Vietnam – new stop for semiconductor producers
Business Vietnam, Poland want to step up food trade The Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Trade (VCCI) in Ho Chi Minh City partnered with the Embassy of Poland in Vietnam to host a networking event in food and beverage to boost trade between the two countries. Business Automobile sale strongly rebounds in 7 months Automobile sales in Vietnam posted a month-on-month increase of 20% and a year-on-year surge of 88% in July, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA) reported on August 11.Business Seafood exports expected to reach 3 billion USD in Q3 Vietnam's seafood export value is expected to slow growth to 3 billion USD in the third quarter due to a lack of raw materials and disadvantages in the market in the second half. Business Reference exchange rate down 10 VND on August 12 The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate for the US dollar at 23,153 VND/USD on August 12, down 10 VND from the previous day.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 11, 2022 13:21 UTC
VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES AUGUST 11
Document on digital transformation in tourism industry publishedThe Tourism Information Technology Centre (TITC) under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has published a set of documents on digital transformation in the tourism industry. Straddling the north of the Truong Son Mountain Range, Phong Nha-Ke Bang is one of the most beautiful national parks in Vietnam. Holiday-makers have flocked to Sam Son Beach in the central province of Thanh Hoa. The Party chief urged Vientiane to step up close coordination and cooperation with Hanoi and other localities of Vietnam. It was developed by the Vietnam National Documentary Film Studio in coordination with the PCC's Commission for Information and Education, and the Su That National Political Publishing House.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 11, 2022 10:12 UTC
Art programme raises awareness on AO/dioxin disaster in Vietnam
At the event (Photo: VNA)An art programme on AO/dioxin disaster and efforts to address its consequences took place in Hanoi on August 10 on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the disaster in Vietnam.It featured art performances, reportages, and exchanges with domestic and international individuals who have made contributions to the remediation of the hazardous chemical and support for AO victims The event aimed to raise public awareness on the matters and honour victims who have made great efforts to overcome harsh circumstances as well as individuals and organisations in Vietnam and abroad with significant contributions to the alleviation of the disaster consequences.President of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin (VAVA) Nguyen Van Rinh said the Party and State have paid attention to difficulties facing the victims and issued many policies to assist them.Every year, dozens of trillion VND is spent on helping revolutionary contributors, resistance fighters infected with toxic chemicals, and their children and grandchildren suffering from AO consequences, he noted.Concerted efforts from the society in aid of the victims are needed, Rinh said, calling on the US Government and people as well as international organisations to further support Vietnam in its efforts toward related chemical remediation and pain relief.According to VAVA , the US army sprayed 80 million litres of toxic chemicals on the south of Vietnam between 1961 and 1971, with 61% being AO containing 366kg of dioxin, on over nearly 3.06 million hectares (equivalent to nearly one quarter of the south’s total area).Preliminary statistics showed that 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to AO/dioxin, and about 3 million people became victims. Tens of thousands of people have died while millions of others have suffered from cancer and other incurable diseases as a result. Many of their offsprings also suffer from birth deformities./.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 11, 2022 10:08 UTC
☀️ Morning digest August 11
Read full story - Vietnamese and Lao authorities and businesses exchanged information about investment policies in Hanoi and Vientiane, and sought cooperation opportunities at an investment, trade and tourism conference on August 10.The Hanoi event saw the participation of Dinh Tien Dung, Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, and Anouphap Tounalom, Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, and Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Vientiane. Read full story - Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha presented the "For the Cause of Natural Resources and Environment" insignia to Ambassador of Norway Grete Lochen in Hanoi on August 10 in recognition of her contributions to Vietnam’s natural resources and environment sector.The Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam has been a regular partner of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and the ambassador has always supported Vietnam in the fields of natural resources, environment and climate change, especially in attracting Norwegian investment in Vietnam, Ha said. Read full story - UNESCO and The Coca Cola Foundation launched a project themed “Youth Initiative Ideas for an Ocean without Plastic 2022” at a ceremony in Hanoi on August 10 in response to World Youth Day (August 12).The project is being implemented within the framework of the “Youth and Innovation for Ocean” project launched in 2020. Lasting from August this year to July 2023, it aims to support and empower young people as key change makers for the sustainable future of the seas. Read full story
Source:Viet Nam News
August 11, 2022 07:47 UTC
Vietnam to increase coal imports in 2025-2035 period: Ministry
Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Vietnam’s coal imports are forecast to rise to meet domestic production demand, according to a draft strategy for developing the coal industry in Vietnam recently introduced by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).Accordingly, Vietnam will import about 50-83 million tonnes of coal per year during the period from 2025 to 2035, with the volume gradually falling to about 32-35 million tonnes by 2045.The data from the MoIT shows domestic coal consumption increased rapidly from 27.8 million tonnes in 2011 to 38.77 million tonnes in 2015, and about 53.52 million tonnes in 2021.The volume of coal consumed at present has more than doubled compared to 2011, mainly for electricity production.The demand for primary energy, including coal, will continue to increase, possibly peaking in the 2030-2035 period, the ministry said.Vietnam's coal demand will be around 94-97 million tonnes in 2025, and peak at 125-127 million tonnes in 2030, mainly due to the increase in demand for power generation, and the cement, metallurgy and chemical industries.The ministry also predicted that the demand for energy after 2040 will decline due to the energy transition process to meet emission reduction targets.Coal used for non-energy purposes such as producing nitrogenous fertilisers and chemicals will be encouraged to develop to ensure the sustainable development of the domestic coal industry, it noted.In the draft strategy¸ the ministry said by 2030, about 85-90% or 39-42 million tonnes of commercial coal, will be prioritised for power production to ensure national energy security./.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 10, 2022 23:21 UTC
VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES AUGUST 10
Among them, a 5.5 magnitude which hit on December 24 was felt in many provinces and cities across Vietnam. The attachés also said they hope to have more chances to visit army units of Vietnam in the time ahead. Vietnam among top Asian holiday destinationsBrian Johnston, a travel writer for Traveller magazine, has named Vietnam among a list of the Top 8 best places in Asia to go to on holiday. With three consecutive wins, Vietnam will play Malaysia next in the final round at 6:30 pm on August 11 night. Vietnam water puppetry introduced in RoKFour Vietnamese artists will head to the Republic of Korea (RoK) for water puppetry shows in four cities to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the RoK.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 10, 2022 23:03 UTC
Festival held for children of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
Children's representatives from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia take part in the ceremony of dove release pigeons to show the spirit of peace and solidarity. (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – A festival for children from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia began on August 10 in Ho Chi Minh City, hosted by the Central Committee of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCMYU). The five-day event draws the participation of 185 children and 34 officials from the three countries. This is an activity to celebrate the “Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022,” the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Laos, 45 years of the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, the "Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Year 2022" and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic relations. During the event, delegates will visit historical relics and museums as well as attend activities at destinations in HCM City./.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 10, 2022 21:48 UTC
E-book “Vietnam in the Ho Chi Minh Era - A Television History” debuts
E-book “Vietnam in the Ho Chi Minh Era - A Television History” debuts (Photo: nhandan.vn)Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper Le Quoc Minh speaks at the event. (Photo: nhandan.vn)– A 90-volume e-book titled “Vietnam in the Ho Chi Minh Era - A Television History” was released by the Nhan Dan Newspaper, the Party Central Committee (PCC)'s Commission for Information and Education, and the Su That (Truth) National Political Publishing House at a ceremony in Hanoi on August 10.The book series is compiled on the basis of a documentary film of the same name which was aired in 2021. It was developed by the Vietnam National Documentary Film Studio in coordination with the PCC's Commission for Information and Education, and the Su That National Political Publishing House.The e-book features more than 1,000 video clips on historical events via images and sound, allowing audiences to easily access on various electronic devices with different technical infrastructure.In his speech at the event, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper Le Quoc Minh said the documentary series reflects systematically the development process of the Vietnamese revolution, which ushered in the Ho Chi Minh era - the most brilliant era in the nation's history.The publication of the book aims to widely popularise the film, contributing to educating people about the history and revolutionary tradition of the country, especially in schools and all-level education establishments, he said.Thuan Huu, former head of the steering committee for the “Vietnam in the Ho Chi Minh Era - A Television History” documentary film project, expressed the hope that the book will be valuable for practical use, especially in teaching and learning history.According to Pham Minh Tuan, Director of the Su That National Political Publishing House, with a coherent structure, rich information, and vivid and attractive images and clips, the book can be used as useful reference and learning material, and as a valuable visual aid for teaching and studying in schools.The book is available at http://bienniensuvietnam.vn./.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 10, 2022 20:54 UTC
Spain now recognizes new-style Vietnamese passports
The Embassy of Spain in Vietnam has resumed the acceptance of the new-style Vietnamese passports on Monday, 8 August 2022 after its one week suspension. The Spanish Embassy said that it completed the mandatory technical consultations with the authorities in Spain and came to the conclusion that the new Vietnamese passport, in blue-violet color, includes the essential details required by international regulations. So far, Schengen countries except Germany and the Czech Republic still recognize the new passports as usual. Source: https://vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/1276073/spain-recognises-viet-nam-s-new-passports-reversing-earlier-decision.html
Source:Viet Nam News
August 10, 2022 20:32 UTC
Thailand moves to attract investors
A map shows the area allocated for the Eastern Economic Corridor for aviation (EECa), highlighted in yellow. (Source: Bangkok Post)- The Thai Government on August 9 approved the allocation of 165ha of land in the Eastern Airport City project to create a free-trade zone within the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), in a bid to attract investors and businessmen.As reported by the Bangkok Post, speaking after a weekly cabinet meeting, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the free-trade zone will not be restricted by large numbers of laws and regulations, with waivers on customs tariffs and other import measures on offer.The area will also feature other activities and recreation facilities to support 24-hour services, including five-star hotels, shopping malls, duty-free shops, Michelin-starred restaurants, exhibition and convention halls, and entertainment services, the PM said.Airport City is located in the over 1,000ha economic zone for aviation, one of the EEC’s seven zones approved by the cabinet in March this year.According to deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek, the government has also offered tax perks to 24-hour entertainment providers and alcohol and cigarette distributors at Airport City, allowing them to be exempt from corporate income tax for a maximum of 15 years. The dividends available from their ventures will also be exempt from corporate income tax./.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 10, 2022 18:16 UTC
VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES AUGUST 9
Vietnam to face Singapore, India in September friendly football tournamentVietnam’s national football squad is scheduled to meet Singapore and India at an international international tournament held by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) this September as part of the FIFA International Match Calendars. Vietnam will face Singapore on September 21 and India six days later, while the match between Singapore and India is slated for September 24. Thirty-five national digital platforms have been developed, of which 31 have become operational and four on a trial basis. The component projects will be carried out similar to Group A projects in accordance with the law on public investment and approved by the People’s Committee. The tardy public investment disbursement has caused major public projects to be postponed, according to Mãi, who attributed the tardiness to complicated administrative procedures.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 09, 2022 19:33 UTC
Ministry plans to add “place of birth” to new passport version
The new passport version of Vietnam (Photo: Vietnam Government Portal)– The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is planning to add the “place of birth” to the new passport version to facilitate citizens’ seeking of visas to the Schengen countries.The granting and use of the new passport will be among the issues about which Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam will be questioned at the 14th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on August 10.Compared to the old passport, the new version is produced by using modern technology to meet higher security requirements and standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), according to the MPS’s report sent to lawmakers prior to the meeting.Images of Vietnam’s typical landscapes and cultural heritages are featured in the new passport with the aim of introducing the country’s land and people to international friends, it noted.So far, the MPS has granted 272,000 passports of the new version.In the report, Lam said according to the ICAO regulations, compulsory information in a passport consists of the type of passport, full name, passport number, date of birth, sex, and passport expiration date. ICAO also gave detailed regulations on the design and layout of information on the page of personal details to ensure consistency among countries in the world.The new passport version has closely followed the above-mentioned rules and completely met international standards, the minister affirmed.Explaining why the new passport doesn’t contain information about the place of birth, he said ICAO did not designate other information like the place of birth as mandatory. According to the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens, information in passports also doesn’t include the place of birth On that basis, the MPS issued the new passport version without the place of birth to facilitate citizens’ entry, he went on.Regarding some European countries’ refusal to grant visas on the new passports, Vietnamese authorities have worked with those countries and found that this is only a technical issue.Since a passport without information about the place of birth may cause difficulties for management in some countries, to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to seek visas to the 26 Schengen countries , the MPS and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have agreed to add the place of birth in the appendix of the new passport if its holders wish.In the long term, the MPS will revise the passport design and add the “place of birth” in the page of personal details, it noted, adding that it is collecting opinions about this issue from the parliament’s committees for defence - security and legal affairs, the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs./.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 09, 2022 09:30 UTC
Vietnam needs skilled workforce to become upper-middle-income economy by 2035: WB
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)At the ceremony to release the report. (Photo: VNA)- Vietnam will need a skilled workforce to transform itself into an upper-middle-income economy by 2035, the World Bank has suggested in its recently-released report named “Taking Stock: Educate to Grow”.In its bi-annual report, the lender said: “Vietnam needs a workforce with 21st century skills to grow. As the economy moves from being driven by low skill and low wage jobs in manufacturing and services towards a more innovation driven growth model built on higher value-added industries and services, Vietnam’s workforce will need to attain higher level and more relevant skills.”The Vietnamese Government’s Socio-economic Development Strategy for 2021-2030 says as much, aiming to use scientific, technological, innovative, and digitally transformative knowledge and build quality human resources as key drivers of higher productivity and future economic growth. To achieve these goals, Vietnam needs to reform its education system to improve quality and access, and thus provide the necessary skills to the population, it affirmed.This edition also underlines transforming the higher education system as the key to boosting the country’s productivity and achieving its development goals, in the context where the country re-emerges from the pandemic and into a challenging global environment.The report’s co-author Dorsati Madani said that while Vietnam’s economic recovery had been relatively stable, not all sectors witnessed the same situation.The impact on workers and households during the crisis was serious and lasting, with about 45% claiming lower incomes in December 2021 than the previous year.The impact of the pandemic is still present with businesses reporting broad-based labour shortages as of March 2022, which were felt more acutely in services and manufacturing, and in the Ho Chi Minh City area.This, in addition to growth slowdown or stagflation in main export markets, further commodity price shocks, continued disruption of global supply chains, or the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, are hindering Vietnam’s full recovery.Statistics revealed that Vietnam ’s population has an average 10.2 years of schooling, second only to Singapore among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.Vietnam’s human capital index is 0.69 out of a maximum of 1, the highest among the lower middle-income economies.However, low skills relevance of the university graduates put the country in the bottom third of the 140 countries listed in the 2018 Competitiveness Index on skills relevance of university graduates.A WB skills and enterprise survey published in 2019 also said that 73% of sampled Vietnamese firms report difficulties in recruiting employees with leadership and managerial skills, 54% with socio-emotional skills, and 68% with job-specific technical skills.Focusing on tertiary and higher education, the WB’s report recommends reforming the education system to improve quality and access, and thus provide the necessary skills to the population.Reforms to Vietnam’s higher education system could help support development objectives, the report says.The increasing financial costs of pursuing higher education and the perception of diminishing economic returns from pursuing higher education have weakened demand.While efforts to enhance the business environment are crucial to enabling job creation, policymakers should also take steps to reduce skill-mismatches and improve the quality of Vietnam’s labour force.Carolyn Turk, WB Country Director for Vietnam, said: “To sustain economic growth at the desired rate, Vietnam needs to increase productivity by 2-3% every year.“International experiences have shown that higher worker productivity can be achieved by investing in the education system, as an important part of a basket of investments and reforms. A competitive workforce will generate much-needed efficiency for Vietnam in the long term.”In its report, the World Bank forecast Vietnam’s GDP growth to expand 7.5% in 2022 and 6.7% in 2023, with resilient manufacturing and a robust rebound in services serving as the driving forces for economic recovery./.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 09, 2022 05:23 UTC
ASEAN stronger thanks to effective pandemic response: Secretary General
Secretary General of ASEAN Lim Jock Hoi speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)Jakarta (VNA) – Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Lim Jock Hoi highlighted the achievements accomplished by a cohesive ASEAN amid the COVID-19 pandemic during the 55th ASEAN Day Celebration on August 8. ASEAN trade volumes have returned to pre-pandemic levels and the bloc’s economy is forecast to grow by 4.9% this year and 5.2% next year. The official underlined the need for ASEAN to accelerate its green agenda in areas such as sustainable climate, biodiversity, livelihoods, circular economy, and energy efficiency with renewable energy. “The past 55 years of ASEAN have shown that only by working together can we effectively deliver economic prosperity, social advancement, and long-lasting peace for our region," he said./.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 09, 2022 01:09 UTC
📝 OP-ED: Vietnam – core member in ASEAN’s development
Over the past more than five decades, ASEAN has become a community and a major economy in the world with extensive security-political and cultural-society cooperation. And Vietnam is always a proud responsible and active member with significant contributions to building an ASEAN Community as it is today.Vietnam officially joined ASEAN on July 28, 1995. on the occasion of the 28th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-28) in Brunei. In particular, 2020 marks 25 years of its membership in ASEAN, and also its third ASEAN Chairmanship. : Addressing Challenges Together”, Vietnam continues to contribute proactively, behave positively and share the responsibility with other member countries to overcome challenges, maintain solidarity, continue the momentum of the Community building, promote regional connectivity, effectively respond to emerging challenges, and strengthen the central role and position and voice of ASEAN in the international arena.After 27 years, the economic and trade ties between Vietnam and ASEAN have seen outstanding developments. In 1996, when Vietnam joined the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), two-way trade between Vietnam and the other member countries was nearly 6 billion USD, but the figure increases six folds to around 60 billion USD at present.Notably, in the 2010-2021 period, trade between Vietnam and ASEAN has grown tremendously.
Source:Viet Nam News
August 08, 2022 09:44 UTC