NDO – An exhibition on food products and new agricultural technologies in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum has officially opened in the Mekong Delta province of Can Tho on August 21. The event was held as part of activities during the APEC 2017 Food Security Week and a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Enhancing Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Response to Climate Change. The exhibition features 18 booths with a wide range of special agricultural products from six APEC economies, such as green tea (Japan), cereals (Australia) and milk (the US). Vietnam had eight booths featuring products from rice to corn, high-yielding fruits, models of machines and equipment serving for agricultural production along with information on intelligent technologies responding to climate change which are currently being used in Vietnam. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho city People’s Committee Dao Anh Dung said that the … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA –The APEC Anti-Corruption and Transparency Working Group (ACTWG) held a meeting with their sponsors, on August 21, as part of the ongoing third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM 3) in Ho Chi Minh City. The meeting aimed to explore the need for technical support in corruption prevention and control of the APEC member economies. Government Deputy Chief Inspector Nguyen Van Thanh said that after the countries had completed the assessment of their implementation of UN anti-corruption conventions, they have found a great need for technical assistance, which is one of the important factors in the realisation of the conventions. Vietnam expects that following the meeting, international sponsors will continue providing technical aid and consultation to APEC member economies in order to help them deal with any existing problems and challenges and meet the requirements of the sponsors, he said. According to Thanh, Vietnam demands … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Promoting trade and investment, and reforming the investment climate in APEC member economies, were discussed at a meeting of the Investment Experts’ Group (IEG) in Ho Chi Minh City on August 21, within the framework of the third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting. The two-day meeting held under the aegis of the Committee of Trade and Investment saw the presence of officials from 21 APEC members and experts from international organisations. IEG Convener Maxim Berdichevsky said one of the big topics is the examination of the next generations’ trade investment issues, which have been identified by APEC members as a matter for the future. “We want to make it easy for investors to move their capital within the region in order to optimise the supply chain and investment,” he told reporters. At the meeting, delegates also debated the latest domestic investment policy approaches to improving the investment climate. Australia … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have exchanged experience in emergency preparedness at a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City. The 12th meeting of the Emergency Preparedness Working Group, from August 21-22, is part of the third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM 3). Addressing the opening ceremony, Tran Quang Hoai, head of the General Department for Natural Disasters Prevention and Control, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said since the beginning of this year, the APEC region has faced abnormal natural disasters, as well as challenges due to global climate change. Many types of natural disasters are posing threats to most countries worldwide, he said, noting that such natural disasters are increasing in both frequency and intensity, causing great losses and affecting production and business activities as well as public health. Therefore, it is necessary to intensify information exchange and take … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Officials of the APEC Health Working Group gathered in Ho Chi Minh City on August 21, aiming to address a range of issues in order to build a healthy Asia-Pacific region. In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Le Quang Cuong highlighted health as a critical component of the economic and trade development and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Investment in health is the key to inclusive and sustainable economic growth, he said, adding that better health leads to greater wealth, which will be an essential driver for long-term economic development growth. Cuong reviewed Vietnam’s hosting of the first Health Working Group Meeting in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province, from February 23-24, with the theme of “Health system strengthening, towards sustainable development” and focusing on five priorities. The priorities include; ensuring progress on universal health coverage in APEC economies towards a healthy … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Officials of the APEC Health Working Group gathered in Ho Chi Minh City on August 21, aiming to address a range of issues in order to build a healthy Asia-Pacific region. In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Le Quang Cuong highlighted health as a critical component of the economic and trade development and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Investment in health is the key to inclusive and sustainable economic growth, he said, adding that better health leads to greater wealth, which will be an essential driver for long-term economic development growth. Cuong reviewed Vietnam’s hosting of the first Health Working Group Meeting in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province, from February 23-24, with the theme of “Health system strengthening, towards sustainable development” and focusing on five priorities. The priorities include; ensuring progress on universal health coverage in APEC economies towards a healthy … [Read more...]

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Le Quang Cuong highlighted health as a critical component of economic and trade development and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Investment in health is the key to inclusive and sustainable economic growth, he said, adding that better health leads to greater wealth and that will be an essential driver of long-term economic development growth. Cuong reviewed Vietnam’s hosting of the first Health Working Group Meeting in Nha Trang city, the central province of Khanh Hoa, from February 23-24, with the theme of “Health system strengthening towards sustainable development” and five priorities.  Officials of the APEC Health Working Group gather in Ho Chi Minh City on August 21 The priorities include progress on universal health coverage in APEC economies towards healthy Asia-Pacific by 2020, strengthening communicable disease control … [Read more...]

The two-day meeting held under the aegis of the Committee of Trade and Investment saw the presence officials from 21 APEC members and experts from international organizations. IEG Convener Maxim Berdichevsky said one of the big topics is the examination of next generations’ trade investment issues, which have been identified by APEC members as a matter for the future. Meeting of the Investment Experts’ Group (IEG) in HCM City on August 21.  “We want to make it easy for investors to move their capital within the region to optimize the supply chain and investment,” he told reporters. At the meeting, delegates also debated the latest domestic investment policy approaches to improving the investment climate. Australia proposed exchange of experience related to foreign investment with a particular focus on engagement with internal (business, Government, and wider community) and external … [Read more...]

There will be meetings of the Health Working Group, the Emergency Preparedness Group, the Investment Experts’ Group and the Market Access Group. Besides, officials from APEC member countries will talk matters regarding the automotive and chemical sectors, customs procedures, standards and conformance, life sciences innovation, anti-corruption, electronic commerce, and illegal logging.  At the event The SOM 3 and related meetings brought together around 2,600 delegates from 21 APEC member economies. Slated to last until the end of the month, the event features 75 meetings, seminars, and dialogues involving four committees and dozens of working groups of the APEC. In the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, apart from meetings on policy partnership on food security, ocean and fisheries, the Food Security Week will feature an exhibition on agriculture and advanced agro-production technologies on August 21. … [Read more...]

Stock markets have spent the year rising on bets of a resurgence in inflation, while central bankers trying to manage the global economy have spent the same time repeatedly reassuring everyone it's just around the corner. Policymakers gathering at an annual monetary retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in the coming week no doubt will be collectively pondering why the textbook rule that says low unemployment leads to labor shortages, then higher wages, and then in turn higher inflation, isn't working. Yet the global economy is growing strongly. Apart from the risk of a stock market correction, there is no evidence of disinflationary threats like those that emanated from the financial crisis that started to smolder a decade ago. The latest Reuters Polls of more than 500 economists covering more than 45 economies around the world showed almost no move in inflation expectations since the start of the year. In the United States, where the Federal Reserve is raising interest … [Read more...]

The event formed part of activities during the APEC 2017 Food Security Week and a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Enhancing Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Response to Climate Change. At the annual meeting of the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology According to Gong Xifeng, head of the ATGWG, the group has made great contributions to most APEC economies in hi-tech agriculture, helping ensure food safety and security in the region. The group has focused on cooperation in agricultural technology to enhance the capability of the APEC member economies in agricultural production and relevant sectors, thus improving the agricultural products market in the region and bettering the implementation of relevant regulations in line with the free trade agreements (FTAs). From 2017-2018, the group will continue strengthening the criteria on food safety, dealing with challenges in food security, … [Read more...]

According to the Department of Industry and Trade, this year’s event is expected to involve 3,000 trade centers, supermarkets, convenience stores and traditional markets and 5,300 business households, a significant increase from last year. Customers shop at a supermarket in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: vietnamnews.vn They will organize around 12,000 promotions focused on consumer products, electronics, fashion, foodstuff, cosmetics, telecom services, interior decoration items, tourism services, hotels, and others. Besides offering discounts, participating establishments will also offer freebies, lucky draws and free samples. The department said all 24 districts had completed the task of putting up banners to promote the program. There are usually many programs during the month, including an online promotion week, a promotional month fair at the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium, the Diem hen Sai Gon (Saigon … [Read more...]

Nam Kim Steel posted an output of 380,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 7 per cent in the first half of 2017. Photo: cafef.vn  As per the plan, the plant will require an investment capital of VND 2.2 trillion (USD 97 million) and have the capacity of 800,000 tons per year. The factory will produce galvanized steel sheets, galvanized aluminum sheets, zinc-coated aluminum-coated sheets, zinc-coated sheets, steel pipes, steel boxes, sections and products from steel coil, cold-rolled steel, galvanized steel, black steel tape and galvanized steel tape. Nam Kim Steel JSC’s board of directors (BOD) has authorized Ho Minh Quang, Chairman of the Board of Directors, to determine a location in the Southern province for the project, based on the scale of production and business activities, and to sign land lease contracts and contracts related to infrastructure investment. In the first six months of 2017, Nam Kim … [Read more...]

The CTI Expert Meeting on Quality Infrastructure Investment was held within the framework of the third APEC Officials Meeting (SOM 3), where APEC member economies shared good practices and lessons learned in infrastructure projects. At the event The event aims to enhance understanding on quality infrastructure investment from both institutional and technical perspectives among high-ranking officials in charge of infrastructure. Delegates shared the views that quality infrastructure investment helps ensure the governance of the infrastructure, reliable operation during the life span of a project, safety and resilience against natural disasters, terrorism and cyber-attack risks. At the same time, quality infrastructure investment contributes to job creation for local communities and the settlement of environmental and social impacts. Kazuko Ishigaki, from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Officials from the member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum have highlighted the benefits of establishing competition chapters in free trade agreements (FTAs) and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). They gathered at a workshop on FTA Negotiation Skills on Competition of the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI), which took place in Ho Chi Minh City on August 19, as part of the third APEC Officials Meeting (SOM 3). CTI Chairwoman Marie Sherylyn Aquia stated in her opening remarks that there is a strong relationship between trade and competition policies due to their similarities in objectives. Both trade and competition policies seek to enhance welfare by providing for a more efficient allocation of resources, whether in lowering trade barriers or through promoting competition, she said. The official noted that new, comprehensive economic or trade agreements now feature specific provisions … [Read more...]

In recent years, economic and industrial zones in Thua Thien Hue province have attracted increasing interest from investors and housed many effective projects. Mr Nguyen Van Son, Deputy Director of Thua Thien Hue Economic and Industrial Zones Authority, has given an exclusive interview to Vietnam Business Forum Magazine on this issue. On June 15, 2016, the Prime Minister issued Decision 1070/QD-TTg establishing Thua Thien Hue Economic and Industrial Zones Authority based on the reorganisation of the Chan May - Lang Co Economic Zone Authority and the Thua Thien Hue Industrial Zones Authority. What does that mean for the development of economic and industrial zones in the province, sir? Functions and duties of the two authorities are quite structurally similar. Therefore, it is rational to reshuffle organisational structures to form a unified body in charge of linking and developing … [Read more...]

Carrying out the “Year of Business” and the “Year of Administrative Order and Discipline” in 2017, Thua Thien Hue province has adopted many solutions and activities to accelerate administrative procedure reform, raise the spirit and sense of responsibility of civil servants, invest in essential infrastructure and remove difficulties for enterprises, among other things, in a bid to better mobilise investment resources in infrastructure for production, economic development, environmental protection and social security guarantee. The Vietnam Business Forum Magazine has an interview with Nguyen Van Cao, Chairman of the Thua Thien Hue Provincial People’s Committee, on this issue. Ngo Khuyen reports. While speeding up the enforcement of Resolution 35/NQ-CP dated May 16, 2016, of the Government on business support and development to 2020, Thua Thien Hue province also defined … [Read more...]

A similar event was held in HCM City on August 15. According to Nguyen Thanh Hung, President of the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM) – the event’s organizer, Vietnam’s e-commerce market has seen robust growth since 2016 but the industry still has many problems, including a lack of consumer trust in online shopping and weaknesses in online payment, shipping and marketing services. Photo for illustration  The forum, focusing on marketing trends, discussed affiliate marketing trends and search engine marketing, programmatic marketing, multichannel marketing, mobile marketing, social marketing and content marketing. During the event, speakers discussed opportunities for partnerships in online marketing and advised enterprises on adopting the right marketing strategy and improving marketing effectiveness, Hung said. The Vietnam e-Business Index 2017 reported by VECOM indicated that social … [Read more...]

NDO – Construction of technical infrastructure for a new urban area in the north of Cam River in the port city of Hai Phong officially began at a ceremony on August 17. The project, which has a total investment of nearly VND10 trillion, is expected to be in place for 24 months. The project consists of four main items including technical infrastructure systems for the urban area in the north of Cam river; main traffic systems of the urban area (total length of around 9.958 kilometres); the dyke in the left side of Cam river (length of over 2,000 metres) and Hoang Van Thu bridge with length of over 1,138 metres. Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Secretary of Hai Phong city’s Party Committee Le Van Thanh emphasised that the projects are a major and important policy to implement the Politburo’s Resolution and Prime Minister’s Decision as well as meeting the aspiration of the local Party, government and people, in building and developing Hai … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has issued a safety control programme designed for Siluriformes fish (mainly tra and basa) and related products exported to the US market as part of efforts to adapt to new changes in the market. This programme which will come into effect on September 1, 2017, will apply strict supervision on all stages of fish farming, processing and exporting. Qualified products must satisfy 85 criteria of the US regarding veterinary medicine, 106 criteria on pesticides, 4 on dyeing chemicals, 17 on metals and 8 in biochemistry. In case a fish batch gets warnings from the US authorised agency, the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD) will request the processor to trace the origin of the batch, while investigating reasons why the batch fails to meet food safety requirements. The department will also halt the facility’s Siluriformes fish exports to the US, while handling its … [Read more...]