First-ever GMS Business Summit opens in HanoiThe first-ever Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Business Summit opened in Hanoi on March 30 as part of the sixth GMS Summit (GMS-6) and the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit (CLV-10). Applauding the initiative of the Cambodia Government on establishing a GMS young entrepreneurs business network, he said the VCCI also proposes a women-led business network and GMS startup network. On the occasion, Sok Phiset, Vice Chairman of the GMS Business Council and President of Cambodia Young Entrepreneurs Association, launched the GMS Business Connect (GBC) Application. A panel discussion featuring new business models – view of young and women entrepreneurs in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) as part of the GMS Business Summit in Hanoi on March 30. The first-ever GMS Business Summit forms part of the sixth GMS Summit (GMS-6) and the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit (CLV-10), which is one of the most important diplomatic events of Vietnam in 2018.

Limitation in open budget indexVietnam is ranked under the global average in the open budget index, especially in terms of public participation. Vietnam is ranked under the global average in the open budget index, especially in terms of public participation. — Photo saigontimes.vnThat’s according to the report of Open Budget Survey composed and published by International Budget Partnership (IBP) on Thursday. Vietnam’s budget transparency (Open Budget Index - OBI) scored 15 out of 100 in terms of transparency, dropping three points compared to the previous survey in 2015. According to Huong, the 2015 Law of State Budget has several provisions aiming to accelerate the budget transparency.

Vietnam needs big deals to reach M&A value exceeding $8 billionVietNamNet Bridge - The total value of M&A deals made in 2017 was 8.4 billion, according to IMMA (Institute of Mergers, Acquisitions, and Alliances). More M&A deals with big value were made in the year among well-known corporations. 2017 was the fourth consecutive year which saw M&A value increasing after the recession in 2012-2013. The real estate market saw 35 M&A deals worth $614 million in total, equal to the value of the finance M&A market. The real estate market saw 35 M&A deals worth $614 million in total, equal to the value of the finance M&A market.

NA Chairwoman wraps up official visit to the NetherlandsChairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and a high-level delegation of the Vietnamese NA left the Netherlands on March 29, concluding their four-day official visit to the European country. NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan holds a working session with NACO company. (Photo: VOV)Earlier on the same day, the top legislator visited and held a working session with the NACO company, an affiliate of Royal HaskoningDHV, specialising in airport design and consultancy. Over the past years, Vietnam and the Netherlands have implemented many cooperation programmes in this area, including the Dutch Aviation Vietnam (DAV) Cluster programme. The NA leader said she believes that aviation infrastructure projects in Vietnam will offer good opportunities for firms, consultants, manufacturers, and training institutions in the Netherlands’ aviation and aerospace industry.

Advice on education master planVietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam should utilise cutting-edge technology to reform education to become a fast mover, said Professor Ju Ho Lee, Republic of Korea (RoK)’s former Minister of Education, Science, and Technology. Professor Ju Ho Lee, Republic of Korea (RoK)’s former Minister of Education, Science, and Technology speaks at a higher education strategy stakeholder consultation yesterday. — Photo vnexpress.netHe was speaking yesterday at a higher education strategy stakeholder consultation hosted by World Bank and Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training. Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha said Vietnam’s higher education lacks a long-term, feasible and globally-integrated development strategy. The Master Plan of Higher Education serves as a foundation for the reform and comprehensive, sustainable, long-term development of Vietnamese higher education.

Citadel named Nat’l Special RelicVietNamNet Bridge – The Dien Hai Citadel in the central city was officially recognised as a National Special Relic, under the Prime Minister’s decision signed last year, marking the 160th anniversary of the victory in fighting against French-Spanish coalition forces in 1858-60. Recognition: Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien (right) hands over the certificate of National Special Relic for the Dien Hai Citadel in Da Nang. — VNS Photo Le LamIt’s also the first national special relic recognised among 50 historical sites and 18 national historical monuments in the city. The museum of Da Nang still preserves 11 iron cannons that were unearthed at the Dien Hai Citadel between 1979 and 2008. Coming back: A plan for the restoration of the Dien Hai Citadel.

Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong has talks with Cuban leader Raul CastroGeneral Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong had talks with First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee and President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba Raul Castro Ruz in Havana on March 29 afternoon (local time). General Secretary Trong underlined that the Party, State and people of Vietnam have a sincere friendship with their Cuban counterparts. He expressed his belief that the Cuban Party, State and people will keep solidarity to tackle all challenges and difficulties to promote the country’s revolutionary cause. Party General Secretary Trong invited the Cuban leader to soon return Vietnam. Earlier, Party General Secretary Trong and his entourage paid floral tribute to Cuban’s national hero Jose Marti at his statue.-VNA

President Tran Dai Quang meets with Lao PM Thongloun SisoulithVietnam and Laos need to continue deepening their political ties while boosting their cooperation in diplomacy, security, and defence fields, President Tran Dai Quang said at his reception for Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith in Hanoi on March 30. President Tran Dai Quang (R) and Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun SisoulithThe Lao leader is currently in Hanoi for the sixth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit (GMS-6) and the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit (CLV-10) from March 29-31. The President expressed his belief that the participation of PM Thongloun Sisoulith will contribute greatly to the success of these summits, creating an impetus for the cooperation in the sub-region and between Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. “Vietnam’s consistent policy is respecting and giving the top priority to preserving and developing the special solidarity with Laos. PM Thongloun Sisoulith praised Vietnam’s organisation of GMS-6 and CLV-10 and its initiatives to the events and expressed his belief that the summits will be successful.

Party Chief's busy activities in CubaVietnam and Cuba discussed ways to make their special ties more practical and effective with the focus on promising sectors such as economics, trade, investment, construction, agriculture, aquaculture and green energy. The school named after Vietnamese hero Vo Thi Thang is an example of the special friendship, Trong added. He said he expects the establishment to enhance its teaching quality and educate the next generation into good citizens, inheriting their predecessors’ legacy and continuing fostering Vietnam – Cuba relations. On the occasion, the Vietnamese Party leader inaugurated an IT classroom, which was his gift to the school. Party General Secretary Trong is on a four-day State visit to Cuba at the invitation of First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Central Committee and President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers Raul Castro Ruz.

iPhone update adds privacy 'transparency'Apple has updated its iOS, MacOS and tvOS operating systems to give people more information about how their personal data is collected and used. The change comes ahead of new EU data protection rules, which take effect on 23 May. The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) toughens the requirements on how organisations handle the public's data, and imposes harsher penalties for breaches. This is happening because companies are checking what they are doing before new data protection rules kick in," said Jim Killock. That's a victory for privacy and it shows that we can win improvements if governments listen to people's well-founded concerns about privacy."

US-Vietnam Energy Security Dialogue inauguratedThe US and Vietnam inaugurated the Energy Security Dialogue that the US only held in five countries over the world so far. Vietnam joins an exclusive clique to discuss energy security with the US (Illustration image)The US State Department and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) participated in the inaugural energy security dialogue this morning in Hanoi. During the dialogue, the US and Vietnamese representatives exchanged views on securing critical infrastructure and resources, strategic energy supply diversification, energy tariffs and pricing, technical assistance, renewable energy technology, regional interconnectivity, and held a commercial session. In addition, the two sides discussed opportunities for US businesses in the Vietnamese energy sector. Meeting with energy technology experts on March 29 preceded this dialogue.

Grab will not monopolise Vietnamese market, true? Vertex Ventures, Grab’s first investor, told VIR in an exclusive interview that the startup will not monopolise the Vietnamese ride-hailing market after its controversial merger with Uber earlier this week. The merger has sparked concerns over the latter acquiring a monopoly over the domestic ride-hailing market. This week, Grab announced its merger with Uber’s ride-hailing and food delivery business in Southeast Asia. In interviews and news releases following the merger, Grab said that it will ensure that rates remain affordable and arrange new positions for Uber's staff members.

CPV leader Nguyen Phu Trong honoured with Doctor Honoris Causa titleGeneral Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong was granted the Doctor Honoris Causa title in political science by the University of Havana (UH) to recognise his important contributions to Vietnam’s nation-building cause and practical and theoretical views he shared with Cuba at a ceremony in Havana on March 29 morning (local time). A leader of the University of Havana presents the Doctor Honoris Causa title to CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (L)General Secretary Trong thanked the UH and considered this as a vivid demonstration of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the Cuba State and people’s friendship towards Vietnam. Vietnam targets rapid and sustainable development as well as harmonious combination of economic growth and social progress and equality, which matches regional and global agenda, including the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Vietnam’s economy has attained and kept a fast growth rate for a relatively long period. With right and effective policies, the country has curbed the increase of inequality that usually occurs during the shift to a market economy in the countries with the same development level, General Secretary Trong noted.

Will Thaibev's complaint about Sabeco be resolved in time of AGM? Yesterday, in response to Thaibev, Vietnam’s Government Office said that Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has ordered the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to immediately investigate the matter. “MoIT needs to consider the suggestions of Thai Beverage right away, following existing regulations. It is alleged that Thai Beverage will introduce three representatives, equal to half of the board, at the April 6 meeting. The Thai investor had been expressing interest in Sabeco since 2014, aiming for a slice of Vietnam’s booming beer market.

Papua New Guinea earthquake: Strong tremor off New Britain islandA strong magnitude 6.9 earthquake has struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea's New Britain island, the US Geological Survey (USGS) says. Hazardous tsunami waves were forecast for some coastlines but there were no immediate reports of damage. The quake struck some 162km (100 miles) from Rabaul, on New Britain island, at 07:25 on Friday (21:25 GMT Thursday). Dellie Minding, a receptionist at the Rabaul Hotel in the east of New Britain, told Reuters news agency the earthquake had been felt, with many guests running outside, but there had been no damage. "We felt the earthquake, everything was moving so we went out of the building," the receptionist told Reuters.