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An international workshop on Vietnam's economic prospects until 2025: opportunities and challenges brought by new-generation FTAs (Photo: dangcongsan.vn) Under its 5-year socio-economic development plan until 2020, Vietnam has maintained an annual GDP growth rate of more than 6.8%. Last year’s growth was more than 7% and this year is expected to exceed 7%. Vietnam  has achieved the GDP growth target set for the entire period. Inflation has been under control and the public debt ratio has been decreasing. But growth has been heavily dependent on capital. The support industry has grown slowly. The contribution of services with high added value has remained low. Logistics costs are high. Exports depend on foreign-invested enterprises. Most Vietnamese businesses haven’t participated in global value chains and their ability to innovate hasn’t improved much. At a recent international workshop on Vietnam's economic prospects until 2025, many experts pointed … [Read more...] about New-generation FTAs create opportunities, challenges for Vietnam’s economy

Vietnamese female footballers celebrate the goal to Thailand's net. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese female football players became the champion of women’s football at the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games after defeating Thailand 1-0 in the match in Manila, the Philippines, on December 8, successfully defending their gold medal. Hai Yen opened the scoreboard at the start of extra time. In the main time of the match, both sides’ players created several dangerous shot for their rivals’ box. At the sixth minute, Nguyen Thi Van attempted a beautiful swerve shot, which unfortunately hit the crossbar. Two minutes later, Tuyet Dung shot from outside the box, but Thailand’s keeper saved it. Taneekarn of Thailand headed the ball in from close range at the 51st minute, but she is flagged for offside and the goal not recognised. Thailand put great attacking pressure on Vietnam in the second half, and some Vietnam's players showed signs of confusion. … [Read more...] about SEA Games 30: Vietnam’s female football team wins gold medal

Vietnam women's football team wins a goal medal after defeating Thailand. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam secured an additional 20 gold, five silver and seven bronze medals on December 8 – the eight competition day of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 30) in the Philippines, moving to second place on the medal tally. December 8 became the most successful day of the Vietnamese sports delegation since the biggest regional sport event opened. Vietnamese athletes won 20 gold medals, especially the golds of the women’s football team, track-and-field athletes and swimmers. Of the gold medals, seven went to track-and-field athletes, three to swimmers, while the 10 remaining gold medals were carried off by archery, Karate, billards, fencing, Muay Thai and Taekwondo teams.  By 9:45pm of December 8, Vietnam had bagged 66 golds, 59 silvers and 78 bronzes, ranking second in the medal tally. The host Philippines still ranked first with 111 gold, 86 silver and … [Read more...] about SEA Games 30: Vietnam moves to second place on eight day

Editor’s note: Aban Marker Kabraji is regional director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Asia and director of the IUCN Regional Hub for Asia - Oceania.  Known for its beautiful beaches and coral reefs, Trat Province, on the eastern coast of Thailand, is struggling with a very real problem. Like other coastal areas in the country, the province is being polluted by the daily dumping of waste into the ocean. While there is no shortage of environmental management efforts in Trat, dealing with waste, particularly plastic pollution, remains a big struggle. For long-time village chief Natsini Intaraprasert of the Mairood sub-district, home to one of the province’s giant landfills, waste is the “most challenging problem to manage.” Trat’s waste and plastic woes are not unique, with plastic pollution topping the list of problems affecting the world’s oceans. Every year, the world produces over 300 million tons of plastic, half … [Read more...] about ​Solving the plastics crisis in Vietnam, Asia

The figure was unveiled at a meeting of permanent Cabinet members in Hanoi on December 7 under the chair of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The two-way trade is projected to hit 1.1-1.2 billion USD in 2019, up 12.6 percent year-on-year, surpassing the targets of 1 billion USD and 10 percent set by the Government. Vietnam has become the third biggest investor in Laos with 413 projects valued at 4.22 billion USD, with the most outstanding a joint venture of Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel), projects of Vietnam Rubber Group, Muong Thanh Hotel, Crow Plaza, LaoViet Bank, and Xekaman 1 hydropower plant. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaking at the meeting Besides, Vietnam has committed to providing 3.25 trillion VND (139.8 million USD) in non-refundable aid for Laos during the 2016-2020 period, including 707 billion VND in the 2019 fiscal year, up 18.4 percent against the previous year, aiming to help the neighboring country implement projects on … [Read more...] about Vietnam – Laos trade hits 940 million USD in ten months