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Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The ADB has revised down Vietnam's 2021 GDP growth forecast from 6.7 percent to 3.8 percent due to a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic that has tightened the labour market, lowered industrial output, and disrupted agricultural value chains, according to a report released by the bank on September 22. At a virtual press conference, ADB country director Andrew Jeffries said the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and extended lockdowns have weakened consumption and investment, hampering Vietnam’s growth prospects. “But the Vietnamese economy will bounce back if the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control by the end of 2021 and 70 percent of the country’s population are vaccinated by the second quarter of 2022," he said. ADB remains bullish on the country’s prospects in the medium and long term. Growth could be aided by a revival of domestic demand, an acceleration in the disbursement of public investment, and an expansion to new export …

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Collecting samples for COVID-19 testing (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – An additional 11,692 COVID-19 infections, including 5 imported cases, in the past 24 hours to 5pm on September 21, the Ministry of Health announced. Ho Chi Minh City, which is the country’s current largest pandemic hotspot, continued to  report the highest number of infections with 6,521 cases. It was followed by neighbouring Binh Duong province (3,609), Dong Nai (590) and Long An (254). The country has to date logged 707,436 COVID-19 cases. A total of 11,017 patients were given the all-clear from coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on September 21, raising the total number of recoveries to 475,343. The death toll rose to 17,545 after an additional 240 deaths were announced on the same day. As of the end of September 20, over 35 million doses of vaccine s were given to people so far, including more than 28.28 million first shots and 6.78 million second jabs./. VNA …

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At the signing ceremony between firms of Vietnam and the US (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The T&T Group on September 21 signed several MoUs and contracts with US partners within the framework of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s working trip to the US. The Vietnamese firm inked an MoU with UPC Renewables on working together in offshore and nearshore wind and solar power projects in several provinces in Vietnam with a combined capacity of nearly 1,500 MW and total investment of about 2.5 billion USD. T&T Group also sealed two deals in buying animal feed materials totalling 525 million USD. Accordingly, its agricultural arm T&T Agri will import 1.25 million tonnes of materials worth 450 million USD from The Delong Company next year. The other is an agreement in principle valuing at 75 million USD per year also between T&T Agri and US firm Valero. Meanwhile, the group's pharmaceutical arm, T&T Pharma reached a deal worth 23 million USD to be the sole distributor of …

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The long-term conservation and sustainable promotion of the unique folkloric values of the Cau Ngu Festival at Van Thuy Tu Temple will not only meet the religious and spiritual needs of local people but also see the festival become an attractive tourism offering that attracts domestic and foreign visitors. From 2022 onwards, the annual Cau Ngu Festival will take place during the 6th lunar month and the Phan Thiet City People’s Committee will be in charge of its organisation. The festival is a key part of life in the city’s fishing villages and an important spiritual and cultural event, held in the hope of securing the favour of the sea god. Over the last 10 years, however, the festival has been in danger of disappearing. In 2019, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a Decision approving the Cau Ngu Festival as a national intangible heritage./. VNA …

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Illustrative image (Photo: AFP/VNA) Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand has increased the ceiling of its public debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio to 70 percent from 60 percent, allowing the government to raise more funds to help a struggling economy. The decision was made by the State Monetary and Fiscal Policy Committee chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on September 20. The Southeast Asian country is dealing with its biggest COVID-19 outbreak to date and stricter containment measures have hit economic activities although some have been eased from this month. Last year, the government issued its first emergency loan decree last year to authorise it to borrow 1 trillion THB to fund its stimulus schemes to combat the pandemic. A second decree was issued this year to allow the government to borrow an additional 500 billion THB. Last month, Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput said the country would need a further 1 trillion THB in fiscal measures to …

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At the meeting (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Government Inspectorate of Vietnam (GIV) hosted the 17th Secretariat Meeting of the ASEAN Parties Against Corruption ( ASEAN -PAC) group via videoconference on September 22. As the current rotating Chair of ASEAN-PAC, the GIV presided over the 17th ASEAN-PAC Secretariat Meeting in which members discussed cooperation results in the recent past, sought technical agreement on the revised draft memorandum of understanding between anti-corruption agencies in Southeast Asia, as well as prepared for important contents to submit to the 17th meeting of ASEAN-PAC slated for the end of this year. In his opening speech, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the GIV, highlighted that Vietnam has over the years fulfilled its role at regional and international arenas. Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the GIV Nguyen Tuan Anh (Photo: VNA) As Chair of ASEAN …

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Director of the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs Huynh Duc Truong said over 4,800 foreigners and overseas Vietnamese with different nationalities living in the city. According to the official, many of them, including those work at foreign consulates general, industrial parks, and non-governmental organisations, among others, have received their first jabs. As of August 30, the department’s hotlines received 180 calls, emails, and texts from foreigners , mostly asking for assistance in purchasing food, necessities, and medicines; in travelling to vaccination sites; and in making appointments related to health checkups and visa extension, among others. Prompt support has been delivered to them./. VNA …

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A representative of HCM City's Youth Union wears the costume of a traditional character of the Mid-Autumn Festival, as she presents gifts for children of migrant workers in dormitories in HCM City (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Many children in Ho Chi Minh City , the country’s coronavirus epicentre, have enjoyed a special Mid-Autumn Festival this year despite social distancing regulations thanks to joint efforts of authorities, organisations and volunteers. In the past three days, the dormitories of migrant workers in Son Ky, Tay Thanh wards in Tan Phu district; Tan Nhut, An Phu Tay wards in Binh Chanh district; and Hiep Phuoc Industrial Zone in Nha Be district have been full of the sounds of happiness with children’s laughter. Youngsters celebrated their Mid-Autumn Festival with mooncakes, milk, small boxes of candy and biscuits, as well colourful paper lanterns. These are in gift packages for the full-moon festival local authorities, youth unions and benefactors, …

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A Vietjet Air plane (Photo: Vietjet Air) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company (HOSE: VJC) has released its half-year audited financial statements for 2021, which saw a bigger post-tax profit of the parent company over its compiled reports. According to the financial statement s audited by PwC, Vietjet as a parent company had its transport revenue reaching 5,022 billion VND (approx. 220 million USD) for the first six months of this year. Its profit after tax was reported at 34.2 billion VND (approx. 1.5 million USD), a year-on-year leap of 102 percent thanks to profits gained from new project investments. The airline’s audited after-tax profit has also increased by 148 percent compared to that in its compiled reports. Vietjet posted its consolidated revenue at 7,556 billion VND (approx. 332 million USD) while the consolidated profit after tax reached 121.8 billion VND (approx. 5.3 million USD), showing a remarkable year-on-year growth of 161 percent. …

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