Ann: Blackstone Strengthens Government Relations in Vietnam, page-11

Reckon you're probably on the money there. We'll have to wait and see what happens, you can't risk paying off an official these days to expedite processes as Vietnam has been cracking down on corruption with some very senior officials replaced last year. In parts of South East Asia historically and in general government business of all types in some parts of the region, the culture has been for there to be mountains of impenetrable red tape that often magically disappear once an appropriate payment has been made to the person with the power to make the decision, who then might take a cut and pass the rest up the chain. Australia has laws against it's companies engaging in such actions and there have been a few prosecutions of company directors in the past so BSX won't risk it. Vietnam as mentioned is cracking down on whatever corruption existed there previously and needs foreign investment to realise it's dreams of becoming a manufacturing powerhouse and competing in Western markets so during this process of re-writing the legislation there should be progress. How long it will take is anyone's guess but they do need a nickel sulphate refinery asap for their emerging battery industry. I've seen nothing that would suggest an official has been holding out for a backhand payment but this is a bit of an uncomfortable, even eerily familiar seeming scenario given what has occurred elsewhere, in other places and other times, with different people involved, not these ones assessing the applications and permits for BSX.