Mainstreaming in climate change adaptation

Delegates cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the centre. Photo: quangtri.gov.vn PANO – The Quang Tri provincial People’s Committee held an inauguration ceremony for a disaster prevention and mitigation centre funded by the US Pacific Command, on June 10th. Construction on the centre began in January 2014 at a cost of more than VND 9.2 billion VND. Deputy Chairman of the committee Nguyen Quan Chinh highlighted the meaningful facility and hoped that the US Pacific Command would continue assisting in upgrading local infrastructure and technological equipment, ultimately helping improve the province’s disaster risk management and climate change adaptation capacity. Quang Tri regularly suffers great losses from severe weather conditions such as storms, floods and whirlwinds. Addressing the ceremony, Brigadier General Jeffrey L. Milhorn, Commander for the Pacific Ocean Division US Army Corps of Engineers, held that this is the seventh project financed by the US Pacific … [Read more...] about Quang Tri unveils US-funded disaster mitigation centre

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN (Photo: VNA) New York (VNA) – During the working term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2020-2021, Vietnam will work hard to contribute to preventing conflicts, promoting preventive diplomacy and dealing with disputes peacefully in the spirit of Article 6 of the UN Charter. Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN, introduced priorities during the country’s tenure in the UNSC at a press conference in New York on December 12. The Ambassador said that Vietnam will also try to engage in the reform of the council’s operation and the active cooperation between the council and regional organisations. He said that Vietnam will voice its opinions on major issues such as the protection of civilians and essential infrastructure works in conflict areas, the safeguarding of women and children during armed conflicts, the settlement of … [Read more...] about Vietnam introduces priorities during tenure in UN Security Council

Mr. Gellert Horvath in VOV's studio As the government seeks to develop small and medium-sized enterprises and startup businesses, what should Vietnam do to make full use of foreign investment? VOV will bring excerpts of an interview with Gellert Horvath, Eurocham’s former co-chairman, who helped compile this year White Book. What do you think about Vietnam’s current investment environment?   The investment climate in Vietnam is improving. The core business index is positive and moves 77 points according to the last quarter of 2017. As you see more than 40% to 50% of Eurocham Vietnam members are planning to hire more people or do more investment. They are satisfied with Vietnam’s business environment. I think the Vietnamese government is doing a lot to facilitate and to reduce administrative procedures which are easier for businesses. As you probably see in the World Bank’s business ranking, Vietnam now is in the 68th position from last … [Read more...] about Improvements in Vietnam’s business climate highlighted

An American social-ecologist offered her insights into the effects of ocean pollution on fishing communities around the world, including Vietnam, during a panel discussion following a screening of environmental documentary ‘Trashed’ in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday afternoon. The American Center, run by the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, hosted a screening of the feature-length documentary followed by a panel discussion on December 9 as part of an effort to address the global challenge of saving the ailing oceans. First released in May 2012, ‘Trashed’ follows Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons around the world as he explores several destinations that have been hit particularly hard by ocean pollution, including Sidon - the third-largest city in Lebanon, the Gulf of California, and Plymouth - a port city situated on the south coast of Devon in England. In Sidon, a mountain of household garbage towering 40 meters high is wreaking havoc on the Eastern … [Read more...] about US social-ecologist reflects on destruction of world’s oceans at Saigon film screening, panel discussion

Apartment buildings in Hà Nội. The selling prices of real estate products are expected to remain largely unchanged in the second half of the year. — Photo cafef.vn HÀ NỘI — The supply of real estate products is expected to surge in the second half of the year but a market bubble is unlikely to form, according to general secretary of the Việt Nam Association of Property Brokers Nguyễn Văn Đính. Selling prices are unlikely to change much as demand remains high. Đính told a meeting earlier this week that supply and the number of transactions in the property market in the first six months of the year were reduced from the first half of last year. Decreasing supply in the second quarter was due to tightened credit policies in the real estate market. “However, demand in the property market was high in the January-June period in the two big cities," he said. "The real estate prices therefore were … [Read more...] about Property supply expected to increase in H2