When asked to make comments about Vietnam’s low productivity reported by International Labor Organization (ILO), Nguyen Xuan Duong, chair of Hung Yen Garment Company, said the productivity of the garment industry was low, but specific businesses had a higher level of productivity. The productivity is calculated based on workers’ skills. At Hung Yen Garment Company, productivity in 2014 was $2.5 per working hour, which was equal to that of Thailand in 2012. However, the average productivity in the garment industry was just equal to 60 percent of other regional countries, $1.5-1.8 per working hour. Vietnam’s garment industry only began developing in a number of years ago, and workers still don’t…
Japan helps Vietnam build safe nuclear power plants
Ninh Thuan (VNA) – Japan will help Vietnam build nuclear power plants in the central province of Ninh Thuan with the highest level of international safety standards. Japan will also support human resources training as well as safe and effective operation of nuclear power plants, Japanese Counsellor to Vietnam Nakajima Yoshito said at a workshop in Ninh Thuan on November 12. After resuming the provision of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in 1993, Japan sealed a project to upgrade the Da Nhim hydropower plant and implemented several projects to improve small-scale infrastructure and North-South railway, in Ninh Thuan, he said. Japan is currently a strategic partner of Vietnam in…
Vietnam ranks second in world for instant noodle consumption
ベトナムでは一人当たりインスタントラーメンを年間55.1パック消費し、インスタントラーメンの消費量で韓国に続く、世界第2位になったと、韓国の農業・食料・地域省が報告した。 報告された内容によると、ベトナム人はインスタントラーメンを年間55.1パックを食べており、韓国人は年間一人当たり76パック食べているという。インドネシアが3番目、タイが4番目に続いている。 韓国のインスタントラーメン市場は2014年に16.4億ドルに達した。 韓国のインスタントラーメンの増加は、韓国人の独身者の増加によって説明することができる。 昨年韓国は約81万6千トンのインスタントラーメンを消費したと見積もられている。韓国はまた、昨年約3億2千万ドル分のインスタントラーメンを輸出した。 過去3年間で成長率は鈍化しているものの、世界的なインスタントラーメン市場は2007年から年間3.1％成長している。 世界インスタントラーメン協会(WINA)による2014年報告書によると、ベトナムは年間約54億袋を購入しており、中国、インドネシア、インドに続く、世界第4位のインスタントラーメンの消費国だった。 しかし、一人当たりの消費量に基づくと、韓国とインドネシアに続く第3位になった。中国人は一人当たり36袋なのに対して、ベトナム人は一人当たり年間で平均56.2袋消費していた。 ベトナムのインスタントラーメンの消費量は一貫して二桁の速度で成長しており、需要は都市部と農村部の両方で上昇し続けている。 ベトナムでは、2008年から2012までの間に需要は24％近く上昇した。同期間で中国とインドネシアは3％、韓国と日本は5％の増加となっている。 産業貿易省の統計によると、ベトナムには約50社の国内及び外資系のインスタントラーメンの会社と工場がある。 ビナエースコック(Vina Acecook)やアジアフード(Asia Foods)などの主要な会社がベトナムのインスタントラーメン市場を支配している。 ビナエースコックは現在市場の50％を占めており、アジアフードが20％以上のシェア、マサン(Masan)が10％近くのシェアと続いている。中小企業が残りの20％を占める。 食品加工産業は春雨、ライスペーパー、お粥などを含むインスタント製品の広範囲で提供している。スーパーマーケットのインスタントラーメンの価格は一袋あたり2500ドンから10,000ドンに及ぶ。 ベトナムの食品加工産業は、アメリカ、オーストラリア、フランス、ドイツにインスタント製品を輸出している。カナダや、チェコ共和国、スロバキア、ハンガリーなどの東ヨーロッパにも、市場に製品を提供している。 http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/146341/vietnam-ranks-second-in-world-for-instant-noodle-consumption.html (15111
Imports of used IT goods to be banned
Hanoi (VNA) – The import of second-hand information technology (IT) products will be prohibited from December 15. The Ministry of Information and Communications has issued Circular No 31/2015/TT-BTTTT, stipulating the ban for products such as laptops, tablets and mobile phones, along with speakers, flash disk drives, as well as liquid-crystal display and light emitting diode screens, digital cameras. The ban will also apply to used components and accessories of these products. The circular provides guidelines for the implementation of Decree No 187/2013/ND-CP, which was issued in November 2013 on enforcing the law of commerce with regard to the international trade of goods. It replaces Circular No 11/2012/TT-BTTTT. -VNA http://en.vietnamplus.vn/imports-of-used-it-goods-to-be-banned/84750.vnp http://en.vietnamplus.vn/imports-of-used-it-goods-to-be-banned/84750.vnp
Rice export deals hit record level in October
HCM City (VNA) – Exporters signed contracts to sell nearly 2 million tonnes of rice overseas in October, exceeding the figure of the same period last year by over 22 percent and a record volume for one month. The outcome is attributable to the winning of bids to sell more than 1.5 million tonnes of rice to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Cuba. According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), in the last ten months, Vietnam exported over 5 million tonnes of rice, a slight decrease of 6 percent year-on-year. The export price also dropped by 24.03 USD per tonne. Asia maintained its position as Vietnam’s biggest rice importer, despite an…
Millions of credit cards idle in Vietnam
VietNamNet Bridge – About 20 percent or 20 million Vietnamese residents have bank accounts but the number of issued cards quadruples it to reach 86 million this year meaning tens of millions of cards have been idle, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam. The Vietnam Bank Card Association said that the number of cards issued this year has been up 30 percent over 2013, comprising 90 percent domestic cards and 10 percent international cards. Banknet.vn reported that 50 percent of current payment cards in Vietnam do not operate at all. The above numbers prove that bank card issue has run after quantity not customers’ demand, causing waste because…
HCM City to reduce staff by 14,000 by 2021
HCM City plans to reduce its white-collar employees by 14,000 by 2021, according to a municipal Interior Affairs Department plan. The plan aims at restructuring the number of employees at State-and Government-owned agencies, as well as attracting more talented people to work for the agencies. The plan also seeks to increase the capability and effectiveness of the State- and Government-owned agencies and reform the salary system. The workforce reduction will also eliminate unqualified staff, who are seen as diminishing the effectiveness of the currently cumbersome systems. At present, the city has 56 administrative agencies and nearly 1,700 State-owned offices. This year, the municipal authority has approved a quota on employees…
Vietnam attends leading SEA food showcase in Indonesia
Jakarta (VNA) – A number of Vietnamese firms are joining the international exhibition on food and beverages InterFood Indonesia 2015, Southeast Asia’s leading food showcase held annually in Jakarta, Indonesia. The four-day event offers a venue for networking and accessing new innovations used in food and beverage manufacturing. Exhibitors are more than 800 local and foreign enterprises from 22 countries, including leading players in the industry that came to seek suppliers of materials and goods. Sideline events include a seminar and customer conferences that introduce new products and technological advances. With a population of approximately 250 million people, Indonesia is a promising market for food and beverage products which account…
Electricity output up nearly 13 percent in first 10 months
The total power output of the electricity sector in the first ten months of this year reached 136.25 billion kWh, up 12.95 percent compared to the same period last year, according to a report released by the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN). The group’s power output alone in the period was 132.64 billion kWh, up 11.69 percent year-on-year. Of the figure, power generation from hydroelectricity plants made up 37.6 percent of the total while, those from from thermal power and gas-fuelled plants were 31.69 and 29 percent, respectively. EVN completed four 500-220kV transmission line projects and began construction on seven 220kV projects. According to the EVN, the group is accelerating to put…
New boost given to support industry
Hanoi (VNA) – A number of incentives to boost the development of the have been introduced, under a recently approved decree. According to Decree No. 111/2015/ND-CP, organisations and individuals who study and work to develop prioritised support industry products under the Support Industry Development Programme will be eligible for financial and land incentives. Those involved in technology transfer in the prioritised support sectors will also get incentives. In addition, individuals who participate in the Support Industry Development Programme will be trained at home or abroad to enhance their abilities. The prioritised support industry products will be introduced in a national trade promotion programme, receive financial support for brand name registration,…
Weak English skills hinder local employees
VietNamNet Bridge – A Navigos Search report entitled Challenges in Recruiting and Retaining Mid-level and Senior Employees for Foreign Firms in Vietnam published on November 3 has revealed that even though local employees are considered hard-working, they have trouble with English. The report is part of a series of surveys conducted in Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Japan by the En World Group, of which Navigos Search is a member. According to the survey, 41% of firms couldn’t recruit enough local employees to fill middle and high-ranking positions in the last 12 months and only 9% were satisfied with the employees’ English skills. In Thailand and Singapore, 52% and 53% also…
Apple’s latest dual handsets report record sales in HCM City
HCM City (VNA) – Apple’s latest dual handsets, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus officially became available on shelves in selected stores in Ho Chi Minh City on November 6. The price of the iPhone 6s starts from 18.890 million VND (859 USD) and the iPhone 6s Plus starts from 21.790 million VND (991 USD). Prices might vary between retailers. The thegioididong.com system has received more than 3,000 orders since October 30. Of these, more than 2,400 customers made a deposit to purchase the products, marking an unprecedented order record for the company. The Gioi Di Dong Investment Ltd Company’s Head of Pre-Paid Programming, Huynh Van Tot, said that…
BIDV borrows 200 mln USD from China’s development bank
Hanoi (VNA) – The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) on November 5 signed an agreement to secure a five-year loan worth 200 million USD from the China Development Bank (CDB). The financial resource will enable BIDV to improve its capacity of financing middle and long term loans for economic development projects. On the same day, the two banks also signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement. Accordingly, BIDV and CDB will cooperate in granting credits and co-fund projects of the two sides’ clients. The agreement also covered the fields of investment opportunities, international payments, sponsorship for trade, and foreign currency exchange. The issue of participating in the China -ASEAN…
Amended law on media expected to allow greater journalistic freedoms
Hanoi (VNA) – The National Assembly on November 4 said some provisions in the draft of the amended law on media still hindered media freedom and asked the drafting committee to ensure the law doesn’t intervene too much in media activities. The comments were made on November 4 by the NA’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents and Children. While saying that draft law has adapted to changes in society to regulate the media’s activities, the committee also asked the drafting committee to study further and make adjustments. For instance, the committee said it was unnecessary for the law to require complicated procedures for attaining media activities licences, which it…
Vietnam attends Cuba’s international trade fair
Havana (VNA) – Vietnam is joining 4,500 foreign exhibitors from 60 countries and territories worldwide at the 33rd Havana International Fair 2015 (FIHAV), which is taking place in Havana from November 2-7. A Vietnam Day and a Cuba- Vietnam business conference are scheduled to be held on November 3 and 4, respectively, in the framework of the fair. Consumer goods, machinery, equipment, raw materials and services, among others, are on display on an exhibiting area of more than 20,000 square metres. This year’s event has seen the largest number of participants in the past 15 years, Cuban Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Rodrigo Malmierca said at the opening ceremony, highlighting…
Japanese corporation to introduce farming machinery to Can Tho
Japan’s Satake Corporation aims to invest in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho’s agricultural equipment, General Director Nguyen Trong Hieu told municipal authorities on November 2. Satake works on high-tech machinery for agriculture, from sowing to post-harvest preservation. It plans to introduce Can Tho to seed-split and drying equipment with a designed capacity of 30-120 tonnes per batch. Municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Dao Anh Dung suggested Satake hold seminars to introduce products, support policies and technology transfers. Can Tho will work closely with Satake to launch product displays, he said, adding that http://en.vietnamplus.vn/japanese-corporation-to-introduce-farming-machinery-to-can-tho/84099.vnp http://en.vietnamplus.vn/japanese-corporation-to-introduce-farming-machinery-to-can-tho/84099.vnp
30 percent of Vietnamese population to join online shopping by 2020
The Vietnam E-commerce and Information Technology Agency (VECITA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade set a goal to get 30 percent of Vietnamese people shopping online by 2020. It also aims to bring annual e-commerce sales to an average of 350 USD per person . In order to boost online consumers’ and businesses’ confidence, VECITA is improving legal frameworks for e-payments and logistics services, as well as developing corresponding application solutions, said Tran Huu Linh, head of VECITA. Linh said current legal frameworks and infrastructure do not meet rising demand for e-commerce growth, adding that the revenue from the field is estimated to reach 4 billion USD in 2015.…
Nearly 1,300 deals inked at Hanoi Gift Show
A total of 1,285 memoranda of understanding (MoU) and contracts were signed at the Hanoi Gift Show 2015 that wrapped up on October 30. Of the figure, 865 contracts worth 150 million USD were reached with foreign importers. Total retail sales of goods at the show exceeded 10 billion VND (450,000 USD). The four-day event attracted about 600 importers from 39 countries and territories worldwide and 230 domestic businesses showcasing their typical products in nearly 600 booths. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Pham Quang Nghi, Secretary of the Hanoi Party’s Committee, noted his hope that the municipal Department of Industry and Trade will join hands with relevant departments and agencies…
Nearly 1,300 deals inked at Hanoi Gift Show
A total of 1,285 memoranda of understanding (MoU) and contracts were signed at the Hanoi Gift Show 2015 that wrapped up on October 30. Of the figure, 865 contracts worth 150 million USD were reached with foreign importers. Total retail sales of goods at the show exceeded 10 billion VND (450,000 USD). The four-day event attracted about 600 importers from 39 countries and territories worldwide and 230 domestic businesses showcasing their typical products in nearly 600 booths. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Pham Quang Nghi, Secretary of the Hanoi Party’s Committee, noted his hope that the municipal Department of Industry and Trade will join hands with relevant departments and agencies…
Nearly 1,300 deals inked at Hanoi Gift Show
A total of 1,285 memoranda of understanding (MoU) and contracts were signed at the Hanoi Gift Show 2015 that wrapped up on October 30. Of the figure, 865 contracts worth 150 million USD were reached with foreign importers. Total retail sales of goods at the show exceeded 10 billion VND (450,000 USD). The four-day event attracted about 600 importers from 39 countries and territories worldwide and 230 domestic businesses showcasing their typical products in nearly 600 booths. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Pham Quang Nghi, Secretary of the Hanoi Party’s Committee, noted his hope that the municipal Department of Industry and Trade will join hands with relevant departments and agencies…
Nearly 1,300 deals inked at Hanoi Gift Show
A total of 1,285 memoranda of understanding (MoU) and contracts were signed at the Hanoi Gift Show 2015 that wrapped up on October 30. Of the figure, 865 contracts worth 150 million USD were reached with foreign importers. Total retail sales of goods at the show exceeded 10 billion VND (450,000 USD). The four-day event attracted about 600 importers from 39 countries and territories worldwide and 230 domestic businesses showcasing their typical products in nearly 600 booths. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Pham Quang Nghi, Secretary of the Hanoi Party’s Committee, noted his hope that the municipal Department of Industry and Trade will join hands with relevant departments and agencies…
Motor Show showcases 150 models
The country’s largest auto exhibition, Vietnam Motor Show 2015, opened on October 28 in HCM City with 18 top automotive brands and a record 150 models. “For the last decade, Vietnam Motor Show has brought value to customers,” Yoshihisa Maruta, General Director of Toyota Vietnam and Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA), delivered his opening speech. “Visitors will have a chance to experience advanced technology such as automatic functions that support the deceleration, and environmental friendly technologies,” he added. An online photo contest “Take a Selfie with Vietnam Motor Show 2015” will be also launched on VMS’s fanpage. Two free Thailand tours will be given to visitors taking…
City approves pilot bus advertising
HCMC – The HCMC government has approved a one-year pilot scheme for using public buses in the city as a medium for advertising after many years of debate. Just a certain number of commuter buses can be used by advertisers to reach customers through their messages, thus generating a fresh stream of revenue and subsequently reducing the city’s huge subsidies for buses. Buses on the 10 subsidized routes have been chosen to carry out the scheme which is expected to generate total revenue of around VND9.8 billion according to a HCMC Department of Transport report sent to the Economic and Budgetary Committee of the People’s Council of the city in…
Digiworld named among top 50 Vietnam brands
Technology and electronic products distributor Digiworld Corporation (Digiworld) has been listed among top 50 Vietnam Brands 2015 by Brand Finance, a brand valuation and strategy consultancy. Brand Finance values the Digiworld brand at 19 million USD. The value of the company is 75 million USD. Last year Digiworld achieved revenues of 230 million USD, a 60 percent increase from 2013. The company distributes products made by top brands like Acer, Samsung, Dell, Toshiba, Samsung, Gateway, Genius, Logitech, Lenovo, and Nokia. It has 6,000 stores around the country. Brand Finance every year announces the values of more than 57,000 brands in the world, and this year the Vietnam list also includes…
Hanoi gift show attracts numerous foreign businesses
About 600 importers from 39 countries and territories are participating in the Hanoi Gift Show 2015 that opened in Hanoi on October 27. Of the businesses, over 80 importers have the purchasing power of more than 100 million USD a year. The event, organised by the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, also sees 230 domestic businesses nationwide showcasing their typical products in nearly 600 booths. The annual event, held at the Vietnam Exhibition Fair Centre, will run until October 30.-VNA http://en.vietnamplus.vn/hanoi-gift-show-attracts-numerous-foreign-businesses/83797.vnp
High-tech park contributes to HCM City economy
Thirteen years after it opened, the SaiGon Hi-tech Park (SHTP) has achieved total sales of 13.6 billion USD, including 13.5 billion USD in export value. Since the first company was licensed at the SHTP in September 2005, HCM City has issued licences to 101 additional companies with a combined investment of 4.9 billion USD, of which FDI accounted for over 4 billion USD. SHTP’s products now make up 94 percent of HCM City’s hi-tech products, according to Le Hoai Quoc, head of the SHTP Management Board. As of September 2015, 82 investment projects in the park remained valid, with total registered capital of 4.38 billion USD. These include 46 operational…
Deputy PM hails Citigroup’s business expansion in Vietnam
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh expressed his support for Citigroup to expand its operation in Vietnam while receiving Chief Executive Officer Michael L.Corbat in Hanoi on October 23. He was delighted that many foreign investors, including Citigroup, have chosen Vietnam as a business destination. On the occasion, the host also wished that Citigroup would continue assisting Vietnam in personnel training for the finance-banking sector. Corbat, in response, lauded the Vietnamese government for its successes in macro-economic stability, equitisation of State-owned enterprises, economic restructuring and administrative reform. Citigroup wants to continue providing Vietnam with hi-quality personnel training and an insight into regional and global economic developments, he said, adding that…
Taiwanese firm builds bike production cluster in Binh Duong
A cooperation agreement to build a bicycle production cluster in the southern province of Binh Duong was signed between representatives from the Active International Vietnam Co., Ltd and the Becamex IDC on October 23. Under the document, Active International Vietnam chose the Bau Bang Industrial Park (IP), which was invested by Becamex IDC, to house the cluster. The project, with an estimated cost of 200-250 million USD, will be built on an area of 80 hectares in the Bau Bang IP. Once completed and operational, it is expected to attract 45-60 businesses and generate jobs for 10,000 labourers. The Active International Vietnam is a subsidiary of Taiwan (China)’s DDK Corporation,…
What are the assets of the middle class in Vietnam?
According to a report published by Credit Suisse in October, 14% of the 664 million adults in the world are in the middle class. This report is determined based on the total assets of people, not income. Accordingly, Vietnam has 3 million people classified as the middle class, accounting for 0.5% of the population and only a small fraction of the more than 63.6 million adults. Total assets of this group in 2015 is from $5,030 to $30,000. The average amount of assets of the middle class in Vietnam is about $18,074. With this figure, Vietnam was ranked 57th of 66 countries surveyed by Credit Suisse. This level is also…
Steel industry might grow 12 percent in next 2 years
The steel industry will grow 12 percent in the next two year under the impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Nguyen Minh Nhut, director of BlueScope Steel Vietnam Limited, said at a press conference on October 21. He noted that the sector itself does not benefit from tariff reduction or elimination under the TPP. However, the TPP is expected to boost investment in other sectors, which will drive demands for construction, thus pushing up demand for steel. The sector’s current annual growth rate is seven percent. Australian steelmaker Blue Scope has established its facilities in Vietnam for 20 years with three factories built at a cost of 130 million USD.…