Apple accounted for 16.6 percent of the market share in quantity, ranking second, but accounted for 21.9 percent of the market share in value, ranking first.
The owner of a high-technology product shop affirmed that if Apple sets up a business in Vietnam, this is just one step to legalize its business in the country.
The man said that Apple, with nearly 100 workers, has been working in Vietnam for nearly one year. The working place is in district 7 in HCM City.
The senior manager of a distribution chain with tens of retail shops in Vietnam, declined to comment about the reporters’ questions about the high number of workers believed to work for Apple.
However, he implied that Apple might hire a high number of workers in Vietnam, but has signed labor contracts through third parties, while the number of Apple’s full time employees are few.
Buu Dien