How optimistic can you be in evaluating the trends of building smarter cities during this turbulent time in the global economy? Governments around the world are tapping into an arsenal of policy interventions and financing measures to support the transformation of sectors, especially energy and industry, improving energy efficiency, and tackling environmental pollution. Many are adopting a stick-and-carrot approach, including green taxes on harmful environmental activities, tighter regulations, and new environmental standards and certifications for energy performance, emissions, and pollution. Subsidies and tax rebates are used to boost demand for green products and services like electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and renewable energy. Loans and grants are also provided to promote green investments in sustainable agriculture, renewable or low-carbon energy sources, energy-efficient buildings, transport, and public infrastructure. There is a robust and wide array of green … [Read more...] about A phased approach to smart cities
Revel atlantic city reopening
HCM City looks to boost ties with Belarus
During the meeting, Mai expressed the belief that the opening of the Belarusian Consulate General in HCM City will contribute to fostering cooperation between the two countries and their localities, affirming that the municipal authority will create favourable conditions for the mission's operation. He suggested the two countries strengthen cooperation in terms of trade, investment, culture, education and tourism, which he said will be a foundation for further developing the Vietnam – Belarus relations in general and between HCM City and Belarusian localities in particular. Regarding the Belarusian Prime Minister's visit to Vietnam slated for late this year, Mai said HCM City will be honoured to welcome the Belarusian leader. Regarding the cooperative relationship between HCM City and Minsk city of Belarus, the official proposed that the two sides select specific items to carry out in the framework of the cooperation programme between the two localities in the 2020-2025 period. … [Read more...] about HCM City looks to boost ties with Belarus
VietFood & Beverage – ProPack expo opens in HCM City
Lasting through August 13, the annual expo is featuring 400 booths run by around 350 businesses from 18 nations and territories. On display are the sector's products, machinery, equipment, and packaging-processing technologies. Deputy Director General Nguyen Van Nga of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Agency for Southern Region said taking place annually in Hanoi and HCM City, the event aims to help domestic firms expand businesses and markets and boost exports and foreign companies seek distributors in Vietnam. Ly Kim Chi, head of the municipal Food and Food Stuff Association, said this year’s edition boasts many interesting activities for visitors and networking events for the business community. Source: VNA … [Read more...] about VietFood & Beverage – ProPack expo opens in HCM City
Food and beverage, packaging expos open in HCM City
The Polish national pavilion at the 26th International Exhibition on Food & Beverage and Food Processing, Packaging Technology & Equipment that opened on Thursday at the Sai Gon Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7. — VNS Photo Thu Hang The 26th International Exhibition on Food & Beverage and Food Processing, Packaging Technology & Equipment opened on Thursday at the Sai Gon Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7. Vietfood & Beverage – Propack 2022 has attracted 350 exhibitors from 18 countries and territories, who are showcasing products, equipment and technology for the food and beverage industry and for food packaging and processing. There are national pavilions from India, Poland, South Korea, Russia, Singapore, Japan, and Indonesia. The event also features a series of seminars and business matching programmes on development prospects of the agricultural products intertrade between Viet Nam and Russia, development of Russian grain … [Read more...] about Food and beverage, packaging expos open in HCM City
HCMC, Singapore enhance cooperation on human resources development
Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee (right) hands over a souvenir to Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. (Photo: VNA) Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee Phan Van Mai hosted a reception for Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry on August 11. He affirmed that the cooperation between HCMC and Singapore not only brings benefits to the city but also is an important factor contributing to the common development of Vietnam-Singapore relations. At the event (Photo: VNA) Along with potential fields such as smart city building, urban management and green economy, the city expects to strengthen collaboration and share experience in startup development, helping the city become an innovative start-up center of the country and the region, the official said. He hoped that Singapore will share experience to improve the dialogue mechanism between the … [Read more...] about HCMC, Singapore enhance cooperation on human resources development
3rd HCMC Creative Awards receives entries by the end of next March
At the press conference The biennial contest opening for Vietnamese people at home and abroad has seven categories, including economic growth, national defense, state management, communications, culture and arts, science and technology, and innovative startup, Deputy Head of the municipal Reward and Emulation Board Nguyen Hoang Hung said. This year’s competition will focus on discovering measures for the city’s economic development, works and solutions in studying and following President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle, mass mobilization activities, national defense and security tasks. The entries have been applied in practice from March 1, 2021, to March 31, 2023, and contributed to solving urgent issues in building and developing the city, or won awards in major competitions. The works must present their creativity, widespread application and immediate effect. An award-winning work reforming administrative procedures at the 2nd HCMC Creative Awards … [Read more...] about 3rd HCMC Creative Awards receives entries by the end of next March
Police arrest gang carrying out largest-ever deforestation in Da Lat
Le Thi Minh is identified as the leader of the gang. (Photo: SGGP) The Da Lat City Police, on the morning of August 11, informed that after coordinating with the departments of the Lam Dong Provincial Police, the investigative agency prosecuted the accused and detained Le Thi Minh, 60, and Duong Kim Ha, 40, living in Ward 12 in Da Lat City, for three months and prosecuted the accused Bui Thi Huyen, 38, living in Ward 12, but released her on bail because she was taking care of her baby. These subjects are related to the deforestation case that occurred in lots A and B, Plot 15, Sub-zone 144B in Ward 8 in Da Lat City. Duong Kim Ha at the scene of the deforestation. (Photo: SGGP) In addition, the investigative agency has been consolidating the file after identifying four other subjects, including Bui Van Gia, 37, Quach Van Khuyen, 42, Le Van Ha, 47, and Nguyen Van Hung, 49, living in Ward 12. They are the subjects who directly destroyed the pine forests at the above location. … [Read more...] about Police arrest gang carrying out largest-ever deforestation in Da Lat
High-quality human resources key to sustainable tourism industry
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - As tourism continues to revive, the hotel and tourism industry is suffering from challenges in recruiting qualified human resources post pandemic, industry players warned. Speaking at a seminar on August 9 in HCM City, Dr Nguyen Anh Tuan, director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, said there was a lack of high-quality staff in the industry. Vu The Binh, chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association , said that human resources were a weak point for the industry even before the pandemic. “Efficient, hard-working, and resourceful human resources are the backbone of any successful business. It is even more so in the case of the hotel industry.” Successful hotel operations are sustained by customer-oriented and hard-working employees who have adequate competencies, he added. A large number of hotels and resorts stopped operation during the two-year pandemic, and coming back could prove challenging, he … [Read more...] about High-quality human resources key to sustainable tourism industry
1,600 vehicles see ETC-related errors per day passing An Suong–An Lac toll plaza
Many vehicles passing An Suong – An Lac Toll Plaza could not have their ETC card successfully read, so the staff had to manually scan the card. On average, every day, in the An Suong – An Lac Toll Plaza, 1,600 vehicles face such ETC-related errors as wrong card attachment location or ticket value, locked ETC card, vehicle with two cards attached and one having error, inactivated ETC account, empty ETC account, money in ETC account not being timely synchronized or not being accessible. The number of vehicles with an ETC card increased significantly compared to the first day launching the system These errors have led to failure in ETC card reading and unnecessary transaction prolonging, which ultimately creates traffic congestion. Also, there is only one lane saved for the mixed type of toll collection, while the quantity of vehicles without an ETC card is too high, and thus forming unwanted traffic congestion outside toll plazas as well. By Thanh Hai – Translated by … [Read more...] about 1,600 vehicles see ETC-related errors per day passing An Suong–An Lac toll plaza
Vietnam still struggles to welcome back int’l tourists
With the peak summer travel season drawing to a close, Vietnam’s international tourism segment still faces bottlenecks on its route to full recovery. Within the framework of a program early this week to discuss the current state of the Vietnamese tourism sector, representatives from businesses and organizations across the country voiced doubts that Vietnam will meet its goal of welcoming five million foreign tourists by the end of the year if regulations governing visa policies, infrastructure, and personnel are not relaxed. Incomplete recovery According to Cao Thi Tuyet Lan, sales manager at Viettours Incentives & Events Co. Ltd., foreign tourists still find it difficult to enter the country despite Vietnam having fully reopened its borders. “What's more, it is hard to apply for visas for business travelers who work with domestic enterprises," Lan said. “[The domestic partner] first has to register [the foreign partner] with the Immigration Department, then wait for a … [Read more...] about Vietnam still struggles to welcome back int’l tourists