Infrastructure

Partner Le Nguyen Huy Thuy and legal assistant Ton That Hoang from Indochine Counsel explain incentives for developing social housing in industrial zones As a result, millions of workers from north to south were quarantined for a long period of time in cramped quarters and lacked amenities or faced high rents in guest houses and motel rooms. This increases population density and the burden on social infrastructure. According to Pham Duc Hai, deputy head of the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Steering Committee in Ho Chi Minh City, before October 1, IZs in Ho Chi Minh City had about 288,000 workers, including more than 70,000 using various stay-at-work models. This number has since fallen to around 45,000 people. The total number of workers in such zones has dropped by over 50 per cent, creating more obstacles for enterprises to meet orders. Therefore, the need for social housing in these IZs is vital. The regulations regarding this are scattered within many documents. …

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Gojek will support Vietnam's cashless transformation Users now have the option of using Visa, Mastercard, and JCB credit or debit cards to pay for transport and online food delivery services on the Gojek app. The launch is part of Gojek’s response to user feedback requesting more payment options on the app, especially with the rising shift to contactless and digital payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is also in line with the Vietnamese government’s efforts to move towards a cashless society. Duc Phung, general manager of Gojek Vietnam said, “Cashless payments is one of the most important launches for Gojek Vietnam this year. Our users have expressed their desire for digital payment options, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the shift to cashless. We are pleased to now offer users an option that makes paying for our services faster and easier – all while ensuring their safety. Looking ahead, we will continue to expand our digital payment options, …

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JICA and VPBank have agreed to US$75 million to promote financial access for women-led small and medium-sized enterprises. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — To promote better financial access among female-led small and medium-sized enterprises, a US$75 million loan fund has been agreed upon. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Việt Nam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank) signed the deal on Thursday to promote financial inclusiveness. The loan is part of a drive on overseas loans and investments with ASEAN members, announced by the Government of Japan in 2019, entitled “Facility for Accelerating Finance Inclusion in Asia:FAIA”. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for 98.7 per cent of the total number of enterprises in Việt Nam, 45 per cent of the country's gross domestic product and attract 63 per cent of employment. However, their access to finance is limited. This access to finance is a particularly big hindrance for women-led SMEs. In …

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The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) at a press conference reviewing the agency’s work in Việt Nam in the first half of the 2021 fiscal year. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) will continue its efforts to support Việt Nam's socio-economic development, JICA Chief Representative in Việt Nam, Shimizu Akira, said on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference reviewing the agency’s work in Việt Nam in the first half of the fiscal year 2021 (from April 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021), Shimizu said that JICA has focused on technical and financial cooperation and consolidating friendship between Việt Nam and Japan. He said that he highly appreciated efforts made by Việt Nam during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the most recent wave since late April. “Japan has been supporting Việt Nam to overcome this difficult time,” he said, adding that Japan has given Việt Nam more than four million doses of …

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Speaking at the ASEAN-India Track 1.5 Dialogue on Cyber Issues last week, Ganguly Das pointed out that ASEAN has been pro-active in the region's efforts to tackle cyber security challenges and has undertaken various cyber confidence building measures. She affirmed that ASEAN's emphasis of ASEAN on cyber security and cyber connectivity in accordance with international laws resonates deeply with India’s approach towards cyber space. Ganguly Das said India has also been working domestically to address the cyber security challenges through platforms capable of supporting and sustaining the efforts in securing the cyber space as well as through the adoption of comprehensive policies such as the New National Cyber Security Policy. Cybercrime often has a transnational dimension, she noted, adding that there is crucial need for international cooperation to exchange experiences and share best practices for protection of information infrastructures. She said that equitable access to the …

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Secretary of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Riva Ganguly Das. (Photo: optcms.com) New Delhi (VNA) – Secretary of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Riva Ganguly Das has emphasised the need for India and ASEAN to enhance cooperation on cyber security and narrow the digital gap. Speaking at the ASEAN-India Track 1.5 Dialogue on Cyber Issues last week, Ganguly Das pointed out that ASEAN has been pro-active in the region's efforts to tackle cyber security challenges and has undertaken various cyber confidence building measures. She affirmed that ASEAN's emphasis of ASEAN on cyber security and cyber connectivity in accordance with international laws resonates deeply with India’s approach towards cyber space. Ganguly Das said India has also been working domestically to address the cyber security challenges through platforms capable of supporting and sustaining the efforts in securing the cyber space as well as through the adoption of comprehensive policies …

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Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE) Nguyen Dinh Tho has said the ISPONRE is seeking international cooperation opportunities regarding rainfall collection and purification technology for the task of fighting climate change in the Mekong Delta. During the 12th Environmental Technology Experts’ Group Meeting, held virtually by the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) on October 21, Tho said Vietnam ranked sixth among countries globally hardest hit by climate change and extreme weather phenomena during the 1999-2018 period. As the country’s biggest farm produce and fisheries production hub, the Mekong Delta faces environment and climate change issues each year like rising sea water level, saltwater intrusion, drought, floods and storms, prolonged and serious tropical tornadoes, he added. According to him, the Ministry of Natural Resources and …

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Industrial facilities in Hanoi have been at risk of causing environmental pollution which have a detrimental effect on people’s health and hinders urban development. Architectural experts believe that old industrial buildings could provide the ideal location to create cultural spaces, giving dilapidated properties a new lease of life. The idea was discussed during an online webinar held in Hanoi on October 21 by architects from Vietnam and Europe alongside building owners and property managers. They hope to share knowledge on the best solutions to turn run-down buildings into cultural spaces the city can be proud of. Factory of Sao Vang Rubber Company in Hanoi's inner district of Thanh Xuan. Photo: Pham Thang The webinar, themed "Current status of industrial facilities spaces in Hanoi and international experiences of industrial heritage", was supported by the association of European Cultural Institutes and Embassies (EUNIC). EUNIC representative Thierry …

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Range of sectors to feel impact of new transactions. Photo: freepik.com The new law transitioned to a notification threshold based on assets, revenues, and transaction values, which are more objective measurements and provide businesses with greater clarity about when these thresholds are fulfilled. Thus, the number of notifications received by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has increased sharply. This stands in contrast to the Law on Competition 2004, when many businesses found it difficult to be certain of their notification obligations due to uncertainties. As a result, a large number of transactions have gone unnoticed in the past. Of the 125 dossiers, approximately 30 per cent of the transactions reported to the MoIT were conducted outside of Vietnam’s borders. However, the new law clearly states that it applies to any acts by foreign individuals or entities that have or may have the effect of restricting competition in Vietnam’s markets. For some sophisticated …

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In the midst of a stressful time of the epidemic, the Ministry of Planning and Investment is developing a program to recover the economy after the pandemic. According to Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, Covid-19 has disrupted production and business activities of enterprises around the world and seriously affected the Vietnamese economy. Along with that, the epidemic has disrupted many supply chains in the world and Vietnam. However, when the economy recovers from the pandemic, demand will also increase. Vietnam needs to take advantage of this opportunity to bring businesses into the supply chain. Growth and opportunity The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam researched and re-evaluated the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on the supply chain of 10 industries in Vietnam. They selected three priority industries for in-depth research: agriculture, food processing and automobiles. These are the three industries …

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