Viet Nam News HCM CITY — The HCM City tourism sector needs to provide better inputs to the Government and improve marketing and promotion to maximise the city’s tourism potential, experts have said. Though the city is a major tourism hub in the country, it trails other localities in developing a master plan for tourism development, Phạm Trung Lương, former deputy head of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, said. The sector has not been proactive in advising the city administration to develop the metro into a “destination that never sleeps” or unique tourism products, he told at a roundtable on August 16. The city has also been slow in adopting policies to improve the competitiveness of its destinations amid the ongoing global integration, he said. Nguyễn Thị Ánh Hoa, deputy director of the city Department of Tourism, said a master plan for tourism development is being drafted. Tourism marketing and promotion are … [Read more...] about HCM City loses out on cruise tourism without large ports
ODA loans from China merit second thoughts: ministry
ODA loans from China merit second thoughts: ministryBy Thuy Dung The Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway in the capital city of Hanoi – PHOTO: TTXVN HANOI - Vietnam should reconsider official development assistant (ODA) loans from China in the days ahead as this source of funding comes with several conditions and a higher interest rate than loans from other countries, according to a report sent to the Prime Minister by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI). The report on orientations for attracting, managing and deploying ODA loans in the 2018-2020 period, with a vision toward 2025 indicated that the annual interest rate of China’s ODA loans is 3%, with commitment and management fees at a rate of 0.5% each. The maturity period is 15 years, including a grace period of five years. In addition, preferential credit packages are provided by the Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank). Meanwhile, the interest rates of ODA loans for other countries are a mere … [Read more...] about ODA loans from China merit second thoughts: ministry
CLMVT Forum 2018 begins in Thailand
CLMVT Forum 2018 begins in ThailandBy Thanh Ha Representatives of Vietnamese enterprises attend the CLMVT Forum 2018 - PHOTO: THANH HA BANGKOK - The Thai Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with many partner organizations, today, August 16, launched the CLMVT Forum 2018, themed, “Taking-Off Through Technology,” at the Bangkok Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand. The forum will emphasize digital technology for sustainable economic development. It is aimed at strengthening economic ties in the CLMVT region, comprising Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand, and promoting regional cooperation amid the current challenges faced by global trade. The forum is also expected to support networking between business leaders, young entrepreneurs and key policymakers from CLMVT and pave the way for the extension of collaboration as well as mutual trade and investment, especially in technological applications and online business development. At the forum, Thai Prime … [Read more...] about CLMVT Forum 2018 begins in Thailand
Conditional abolishment
Conditional abolishmentBy Son Nguyen The deadline set by the Prime Minister for ministries and relevant agencies to make life easier for businesses by abolishing at least half of the business conditions and specialized inspections on imported commodities has passed, but the job is far from done. The reluctance to improve the country’s business environment, as pointed out by local media, mirrors a deep-rooted mindset among many agencies who seek to maintain their own management style rather than to switch to a pro-business approach. The Government has long made administrative reform one of its top-priority mandates, and on the very first day of this year, the Government issued Resolution 01/NQ-CP to this regard. Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung stresses in Lao Dong newspaper that the Government with this resolution required all ministries and relevant agencies to review their legal documents and abolish those deemed business-unfriendly in this year at … [Read more...] about Conditional abolishment
Bank stocks lift VN-Index up
Bank stocks lift VN-Index upBy Phuong Thao HCMC – Profit taking pressure kept rising on the local stock market today, August 16, but bank stocks were strong enough to send the VN-Index of the Hochiminh Stock Exchange back into positive territory. With 133 gainers and 128 losers, the main index increased a slight 2.91 points, or 0.3%, at 964.28. Turnover on the southern market slid 7.9% in volume and 2% in value to 174 million shares worth VND4.3 trillion. Having dropped steeply in the morning, many large stocks in the banking and petroleum sectors made a sharp turnaround. In which, lender CTG gained 3.8% at VND26,150 per share and led the market by liquidity with 11.2 million shares traded. MBB, another bank, added 1.7% at VND23,700 per share with matching volume of 7.5 million shares. PLX, a leading oil distributor, gained 2.9% at VND64,600 a share with over 1.4 million shares traded. However, oil drilling firm PVD still lost 2.3% at VND14,750 a share, after Vietcombank … [Read more...] about Bank stocks lift VN-Index up
Jan-July import-export revenue higher than 2013 full-year figure
Jan-July import-export revenue higher than 2013 full-year figureBy Hung Le A container vessel docks at Cai Mep Port in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. The import and export revenue of Vietnam in the first seven months of the year surpassed that of the full year for 2013 – PHOTO: LE ANH HCMC – The import and export revenue of Vietnam in the first seven months of the year surpassed that of the full year for 2013, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Preliminary customs statistics from the department showed that the total value of imports and exports in July reached a record high of US$41.2 billion, a 6.1% rise against the previous month. Vietnam exported goods worth more than US$20.3 billion, up by 2.4% month-on-month, while the country spent over US$20.9 billion purchasing foreign goods, up by 10%. July was the second month this year, after January, in which the total value of imports and exports was above US$20 billion. Overall, the total … [Read more...] about Jan-July import-export revenue higher than 2013 full-year figure
Health Ministry partners with FPT
Health Ministry partners with FPTBy Van Ly Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien and FPT Chairman Truong Gia Binh shake hands after signing the agreement - PHOTO: VAN LY HA NOI – The Ministry of Health today, August 16, signed a cooperation agreement with FPT Corporation to develop and apply information technology (IT) to the health sector from 2018 to 2028. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said that even though the health sector has been applying IT solutions to health services, it continues to face challenges and difficulties. To address these and to offer the best services possible to patients, the ministry decided to cut a deal with FPT. The ministry will collaborate with FPT to build an electronic health structure, in addition to professional data, to guide IT application in healthcare, as well as introduce regulations on e-health, train employees to operate the data center and enhance the development of e-health. The highlight of … [Read more...] about Health Ministry partners with FPT
France top new-style FIFA rankings, Germany slump to 15th
France top new-style FIFA rankings, Germany slump to 15thThe Saigon Times Daily France's Kylian Mbappe kisses the trophy as he celebrates winning the World Cup at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia July 15, 2018 – PHOTO: REUTERS ZURICH (REUTERS) - World champions France predictably shot to the top of the FIFA rankings published on Thursday while previous leaders Germany slumped to 15th after their humiliating first round exit in Russia. The rankings were the first to be issued since France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final on July 15 and also the first since FIFA replaced its much-criticized previous formula. France were followed by Belgium, the team they beat 1-0 in the semi-finals, with Brazil dropping one place to third after their quarter-final exit against the Belgians. Surprise finalists Croatia leapt from 20th to fourth. Quarter-finalists Uruguay climbed nine places to fifth while England's run to the semi-finals took them up to sixth place from a previous … [Read more...] about France top new-style FIFA rankings, Germany slump to 15th
China, U.S. to hold lower-level trade talks in late August
China, U.S. to hold lower-level trade talks in late AugustThe Saigon Times Daily Containers are seen at the Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai, China April 24, 2018 – PHOTO: REUTERS BEIJING (REUTERS) - China will hold a fresh round of trade talks with the United States in Washington later this month, Beijing said on Thursday, offering a glimmer of hope for progress in resolving a conflict that has set world financial markets on edge. A Chinese delegation led by Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen will meet U.S. representatives led by Under Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs David Malpass, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on its website. While the engagement was seen by analysts and business officials as positive, they cautioned that the talks were unlikely to lead to a breakthrough given they are among lower level officials and led on the U.S. side by the Treasury Department, not the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). There also remains a … [Read more...] about China, U.S. to hold lower-level trade talks in late August
Realty meet set for next month in Hanoi
Realty meet set for next month in HanoiBy Van Ly HANOI - Vietnam’s International Real Estate Conference (IREC 2018) will be held at the National Convention Center in Hanoi to promote the local property market. The three-day event, starting on September 5, is expected to attract hundreds of international visitors. The fourth edition of the event was announced at a meeting held on August 15. It will be co-organized by the Vietnam National Real Estate Association (VNREA) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), said Nguyen Tran Nam, president of VNREA and head of the organizing committee. This is the first time NAR has chosen Vietnam to host IREC. The previous editions of the event were held in the Philippines (2015), South Korea (2016) and Thailand (2017). The event will include many sessions, such as a comprehensive meeting of worldwide real estate associations; a session introducing and promoting investments; and an expo on the international real estate industry, … [Read more...] about Realty meet set for next month in Hanoi