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Higher environment tax on fuels to take effect in early 2019The Saigon Times Daily Motorbikes are refilled at a gas station in HCMC. The resolution on an environment protection tax hike is set to come into force on January 1, 2019 - PHOTO: THANH HOA HCMC – The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee today, September 20 passed a resolution raising the environmental protection tax on fuels, with effect from January 1, 2019, reported VnExpress news website, Accordingly, each liter of gasoline is subject to an environment protection tax of VND4,000, up from the current VND3,000, and kerosene VND1,000, up from the current VND700. However, compared with the Government’s proposed level in May, the new environment tax on kerosene is just half. The new tax on heavy fuel oil and lubricants is VND2,000 per liter, up from the current VND900. January 1, 2019 is chosen as the effective date for the new resolution to mitigate any impact on the consumer price index (CPI) … [Read more...] about Higher environment tax on fuels to take effect in early 2019

K+, KCC, COV team up to reduce broadcasting copyright infringementBy Van Ly Delegates attend a workshop on the protection of broadcasters’ rights in a digital environment on September 19 in Hanoi – PHOTO: VAN LY HANOI – The Copyright Office of Vietnam (COV) on September 19 held a workshop on the protection of broadcasters’ rights in the digital environment in Hanoi, in partnership with the Korea Copyright Commission and satellite television service provider K+, to minimize broadcasting copyright infringement in Vietnam and raise awareness of copyrights among the local people and organizations. Addressing the event, Stephane Baumier, deputy general director at K+, said K+ holds the rights to broadcast professional sports leagues, such as the Premier League, the Champion League, the Europa League and the Association of Tennis Professionals’ world tournaments. Earlier, Vietnamese sports fans had missed the chance to watch the two leading European … [Read more...] about K+, KCC, COV team up to reduce broadcasting copyright infringement

New competition law features many improvementsBy Ngoc Hung Customers are seen buying fruits at a supermarket in HCMC. Experts say the 2018 law on competition features many improvements – PHOTO: THANH HOA HCMC – The 2018 law on competition has assigned primary responsibility for investigating and addressing competition complaints to the National Competition Council, officials said. The Vietnam Competition Authority and the Aus4Reform Program on September 19 co-organized a workshop in HCMC to introduce the new points of the 2018 competition law versus the 2014 version. In particular, under the 2014 competition law, the competition authority was in charge of investigating complaints, while the council would address these complaints. However, under the revised law, the council is now responsible for all related tasks.  According to the competition authority, the revised law is broader and covers more subjects, including relevant local and foreign organizations … [Read more...] about New competition law features many improvements

Danang Hospital to launch liver transplant service in 2020By Ha Linh Representatives at the MOU signing ceremony in Danang City on September 19 - PHOTO: HA LINH DANANG – Surgeons at Danang General Hospital will perform the first liver transplant operation in 2020 after studying the procedure under the guidance of Japanese experts, heard representatives at a signing ceremony on September 19. The hospital on September 19 signed a memorandum of understanding with Team Medical Round’s, under the Vietnam-Japan Medical Association, on sharing advanced medical techniques for organ transplantation, which will be conducted frequently at the hospital when the organ transplant center is put into service. Le Duc Nhan, director of the hospital, said that Danang Hospital has successfully performed 20 kidney transplant operations to date on patients suffering from chronic kidney failure. The first liver transplant in Vietnam was conducted in 2004 at Hanoi-based Military Hospital … [Read more...] about Danang Hospital to launch liver transplant service in 2020

State-run enterprises make largest contribution to State budgetBy Thuy Dung According to the Vietnam General Statistics Office, the number of State-run enterprises in 2016 remained modest, but every firm had made higher contribution to the State budget than other companies. In the file photo, local workers are making bicycle parts - PHOTO: DAO LOAN HANOI - State-run enterprises made the largest contribution to the State budget compared with other types of firms two years ago and injected the largest amount of capital, which was mainly borrowed funds. However, they did not leverage their financial resources efficiently, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). A report, released at a press conference on the results of the 2017 General Economic Investigation, held by the GSO today, September 19, in Hanoi, indicated that the number of State-run enterprises in 2016 remained modest, but every firm had contributed an average of VND104 billion to the State budget, which was … [Read more...] about State-run enterprises make largest contribution to State budget

PM orders tighter control on waste importsThe Saigon Times Daily Scrap imports is seen abandoned at a local port. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has required tighter control on waste imports - PHOTO: VNA HCMC - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 17 issued Directive 27/CT-TTg stipulating urgent measures to control the importation and use of secondhand goods as production materials. The relevant ministries and agencies are required to tighten control on waste imports as a large backlog of shipping containers holding scrap and lying abandoned at local ports is causing problems for authorities, reported Thanh Nien newspaper. Accordingly, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will assume the responsibility for environmental protection in the import and use of scrap before the Government. The ministry will have to, within its jurisdiction, review and issue stricter environmental protection requirements for enterprises that import waste as production materials. … [Read more...] about PM orders tighter control on waste imports

VNA cooperates with King Power for in-flight duty-free salesBy Le Anh A flight attendant serves food to passengers on a Vietnam Airlines aircraft - PHOTO: COURTESY OF VIETNAM AIRLINES HCMC – National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) will officially offer an in-flight duty-free service called “Lotushop” in October in collaboration with Hong Kong-based King Power Traveler. The carrier will join forces with King Power Traveler for five years to expand and develop Lotushop to meet four-star standards, in line with United Kingdom-based Skytrax's international standards. Lotushop provides diverse products, such as perfumes, cosmetics, watches, suitcases and handbags, for passengers on 30 international air routes to South Korea, Japan, China, Great Britain, France, Russia and Germany. Prices for these products are said to be 15% lower than those sold in stores. Experts from King Power Traveler and banks will train flight attendants, teaching them sales skills, … [Read more...] about VNA cooperates with King Power for in-flight duty-free sales

Passenger transport route to China launchedBy Le Anh A passenger road transport service between Vietnam and China has been launched - PHOTO: THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT HCMC - The Ministry of Transport on September 17 coordinated with the Haiphong City government to launch the pilot program for an overland passenger transport route through Haiphong and Hanoi, Vietnam, and Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province in southern China. The Chinese Ministry of Transport will also organize a ceremony to launch a freight transport route between Hanoi and Shenzhen City in China’s Guangdong Province. At the launch ceremony at Thuong Ly Bus Station in Haiphong, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Cong said the launch of the Haiphong-Hanoi-Kunming and Hanoi-Shenzhen routes was important for boosting cross-border transport activities and meeting the demand for tourism and trade. Although the two countries have opened road transport routes deep into each … [Read more...] about Passenger transport route to China launched

Experts give advice on cryptocurrency managementThe Saigon Times Daily A collection of Bitcoin tokens. International experts propose Vietnam work out reasonable solutions to manage digital assets and cryptocurrencies - PHOTO:REUTERS HCMC - Vietnam should work out reasonable solutions to manage digital assets and cryptocurrencies before developing a strict legal framework, Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper reported, citing international experts at a seminar held by the Ministry of Justice on September 16. At the seminar under the theme “Virtual assets and cryptocurrencies: international experience and legal issues of Vietnam,” Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long said Vietnam’s legal framework for cryptocurrency management has yet to be completed. However, digital assets and cryptocurrencies are popular in the local market. Imports of cryptocurrency mining equipment are on the rise, and many cryptocurrency-related scams have been detected. A group of experts from the … [Read more...] about Experts give advice on cryptocurrency management

Wood industry: Sustainable developmentBy Quoc Hung When the domestic economy began to integrate, Vietnam’s wood industry has undergone drastic transformation with changes in technology, machinery, skills and management process - PHOTO: QUOC HUNG Despite the constantly strong growth posted by the wood industry over the past few years, wood enterprises are aiming for a higher target: sustainable development, environmental protection and greater export turnover through higher added value Vietnam’s wood processing industry has maintained a high growth rate over the years, said Nguyen Quoc Khanh, chairman of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCMC (HAWA). From US$220 million in 2000, after 17 years, its turnover has reached US$8 billion, ranking among the seven sectors generating the greatest export value in the country. Particularly, in the first half of 2018, the export of wood and wood products earned US$4.13 billion, up 12.4% over the same period last … [Read more...] about Wood industry: Sustainable development