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As the African swine fever (ASF) is spreading across Vietnam, the government asked all authorities, large and small, to join the efforts to put a stop to the epidemic, calling it a matter just as serious as a fight against foreign invaders. Vietnam called for the entire political system to mobilise against ASF On May 19, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited a household in Tien Duong commune, Dong Anh district, where have the largest burial site for pigs in Hanoi, to monitor the implementation of prevention work and then joined a working session with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the Hanoi People’s Committee, the Dong Anh People’s Committee, and households. According to the PM, the country has about 2.5 million pig breeding households, and there is little in the way of medicine and vaccines to control and prevent the epidemic, which is a particularly resistant strain. These are all favourable conditions for ASF. At … [Read more...] about Vietnam likens ASF to foreign invasion

The government believes that attracting private funding through PPP is the most efficient way to develop healthcare, Photo: Le Toan Over the past eight years, 64-year-old Ba Nam, who lives in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, visited Ho Chi Minh City more than 20 times for check-ups and treatment, often going home with a large collection of medicines. Every time he reached the Mien Tay coach station, he often had to rush to Cho Ray Hospital or 115 People’s hospital to register for a check-up. Last time after a wait of five to six hours, Nam eventually was seen for a blood test when his stomach was extremely empty, and then other tests such as a cephalogram. January 20, 2019 was different, when Nam decided to visit Gia An Hospital 115, the first ­public-private partnership (PPP) model between private-owned Gia An Hospital and state-run People’s Hospital 115 in Ho Chi Minh City, instead. With no need to queue up for long, he soon met and was treated by a doctor … [Read more...] about Partnerships can create breakthrough in health

Spurring US investment into new phase, illustration photo The American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi (AmCham), the US Chamber of Commerce, and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry last week hosted the annual Vietnam-US Business Summit, attracting 250 government and industry leaders from both countries, including leading American firms like Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Facebook. The event was created to build on current the momentum of bilateral economic relations and to address the areas where inconsistencies, inefficiencies, and unfair practices persist. “American companies have invested billions of dollars here, integrating Vietnam into the global supply chain, creating quality jobs for Vietnamese workers, and opening a new market for US goods and services,” said Amcham chairwoman Natasha Ansell. “American companies have an interest in Vietnam’s continued success and AmCham continues to support the government’s efforts to grow the private sector … [Read more...] about Spurring US investment into new phase

“Applying luxury tax on smartphones is contrary to Industry 4.0,” Pham Hai Van, northern director of local technology firm Haravan JSC, told VIR when talking about Ho Chi Minh City authorities’ recent proposal to impose such a tax on devices that they think are essential. Ho Chi Minh City's proposal of slapping a luxury tax on smartphones has caused a huge stir Accordingly, imposing a luxury tax on smartphones may affect Vietnam’s target of approaching Industry 4.0. Van told VIR, “It will impact local technology firms because most of their technology products are connected to smartphones, and applying the tax on smartphones will broaden the gap between consumers and technology.” “It is very necessary to issue policies favouring products and sectors supporting the development of local technologies,” Van added. The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee in early May proposed adding smartphones to the list of goods subject to … [Read more...] about Applying luxury tax on smartphones is contrary to Industry 4.0

The global trade war is expected to quicken the production shift to Vietnam as part of its spillover effect on China and the ASEAN, said Maybank Group in today’s conference in Singapore. Invest Asia 2019 opened in Singapore today with discussions on the disrupted China - ASEAN supply chain As the trade conflict between the US and China drag on, ASEAN markets find themselves caught in between their two biggest trading partners. One of the greatest impacts is the ongoing manufacturing shift away from China to the ASEAN, most notably in consumer goods, technology, and automotive. A 2018 survey by Maybank pointed out that at least 20 per cent China-based manufacturers are thinking of moving their assembly lines to the ASEAN. “The conflict has cast serious doubts on the future of global economic activity, and against the backdrop of this fragmented global environment, countries, especially those in Asia, have started sliding into new regional arrangements,” said … [Read more...] about Opportunities for Vietnam from disrupted China ASEAN ties

The development of Vietnamese technology companies will be discussed at the National Forum on Developing Vietnam Technology Companies held on May 9 at the National Convention Center, Hanoi, chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, with the participation of more than 1,000 guests including government representatives and leading technology enterprises.   The National Forum on Developing Vietnam Technology Companies has the theme “Aspiration, Vision, and Strategy for a Prosperous Vietnam” and the slogan “Make in Vietnam.” In his keynote speech welcoming guests and opening the form, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung highlighted the role of technology companies in the country's development. Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications, addressing the National Forum on Developing Vietnam Technology Companies The four topics to be discussed include resolving issues for Vietnamese technology enterprises, … [Read more...] about National forum on developing Vietnamese technology companies

The weak infrastructure system, environmental pollution, floods, and traffic congestions are the key issues that Ho Chi Minh City wants to address by calling for both foreign and international investment with 210 projects worth a total of $51.3 billion. According to Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong, the city is calling for investment for 210 projects with the total investment capital of VND1,183.6 trillion ($51.3 billion)in the fields of transportation, infrastructure, agriculture, trade and services, urban development, education, healthcare, sports, tourism, and entertainment. Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong calls for investment for 210 projects with the total investment capital of VND1,183.6 trillion ($51.4 billion) (Photo Le Toan) “We understand that a good investment environment must include not only incentives for investors, but timely support from local authorities. Regular talks like this … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City calls for investment in 210 projects

The Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX) on May 7 officially opened the first trading session of over 1.4 billion Vietnam Airlines shares (code HVN) at a ceremony attended by leaders of the Commission for the Managenment of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) and the State Securities Commission (SSC). Nguyen Hoang Anh, chairman of the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises, attended the opening of the first trading session of Vietnam Airlines shares on HSX According to Decision No.115/QD-SGDHCM dated April 11, 2019, HSX has approved the listing of 1,418,290,847 HVN shares at the price of VND14.128 trillion ($614.26 million, at par value of VND10,000 – $0.434). With reference price on the first trading day of VND40,600 ($1.77) with a fluctuation band of ± 20 per cent, the market capitalisation of Vietnam Airlines (VNA) at HSX is estimated at VND57 trillion, equivalent to $2.5 billion. Nguyen Hoang Anh, chairman of the CMSC, said: “Vietnam … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines announces first trading session on HSX

The draft law on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is being composed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), and will be submitted to the government next July.   Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Duc Trung chairing the meeting on the draft law on PPP The draft law on Public-Private Partnership proposes to establish a fund for PPP projects to manage and operate state capital, as well as providing government guarantee to PPP projects (a contentious topic that drew support from seven out of 14 ministries) or set up a budget using mid-term public investment capital (which is approved by five of 14 ministries and agencies). Explaining the proposal, Nguyen Dang Truong, director general of the MPI’s Public Procurement Agency, said that the current regulations are not flexible enough to allocate such a budget due to incongruities between PPP and public investment projects. State capital in PPP projects is mainly allocated from public investment … [Read more...] about Experts and ministries divided on draft law on PPP

The African swine fever was named as one of the factors behind the slow rise of the consumer price index (CPI) so far in 2019, despite the government’s flexible monetary policy and an increase in gas and electricity costs. The General Statistics Office (GSO) reported that the average consumer price index (CPI ) in the first four months of this year increased 2.71 per cent on-year. This is the lowest average four-month CPI ascension as compared to the same period last year (2.8 per cent), and in 2017 (4.8 per cent). “The increase in the prices of petrol and electricity was the key driver in the climb of the CPI in the first four months of 2019,” said GSO’s head Nguyen Bich Lam. Despite the swine fever, an increase in gas and electricity costs have pushed the CPI up Specifically, in April the retail price of bio-fuel E5 RON 92 jumped VND1,115 to VND19,703 ($0.85) per litre, and that of RON95 increased to VND21,235 ($0.923), up VND1,484. The prices of … [Read more...] about African swine fever holds back foodstuff segment and CPI