Digital innovation and transformation

SmartPay has just supported around $8.7 million for Vietnamese small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), while other e-wallets focused on incentives to end-users. Why did SmartPay favour this group of customers? Marek Forysiak, chairman of SmartPay Since its establishment, SmartPay has chosen a different mission and direction to accompany the prosperous development of millions of Vietnamese small businesses. Until now, SmartPay is still the first and only payment platform to invest in and support retail merchants who are being neglected in the process of digitalisation. Retailers now account for nearly 30 per cent of SmartPay’s frequent customer base – that is nearly 600,000 retailers of around two million users – more than other e-wallets. Offering interest-free credit lines through an e-wallet platform is also associated with SmartPay’s distinct competitive advantage in the vibrant digital payment market. During the process, SmartPay continuously surveys and … [Read more...] about Creating distinct and vibrant digital payment alternatives

As demand for internet-based services continues to soar, the revamped ManuConnect customer portal offers users an online platform that provides security, simplicity, and convenience. Manulife Vietnam continues to accelerate its rollout of digital solutions with the launch of the refreshed customer website, delivering an enhanced and simpler platform that makes it easier for the insurer's more than 1 million customers to self-manage their account. As demand for internet-based services continues to soar, the revamped ManuConnect customer portal offers users an online platform that provides security, simplicity, and convenience. According to the Manulife Asia Care Survey released in February 2021, respondents from Vietnam claimed they were more open to using digital self-service for less complicated servicing needs. The survey also showed that 75% of respondents from Vietnam indicated a preference to take more control of their own insurance by digitally … [Read more...] about Manulife Vietnam launches revamped customer portal that offers new user-friendly experiences

Technology M&A to retain booming growth in 2022 Nguyen Cong Ai, partner at consulting firm KPMG Vietnam, said that the country has the potential to grow into an up-and-coming startup centre in Southeast Asia, buoyed by favourable macroeconomy, a burgeoning middle-class with ever-increasing income, and abundant tech-savvy human resources, as well as the government’s supportive policy. “Foreign investors are showing particular interest in Vietnam’s tech field. Lately, we are receiving growing proposals from South Korean and Japanese investors towards Vietnam’s internet economy, fintech, edutech, and media,” he said. KPMG forecasts that investment into tech would shoot up 150 per cent in 2022, hitting $2 billion. Nguyen Thanh Tuyen, deputy head of the Information Technology Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications, said that many sizable deals took place in the M&A scene during 2019-2021. For instance, VNPay received $300 million from SoftBank … [Read more...] about Technology M&A to retain booming growth in 2022

Hanoi, a bustling commercial and cultural hub, ensures social welfare for local people in special occasions like Tet holiday. Hanoi’s health sector is tasked with taking care of residents in the upcoming Tet holiday (the Lunar New Year) amid the rising number of Covid-19 infections. Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung at the meeting on Jan 25. Photos: Minh An/ Kinh Te Do Thi Health workers will be available around the clock during the 9-day holiday, which will fall in early February, according to a meeting chaired by Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung. The deputy chairman made the request at the meeting on January 25 when local authorities discussed measures to bring the pandemic under control while maintaining activities during the biggest holiday. Hanoi has reported an average of 3,000 Covid-19 cases per day for the past month, making it the most affected area in Vietnam. However, the high … [Read more...] about Hanoi to ensure healthcare in Tet holiday

During the talks, Dung, Campbell and Kritenbrink expressed their delight at the practical and effective development of the Vietnam-U.S. comprehensive partnership in all spheres, thereby bringing benefits to people of both nations and contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Indo-Pacific region and the world as well. Dung proposed that in order to further deepen the bilateral ties, the two sides should increase meetings and dialogues, especially at the high level, while promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation within the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). Dung highly valued the U.S.’s commitments to continue increasing the budget for overcoming war consequences in Vietnam, to establish the Southeast Asian office of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Hanoi and U.S.-funded projects in Vietnam, including the Fulbright University Vietnam. Vietnam hoped that the U.S. will continue supporting … [Read more...] about Vietnam, U.S. should increase meetings, dialogues at high level: Deputy FM

Vaccines donated by the UK and European countries via COVAX arrived in Hà Nội. — Photo courtesy of UNICEF HÀ NỘI — At the turn of the year 2021/2022, Việt Nam received 6.2 million additional COVID-19 vaccine doses from the UK and European partners via the COVAX Facility. They include 99,450 doses of BioNTech/Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine donated by Luxembourg, 159,120 doses of BioNTech/Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine donated by Portugal and 2,012,960 doses of Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine donated by the UK, and 4,000,230 doses of BioNTech/Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine donated by Germany. The British Ambassador to Việt Nam Gareth Ward said: “Vaccines are the best way to protect people and prevent the proliferation of new variants. This donation is part of the UK’s support to Việt Nam’s roadmap of opening the economy by facilitating its vaccine boosting at a large scale. We are committed to accompanying Việt Nam to embrace a new chapter in 2022 when we all can live with COVID-19 with peace and … [Read more...] about Việt Nam received 6.2 million COVID vaccine doses from UK, European partners

An electric car is connected for charging at Motor Expo 2021, held in December at Impact Challenger 1-3, Muang Thong Thani. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - According to the Chairman of the Auto Parts Club under the Federation of Thai Industries, Pinai Sirinakorn, it is expected that electric vehicles (EV) will soon replace vehicles that rely on internal combustion engines as EV requires only around 15,000 parts to be built instead of 30,000 parts of traditional engines. He said the club wants to help around 2,500 auto part manufacturers who are used to producing parts for internal combustion engines (ICE) to shift towards EV technology by launching an EV component development plan. The EV component development plan aims to help auto part manufacturers shift their businesses to better suit the new market. They will be encouraged to improve production efficiency in accordance with Industry 4.0, which promotes the use of digital technology and … [Read more...] about Thai auto part manufacturers to shift to EV part production

Emirates SkyCargo has deployed SkyCel lcontainers on many global routes. — Photo Emirates Emirates SkyCargo has been named as the ‘Safest Global Airline Partner’ in 2021 for the transportation of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments by SkyCell, one of the leading global manufacturers of specialised containers for the transportation of sensitive pharmaceuticals by air. The title was awarded to Emirates based on SkyCell’s global shipment data for pharmaceutical cargo which ranked carriers on several criteria including stability of transport temperature conditions across a range of origins and destinations. The award is an important validation of Emirates SkyCargo’s extensive cool chain infrastructure and capabilities dedicated for the transportation of pharmaceuticals and the carrier’s ability to maintain an unbroken cool chain during the air transportation process. Emirates SkyCargo has been working with SkyCell since 2017 when it integrated SkyCell’s … [Read more...] about Emirates SkyCargo receives award for cool chain capabilities

Electricity market revamp on cards The Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam (ERAV) is finalising its report to the prime minister about planned direct power purchase agreements (DPPA) – a mechanism to allow renewable energy producers to sell electricity directly to end-users, as Nguyen Anh Tuan, director of the authority said on January 18. The DPPA mechanism, if implemented, will be the first step in the development of the electricity retail market, allowing renewable energy generators with a capacity greater than 30MW to sell to customers for industrial production purposes. Parties can negotiate and agree on purchase and sale prices through long-term contracts if the scale of their deal is not exceeding 1,000MW. Since 2012, the electricity market has contributed to increasing transparency in mobilising power plants, creating a competitive environment, enhancing the initiative of market participants, and gradually abolishing the monopoly in the industry. The success … [Read more...] about Electricity market revamp on cards

As there are few guests, many 5-star hotels have shifted to selling Tet food to survive the pandemic. Pan Pacific Hanoi has introduced Tet gift boxes priced at VND5 million containing French wine bottle, tea, sweets and other food items. Sheraton Saigon has marketed two products – walnut butter cookies and mixed nut chocolates. Park Hyatt Saigon sells Tet gift boxes priced at VND3.2 million, with five kinds of jam, a box of fruit biscuits, a box of dried cashews soaked in ginger honey and a bottle of wine. The products have sold out. Prior to that, InterContinental Saigon sold Tet gift boxes valued at VND1.3 million with nuts, cookies, chocolate and fruit jam. Since the pandemic began, hotels have boosted online sales via digital platforms. Hotels are trying all possible ways to survive the pandemic. A representative of Rex Hotel said the hotel is cooperating with marketplaces specializing in distributing food to access the large customer base. Sofitel Legend … [Read more...] about With rooms unoccupied and restaurants closed, 5-star hotels seek profits elsewhere