Action plan

The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, unveiled with fanfare by U.S. President Joe Biden and G7 allies from Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union, aims to fill a huge gap left as communist China uses its economic clout to stretch diplomatic tentacles into the furthest reaches of the world. Biden said the target was for the United States to bring $200 billion to the table, with the rest of the G7 another $400 billion by 2027. Funding the kinds of projects that China currently dominates -- everything from roads to harbours in far-flung corners of the world -- is not "aid or charity," Biden said. Highlighting the geostrategic thinking behind the plan, Biden said such projects "deliver returns for everyone, including the American people and the people of all our nations." Around the world, the role of China's democratic rivals is "a chance for us to share our positive vision for the future" and for other countries to "see for themselves the … [Read more...] about G7 touts $600 bn global infrastructure plan to rival China

Saravoot Yoovidhya, CEO of TCP Group, announced the new corporate purpose in Vietnam From 2022 to 2024, TCP Group is further driving the organisation towards sustainable business growth and creating a positive impact on society and the environment, locally and globally. "Five years ago, we announced the synergy of our various businesses into TCP Group, and we have been working towards sustainable development goals ever since. Up to now, events like COVID-19 and digital transformation have tremendously affected business, society, and the environment. We, therefore, are revisiting our purpose and strategies in every aspect to prepare for the volatile future and to create growth for the organisation while energising the sustainability of the world with a new purpose, called Energising A Better World For All,” said Saravoot Yoovidhya, CEO of TCP Group. Throughout its over 60 years of operation, TCP Group's priority has been to ensure the development of the economy, society, and … [Read more...] about TCP Group’s CEO announced a new corporate plan

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong is welcomed by her Vietnamese counterpart Bùi Thanh Sơn on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese foreign minister Bùi Thanh Sơn on Monday welcomed his Australian counterpart Penny Wong on her official visit to Việt Nam. Việt Nam is the first Southeast Asian country Wong paid a visit to after assuming the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs position. Congratulating Australia on its success in the federal election and COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Minister Sơn believes that Wong’s visit will further promote the strategic partnership between the two countries. Việt Nam and Australia will soon commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 2023. The Vietnamese foreign minister also expressed his gratitude to the Australian government for their prompt support in providing COVID-19 vaccines and medical equipment for Việt Nam, particularly the 14.4 million doses for children, which … [Read more...] about Concrete actions are important to shared prosperity: Australian foreign minister

The Vietnamese coworking market is growing exponentially as more and more people become aware of the benefits this niche brings from a business and productivity point of view. This year, Hanoi coworking supply is predicted to rise due to the continuing high demand as global providers will expand their locations in Vietnam during the next few years. According to a latest related report on Vietnam's office market, global providers The Hive and Compass offices stated their intention to expand  businesses, seeking valuable consolidation opportunities and partnerships. One of Toong's coworking locations. Photo: Toong Numerous providers expand rapidly The Market Insight Report “Coworking & Flexible Workspace in Vietnam 2022” conducted by Acclime Vietnam supported by Knight Frank showed that as the market growth rate of flexible workspace develops sustainably, numerous providers have emerged in the sector and expanded rapidly. Alongside … [Read more...] about Global providers’ expansion plans make Hanoi coworking supply rise

The goal is to ensure a consistent reporting system from the grassroots to city-level agencies, which helps save time and cost for all parties involved. Hanoi is scheduled to pilot a real-time reporting system in the third quarter of this year, as the city looks to further enhance transparency and efficiency in state governance. Locals proceed with administrative procedures at the city's agencies. File photo. The move was revealed in the city’s plan No.173 on the development and management of Hanoi’s reporting system in the 2022-2025 period. In the first phase, Hanoi would start piloting the reporting system for socio-economic issues in several departments, units, districts, and wards in the city during the third quarter of this year. In the second phase (fourth quarter of 2022), the reporting system is set to be adopted by all units of the city’s apparatus, targeting 100% of socio-economic reports in the city delivered through the reporting system. In … [Read more...] about Hanoi to pilot real-time reporting system in Q3

Famous specialist on Southeast Asia Carl Thayer said Vietnam was entirely justified under international law in exercising self-defense against the Khmer Rouge who first attacked Vietnamese island territories in 1975. Vietnam and Cambodia celebrated the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations on June 24, 2022. On this occasion, Emeritus Professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Canberra Carl Thayer wrote to The Hanoi Times his insights into the relations between the two neighboring countries. The 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Cambodia celebrated in Hanoi on June 24. Photo: Baoquocte In 1967 the war in Vietnam was escalating as the United States poured more ground troops into South Vietnam and sought to interdict the Ho Chi Minh Trail. At the same time, the U.S. continued its air war over North Vietnam. Prince Norodom Sihanouk consistently followed the path of neutrality and non-alignment since independence … [Read more...] about Vietnam entirely justified in exercising self-defense against Khmer Rouge: Carl Thayer

The plan, approved by Quang Nam People's Council last Saturday, allows the construction of the embankment, spanning 550 meters from Cam An Ward to the An Bang area. The money will be derived from the national budget and other socio-economic development programs. The goal is to reduce the impacts of sea encroachment and create a sand shore spanning around 1,450 meters. The project is expected to last until 2023. Cua Dai Beach, spanning 7.5 kilometers, has frequently been eroded since the 2000s. In 2010, Quang Nam invested VND70 billion in a beach embankment, before building dikes in 2014 and 2015 with a total investment cost of VND74 billion. Quang Nam also built more embankments in 2020, running parallel to a 250-meter section of the coast. Cua Dai, a popular tourist destination less than 10 minutes car ride from Hoi An center, now has around 2.5 kilometers worth of embankments to protect it from erosion. Experts have blamed falling river sediment, sand mining and strong waves … [Read more...] about Province to spend $9 mln on Cua Dai beach embankments

Nam San 3A hydropower plant was initially owned by Lao-based Phongsubthavy Group but was sold to Thai BCPG Niwat Adirek, president and CEO of BCPG, disclosed that the company had achieved more than 90 per cent progress on the construction of the 220-kV transmission line project, Nam Tai, in Laos. The Nam Tai project is planned to connect with the transmission line of Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) to transmit electricity generated from BCPG’s two hydropower plants in Laos, Nam San 3A and Nam San 3B, to Vietnam this September. “The Nam Tai transmission line project has the capacity to transmit 800 MW electricity generated from hydropower plants in Northern Laos to Northern Vietnam. In the first phase, we will focus on transmitting 114 MW of electricity from our two hydropower plants, which we have already achieved a Power Purchase Agreement with EVN, to Vietnam. In the next phase, we plan to provide transmission line service to new green power plants nearby, which are now under … [Read more...] about Bangchak Corporation will sell electricity for Vietnam from September

Cashew exports reduced both in volume and value in the first five months of the year. — Photo congthuong.vn Viet Nam’s cashew exports reduced significantly in both volume and value in the first months of the year, exports for the entire year are forecast to be lower than last year, according to the Viet Nam Cashew Association (Vinacas). Speaking at a meeting to review the industry’s performance in the first half of the year and set plans for the latter half, Tran Van Hiep, Vinacas’ deputy chairman, said cashew exports in the first five months fell by 7.81 per cent in volume and 6.81 per cent in value to 206,111 tonnes and US$1.19 billion, respectively. The average export price was about $5,792 per tonne, up 1.45 per cent over the same period in 2021. Enterprises imported about 968,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts from abroad worth nearly $1.4 billion, down 35.24 per cent in volume and 37.84 per cent in value in the first five months. But the price of raw cashews imported from … [Read more...] about Cashew exports to slow in 2022 amid global inflation, Russia sanctions

Chairman of the Korean Business Association in Viet Nam, Shon Young Il, speaks at a dialogue between Korean business executives and HCM City authorities on June 24. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuan Anh The chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Viet Nam, Shon Young Il, has called on HCM City authorities to help Korean firms resolve difficulties they face in investing and operating in the city. Shon was speaking at a meeting between Korean business executives and city officials late last week organised by the People’s Committee and Korean consulate general in the city. The meeting was held to review the performance of Korean enterprises and for the city officials to listen to their problems and offered solutions. The problems discussed included some related to labour, with Shon saying a number of businesses complained about difficulties in obtaining work permits for foreign workers. Reducing costs, including salaries, is an imperative part of doing business, and so … [Read more...] about HCM City promises to ease problems faced by Korean investors