Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son wrote an article entitled ’55 years of ASEAN: One Vision, One Identity, One Community’ on the 55th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (August 8, 1967-2022). Following is the full text of the article: “On August 8, 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established, initiating the process of extensive integration for the sake of peace, stability, and development in Southeast Asia and the region. From a group of Southeast Asian nations divided by wars, after 55 years of growth, ASEAN is today one of the most important, reputable, and successful regional organisations in the world, a ‘common home’ for 650 million people in 10 Southeast Asian countries with diverse culture, the fifth largest economic community in the world, and an important and reliable partner of many countries in the world, and an organisation that … [Read more...] about 55 years of ASEAN: One Vision, One Identity, One Community
Eu japan customs cooperation agreement
UKVFTA to accelerate Viet Nam’s institutional reform
Inside a clean clam processing line of Lenger Seafoods Vietnam. The company exports products to markets in the EU, the UK, Japan, the US, and South Korea. — Photo courtesy of Lenger Seafoods Vietnam To provide a more favourable playground for enterprises to strengthen and access international markets, Viet Nam is on a path to boost institutional improvement. And it is believed that the United Kingdom-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) is accelerating the process, said experts. As Viet Nam has signed many new free trade agreements (FTAs) with countries or regions that require more stringent standards not only on quality but also on production processes, it is crucial for local enterprises to quickly adapt to new rules. Therefore, the Government has to make changes to relevant policies to support them. The reform is building a favourable business environment, reducing transaction expenses for enterprises, especially small and medium enterprises, and attracting quality … [Read more...] about UKVFTA to accelerate Viet Nam’s institutional reform
Vietnamese exports to Nordic markets thrive
General Department of Vietnam Customs’ data showed that the bilateral trade reached US$1.03 billion in the first four months of 2022 (up 15 percent from the same period of 2021), including US$689.13 million worth of Vietnamese exports (up 19.2 percent) and US$342.16 million worth of Vietnamese imports (up 7.3 percent). Tra fish exports are projected to surge by a whopping 97 percent year-on-year in the first five months of 2022, reaching US$1.1 billion Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy, Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden, concurrently in Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Latvia, said Nordic enterprises generally bought Japonica rice from Spain, Italy, Japan and the US, and were excited to discover they could import a similar product with similar quality from Vietnam at a one-third to one half less. Foreign trade accounts for 50-60 percent of the Nordic bloc’s gross domestic product (GDP). Despite their small population, Nordic countries made an impressive import value … [Read more...] about Vietnamese exports to Nordic markets thrive
ASEAN: 55 years of unification and development
ASEAN has become the world's most successful bloc developing based on three pillars: politics-security, socio-culture, and economics. Celebrations marking 55 years of the foundation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were solemnly held on August 8 across the nations, underscoring a harmonious ASEAN community. ASEAN member states' flags. The community, which is peaceful, stable, and prosperous, supports ASEAN's engagement with the broader region, and the region's responses to the impacts and uncertainties caused by regional and global challenges. For the past five decades, ASEAN has become one of the world’s most successful blocs thanks to three pillars namely maintaining a region of peace, stability, and security for decades; developing on a three-pillar direction: politics and security, socio-culture, economics to become one of the fastest-growing regions with GDP of US$3.3 trillion in 2021; being the regional center and prestigious with … [Read more...] about ASEAN: 55 years of unification and development
55 years of ASEAN – One vision, One identity, One community
It has also become the fifth largest economic community in the world, a reliable and important partner of countries, and played a central role in dialogues, important cooperation and connectivity in the region. In an article in celebration of ASEAN’s 55th birth anniversary (August 8, 1967 - 2022), Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son recalled that the birth of ASEAN on August 8, 1967 was the start of the process of an intensive connectivity for peace, stability, and development in Southeast Asia and the region. Building an ASEAN Community with common vision and identities The grouping gathered countries divided by war. Its inception reflected the common aspirations of many countries in the region for peace, stability, friendship, and win-win cooperation. According to FM Son, Vietnam’s admission to ASEAN in 1995 paved the way for the building of an ASEAN common house connecting 10 Southeast Asian countries. In 1997, ASEAN, for the first time, approved the ASEAN Vision … [Read more...] about 55 years of ASEAN – One vision, One identity, One community
Long way to go for Vietnamese durian
Workers wrap up and label durians. Vietnamese durians have made a name for themselves as a great-tasting fruit in many countries, but that's only the story's beginning. — Photo baomoi.com Vietnamese durians have made a name for themselves as a great-tasting fruit for overseas consumers but still have a long way to go the maintain their position on the international scene, according to insiders. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Viet Nam Fruits and Vegetables Association, reveals that China, the largest importer of fresh Vietnamese durians, has allowed the fruits to be imported via official channels from July 12. However, these opportunities come with obstacles as the Chinese General Administration of Customs (CGAC) requires that Vietnamese exporting firms and growing areas register with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and the registrations must be sent to CGAC for approval before the fruit can enter the country. "Durians from … [Read more...] about Long way to go for Vietnamese durian
Are M&As still a top trend in the pharma market?
According to an update on Global M&A Industry Trend conducted by PwC, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and healthcare services continue to attract high levels of investor interest, and this trend will continue through the rest of the year. Ngo Thanh Hai and Nguyen Dieu Quynh from LNT & Partners There are three main reasons that M&As in pharmaceuticals could still be the future trend in Vietnam. Firstly, in the face of growing demand and rapid technological innovation, pharmaceutical companies must continuously improve and develop their research and development departments before their patents expire. Therefore, they will be ambitious to acquire smaller companies with existing conditions. Secondly, to expand the business in Vietnam, the investors will need to consider opening a manufacturing plant or acquiring a current plant from domestic companies. Under World Trade Organization commitments, foreign investors can import but cannot distribute drugs to the … [Read more...] about Are M&As still a top trend in the pharma market?