Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Addis Ababa (VNA) – Ethiopian authorities have affirmed that the country welcomes Vietnamese businesses to invest in trade and production and will give them attractive preferential policies. The statement was made during a meeting between 50 Vietnamese firms and local authorities of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on August 24 to discuss promising investment areas in Ethiopia, according to Ethiopia's ENA news agency. Addressing the event, Ethiopian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Prof. Afwork Kassu, said that his country will design attractive policies to encourage investors, especially in prioritised fields, including manufacturing industry, apparel, renewable energy, construction and agricultural processing. The Vietnamese business delegation is on a visit to Ethiopia in a suitable time when the African country is implementing its reform cause, said Prof. Kassu. He held that a favourable business environment, proper economic … [Read more...] about Ethiopia pledges attractive preferential policies for Vietnamese investors
Policy
Sweden launches ‘feminist foreign policy’ manual
Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom has led the country's 'feminist diplomacy' policy since taking office in 2014. (Photo: AFP/Jewel Samad) The manual, published on the government's website in English weeks before a Sep 9 general election, is derived from four years of work to place gender equality at the heart of the country's international agenda. Sweden began its feminist foreign policy "in response to the discrimination and systematic subordination that still mark the daily lives of countless women and girls around the world", the handbook said. It added that while gender equality was "an object in itself", it was "essential" in achieving more general government objectives, like peace, security and sustainable development. Led since its inception in 2014 by Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, its goals include the promotion of economic emancipation, fighting sexual violence and improving women's political participation. "We were met with mixed reactions including a bunch … [Read more...] about Sweden launches ‘feminist foreign policy’ manual
Prudential launches inexpensive cancer policy
Prudential Vietnam Assurance LTD has launched PRU-iProtect to provide coverage against cancer. — VNS Photo Prudential Vietnam Assurance LTD has launched PRU-iProtect to provide coverage against cancer. Customers can apply for it online with only one underwriting question to answer. They will pay VND1,500 in premium per day and receive coverage of up to VND100 million, protecting them and their families against the financial risks of cancer. PRU-iProtect does not require customers to do a medical check-up but instead depends on just their replies. It guarantees 100 per cent of the sum assured if a customer is diagnosed with cancer and 5 per cent against the risk of death. Customers can choose one of two packages. Firstly, for a premium of VND562,500 a year (equivalent to VND1,500 per day), customers will receive VND100 million in the event of cancer and VND5 million in the event of death. The other package involves payment of VND1.125 million per year that will enable them to … [Read more...] about Prudential launches inexpensive cancer policy
Credit policies foster students’ dreams of education in Nghe An
Credit policies to foster students' dreams of education in Nghe An The programme’s popularity Nghe An is a land of scholars, as well as the province with the highest number of loans from the students credit programme in Vietnam. With the goal that no impoverished student will be forced to drop out due to financial restraints, Nghe An Bank for Social Policies is determined to overcome difficulties and provide loans to locals, which helps create opportunities for tens of thousands of poor students. Thanks to the access to preferential capital, a huge burden has been lifted off the shoulders of locals everywhere in the province, from those in the mountains to those in coastal areas. Implementing the policy for impoverished students’ credit, in the last 11 years, Nghe An Bank for Social Policies has worked closely with socio-political organisations charged with assessing 545,898 student loan applications with the total amount of VND4.256 billion ($188,300). Up until July 31, … [Read more...] about Credit policies foster students’ dreams of education in Nghe An
Transparent incentive policies needed to lure more foreign investors into Vietnam
The Hanoitimes - Lawmakers should detail conditions, criteria and procedures for investors to benefit the country’s investment incentives, aiming to ensure the implementation of the policy more transparently and effectively. According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vietnam (VCCI), the government has so far issued some investment preferential policies, but it hasn’t detailed conditions, criteria and procedures to enjoy the incentive treatment. This fact has caused difficulty for firms in getting certification of beneficiaries. Vietnam will review 30 years of FDI attraction As a result, preferential policies do not work and discourage those who want to invest in the areas that are encouraged, VCCI noted. VCCI has recently sent the proposal to the National Assembly’s Economic Committee after receiving recommendations from associations of enterprises, the business community and investors. According to Kim Heung Soo, chairman of the Korea … [Read more...] about Transparent incentive policies needed to lure more foreign investors into Vietnam