Developing modern logistics infrastructure and enhancing linkage to lower logistics costs would give a push to export growth. — Photo baochinhphu.vn Lowering logistics costs is key to increasing the competitiveness of Viet Nam’s export products and the whole economy. The latest figures of the Viet Nam Logistics Association revealed that logistics costs were equivalent to around 20-22 per cent of the country’s GDP, much higher than Thailand (19 per cent), China (18 per cent), Malaysia (13 per cent) and nearly three times higher than the US and Singapore (8 per cent). The association pointed out that about 4,000 enterprises were providing logistics services in Viet Nam, 97 per cent of which were micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. However, service quality, capital, information technology application, digital transformation and human resources remained limited. Tran Duc Nghia from the association said that logistics costs were pushed up by high road transport costs, … [Read more...] about Lowering logistics costs key to competitiveness
Cournot competition 2 firms
Reset required for supply chain woes
Container scarcity, input material price rises, and travel restrictions are just some of the factors damaging supply chains, Photo: Le Toan Demonstrating the wide reach that geopolitical tensions and the drag from global supply chain disruptions are causing worldwide, lowered prospects for mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in Asia-Pacific are being projected for the rest of the year, after the number of such deals fell in the first several months of 2022. A total of 123 finance sector M&A deals were reported in the January-to-March quarter, compared with 165 in the same period of last year, S&P Global Market Intelligence data shows. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, supply chain bottlenecks, and inflation concerns slowed down deal-making in the first quarter. “We expect to see deals start and stop as companies try to time when best to take the plunge,” said Sophie Mathur, partner and Asia head of corporate at law firm Linklaters. Despite the emerging opportunities, … [Read more...] about Reset required for supply chain woes
United States widens ASEAN engagement
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) met with US President Joe Biden, VNA All eyes were focused on last week’s US-ASEAN Special Summit in Washington D.C., where both sides demonstrated their closer ties across many sectors including global health security, climate change, sustainable development, maritime cooperation, human capital development, and education, as well as connectivity and economic engagement, and especially digital development. The US and ASEAN have reaffirmed their commitment to support digital development in the bloc so as to realise its vision “of a peaceful, secure, open, interoperable, reliable and resilient ICT environment”. The US vows to “support development of ASEAN’s digital infrastructure to drive robust, inclusive economic growth and prosperity; and promote development of a secure, resilient, and innovative 5G ecosystem as well as exchange views and experiences on cyber threats and on the regulatory framework and technical standards that … [Read more...] about United States widens ASEAN engagement
Transmission boost to remove major power bottlenecks
EVN workers examine electricity facilities (Photo: VNA) The Vietnamese government’s permission for private companies to invest in and build power plants and transmission systems became a big step forward, bringing competition in the energy sector to a manageable level. The first 500kV super-high voltage power transmission line invested by Trungnam Construction and Investment JSC has been operating stably for more than a year. Trungnam’s project includes a 500kV substation and transmission lines combined with a 450MW solar power plant, promoting its advantages when participating in the power grid of Ninh Thuan province and the south-central coastal region. Pham Nhu Anh, member of the Executive Board of Military Bank, which arranged capital for Trungnam to invest in transmission infrastructure, pointed out that capital is still a bottleneck in Vietnam’s electrical infrastructure development. According to Anh, the fact that Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) still holds a monopoly on … [Read more...] about Transmission boost to remove major power bottlenecks
Vietnam targets to have 10 SOEs with over US$5-billion market cap by 2025
All state firms should further shift their investment activities towards using green technology with lower carbon emission levels. The Vietnamese Government sets a target of having at least 10 state-owned enterprises (SOEs) with a market capitalization of over US$5 billion and around 25 with around $1 billion in the next five years. Production at Ca Mau Fertilizer Plant. Photo: Hoang Anh The goal was set in a Government resolution No.68 signed by Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on enhancing efficiency in the management of state resources at SOEs. For the next five years, major state corporations are expected to increase their contribution to the state budget by 5-10% compared to the 2016-2020 period. “All state firms should further shift their investment activities towards projects using green technology with lower carbon emission levels,” it noted. Under the resolution, the Government urged ministries and agencies to continue channeling SOEs’ … [Read more...] about Vietnam targets to have 10 SOEs with over US$5-billion market cap by 2025
Narrowing the gap for PPPs in health
Le Minh Sang, health specialist at World Bank Vietnam Healthcare public-private partnerships (PPPs) can be classified into five types (see Figure 1) depending on the roles and responsibilities that the private sector takes. Each type has certain advantages and disadvantages. A managed equipment service PPP enables major equipment suppliers to own and manage all equipment required for health facility operations. Under an operation and management services PPP, a private partner is contracted to operate and manage a hospital, health facility, or health network in exchange for a management fee. Specialised services PPPs involve a government contract with a private partner to deliver specific services (dialysis, radiotherapy, laboratory testing) at public healthcare facilities. In a health facility PPP, the government retains control of clinical services, but the private sector provides some combination of the detailed design, construction, and refurbishment of infrastructure. And … [Read more...] about Narrowing the gap for PPPs in health
Vietnam opens doors for foreign investors in new business fields: PM
Foreign resources are key for Vietnam in the process of building an independent and self-reliant economy. Vietnam would continue to open doors for foreign investors in new fields of the stock market, energy transition, digitalization, healthcare, and pharmacy. Overview of the meeting. Source: VGP Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gave the view during a meeting with major corporations and venture capital listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on May 16. “Vietnam is striving to build an independent and self-reliant economy, focusing on global integration with foreign resources as a key driver,” Chinh said. In this regard, Chinh noted the Vietnamese Government is putting in place measures to ensure a transparent, healthy, and competitive business environment for both local and foreign businesses. “We expect to gain trust and confidence from businesses for Vietnam’s economy, instead of causing concern and troublesome,” he added. Amid the ongoing … [Read more...] about Vietnam opens doors for foreign investors in new business fields: PM
Bad vendors put e-commerce at risk
Two customers do online shopping on an e-commerce platform. — Photo vneconomy.vn HÀ NỘI — Smuggled, counterfeit and low-quality products have begun to spread rapidly on e-commerce platforms as the absence of physical product touch in online shopping puts buyers at a disadvantage. Nguyễn Đức Lê, deputy director of the Professional Affairs Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), admitted that deceptive trade practices have been rising steadily in recent years. “Bad vendors use genuine products for advertisements but deliver low-quality or second-hand products to buyers, depriving them of the warranty rights,” he said. Lê Mai Hương, an enthusiastic online shopper in Hà Nội, shared her bad experience when shopping online with Việt Nam News . “In my experience, shoppers should not buy online stuff sold at prices far lower than market prices, notably cosmetics and drugs, as they are almost fake products. In addition, for clothes and consumer goods, many times … [Read more...] about Bad vendors put e-commerce at risk
More units kick-start gratitude activities
In Hai Phong city, Radar Regiment 295 of Division 363 under the Air Defense - Air Force Service sets a target that within 75 days, starting from May 14, the whole regiment will get highest results in building firm political stance, promoting high sense of responsibility, carrying out combat readiness, training, regularity building, and military discipline observance duties, realizing policies and organizing activities marking the Wounded and Fallen Soldiers’ Day. They will strive to have no case of violation of military discipline and State laws, and no incident in training, traffic participation and other activities. Under the emulation program, the Military Command of Ninh Binh province will boost dissemination of information and education on the tradition “When drinking water, remember its source,” and “Gratitude” of the nation, military, and implement policies for national contributors. At the launch of the emulation drive of the Soc Trang provincial Military Command, the … [Read more...] about More units kick-start gratitude activities
VN women in football semi
Brunei bags first gold in wushu VN win gold in running, javelin Hosts edge closer to football semis Perseverance pays off for pencak silat star Hà VNG supports triathlon team at SEA Games 31 With a 7-0 win against Cambodia, the Vietnamese women (white) have the biggest win of the SEA Games 31 football tournament so far. VNA/VNS Photos Anh Tuấn HOÀNG HỒ QUẢNG NINH — Việt Nam are one step closer to defending their SEA Games title after a 7-0 win against Cambodia in the final group women's match on May 14 in Cẩm Phả Stadium, Quảng Ninh. A double from Nguyễn Thị Vạn, alongside goals from Phạm Hải Yến, Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung, Trần Thị Thu, Ngân Thị Vạn Sự and Dương thị Vân sealed the hosts firm position on top of group A, ending Cambodia’s semis dream as the Angkor Warriors watched Việt Nam and the Philippines advance to the knockout stage. Despite the massive win, even the 7-0 score didn’t quite reflect the match, as Việt Nam failed to make much of … [Read more...] about VN women in football semi