Gareth Ward, UK Ambassador to Vietnam Vietnam is receiving UK official development assistance (ODA) through the Newton Fund Programme Vietnam until 2021 which supports our growing research and innovation partnership, and builds capacity to address developmental challenges in Vietnam such as infectious diseases and climate resilience. Through the Fleming Fund, we are working with Vietnam on a programme for improving laboratory capacity for diagnosis and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance. The UK in Vietnam also supports projects in many areas covering gender equality, maritime security, governance, transparency, and education. The UK also provides ODA to tackle the illegal wildlife trade and modern slavery. Looking ahead, Vietnam is set to benefit from the UK’s Prosperity Fund programmes, starting in early 2019, to deliver socioeconomic benefits and trade opportunities for both countries. These programmes are in areas of mutual interest and where the UK has expertise, … [Read more...] about NA approves lifting foreign debt limit
Tech titans in Vietnam office riddle
Since the Law on Cybersecurity was approved five months ago, Google and Facebook have still kept silent on the issue of opening representative offices or branches in Vietnam as required by the law, which will officially take effect on January 1, 2019. Facebook and Google have 50 and 60 million Vietnamese users, respectively, generating the companies hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue, which makes it hard to imagine that the two corporations would be willing to give up the market, according to the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS). Regarding their business activities in Vietnam, lawyer Lai Ngoc Thanh from Basico law firm told VIR, “The trend of shifting from traditional to online advertising, especially social networks, enables cross-border platforms to make great profit in Vietnam, which accounts for two-thirds of these companies’ budget.” In fact, the two corporations are regularly running recruitment campaigns in the country, which shows their … [Read more...] about Tech titans in Vietnam office riddle
Billion dollar chances in sustainability
Nguyen Quang Vinh, general secretary of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and director of the VCCI’s Business Office for Sustainable Development The VCCI will soon announce Vietnam’s 100 leading sustainable businesses in 2018 based on its corporate sustainability index (CSI). This is the third year that the VCCI has compiled this list. Do you have any comments on the businesses joining this year’s programme? I would like to note that after three years, enterprises’ perception and awareness of the CSI have significantly improved. Instead of regarding the implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as a burden or just another pompous programme, many enterprises have begun to see sustainable development as an opportunity for business. When the CSI was first rolled out, only a few Vietnamese companies engaged in the programme. We have made great efforts to make the CSI more favourable for enterprises so that they can devise proper … [Read more...] about Billion dollar chances in sustainability
Steps taken to draw in SOE investors
The Vietnamese government’s new moves aim to shake up interest in the divesment of SOEs such as Bao Viet The government on November 9, 2018 issued Decision No.1515/QD-TTg on the procedures and process of transferring the rights and responsibilities of the agencies representing the state capital at state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to the Committee for Management of State Capital, which touched on the equitisation of SOEs. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc may also have a meeting with SOEs this week, showing the government’s strong determination to further accelerate the sluggish equitisation of SOEs, and increase their operational efficiency, thus creating more feasible opportunities for foreign investors to acquire their stakes. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) remains a key investment channel to foreign investors. Initial statistics on the value of M&A deals involving foreign investors from 2016 to 2017 were quite impressive, accounting for 77 … [Read more...] about Steps taken to draw in SOE investors
Indian President concludes State visit to Vietnam
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and President Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and Indian President Ram Nath Kovind (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on November 20 wrapped up his three-day state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and President Nguyen Phu Trong. During his trip, the Indian leader held talks with Party General Secretary and President Trong, met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, and Secretary of the Party Committee of Da Nang city Truong Quang Nghia. He delivered a speech at the Vietnamese NA, attended the Vietnam-India Business Forum, and met with Indian expats living, working and studying in Vietnam. He toured Da Nang city and the world cultural heritage My Son Sanctuary in the neighbouring province of Quang Nam. He also laid wreaths at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum … [Read more...] about Indian President concludes State visit to Vietnam
President hosts banquet for Indian counterpart
President Nguyen Phu Trong and Indian his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind raise their glasses to the fruitful bilateral ties (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a banquet for Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and his entourage in Hanoi on November 20. In his speech delivered at the event, Trong hailed his guest’s visit to Vietnam as a vivid proof of Vietnam – India traditional friendship and fruitful comprehensive strategic partnership. Noting that the two nations’ cultural connection dates back nearly 2,000 years, President Trong said the Cham towers within the My Son sanctuary that the Indian leader visited the day before reflect the age-old cultural, religious and historical links between Vietnam and India. Trong recalled the historical meeting between the then President Ho Chi Minh and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Hanoi 64 years ago, which … [Read more...] about President hosts banquet for Indian counterpart
National Assembly’s sixth session convenes final plenum
At the meeting (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The final meeting of the 14th National Assembly (NA)’s sixth session took place in Hanoi on November 20 under the chair of NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, which was live broadcast nationwide. Presided over by NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu in the morning, the legislature adopted the revised Law on Corruption Prevention and Control with 452 approval votes, accounting for 93.2 percent of the total. The meeting also passed the Law on amendments and supplements to several articles of 37 laws regarding planning with 418 approval votes, making up 86.19 percent of the total. The amended Law on People’s Public Security was also ratified with 85.77 percent of approval. On the occasion, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind also addressed the meeting. In his speech, the Indian President said the two countries have worked closely together in politics, economy and people-to-people exchange and facilitated regular … [Read more...] about National Assembly’s sixth session convenes final plenum
Project to help Vietnamese startups access North America markets
Illustrative image (Source: internet) HCM City (VNA) - A project called “Zone Startups Vietnam” was officially launched in Ho Chi Minh City on November 20, aiming to helping Vietnamese entrepreneurs access North America markets. The event was jointly organised by Ryerson Futures Group of Canada and Vietnamese partners namely UniBrands, VinaCapital, Trung Thuy Group and TalentNet. Once put into official operation, the project is hoped to provide more opportunities for Vietnamese startups, especially in accessing capital, thus accelerating their business and production. According to Mohamed Lachemi, President of Ryerson University of Canada, the project will begin with Next big Idea - a programme for startups to reach potential North American markets, especially Toronto (Canada), which is the fourth largest city in North America and also one of the fastest growing technology centres in the world. He said in India, Next big Idea has helped more than 30 companies expand … [Read more...] about Project to help Vietnamese startups access North America markets
Shocking Macau racing car accident rings safety alarm bells
PARIS: Questions are being asked about safety standards in motorsports after a horrifying crash at the Macau Grand Prix on Sunday (Nov 18) led to 17-year-old German driver Sophia Floersch undergoing seven hours of spinal surgery. Sophia Floersch before her Macau horror crash AFP/K.Y. CHENG Why is the Macau Grand Prix dangerous? Motorcycle and racing car Grand Prix have been held for over 60 years in Macau, a town with the reputation as being the Asian Las Vegas, and the Formula 3 race in which German racer Floersch hurtled into marshals and photographers after flying off the track on Sunday is the most popular race of all. Raced over a temporary circuit at Guia, the 6.2-kilometre track is dotted with long straights where speeds of 275km/h are the norm, which are then coupled with tight, blind corners. As with most urban circuits the roads are narrow and there are few safety exits. Any driver losing control on a corner or chicane will almost certainly hit the barriers and … [Read more...] about Shocking Macau racing car accident rings safety alarm bells
“Freak” Cahill makes emotional Australia swansong
SYDNEY: Veteran Tim Cahill bid an emotional farewell on Tuesday (Nov 20) on his 108th and final appearance for Australia as Scottish striker Martin Boyle scored twice for his newly-adopted country. Tim Cahill is the Australian national team's all-time top scorer with 50 goals. (Photo: AFP/David Moir) Cahill, the Socceroos all-time top scorer with 50 goals, came out of international retirement to play the final nine minutes of Australia's 3-0 win against Lebanon in their last match before defending the Asian Cup crown in January. Coach Graham Arnold made sweeping changes from the line-up that drew 1-1 with South Korea on Saturday with Hibernian marksman Boyle, who recently secured an Australian passport, starting up front. He played alongside South Sudanese refugee Awer Mabil and added a spark that the Socceroos have been missing since Cahill announced his retirement at the end of the World Cup in Russia. Boyle, who played for the Scotland under-16s but qualified for Australia … [Read more...] about “Freak” Cahill makes emotional Australia swansong