Approximately 70 regional experts gathered at the 2nd Ocean Dialogue themed "Fishery Cooperation in the South China Sea", organised by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, in Hanoi March 15. The event aims to seek solutions to minimise fishery losses and facilitate regional cooperation in the sector. Speaking at the event Dr. Le Hai Binh, Vice President of DAV, said that for regional countries, fishing in the East Sea brings about more than simple economic benefits. It strongly affects the socio-economic stability and survival of hundreds of millions of people living along coastal areas. Fishery is also closely linked to legitimate rights to maritime resources as stated in international laws, especially the UNCLOS 1982. Vice President of DAV, Dr. Le Hai Binh, speaks at the event. (Photo: NDO/Trung Hung) Mr. Peter Girke, Head of the KAS Office in Hanoi contended that the fish stocks in the … [Read more...]

At a reception for Ireland’s Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle in Ho Chi Minh City on March 14, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Phong said that Ho Chi Minh City is interested in agricultural development, especially high-teach agriculture and food processing. He urged Ireland to intensify its cooperation and experience sharing in high-tech agriculture and the preservation and exploitation of ecological forests in service of tourism. The official applauded Andrew’s role in promoting the relations between Ireland and Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, in the fields of green agriculture and food safety. For his part, Andrew expressed his admiration for Ho Chi Minh City’s rapid and dynamic development, saying Ireland appreciates the city’s role in Vietnam’s socio-economic development and wishes to enhance its collaboration with the city in areas of shared concern. Specifically, Ireland wants to share … [Read more...]

President and CEO of APF of Canada Beck said, CPTPP is really important to Canada, as it gives the country unlimited access to the Japanese market and other potential markets such as Vietnam and Singapore, with which Canada is yet to sign a bilateral free trade agreement. He said the deal will bring Canada certain advantages in the Vietnamese market, and through Vietnam, it will be able to enter the ASEAN. According to Beck, Canadian people and businesses have come to realise that Vietnam is a market of strong potential thanks to publicity campaigns about the CPTPP. He expressed his belief that after two or three years of enactment, the CPTPP will help further bilateral cooperation in important fields for both countries. Having visited Vietnam several times to push the implementation of the Women’s Initiative for Startups and Entrepreneurship (WISE) sponsored by the Canadian Consulate General in Vietnam and APF, the expert has formed opinions on fields with great potential for … [Read more...]

While receiving Yoichi Kobayashi, Chairman of the Japan-Mekong Business Cooperation Committee under the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) in Hanoi on March 12, the Vice President highlighted that the bilateral cooperation is developing comprehensively and intensively. Vietnam always considers Japan its leading and long-term partner, she said, adding that Japan is a leading provider of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam and among top investors in the country. She expressed her wish that more Japanese enterprises will invest in developing services in Vietnam in order to improve locals’ living conditions and serve consumption demand of the rapidly growing middle class in the country. Vietnamese and Japanese businesses should step up cooperation in education and tourism development by taking advantage of cultural similarities and beautiful landscapes of both countries, she said. She added that Vietnam hopes for more opportunities to learn from Japan’s … [Read more...]

In addition to the prospects for promoting exports to the other members, the CPTPP trade deal will help Vietnam to accelerate its institutional reform and create a more attractive and open investment and business environment. Caution and expectation Without the US, many enterprises remain cautious in assessing the prospects available from the CPTPP. General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Truong Dinh Hoe said that the US’ absence reduces the benefits for the fisheries sector compared to the TPP. However, there are many opportunities for domestic fisheries as the CPTPP countries have imported nearly US$2 billion of Vietnamese seafood annually, equivalent to 23% of the total export turnover of the sector. According to Chairman of the Board of Directors of Seavina Joint Stock Company Ngo Quang Truong, enterprises that have exported a lot of products to the US, such as Seavina, would not receive as many benefits as per the TPP … [Read more...]

Representatives from 11 member countries, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, signed their new pact at a ceremony co-hosted by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz. The landmark Trans-Pacific trade agreement covers 30 chapters and deals not only with traditional areas of international trade, such as goods, services and investment, but also new issues, including e-commerce and State-owned enterprises. When coming into force 60 days after being fully ratified by six of the 11 members, the pact will create the largest free-trade zone in the world, with a market encompassing nearly 500 million people and representing about 13.5% of global gross domestic product. Chilean President Bachelet emphasised that CPTPP members would welcome the US to join the pact again, but Washington would have to accept the terms under the revised agreement. New Zealand’s Trade Minister … [Read more...]