Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee (R) talks with investors. (Photo: SGGP) At the conference, Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee, said that the city wants to listen to the opinions of investors, including their proposals, for authorities to prepare the legal frameworks, orientations, and conditions for enterprises to develop in the future. “Besides attracting new investments, we also need to restructure existing ones. The city is responsible for creating the space, legal framework, and conditions to support enterprises to increase the value of projects," Mr. Phan Van Mai emphasized. Since its establishment in 2002, SHTP Management Board has granted investment registration certificates to 163 projects, with a total investment capital of over US$12 billion. Of which, FDI capital is over $10.1 billion, and domestic capital is over $1.96 billion. The accumulated total value of high-tech production of the SHTP is estimated at $120.307 … [Read more...] about HCMC pledges to facilitate enterprises to increase value in SHTP
Worlds first zero emission ship docks in hcmc
Ben Tre coconut-based dishes set World Record
Ben Tre coconut-based dishes set World Record (Photo: VNA) Ben Tre (VNA) – The World Records Union ( WorldKings ) and the Vietnam Records Organisation ( Vietkings ) on June 27 recognised the 222 coconut-based dishes cooked at an event held in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre. The decisions on the recognition were presented to the provincial People’s Committee at the event, which is part of the activities to celebrate Vietnamese poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu’s 200th birth anniversary (1822 -2022). Addressing the event, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Be Muoi said the recognition contributes to promoting Ben Tre’s culture and tourism. 222 coconut-based dishes presented at an event (Photo: VNA) The dishes show the creativity of the chefs to create unique, attractive and healthy dishes. Ben Tre, the country’s largest coconut-producing province, plans to develop more organic coconut farming as the tree is resistant to saltwater and … [Read more...] about Ben Tre coconut-based dishes set World Record
Biden, Xi to contact each other in ‘next few weeks’: US official
They "will have the opportunity to engage over the course of the next few weeks," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. A new call between the leaders of the world's two biggest economies has been long expected amid tensions over trade, China's sabre rattling around Taiwan, and pressure on Beijing not to help Russia get around Western sanctions over the Ukraine invasion. A week ago, Biden said he planned on "having a conversation with President Xi." "We haven't set a time yet," he said, while a few days earlier he'd said the call could be "soon". The last video conference between the two leaders was on March 18, when Biden warned Xi against assisting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. A key item in the next discussion will be Biden's possible decision to lift some of the trade tariffs imposed under Donald Trump, with billions of dollars of Chinese imports facing 25 percent duties. The penalties were aimed at punishing what the United States says are China's … [Read more...] about Biden, Xi to contact each other in ‘next few weeks’: US official
EU supporting comprehensive implementation of the EVFTA
Peter Bernhardt, team leader of the ARISE+ Vietnam project Since coming into force in August 2021, the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has become an effective tool for boosting trade ties between the EU and Vietnam. What should Vietnam pay attention to in order to benefit more from this deal? I agree that the overall picture of EVFTA performance in this starting period, where exporters and government authorities from both sides have to adapt to the new situation, looks definitely promising. The EVFTA is the most ambitious FTA that the EU has ever signed with a developing country. The deal will mutually lift about 99 per cent of the tariffs within 10 years. Duty was lifted from 65 per cent of EU exports to Vietnam and 71 per cent of Vietnamese exports to the EU, immediately after the EVFTA came into effect. As most Vietnamese exporting products are consumer products, the real challenge Vietnam exporters will face to comply with EU consumer protection regulations is … [Read more...] about EU supporting comprehensive implementation of the EVFTA
BRICS in dilemma
They have to balance their relationships between Russia and their Western partners. China hosted the 14th annual BRICS Summit virtually because of the pandemic. This event was held only a few days before the G7 in-person summit in Germany. BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Overview of the event. Source: VNA The online meeting drew special attention around the world, especially from the US, EU, NATO and their allies due to Russia's military actions in Ukraine for more than four months now. The US, EU, NATO, and their allies - among them all G7 members - stand on Ukraine's side and have imposed strong and multifaceted sanctions on Russia. They have been trying as much as they could to politically isolate Russia on the world stage. Brics members, including China, India, Brazil and South Africa, refused to follow the West in imposing sanctions against Russia and supporting Ukraine. Therefore, this event was a major significant gain … [Read more...] about BRICS in dilemma
Miss Grand International 2023 to be held in Vietnam
The Instagram of the Miss Grand International wrote: "Xin chao moi nguoi! Vietnam has been officially confirmed as the host country for Miss Grand International 2023. We will make a great #history together again in 2023". Pham Kim Dung, President of Sen Vang Entertainment Company, as the national director of the Miss Grand International contest, also confirmed that the contest will be organised in Vietnam in 2023. Dung said she hopes that it will pave the way for other international beauty contests to be held in the country. The beauty pageant has received attention from Vietnamese people after an impressive and convincing victory of Miss Grand International Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien in 2021. Vietnam first hosted the contest in 2017. At that time, Maria Jose Lora from Peru was crowned Miss Grand International 2017. Huyen My, a representative of Vietnam, was in the top 10 finalists. The contest has been held since 2013. It is one of the six major global beauty contests held … [Read more...] about Miss Grand International 2023 to be held in Vietnam
Not time yet to declare end of Covid-19: health ministry
The ministry said it is collecting opinions from other ministries and departments on a draft report on measures to combat Covid-19 in the "new normal" situation for submission to the government. The latest assessment comes more than two months after the PM had asked the health ministry to work on declaring Covid-19 an endemic. The ministry said that from March until now, the number of new Covid-19 cases and deaths has "stably decreased," and the number officially registered with the national database has stayed at fewer than 1,000 cases each day in recent times while the death rate has fallen to 0.06 percent of the total number of infections. Vietnam has covered almost 80 percent of its 96-million population with two vaccine doses; and the group of those from five years old are to receive the second doses within June. Despite this, the ministry said it was not the right time for Vietnam to consider Covid-19 endemic because the novel coronavirus is constantly changing and it is … [Read more...] about Not time yet to declare end of Covid-19: health ministry
Vietnam detects Omicron’s subvariant BA.5
Further information regarding the BA.5 cases and their conditions have not been disclosed. According to Lan, the detection of new strains is inevitable as Vietnam has reopened under the new normal. BA.5 was first discovered in South Africa in January. So far, it has become a dominant strain in some countries such as Israel and Germany. Some studies show that BA.4 and BA.5 spread faster than the previous subvariant BA.2, but there has been not enough data on severity rate. Lan said the Ministry of Health will continue to monitor new strains and World Health Organization (WHO) information to adjust Covid-19 prevention measures when necessary. Vietnam has recorded 142,000 Covid cases over the past two months, and the death rate has fallen to 0.06 percent of the total number of infections. Vietnam has covered almost 80 percent of its 96-million population with two vaccine doses, and the group of those from five years old are to receive the second doses within June. The health … [Read more...] about Vietnam detects Omicron’s subvariant BA.5
Additional oil spike impacts cannot be ruled out
Marcel Schröder, Economist, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department Asian Development Bank At the beginning of the conflict, the crude oil price breached $130 per barrel in March, the highest since 2008. Since then, it retreated to about $100 in April, before rising again to $120 following the European Union’s partial ban on Russian oil in May. Some worry that the oil price could spike to $200 per barrel in the coming months and how such a shock would impact the economic prospects of Asia’s developing countries. While many institutions, including ours, project a significantly higher oil price in 2022 compared with 2021, these predictions do not foresee $200 per barrel because they attach a low probability of a sudden shock to the global oil supply. A sudden shock is unlikely given the EU’s decision to gradually phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2022, allowing an orderly transition to alternative supplies and keeping prices stable and affordable for … [Read more...] about Additional oil spike impacts cannot be ruled out
VN, Hungary’s parliaments sign new cooperation agreement
National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ and his Hungarian counterpart László Kövér sign a new cooperation agreement between the two parliaments in Budapest on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photos Doãn Tấn BUDAPEST — A new cooperation agreement between Việt Nam and Hungary’s national assemblies was assigned by National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vương Đình Huệ and his Hungarian counterpart László Kövér in Budapest on Monday. The document was signed after the two officials spoke at the Hungarian Parliament building, which was part of Huệ’s official visit to the country. The agreement was based on the comprehensive partnership between the two countries, and the cooperation agreement signed between the two national assemblies in 2008. It aims to strengthen the partnership and multifaceted cooperation between Việt Nam and Hungary based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect, compliance with each country's laws, and adherence to international treaties. With the new … [Read more...] about VN, Hungary’s parliaments sign new cooperation agreement