The Mekong Delta Agricultural Product Center would act as a hub connecting farmers, producers and traders, Duong Tan Hien, deputy chairman of Can Tho, said at a conference held Thursday to collect opinions on it. The "one-stop, multi-service" center would cover the production and processing of agriculture products, provide a warehouse system and set up the non-tariff area for the region, he said. It would also be a place for applying advanced technologies in agriculture, with projects to produce organic microbial fertilizers, nano fertilizers, organic plant protection products, and pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and high-value products from agricultural products, he said. Its most important role will be to serve as a place connecting farmers and businesses so that the farmer can cultivate what the market needs. Within this year Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will sign a decision for the city to build the center, which will start operating in 2025. Speaking at the conference, … [Read more...] about Center to be set up for Mekong Delta agriculture development
Delta best place to work
Volunteers do best to impress SEA Games 31 guests
SEA Games 31 volunteers at Hanoi's Thanh Tri Gymnasium. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – About 3,000 volunteers have been deployed for the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) now underway in Hanoi and 11 northern cities and provinces. They are seen everywhere from hotels where athletes and coaches are staying to competition venues, helping make a successful regional meet. Among them, most of who were recruited from major universities, about 1,900 are working in Hanoi while the remainders are sent to neighbouring localities, according to Nguyen Hai Duong, vice head of the organising sub-committee for reception and ceremony. To be qualified, they must be proficient in English and in good health, and have high sense of responsibility, Duong said. They are mainly responsible for providing assistance to foreign national teams and high-profile guests, directing spectators to seating at competition venues, hosting medal award ceremonies, and interpreting at press conferences, … [Read more...] about Volunteers do best to impress SEA Games 31 guests
PM’s working trip to US enhances Vietnam’s position, prestige
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers a speech at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip to the US to attend the ASEAN-US Special Summit , and pay working visits to the US and the United Nations (UN) from May 11-17 has produced a lot of important results, both multilaterally and bilaterally, contributing to promoting the relations between ASEAN and the US, Vietnam and the UN, and Vietnam and the US, and affirming the country's position and prestige in the international arena. During his stay in the US, PM Chinh engaged in more than 60 activities in Washington D.C, Boston, New York and San Francisco. He attended and delivered a speech at the sessions of the ASEAN - US Special Summit, and met with leaders of several ASEAN countries such as the Prime Ministers of Laos, Cambodia and Singapore, and the President of Indonesia. Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said that the Government … [Read more...] about PM’s working trip to US enhances Vietnam’s position, prestige
2nd facility of HCMC Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital inaugurated
The delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the second facility of Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital. Deputy Chairman of the Municipal People’s Committee Duong Anh Duc along with representatives of relevant departments, agencies attended the inauguration ceremony. Doctor Phu Chi Dung, Director of the HCMC Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital said that the newly-inaugurated hospital had a capacity of 300 inpatient beds, areas of over 33,000 square meters and 33 sub-divisions, a total investment of over VND1,000 billion (US$43 million), including 50 percent of investment capital and 50 percent of hospital capital. The hospital was designed under 3H criteria of the modern hospital, the best place like home and hotel. Apart from the three main tasks of a blood bank, stem cell banking and examination and treatment, the hospital will implement blood transfusion and blood reserve for the city health sector. Besides, the hospital shall be a place of scientific study … [Read more...] about 2nd facility of HCMC Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital inaugurated
Hải Dương’s lychees shouldn’t be missed
The oldes lychee tree in Hoàng Văn Lượm's garden, a fifth-generation direct descendant of Hoàng Văn Cơm. VNA Photo Mạnh Tú HÀ NỘI – As well as watching the region's best athletes battle it out, visitors to Hải Dương Province for the SEA Games also have the chance to visit the Thanh Hà lychee gardens, where the oldest lychee tree in Việt Nam stands. Located on the Red River Delta, Thanh Hà District has a reputation for the best quality Thiều Thanh Hà lychees. The fruit tree areas in the district lure tourists from near and far. Not to be missed is the “ancestral” 19th-century lychee tree in Thú Lâm town of Thanh Sơn Commune. The tree is recognised by the Việt Nam Book Record as the oldest of its species in Việt Nam. The tree was planted over 150 years ago by Hoàng Văn Cơm (born in 1848) who specialised in fruit trading. In 1870, at a party with the Chinese in the northern Hải Phòng City, he ate delicious lychees, so he brought some seeds to his home and planted them in his … [Read more...] about Hải Dương’s lychees shouldn’t be missed
Blue economy model gathering pace
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) last week again warned that the ocean is faced with increasing threats and multiple risks posed by climate change, natural disasters, environmental pollution, over-exploitation of natural resources, and unsustainable economic activities. “Global warming and marine litter are threatening marine resources, including widespread bleaching of coral reefs. Globally, an estimated 8-20 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year. In Vietnam, around 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste leaks from the country into the ocean every day. It is estimated that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050,” said Caitlin Wiesen, resident representative in Vietnam of the UNDP. The global ocean economy contributes an estimated $3 trillion per year, or about 5 per cent of the world’s GDP and comprises industries ranging from oil and gas, shipping and ports to renewable energy, fisheries, marine ecosystems and tourism. The value of the … [Read more...] about Blue economy model gathering pace
Pollution killing 9 million people a year, Africa hardest hit: study
Worsening outdoor air pollution and toxic lead poisoning have kept global deaths from environmental contamination at an estimated 9 million per year since 2015 – countering modest progress made in tackling pollution elsewhere, a team of scientists reported Tuesday. Air pollution from industry processes along with urbanization drove a 7% increase in pollution-related deaths from 2015 to 2019, according to the scientists’ analysis of data on global mortality and pollution levels. "We're sitting in the stew pot and slowly burning," said Richard Fuller, a study co-author and head of the global nonprofit Pure Earth. But unlike climate change, malaria, or HIV, "we haven't given (environmental pollution) much focus." An earlier version of the work published in 2017 also estimated the death toll from pollution at roughly 9 million per year — or about one of every six deaths worldwide — and the cost to the global economy at up to $4.6 trillion per year. That puts pollution on par with … [Read more...] about Pollution killing 9 million people a year, Africa hardest hit: study
Equinor reaffirms entry in Vietnam’s offshore wind
Jens Olaf Økland, Equinor’s senior vice president Why did Equinor choose now to open an office in Hanoi? We believe it is very timely to open an office now. Vietnam is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and power markets. With its long coastline and favourable wind conditions, the country has among the best wind resources in Asia and a strong desire to develop an offshore wind market. The country is on a path to becoming net-zero and offshore wind can enable this transition. We believe Vietnam has a high potential to become an interesting growth market for offshore wind and have therefore opened a representative office in Hanoi. Vietnam has set ambitious targets for offshore wind both for 2030 and 2045 which would result in Vietnam being one of the top offshore wind markets globally. The end of the decade is not that far away and a lot of things still need to come into place, both on the regulatory side and for the industry, but this is also natural in the … [Read more...] about Equinor reaffirms entry in Vietnam’s offshore wind
Gymnast Thành lands golden Games hat-trick
Đinh Phương Thành competes in the men's horizontal bar at the 31st SEA Games. He shares the top podium with Carlos Yulo of the Philippines. VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Hà Đinh Phương Thành leapt high and landed perfectly. He was nervous waiting for the result and jumped high to celebrate his highest points in the parallel bars event. Thành had just overcome the world champion Carlos Yulo of the Philippines to defend his title. A little far from the competition floor, a small old white-haired woman looked on and aggressively cheered for his victory. 86-year-old Nguyễn Thị Anh Thư is Thành's grandmother. It was the first time she had an opportunity to watch and encourage her grandson to compete in person. She not only saw Thành winning once but twice on May 16. Đinh Phương Thành shares his victory and happiness with his grandmother, who, for the first time, came to watch her beloved grandson competing. VNA/VNS Photo A few minutes after the event, the Tokyo … [Read more...] about Gymnast Thành lands golden Games hat-trick
Measures put recovery on the front foot
Vietnam has risen in official pandemic recovery indices thanks to production continuity and vaccinations, Photo: Le Toan The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released in April its World Economic Outlook report, stating that global growth is projected to slow from an estimated 6.1 per cent in 2021 to 3.6 per cent in 2022 and 2023. This is 0.8 and 0.2 percentage points lower for 2022 and 2023 than projected in January. “Beyond 2023, global growth is forecast to decline to about 3.3 per cent over the medium term. War-induced commodity price increases and broadening price pressures have led to 2022 inflation projections of 5.7 per cent in advanced economies and 8.7 per cent in emerging market and developing economies - 1.8 and 2.8 percentage points higher than projected last January,” the report said. “Multilateral efforts to respond to the humanitarian crisis, prevent further economic fragmentation, maintain global liquidity, manage debt distress, tackle climate change, and end … [Read more...] about Measures put recovery on the front foot