AGS（AGS JOINT STOCK COMPANY）

Many Japanese firms in Vietnam have failed to make the most of the tariff preferences under Vietnam-Japan free trade agreement, said Atsuko Fukagawa, deputy managing director of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) office in Ho Chi Minh City. She made the remark at a workshop on the Vietnam-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in Ho Chi Minh City on October 21. A JETRO survey of Japanese enterprises in Asia and Oceania last year indicated that the FTA utilization rate among those operating in Vietnam, at 36 percent, is relatively lower than that of their peers in the region, for example, Indonesia (58.2 percent), Thailand (53.7…

HA NOI (VNS) — The Prime Minister has signed a decision on the criteria and distribution of the Stage budget for the 2016-20 period. According to the decision, the State budget’s development and investment fund will be distributed to socio-economic infrastructure projects in 20 fields. These include agriculture-forestry-irrigation and aqua-culture, industry, trading and traffic, as well as waste treatment, museums, culture and sports. Also on the list are tourism, science, information services and technology, as well as communications, education, health and food hygiene and society. Rounding up the list are the environment and natural resources, State management, national defence and the national reserve. The State budget’s distribution must serve the…

The 13th “Hoi An – Japan Cultural Exchange” took place in the ancient town of Hoi An in Quang Nam Province last week, featuring local and Japanese art troupes. Spectators had the opportunity to join a cosplay of Japanese anime characters, Yasakoi dancing, Japan kendo (a Japanese martial art), Kirigami (paper cutting), souvenir-photo taking sessions with Yukatacostume, Haiku poems exhibition, bonsai art, and sky admiring by an astronomical telescope. As part of the event, a wood crafting contest of Hoi An attracted 25 local artisans to create their artworks at the An Hoi Garden of Statues. The contest aimed to encourage and honor talented and creative artisans and to promote…

The Vietnamese government is reportedly drawing up policies for crowdfunding in the country, where many young companies are still struggling to get sufficient funding despite an increased interest in local startups in recent years. Singapore-based financial news website DEALSTREETASIA said on Monday that the Ministry of Planning and Investment is currently taking feedback from local startups, before the policy framework is finalized. Currently, Malaysia is the only country in the Southeast Asia to set up legal framework for the activity, it said. Vu Anh, founder of crowdfunding platform Fundstart.vn, was quoted as saying that Vietnam’s startup ecosystem has a market gap as far as funding goes, which places local startups…

As many as 60 power plants have joined the electricity market directly so far this year with a total capacity of 14,952 megawatts, accounting for 40 percent of the national power system, according to the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC). By the end of July, the centre was operating 107 power plants with an installed capacity of 37,594 megawatts and 750 transformer stations of 500/220/110 kilovolts with a total capacity of 99,914 mega-volt amperes. This year, power output is expected to reach 163.1 billion kilowatt hours, up 12.1 percent compared to 2014 http://en.vietnamplus.vn/60-plants-join-power-market-by-august/80168.vnp (150814)

Seventeen Vietnamese businesses processing and exporting agriculture and aquaculture products are participating in the 40th International Food and Beverage Exhibition in Japan (Foodex Japan 2015), which opened on March 3. Their products, including rice, fruits, fish sauce, cakes and beverages, are displayed across 126 square metres at the Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex in Chiba Prefecture. Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Doan Xuan Hung hailed the preparation of Vietnamese enterprises for the occasion, saying that many Japanese investors showed interests in the featured products. Foodex Japan is the largest international food and beverages exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region. It represents a valuable opportunity for Vietnamese businesses in the sector to seek…