The Tan Cang Cat Lai Port. The port is the first in Viet Nam to be recognised as a green port by the APEC Port Services Network. — Photo vneconomy.vn The Viet Nam Maritime Administration is gathering comments on a proposed set of criteria for recognising green ports. The criteria are expected to push port-managing firms to embrace green development, improving their competitiveness and ensuring sustainability. A green assessment will be carried out every three years. The first criterion is that the firms strictly comply with environmental regulations specified in Viet Nam's legal documents and international agreements of which Viet Nam is a member. Additionally, the firms must closely monitor their port construction and operation and make frequent reports on their environmental impacts. The second criterion comprises three sub-criteria with specific max points assigned to each. Under the Commitment sub-criterion, port-managing firms get 0.75 points once they have a … [Read more...] about Vietnam Maritime Administration formulates green ports criteria
Mainers for clean energy jobs
300,000 high-skilled job opportunities to be created in Malaysia by 2025
Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (Photo: Bernama) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - A total of 300,000 high-skilled job opportunities in high-impact sectors such as electrical and electronics (E&E), automotive, chemicals and advanced materials, as well as life sciences and medical technology, for Malaysian youths are expected to be created by 2025. The country's Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said for this year alone, a total of 20,000 similar job opportunities will be created through the Academy in Factory (AiF) programme. To ensure foreign investors continue to make Malaysia an investment destination, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to provide highly skilled and technological talents. This is in line with the emphasis for the country's workforce to improve skills and re-skilling or upskilling in line with the 4th Industrial Revolution which is expected to … [Read more...] about 300,000 high-skilled job opportunities to be created in Malaysia by 2025
Strategic framework for sustainable development between UN and Vietnam
The Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development Cooperation 2022-2026 (CF) guides and steers the government of Vietnam and the UN in Vietnam’s collaboration on accelerating progress to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals. It highlights the joint commitment to deliver sustainable development for all. Speaking at the signing ceremony on August 11, MPI Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised that the CF will be implemented at a time when Vietnam has been synchronously implementing solutions to strengthen economic recovery after the pandemic, respond to climate change, and transition to a green, circular economy. "The government has been working to improve institutions and policies in order to mobilise resources from all economic sectors to develop the country. Together with other development partners, the UN plays an important role in supporting Vietnam in its development, integration, and strong participation in global development through policy advice, sharing Vietnam’s … [Read more...] about Strategic framework for sustainable development between UN and Vietnam
Seniors’ struggle to cope without pension or savings
Thu, 61, is a housewife and completely dependent on her husband. He is 66 and works as a construction worker. They struggle to make ends meet and their healthcare expenses take up much of their income. Thu says: "My daughter has no problem giving us money, but her husband does not seem too pleased to support us. So I don’t feel happy taking it. Sometimes my son-in-law asks my daughter behind our back why we keep borrowing money from them." In order not to bother their daughter and her family, the old couple ask other people in their circle. But who can lend them money constantly? Growing up during the war, Thu used to be a farmer and then ran a small business. Neither she nor her husband has pensions, and their savings are not enough for retirement. "When I was in my 30s, I saved hundreds of millions of dong. But suddenly I became sick and my situation became serious. I spent most of my savings at that time. Now I have less than 20 million left. Our life is so unstable now." … [Read more...] about Seniors’ struggle to cope without pension or savings
Hanoi helps firms implement trade deals
Double digit export growth According to the Hanoi People’s Committee, the export turnover of goods in June 2022 reached about US$1.517 billion, up 6.8 percent from May 2022 and 17.5 percent from June 2021. In the first half of this year, the commodity exports turnover reached US$8.3 billion, up 17.1 percent over the first half of 2021. Some key items with increased export turnover in this period included textile and garment, reaching US$1.22 billion, up 29.6 percent; computer components and peripherals, US$1.072 billion, up 20.2 percent. The total import turnover of goods hit US$3.675 billion in June and US$20.5 billion in the first six months of 2022, the latter of which is 24.5 percent higher than the same period in 2021. Among the items of highest value were machinery, equipment and spare parts reaching US$2.996 billion, down 5.6 percent; petroleum US$2.934 billion, 2.8 times higher than the same period in 2021; computers, electronic goods and components at US$1.535 … [Read more...] about Hanoi helps firms implement trade deals
Hanoi – Vientiane bolster economic ties
Cooperation between Hanoi and Vientiane remains an example of the long-standing and special relations Vietnam-Laos. Hanoi and Vientiane have been taking steps to bolster economic ties during the Vietnam-Laos 2022 Solidarity and Friendship Year. Overview of the “Hanoi-Vientiane Cooperation for Development” investment, trade, and tourism conference. Photo: The Hanoi Times At the investment, trade, and tourism conference titled “Hanoi-Vientiane Cooperation for Development” on August 10, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen noted the cooperation between Hanoi and Laos’ provinces in general, and with Vientiane in particular, have been progressing in all spheres, including priority fields of economy, healthcare, education, agriculture, military, and people-to-people exchange. Echoing Quyen’s view, Vice Director of the Hanoi’s Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Ngoc Tu added since 2004, Hanoi has been funding several projects to … [Read more...] about Hanoi – Vientiane bolster economic ties
Saigon traffic descends into chaos after year’s heaviest downpour
It began to rain around 3 p.m., and roads in several districts were inundated soon after. The heavy rain knocked open a manhole cover at the intersection of Tran Hung Dao and Huynh Minh Dat streets in District 5, causing floodwaters to form a whirlpool . A motorcyclist who inadvertently drove through the flooded manhole was knocked over but people in the area rushed to help. Thu Phuong, a 56-year-old woman selling refreshments near the intersection, said it wasn’t the first time that the manhole had been lifted up by heavy rain. "Many people from the drainage company have come to fix it. However, it still gets pushed open by the force of water pressure and becomes extremely dangerous for people driving by," she said. Pedestrians cross a flooded section of Bui Vien Street in District 1. Cars turned on their headlights after it became dark and visibility became poor. … [Read more...] about Saigon traffic descends into chaos after year’s heaviest downpour
Crushed: family mourns husband, son killed in UK fire
Tran Thi Huy, 28, of Dien Chau District in the north central Nghe An Province, is the wife of 31-year-old Nguyen Van Uoc, who has been confirmed dead in a mill fire in Oldham, Manchester back in May. On Saturday, Huy received a phone call from the U.K. The person on the other side was a representative of the Manchester police, informing her fingerprint analyses of a body found in the aftermath of the fire showed that it belonged to Uoc, one of four Vietnamese nationals reported missing last month. They said a DNA analysis would be done next to confirm the fingerprint analysis. A month ago, hair and nail samples of Uoc’s family members were sent to the U.K. police by a Vietnamese citizen living in the U.K. who came back home to collect them. "We have been praying hard at the altar, hoping a miracle would happen for Uoc. But that hope is gone," Huy said. At the end of 2016, just months after the couple had welcomed their second child, Uoc left his wife and family and went to … [Read more...] about Crushed: family mourns husband, son killed in UK fire
Samsung boss gets presidential pardon: S Korea justice minister
Billionaire Lee Jae-yong, who was convicted of bribery and embezzlement in January last year, will be "reinstated" to give him a chance to "contribute to overcoming the economic crisis" of the country, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon said. Lee -- the 278th-richest person in the world, according to Forbes, with a net worth of $7.9 billion -- was released on parole in August 2021, after serving 18 months in jail, just over half of his original sentence. In this file photo taken on May 10, 2022 Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Electronics vice chairman and de facto leader of Samsung Group, attends an inaugural dinner of South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol in Seoul. The heir and de facto leader of Samsung group received a presidential pardon on August 12, 2022, the latest example of South Korea's long tradition of freeing business leaders convicted of corruption on economic grounds. (JEON HEON-KYUN / POOL / AFP) Friday's pardon will allow him to fully return to work by lifting a … [Read more...] about Samsung boss gets presidential pardon: S Korea justice minister
NovaGroup awarded Best Workplace in Asia 2022 by HR Asia Magazine
The Best Companies to Work for in Asia Award is a prestigious international award presented annually by HR Asia to honour businesses with outstanding human resource policies, attractive remuneration, leading culture and working environment, and regularly organised internal activities to connect employees. To achieve this prestigious Asia's Best Place to Work award, businesses need to go through three rounds of surveys with rigorous evaluation criteria, proving that it has created a highly cohesive working environment. At the same time, the businesses must be evaluated by their own employees as one of the businesses with the best working environment in Asia and one of Asia's selected excellent employers. HR Asia’s representative presented the award to Nguyen Bach Kim Vy, deputy CEO of NovaGroup Operations At the award ceremony, Nguyen Bach Kim Vy, deputy CEO of NovaGroup Operations said that the award contributes to asserting the correct and effective HR strategy … [Read more...] about NovaGroup awarded Best Workplace in Asia 2022 by HR Asia Magazine