Squeaky clean energy limited

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

A production line at Toyota in the northern province of Vinh Phuc. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam Vietnamese enterprises currently have limited participation in the global supply chain, and are not deeply involved in the value chain of multinational corporations in Viet Nam. Pham Tuan Anh, deputy director of the Industry Agency said that Viet Nam currently had about 5,000 processing and manufacturing enterprises engaged in providing spare parts for the automotive and mechanical industries. In which 70 per cent of enterprises supply domestic manufacturers, 8 per cent supply exporters and 17 per cent are involved in providing both. Only about 30 per cent of supporting industry enterprises have joined the global supply chain and value chain. This linkage is loose for many reasons, the main one being the limited internal resources of the industry, said Anh. Do Thi Thuy Huong, Vice President of the Viet Nam Association for Supporting Industries, said that the specificity of the … [Read more...] about Vietnamese enterprises limited in global supply chain

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

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

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

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

Vietnam and Qatar yesterday signed an agreement on visa exemption for their diplomatic and official passport holders. Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani sign the agreement on August 14. Photo baoquocte.vn The agreement was signed during talks yesterday between Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani during the latter’s visit to Vietnam. Minister Sơn emphasised that the visit, the first of its kind by the Qatari minister, is an important milestone in the bilateral relations between the two countries, especially as the two have recently successfully organised the second political consultation between the two foreign ministries and will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2023. The two ministers highlighted the need to … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Qatar mutually waive visas for diplomatic, official passport holders

A training course on Vietnamese language teaching opened in Hanoi on Monday for 80 Vietnamese teachers from nine countries. A Vietnamese language teaching class in the Czech Republic. — VNA/VNS Photo Addressing the opening, Vice Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs Mai Phan Dũng said that for the 5.3 million-strong Vietnamese community abroad, maintaining the use of the Vietnamese language is significant in keeping their connections with the Fatherland. However, he pointed to the risk for the language to fall into oblivion among the community, especially young generations who are born and raised abroad. The limitations of teaching methods and textbooks is also a great challenge for the community, he added. Dung said that as part of efforts to spread love for the Vietnamese language among the community, recently, the Government chose September 8 as the Day for Honouring Vietnamese Language in Vietnamese Communities … [Read more...] about Training course for Vietnamese teachers abroad opens

A corner of Phu Quoc (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Attracting large capital for urban development is essential for Phu Quoc city, which houses Phu Quoc island – Vietnam's largest off the southern province of Kien Giang, serving its diverse and sustainable growth after years of investing in the entertainment-resort tourism industry. A survey by the Vietnam Institute of Real Estate Studies ( VIRES ) showed that, in the past 3-5 years, over 90% of investors participated in the market’s tourism-resort realty segment. However, at the moment, the focus of investment has shifted to urban projects boasting transparent legality, with over 60% of investors interested in this segment. The vast majority of them chose long-term investment, expecting that the projects’ prices will increase many times in the coming years. Vice president of VIRES Pham Nguyen Toan noted Phu Quoc is gradually transforming itself into a profitable investment and settlement destination. He also singled out … [Read more...] about Phu Quoc welcomes increasing investment in urban development

MANILA -- About 2.3 million people in the Philippines were pushed into poverty between 2018 and 2021, largely due to the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, the statistics agency said on Monday. The number of people living in poverty in 2021 rose to a total of almost 20 million or 18.1% of the population from 16.7% in 2018, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said, overshooting the government's target of 15.5%-17.5%. Recently inaugurated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr aims to slash the poverty rate to 9% by the end of his single six-year term in 2028 - a target that remains achievable despite soaring inflation, according to Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. He said the government's strategy will focus on fully reopening the economy, investing in human capital and social protection, and transforming production sectors to generate more and quality jobs and competitive products. "We can reduce poverty incidence by 5 percentage points at midterm, and … [Read more...] about Pandemic pushed millions more into poverty in the Philippines: govt