In particular, Vietnam and Australia upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and Vietnam and New Zealand agreed to promote bilateral relations to a new height. Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Binh, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), and Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil co-chaired the opening ceremony. The discussion further noted the ongoing Phase 3 of the Can Tho City Development Project funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). This is an advantage for Vietnam to attract capital from foreign countries to invest in infrastructure as well as socio-economic development. It will act as a bridge between Vietnam and international donors, as well as among the Mekong River basin countries, to support Vietnam in meeting its set objectives.

Vietnamese agricultural products have more opportunities to hit the shelves of Japanese supermarket chain Aeon. (Photo: tapchicongthuong.vn)Vietnamese agricultural products have more opportunities to hit the shelves of Japanese supermarket chain Aeon as Aeon Topvalu will attend the Vietnam International Sourcing 2024 event to be held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on June 6-8 in Ho Chi Minh City.On the threshold of the event, General Director of Aeon TopValu Vietnam Shiotani Yuichiro had a working session with the MoIT’s European – American Market Department, saying he has a great expectation when joining the sourcing fair.There is a great demand for Vietnamese agricultural products and processed products in the markets where Aeon is present, he said, adding through last year's event, Aeon TopValu found suppliers for its supermarket chain in China, Thailand, and Malaysia.Along with persuading its purchasers from China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam to engage in the event, Aeon TopValu will continue joining hands with the MoIT to organise the Vietnamese Products Week in Japan in 2024, providing more chances for Vietnamese goods to break into Japan – the No.1 fastidious market in Asia, he said.The purchasers want to seek Vietnamese producers who are able to meet Aeon’s criteria and standards to become the retailer’s sustainable suppliers not only for its supermarkets in Vietnam but also its system across the globe, according to the Aeon representative.The event aims to promote direct linkages between Vietnamese manufacturing and exporting enterprises with foreign retail distribution networks and importers. It includes a series of workshops, seminars, business matching activities, and an exhibition called “Vietnam International Sourcing Expo”.This is annual premier sourcing fair in Vietnam, bringing together the leading manufacturers and exporters in the country./.

In the draft, the ministry wants to impose VAT on most exported services, instead of the zero rate as currently. The reason for the amendment is that tax authorities found it difficult to distinguish between revenues from exported services and from domestically consumed. According to the VCCI services export has huge potential for development. According to VCCI, most countries around the world are imposing zero VAT on exported services and allow tax refunds on inputs. Thus, VAT on exported services should be kept at zero, VCCI said.

HÀ NỘI – Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà urged ministries and sectors to address the paradox of excess in the high-end segment and shortage in the affordable segment of the real estate market, and to resolve the issue of price manipulation to develop a healthy real estate market. He emphasised that the Government and the National Assembly had urgently amended related laws and prepared legal guidance documents to remove barriers in the real estate market. According to the Ministry of Construction, the real estate market has shown many positive changes. Therefore, the SBV aimed to address issues in the real estate sector, especially in credit mechanisms, to reschedule and defer debts. At the meeting, representatives of associations, real estate businesses and banks focused on discussing solutions to determine reasonable prices for high-end commercial housing and evaluate the real estate market for customers with medium and low incomes.

Vietnam commits to cutting emissions to net zero by 2050. (Photo: netzero.vn)The Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, and Industry and Trade, and the World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam) have called on people to join hands in reducing carbon footprint, towards net zero emissions, in response to the Earth Hour campaign.They call on Vietnamese people turn off their lights for Earth Hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on March 23.The Ministry of Industry and Trade has sent documents to the People’s Committees of cities and provinces, and the Vietnam Electricity (EVN), asking them to work together in the organisation work.Localities were also urged to step up the information work to encourage agencies, businesses, and local residents to respond to the campaign.Since its inception in 2007, Earth Hour has been known for the “lights off” moment, with individuals from around the globe switching off their lights to show symbolic support for the planet and to raise awareness of the environmental issues affecting it.At the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference ( COP26 ) in the UK in 2021, Vietnam committed to cutting emissions to net zero by 2050, and at the COP28 in the United Arab Emirates last year, it affirmed its resolve to achieve the goal./.

The first VGLF, held in 2019, attracted more than 200 guests and 20 Vietnamese and international delegations. (Photo: VNA)The Vietnam Global Leaders Forum (VGLF) 2024 will take place in Paris on March 30-31, aiming to harness collective intelligence, mobilise resources and unlease the nation’s full potential amid evolving landscapes.The event, the second of its kind so far, is held at the initiative of the Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts (AVSE Global). It is expected to draw 100 prominent Vietnamese and Vietnamese-origin individuals with global influence in all fields from over 20 countries and territories worldwide.Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duc Khuong, AVSE Global Director, told the Vietnam News Agency that the forum, themed “Vietnam Thriving in Change”, will become an important event that have positive impacts on the Vietnamese people who wish to take actions for a strong Vietnam.It is also an affirmation for the country’s resolve in improving its economic stature towards a future of renewal, cooperation, prosperity and sustainable development, he added.According to Khuong, in Southeast Asia and beyond, Vietnam has been risen as a bright spot for sound response to global headwinds and strong growth. AVSE Global , a non-profit organisation headquartered in Paris, includes intellectuals, leading experts, and prestigious scientists.With the support of 2,000 experts and a network of about 10,000 people, AVSE Global conducts strategic programmes and projects to boost Vietnam's sustainable development and prosperity through 12 networks of experts, 10 international seminars and forums, 20 training programmes, and more than 10 large-scale consulting projects in various fields./.

The fruit and vegetable sector is hoped to remain a bright spot in 2024 as many businesses reported that orders are full until the end of the first quarter. Although shipments to Europe and the US are forecast to be hindered by the Red Sea tension, exports to China will be boosted, driven by durian, dragon fruit, jackfruit, banana, and mango. Durian alone is expected to bring in 3.5 billion USD after the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the General Administration of Customs of China signed a protocol on phytosanitary requirements last year. According to statistics from the General Department of Customs, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable export turnover hit 5.6 billion USD last year, up over 60% year-on-year. The largest importers of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables were China, the US, the Republic of Korea and Japan./.

The first leg will take place at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium of Indonesia on March 21, and the second leg at My Dinh Stadium on March 26. The squad will welcome the return of a number of familiar players, notably defenders Nguyen Thanh Chung, Bui Tien Dung and Nguyen Duc Chien, strikers Nguyen Tien Linh and Nguyen Cong Phuong. The Vietnam national team is set to gather on March 13 but it will be until March 15 that the team will have full players due to the schedule of the round of 1/8 of the 2023-24 National Cup. Thus, Coach Troussier has only four days of training in Hanoi before leaving for Indonesia on March 19. The Vietnamese team will return on March 22 to meet the Indonesian team again on March 26 at My Dinh National Stadium./.

The disease has claimed 25 lives in 16 provinces this year alone, he was quoted by local media as saying. Cholnan said that he has instructed provincial disease control committees to coordinate with health volunteers to look for possible mosquito nursing grounds and spray them with chemicals. Meanwhile, director-general of the Disease Control Department Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn said the ratio of dengue deaths was far higher than those from influenza and COVID-19, reaching 0.14 per 100 cases, compared to 0.01-0.02 deaths for every 100 influenza patients. The Public Health Ministry has allocated 74.8 million THB (2.6 million USD) for distributing anti-mosquito sprays or lotions to dengue patients, he noted. Thongchai emphasised that if people protect themselves from mosquito bites even for five days, they can save the ministry about 219 million THB in treatment costs./.

Canadian Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng recently held a dialogue with Canadian businesses and associations and trade representatives from Việt Nam, Malaysia and Indonesia in preparation for a Canadian trade delegation’s visit to Việt Nam and Malaysia at the end of March. Besides, Canada could become a gateway for enterprises from Việt Nam and other ASEAN member states to penetrate the North American market, she added. Over the past time, Canada’s trade exchange with Việt Nam and Malaysia has been backed by the CPTPP of which the three nations are members. Việt Nam is currently the largest trading partner of Canada in ASEAN and is one of the economies with the highest economic growth that can bring trade and investment opportunities to Canadian firms. Meanwhile, Malaysia is also an important partner of Canada in the bloc, with two-way trade reaching nearly $6 billion in 2023.

He added that he will ask New Zealand to consider and recognise the Vietnamese community as an ethnic minority group. They have contributed greatly to the host nation as well as the Vietnam – New Zealand relations. In addition, Vietnam is investing in resources of Australia, which in turn is importing more products from Vietnam. The first phase of the Long Thanh International Airport project requires a total of nearly VND110 trillion. In the year to early this month, over 141,000 Chinese had crossed the Mong Cai International Border Gate to Vietnam.

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's public debts have been kept at a sustainable and stable level, which has given room for the country to implement reasonable and expansionary fiscal policies when necessary, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of Finance Hồ Đức Phớc said. According to Phớc, Việt Nam’s public debt-to-GDP ratio decreased from 43.1 per cent in 2021 to only 37 per cent by early 2024, while the ratio approved by the National Assembly stands at 60 per cent. The restructuring of Việt Nam’s public debt has also been improved. These positive steps can be attributed to the country’s efforts in fiscal consolidation and public debt control. To manage public debt in a sustainable way, the Ministry of Finance said it will continue to strengthen supervision, inspection and audit of public debt, besides publicising public debt information and constantly improving the legal framework for public debt management.

The Da Nang Microchip and Artificial Intelligence Design, Research and Training Centre has been established to train and recruit human resources for the semiconductor industry. It has collaborated with 5 universities in the training of students to meet the specific requirements of tech firms. To prepare a workforce that meets requirements in the semiconductor and microchip sector, teams of specialised lecturers and adequate facilities and equipment that meet international standards have been prepared at member universities of Da Nang University. To stay ahead of semiconductor investment, in addition to supportive policies and readily available training programmes, Da Nang will also enhance its collaboration with global semiconductor corporations to develop specific training programmes aligned with the requirements of global supply chains. Da Nang will also soon have access to a fund from the state budget, to provide supplementary training, long-term training, and technical training for individuals currently working in the field in the city./.

Delegates attending 30th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat (Photo: VNA)– Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan attended the 30th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in Luang Prabang , Laos, on March 8-9, during which he expressed Vietnam’s support for Laos' priority economic cooperation initiatives in its ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2024.Tan said that Vietnam is committed to working closely with Laos and other ASEAN countries to fulfill set goals and plans, thus contributing to the overall success of the ASEAN 2024.He also emphasised the importance of giving priority to recovery activities and connecting economies, especially prioritising resources for new negotiation activities and negotiations to upgrade agreements within ASEAN and between the grouping and partner countries.At the meeting, participating ministers approved 14 priority economic deliverables (PEDs) put forward by Laos, with focus on three main directions of recovering and connecting economies, creating an inclusive and sustainable future, and transforming towards the digital future.They also adopted the ASEAN Services Facilitation Framework (ASFF).Delegates also exchanged other important contents for ASEAN economic cooperation such as the status of negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Competition, the upgrade of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA), the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as well as initiatives on sustainability in the ASEAN Economic Community.On the sidelines of the meeting, the ministers discussed with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), during which they noted ABAC's priorities for 2024 as well as its recommendations to promote a favourable business environment in ASEAN in the coming time./.

AUCKLAND – Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính received Professor Neil Quigley, Vice Chancellor of Waikato University and Chair of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, in Auckland on Sunday. The Prime Minister highly appreciated Waikato University, one of the leading universities in New Zealand, which always considers Việt Nam a priority area in the Southeast Asian region. PM Chính proposed that the university expand cooperation in human resource development with Việt Nam through such activities as opening more branches in Việt Nam, granting scholarships, and exchanging lecturers and teaching curricula. He suggested some new, potential areas where Việt Nam has high demand, such as digital technology, Fintech, artificial intelligence, big data, cybersecurity, hydro, semiconductor chip, biotechnology and environment. They also suggested that Việt Nam re-open air routes and exempt visas to facilitate the travel of New Zealand-based Vietnamese intellectuals to Việt Nam for cooperation.