HA NOI (VNS) — National Assembly vice chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan yesterday received Japan’s Gunma Governor Osawa Masaaki in Ha Noi. Talking to Masaaki, who was in Viet Nam for a seminar introducing the investment potential of his province and on co-operation with Viet Nam, Ngan said the NA highly applauded such activities and hoped the two countries’ provinces and cities would further strengthen mutual co-operation. Ngan also said the NA would continue to create favourable conditions for Gunma firms to come and invest in Viet Nam. She said she hoped co-operation on tourism, medical training and people-to-people exchange will be further developed. For his part, Masaaki told Ngan…
More than 23,000 cars sold in Jan 2016
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s automobile sales in the first month of 2016 rose 16 percent from the same period last year, amounting to 23,165 units, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) announced on February 16. During the month, the number of passenger cars sold increased 3 percent to 14,090 units while commercial cars shot up 50 percent to 8,200 units and special-purpose cars sales climbed 5 percent to 875 units against January 2015. The sale of domestically assembled cars over the month stood at 17,397 units, an increase of 29 percent. In contrast, imported cars sales recorded 5,786 units, a reduction of 11 percent year-on-year. However, the number of cars…
New decision to boost automobile sector
Hanoi (VNA) – The Prime Minister has issued a decision on mechanisms and measures to implement the strategy for Vietnam’s automobile industry development through 2025, with a vision toward 2035. The measures are also designed for the implementation of the master plan for Vietnam’s automobile industry development through 2020, with a vision toward 2030. The policies specified in the decision will be valid for at least 10 years, it said. Among them are assistance in terms of credit, demand stimulation and market development for the domestic automobile industry. Investment projects to produce automobile parts and assembly automobile by domestic enterprises will be given access to loans provided by the Vietnam…
Sapporo Beer to scale up operations in Vietnam
Tokyo (VNA) – Sapporo Holdings Ltd President Tsutomu Kamijo unveiled that the oldest beer brand in Japan wants to expand operations in Vietnam. He anticipated the company’s beer sales in Vietnam might overtake the figure for Japan by 2020. In September 2015, Sapporo acquired all stakeholdings from its Vietnamese partner – to gain complete control over the Sapporo Beer Vietnam Co. Ltd. Kamijo said the company has no further plans for merger and acquisitions, as its target is to consolidate positions in North America and Southeast Asia.-VNA (http://en.vietnamplus.vn/sapporo-beer-to-scale-up-operations-in-vietnam/87528.vnp)
Rice aid to reach the poor during Tet
Hanoi (VNA) – Disadvantaged residents of northern Tuyen Quang, and central Nghe An provinces will receive almost 3,900 tonnes of rice from the national reserves as the Government’s assistance in the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Most of the allocation, at more than 3,600 tonnes, will come to 241,154 households in Nghe An. The remainder will benefit 17,947 households in Tuyen Quang. Each member of these households will receive 15 kilograms of rice within the month.-VNA (http://en.vietnamplus.vn/rice-aid-to-reach-the-poor-during-tet/87474.vnp)
Oldest lychee tree recognised in Hai Duong
Hai Duong (VNA) – A lychee tree in northern Hai Duong province has recently broken the record to become the oldest of its species in Vietnam. Dating back almost 200 years ago, the tree was planted in Thuy Lam town, Thanh Son commune, Thanh Ha district. Explaining the origin of the plant, ancient documents said Hoang Van Com, a local villager, brought home three lychee seeds from a fest he attended in neighbouring Hai Phong province, and planted them in his garden. All the seeds grew healthily, and one of them, which is now the oldest lychee tree in the country – turned out to produce delicious fruit. Com decided…
HCM City proposes new 520 million USD power plant
Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – The HCM City Department of Planning and Investment has asked for approval from the city’s People’s Committee to build a waste-to-power plant using thermal plasma technology from Trisun Green Energy Company, according to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. The 520 million USD project, covering an area of 13ha and equipped with plasma torches to achieve temperatures of 3,000 degrees Celsius to incinerate waste, is expected to treat 2,000 tonnes of domestic waste daily. The investor estimates that waste treatment by thermal plasma technology will cost 32 USD per tonne. The facility would charge 31.88 USD a tonne if it treats 1,000 tonnes a day and…
Entertainment, tourism complex to be built in Quang Nam
Quang Nam (VNA) – The Tuan Chau Group will build an entertainment, tourism and real estate complex with total investment capital of 3 trillion VND (133 million USD) in Dien Ban town in the central province of Quang Nam later this year. The project would boost investment flow among domestic and foreign investors in the east region of the province, Doan Ngoc Minh, head of investment and co-operation office under the provincial department of planning and investment, confirmed to Vietnam News newspaper. He said Tuan Chau Group completed its land clearance to begin the first stage of the project this year on 35 hectares. He said the project will be…
Tet gifts come to officers, people on southwestern islands
Kien Giang (VNA) – Representatives from the High Command of Naval Zone 5 and several southern localities and businesses on January 10 started visiting and presenting gifts to military officers and people on southwestern islands on the threshold of the Lunar New Year (Tet). In five days until January 15, the delegation plans to stop at Phu Quoc, Tho Chu, Nam Du, Hon Khoai, Hon Chuoi and Hon Doc islands. According to Deputy Military Commander Nguyen Van Dong, the annual activity aims to encourage officers who are safeguarding islands in the southwestern part of the nation. To improve the spiritual life of the officers during the holiday, Chung cake (Vietnamese…
46 million USD allocated for urgent projects
Hanoi (VNA) – The Prime Minister has decided to allocate 1.072 trillion VND (about 46 million USD) from the central budget reserves in 2015 to the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and localities to carry out urgent projects. The beneficiary projects are those related to dyke and embankment building, natural calamity consequence overcoming, and national security and defence. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is responsible for accurate information and data on the use of the central budget in accordance with regulations. The Ministry of Transport and provincial and municipal People’s Committees are asked to manage and use the funding as regulated to ensure the effectiveness of the projects.-VNA (http://en.vietnamplus.vn/46-million-usd-allocated-for-urgent-projects/87226.vnp)
Phuoc Tuong – Phu Gia road tunnel in Hue opens to traffic
Thua Thien – Hue (VNA) – The Phuoc Tuong – Phu Gia road tunnel on the National Road 1A that is crossing Phu Loc district, the central province of Thua Thien – Hue has been put into use. The construction of the tunnel started in May, 2013 under the build– operate– transfer (BOT) model at a total cost of 1.74 trillion VND (77.8 million USD). The Phuoc Tuong-Phu Gia tunnel allows a speed limit of 80km per hour. It is expected to facilitate the smooth traffic flow and contribute to reducing traffic accidents, which often occurred in the Phuoc Tuong-Phu Gia pass, said Phan Bao Trung, head of the local…
HCM City seeks 65,000 workers in 2016
HCM City (VNA) – HCM City needs 65,000 workers in the first quarter of 2016, according to the city’s Human Resource Forecast and Labour Market Information Centre. Tran Anh Tuan, deputy director of the centre, said the jobs in high demand are in the fields including marketing, sales, tourism service, hospitality, construction, health care services and househelper services. In March, demand will be high for workers in textiles and garments, footwear, food processing, transportation, import-export services. The shortage of labourers after Tet (Lunar New Year) is expected to range from 3-4 percent. Staff turnover is forecast to be more than 10 percent of the total employed workforce after Tet.-VNA (http://en.vietnamplus.vn/hcm-city-seeks-65000-workers-in-2016/86922.vnp)
Big names to appear at 2016 Vietnam Motorcycle Show
HCM City (VNA) – Some of the world’s top motorcycle producers and companies in supporting industries as well as Vietnamese importers will participate in the 2016 Vietnam Motorcycle Show in HCM City next April. Organised by the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM), it will feature names like Honda, Piaggio, Suzuki, SYM, and Yamaha. VAMM said the event would take place from April 7 to 10 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7. In the context of the maturity attained by the country’s motorcycle market, the event is set to be an important one for motorbike manufacturers and importers. Many of the latest motorbikes will be on…
Gia Lai fulfill target of preschool education universalization
Gia Lai (VNA) – All 17 districts and towns in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai have met target of universal preschool education for five-year-old children, according to the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET). An inspection by the MoET from December 22-24 showed that 99.7 percent of five-year-old children in Gia Lai attended school this year and 99.3 percent of them completed kindergarten programme. The rate of school attendance among other age groups also rose remarkably, with 76 percent of children aging from 3-5 going to kindergarten in 2015, compared to 68.7 percent in 2011. The results were spurred by the efficient planning of school network and prompt…
Work on bridge spanning Red River set to start
Hanoi (VNA) – Work on the Hung Ha bridge spanning the Hong (Red) River and road connecting to Hanoi–Hai Phong and Cau Gie–Ninh Binh highways will start on December 27, said Nguyen Xuan Lam, deputy general director of Project Management Unit No. 1 under the Ministry of Transport. The 2km bridge is part of the 6km transport project, which links northern Hung Yen and Ha Nam provinces. The four-lane bridge is designed for vehicles to travel at 80 kilometres per hour. The project has a total investment of 2.87 trillion VND (135.7 million USD), including 117million USD loaned from the Republic of Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF). The project…
Hanoi promotes use of biofuel
Hanoi promotes use of biofuel Hanoi (VNA) – The Hanoi People’s Committee has said local committees and other city agencies should use the E5 biofuel, which contains five percent ethanol, in their official cars. The committee will stop reimbursing the bills for regular fuel purchases by offices and authoritative bodies being funded by the state budget from the beginning of next year. The committee also said its officials should use the biofuel in their personal vehicles. The city’s department of trade and industry has been asked to ensure stable and sufficient supply of the E5 biofuel to meet the market demand.-VNA (http://en.vietnamplus.vn/hanoi-promotes-use-of-biofuel/86722.vnp)
Petrol prices drop to 16,405 VND per litre
Hanoi (VNA) – The prices of RON 92 petrol and E5 bio-fuel were reduced by 391 VND per litre as of 3 pm on December 18, the 5th consecutive cut and the 22nd adjustment so far this year. The petrol and oil price control joint team of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance said with the reduction, the price of RON 92 petrol will not be higher than 16,405 VND (0.72 USD) per litre and that of E5 bio-petrol not more than 15,910 VND (0.7 USD) per litre. The price of diesel oil also dropped by 1,246 VND per litre, while that of kerosene and…
Registrations of ‘.vn’ domains rise
Hanoi (VNA) – More than 106,300 new “.vn” domain names were registered in the first 11 months of this year, bringing the total number of “.vn” domain names to 343, 370, a year-on-year increase of 16.4 percent, according to the Vietnam Internet Network Information Centre (VNNIC). The VNNIC held a conference on December 10 to review its activities this year and discuss plans for next year. The “.vn” domain name was the most registered country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) in the ASEAN region and is now expanding in Asia. According to the Asia Pacific Top Level Domain Association (APTLD), “.vn” registrations were ranked in the top 10 in the region this…
Deputy PM: Changing cash-payment habit boosts economic growth
Hanoi (VNA) – Changing cash usage habit to e-payment will not only boost economic growth but also promote Vietnam as a civilized nation, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on December 16. He made his remarks at the Vietnam E-Payment Forum in Hanoi held by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and VnExpress, an online newspaper. Online payment accounts for 90 percent of total transactions in developed countries and the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) hereby rose by about 1 percent, Dam explained. Vietnam has been ready for e-payment in terms of infrastructure and the Government has set goals to stimulate online transactions for years, yet consumers seem not willing…
Credit growth this year positive at 18 percent
Hanoi (VNA) – Credit this year could reach roughly 18 percent, meeting the capital demands of the economy, Deputy Director of the State Bank of Vietnam’s Monetary Policy Department Nguyen Duc Long said. Long noted that the rise in credit was an indication of positive economic growth and improved consumption in the domestic market. Further, according to Long, the increase in credit was seen in the beginning of the year and continuing every month, instead of only during a few months at year-end, as seen last year. Statistics from the central bank showed that lending rose 14.5-15 percent in the first 11 months. Also, the SBV reported that credit growth…
Banks battle it out in Tet loans market
Hanoi (VNA) – Commercial banks and financial companies are fiercely competing for a slice of the profitable personal loans market as demand often rises sharply at the end of the year. Industry insiders said the period between December till the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday is always the most popular period for personal loans, as Vietnamese people requires money for home repair and purchase, shopping and car purchases. To meet the rising demand, many banks are offering preferential loan packages to attract customers. VietBank is marketing home purchase loans at an annual preferential interest rate of eight to nine percent for the first year. An Binh Bank is offering loans…
Vietnam believed to gain the most in TPP
Vietnam stands to gain the most among 12 countries concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal’s negotiation early this week, said the Los Angeles Times on October 8. The US-based daily newspaper quoted the Peterson Institute of International Economics as saying that Vietnam’s textile-garment and footwear sectors are very likely to boom once the TPP is effective. The pact will let the country ship many products tariff-free to a market where members together constitute two-fifths of the global trade. The nation is also improving its tax and investment policies, developing infrastructure and pursuing other trade pacts to entice more investments, the newspaper noted. Investment bank Goldman Sachs forecast that Vietnam’s economy…
Local beer players face foreign firms
Hanoi (VNA) – The local beer market is set to face tough competition due to a rising number of foreign brewers moving into the market after Vietnam joins the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), experts said. Under the TPP agreement, Vietnam’s imported beer tax from member countries will be reduced from 35 percent to 0 percent. As a result, imported beer will flood Vietnam. Both international and local players are expected to step up marketing activities, new product developments as well as expanding distribution networks. Sabeco is the biggest Vietnamese beer maker, with a 46-percent market share. The Hanoi Beer Alcohol and Beverage Joint Stock Corporation (Habeco) accounts for 17.3 percent of…
More foreign investors open stock tcodes in Vietnam
VSD has also agreed to adjust information on 25 foreign investors, including six organisations and 19 individuals. It also canceled the codes of one foreign unit. In the first 11 months of the year, the authority issued tcodes for nearly 1,000 foreign investors. Of these, 661 were individual investors and 277 were foreign organisations. The number of individual investors has reached a record high since 2011, thanks to Decree No 60/2015, which went into effect in September, creating more room for foreign investors. Vietnam continues welcoming more foreign investors to the country and to open stock transaction accounts. Currently, Vietnam has issued tcodes to 18,508 foreign investors, of which 2,864…
Workshop enhances women’s legal understanding, access
Hanoi (VNA) – A workshop was held on December 7 in Hanoi to enhance legal understanding among women and facilitate their access to legal assistance. The event was organised by the UN Women Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women). In her opening remarks, Shoko Ishikawa, UN Women Country Representative in Vietnam, said that the revision of the Law on Legal Aid has enhanced access to legal aid services for Vietnamese women. Director of the Legal Aid Bureau under the Ministry of Justice Nguyen Thi Minh said the 2013 Constitution has ensured women’s legitimate right to legal aid access– particularly those who are victims of domestic violence…
Taiwan’s 1-bln-USD paper plant gets investment license
The People’s Committee of southern Binh Duong province granted an investment license to Taiwan-based Cheng Loong Binh Duong Paper Ltd, Co. on December 4 for the construction of a 1-billion-USD paper plant. It is the largest foreign direct investment project in the locality in 2015. The 75-hectare plant will be located at Singapore Ascendas – Protrade Industrial Park in Ben Cat district. It is designed to produce 1 million tonnes of industrial paper and 50,000 tonnes of household paper per year. The first phase of the project will start in December and is expected to be operational by January 2018. According to Chairman of Cheng Loong Corporation in Taiwan Su…
Hanoi enforces registration of electric bikes
Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi Police would implement mandatory registration of electric scooters and bikes from December 6, said Nguyen Manh Hung, deputy head of the Hanoi Road and Railway Traffic Police Division. Vehicle owners found violating the law after December 6 will be fined, according to Decree 171 issued by the government. By the middle of 2016, Hanoi Traffic Police will deal with all unregistered vehicles that are still being used. Such vehicle owners will be fined amounts ranging from 80,000 VND (3.5 USD) to a maximum of 1 million VND (44.4 USD). In addition, when electric motor vehicle owners violate traffic laws, they will be subject to other forms…
Dak Lak: Coffee output continues dropping
Dak Lak (VNA) – Coffee bean output in the 2015-16 crop in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak is likely to reach 440,000 tonnes, a decrease of 14,000 tonnes from the last crop, according to the provincial People’s Committee. This is the second consecutive crop that faces a drop in output. Severe droughts have hurt the production as nearly 48,000 hectares of coffee plants suffered from water shortages.A large area of ageing coffee plants is another reason. According to a plan targeted for the 2015-16 crop, the province will ship abroad about 250,000 tonnes of coffee beans, up nearly 83, 000 tonnes against the last crop. It is currently…
CBRE Vietnam manages Phu My Hung projects in HCM City
HCM City (VNA) – Commercial Real Estate Services (CBRE) Vietnam has been selected to manage the Phu My Hung Development Corporation’s commercial projects in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7, according to CBRE on November 30. CBRE Vietnam will manage seven projects including office buildings and commercial centres that cover a combined area of 160,000 sq.metres. CBRE Managing Director Marc Townsend expressed his delight at the deal and hoped that the two companies will cooperate more in the future for the development of the district. CBRE Vietnam pledged to provide the best services for clients, investors and residents in the area, Marc Townsend said. Phu My Hung is the first…
Vietnam, Japan enhance cooperation in trade unions
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) and the Japan National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) are strengthening cooperation, thus contributing to driving the relations between the two countries forward. President of the VGCL Dang Ngoc Tung and Zenroren Chairman Yohikazu Odagawa discussed cooperation orientation and potential between Vietnamese and Japanese trade unions during their talks in Hanoi on November 30. Tung said the two organisations have actively worked to protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers. He added that he hopes the two trade unions will further cooperative ties for information and experience exchanges as well as better protection of employees. This is significant in…