This is the first year of EPR implementation in Việt Nam, and the hope is to create a change in the process of promoting the circular economy. In 2021 nine enterprises, TH Group, Coca-Cola, FrieslandCampina, La Vie, Nestle, Nutifood, Suntory PepsiCo, Tetra Pak, and Universal Robina Corporation established the Packaging Recycling Organisation Việt Nam. In October 2023 La Vie Limited Liability Company signed a memorandum of understanding for a waste-plastic collection and recycling co-operation programme with DUYTAN Plastic Recycling. DUYTAN Plastic Recycling has invested US$60 million in a plastic recycling plant that used Bottle to Bottle technology. The factory is now among the five most modern and largest that recycle plastic in the world.

Compiled by Thu HàHÀ NỘI — As the room for the fiscal policy remains quite large, Việt Nam in 2024 should continue to pursue the counter-cyclical fiscal policy, with a focus on increasing spending and maximising tax and fee exemption and reduction, to support economic growth, experts believe. According to experts, in 2023, although there were still many difficulties in promoting economic growth, the positive effects of fiscal and monetary policies were shown. Meanwhile, the fiscal policy, including supporting packages for reducing and exempting taxes and fees of several goods and services, were quite effective, contributing to supporting the business community to overcome difficulties, recover and develop production and business. As the domestic economy in 2024 will still face many difficulties due to the impact of global headwinds while room for the domestic monetary policy remains quite limited, experts suggest that it is necessary to rely more on fiscal policy to help the country achieve the growth target of 6-6.5 per cent. In 2024, the fiscal supporting policy should continue to be implemented in the direction of increasing public investment spending; maximising tax and fee reduction and exemption; and strengthening administrative and investment procedure reforms to stimulate aggregate demand.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (right) and Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh at a ceremony to receive the ambassador's letter of credentials. Despite economic difficulties, Germany agreed to grant 61 million EUR in non-refundable aid to Vietnam for the 2024-2025 period. Many Vietnamese businesses resumed promotion activities and attended trade fairs in Germany. President Steinmeier will be accompanied by a group of large German businesses operating in various industries.According to Ambassador Minh, Vietnam has become a leading attractive destination for German businesses. A Letter of Intent on labour cooperation is expected to be signed on the occasion, Minh said./.

The PM briefed the participants on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation, affirming the important and positive contributions of the Vietnamese community abroad to the country's achievements. In the coming time, it will boost support for the Vietnam National Innovation Centre in terms of innovation and modern technology development, he added. According to the Ambassador, the Vietnamese community in Argentina numbers about 230 people, mostly living in northern Argentina and Buenos Aires province. In the coming time, it will boost support for the Vietnam National Innovation Centre in terms of innovation and modern technology development, he added. Cultural exchanges contribute to Vietnam - Germany mutual understanding: opinionNguyen Duc Thang, head of the Thang Muoi (October) arts club – a member of the Germany - Vietnam Association, has highlighted the role of cultural exchanges in promoting mutual understanding between the two peoples.

A total of 100 defendants were brought to court in connection with the case. Five defendants were given 20 years in prison for terrorism aimed at opposing the people’s administration, and two others 19 years on the same charge. Other defendants, including six on the run abroad, got jail sentences from 9 months to 18 years. Ninety-two defendants in the case were ordered to pay compensation for agencies, organisations and individuals suffering material and mental damage. In connection with this case, the provincial police in Đắk Lắk have conducted investigation and transferred 94 individuals to the provincial People's Procuracy on charges of terrorism against the people's government, engagement in terrorist activities, illegal immigration, and concealing criminals.

Former German Ambassador to Vietnam Rolf Schulze. (Photo: VNA)Berlin (VNA) – Former German Ambassador to Vietnam Rolf Schulze has said that the coming state visit to Vietnam by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his spouse is a testament to the close bilateral relations and friendship between the two countries. In an interview to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the visit, Schulze, who is now President of the Germany-Vietnam Association, said the visit takes place just more than a year after the successful trip to Vietnam by Prime Minister Olaf Scholz. It is also the headquarters of the German Consulate General, becoming a leading destination for German companies when seeking investment business opportunities in Vietnam. According to the former diplomat, at the bilateral level, vocational training will bring many opportunities for the two countries’ cooperation in the future.

by Nguyễn Mỹ HàThe month leading up to Tết (the Lunar New Year festival) has always been beautiful. "Mum, I know you're waiting for my news by now," goes a popular song about a son who cannot make it home for Tết. Many of us could have spent a Tết or more without family. Over the past week, a video has gone viral showing young soldiers crying as they say goodbye to their comrades for two years. After two years of fierce training in the army, strangers have become close friends, like family even.

BUCHAREST – On the threshold of his official visit to Romania, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính granted an interview to the Romanian media on Việt Nam’s development experiences, important policies of the 13th National Party Congress and the prospects of the Việt Nam-Romania relationship. Việt Nam has fulfilled Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule, ranking high in human development among economies of similar development levels. Such success demonstrates Việt Nam's attractiveness to the international business community and foreign investors, he said. PM Chính noted that in tandem with Romania's achievements, the bilateral relationship with Việt Nam is witnessing substantial progress across multiple sectors. People-to-people exchanges are increasingly robust as more Romanian tourists explore Việt Nam.

Vietnamese organisations and individuals in the Kansai region have donated 600,000 JPY (over 4,000 USD) to help residents in earthquake-hit Suzu and Wajima cities. (Photo: VNA)Tokyo (VNA) – Vietnamese organisations and individuals in the Kansai region have donated 600,000 JPY (over 4,000 USD) to help residents in earthquake-hit Suzu and Wajima cities, Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture. Ishikawa was one of the Japanese localities hit by the massive earthquake on January 1. All Vietnamese living near the quake's epicenter were safely relocated to shelters where they were provided with necessary supplies. According to statistics, about 5,000 Vietnamese people are living in Ishikawa, of them about 600 were affected by the earthquake./.

However, to foster further development, the textile and garment industry in Việt Nam wants a bilateral agreement or a free trade agreement to reduce export taxes upon entering the Canadian market. To address this situation, Kirke suggested a free trade agreement between the two sides. According to him, a small change could benefit both sides, or they could consider a separate free trade agreement. Both approaches would help Việt Nam's textile and garment products become more competitive. Việt Nam, currently among the top three global textile exporters, sees room for further economic integration and market expansion.

Right from the beginning of 2023, localities have actively implemented tourism promotion programmes as well as cultural and sports activities to encourage travelling activities, while introducing new products to lure more international tourists. As a result, after 11 months, Vietnam welcomed more than 11.2 million foreign visitors, 3.8 times higher than that in the same period of 2022. In the year, Vietnam's tourism has been highly evaluated internationally, receiving many awards from the World Travel Awards, including the World’s Leading Heritage Destination 2023 for the fourth time and Asia’s Leading Destination. Many tourism experts held that the sector should set a high goal in the number of foreign arrivals in 2024, suggesting it at 17-18 million. Setting a high target is also a way to prompt localities to take actions right from the beginning of the year, creating new opportunities for the industry to grow, said insiders./.

HÀ NỘI — Numerous companies in the water industry have reported surpassing their predetermined revenue and profit targets by the conclusion of 2023. Conversely, Thủ Dầu Một Water reported a net revenue of VNĐ532.6 billion for 2023, an 11.2-per cent increase compared to the previous year. The majority of this revenue, VNĐ466 billion, comes from clean water supply, accounting for 87.5 per cent of the total, while VNĐ6.8 billion is from raw water supply. TDM Water reported a post-tax profit of VNĐ283 billion for 2023, a 28.6-per cent increase compared to 2022. In 2023, Nhà Bè Water Supply aimed for a total revenue of VNĐ873 billion and a pre-tax profit of VNĐ27.9 billion.

Insurance agency works hard to prevent social, health insurance profiteeringThe insurance agency will work hard to prevent social, and health insurance profiteering by strengthening inspections. Vietnam Social Insurance yesterday held a national online conference to deploy social insurance and health insurance in 2024 in Hanoi. Furthermore, in 2023, the country’s social insurance sector has given monthly pensions and social insurance benefits to nearly 95,700 retirees and social welfare brackets. Total expenditure on social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance funds is over VND439,270 billion (US$17.8 billion). Employment and related laws are in accordance with the spirit of the Central resolutions on social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance policies.

BUDAPEST – Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán attended a Việt Nam-Hungary business forum in Budapest on January 19 (local time). The event was co-hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary, and the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency. On the occasion, the PM encouraged Hungarian investors and firms to explore opportunities for expanding investment cooperation in Việt Nam. Operating in Việt Nam since 1995, Richter now runs its representative office for product distribution in Hồ Chí Minh City. The company expressed a desire to continue receiving favourable conditions for its business operations in Việt Nam.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (front row, 2nd from right) attends the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which opened in Kampala, Uganda, on January 19. (Photo: VNA)Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan is leading a Viet nam ese delegation to attend the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which opened in Kampala, Uganda, on January 19.With its theme on deepening cooperation for global prosperity, the two-day event draws high-ranking officials from over 120 developing countries.Earlier, a preparatory ministerial meeting took place on January 17 and 18, during which negotiators finalised a draft document to be presented to the leaders at the summit.The document covers a range of important global and regional issues, including the East Sea matter. It underscores the commitment of member countries to multilateralism, emphasises adherence to and promotion of international law and the UN Charter. It also notes the urgent need for reforming the multilateral system in the new circumstances with emerging non-traditional security challenges.The document also reflects deep concerns about the worsening situation in the Palestine, with special attention given to the severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip./.