Illustrative image. (Source: VNA) Quang Ninh (VNA) – The service industry in the northeastern border province is estimated to grow by 14.2 percent this year thanks to the locality’s concrete actions to boost its tourism services. The sector accounts for 42.9 percent of Quang Ninh’s economy this year, compared to 41.2 percent of 2017. Its contribution to the State budget increases 16 percent year on year. The province aims to raise the percentage of the service sector to 48 – 49 percent of the local economy, with an annual expansion rate of 13 – 14 percent by 2020. To this end, local authorities have taken steps to enhance tourism service management in a bid improve its quality and competitiveness; while drastically promoting its brands. From 2016 – 2017, Quang Ninh welcomed a total of more than 18.2 million tourist arrivals, including 7.8 million foreign visitors, marking an annual average increase of 12.7 percent with a revenue of over … [Read more...] about Quang Ninh strives to expand service sector
Conference services manager
Trade and service sectors need revision
The development of wholesale and retail infrastructure in Viet Nam has faced its fair share of rocky moments, but the industry’s growing role in consumption has put it at the forefront of the economy. Nguyen Van Hoi, deputy director of the Domestic Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade made the statement on Fridayat a conference on the role of management agencies and businesses in developing trade and services, held in Ha Noi. Hoi said the average growth of retail and consumption services revenue was 10 per cent a year from 2011-17. This meant that the revenue increased from VND3.5 trillion (US$153.5 million) in 2016 to VND4.2 trillion in 2017. In the first four months of this year, it was estimated at VND1.4 trillion, up 9.8 per cent from the same period last year. The average growth rate of combined retail and services revenue is always higher than GDP growth. “However, the trade infrastructure system has been distributed unevenly, and is focused … [Read more...] about Trade and service sectors need revision
HCM City leads in waste management and treatment
Phan Xuan Dung, head of the committee, noted the Southern economic hub is also taking the lead in waste classification across its 24 districts, and in the promotion of businesses’ investments in advanced waste treatment technologies. Director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Toan Thang Dung said the city will need to further reduce the rate of buried waste while increasing the rate of incineration, particularly in turning waste into electricity. Huynh Cach Mang, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Council, said the city will issue prices of garbage collection services this May, adding that local efforts have been poured into the treatment of industrial wastewater. Industrial wastewater is planned to be treated in 11 drainage basins, of which two are under construction and two are calling for investments. Local industrial parks have their own wastewater assessment centers to send data to the municipal Department of … [Read more...] about HCM City leads in waste management and treatment
Ties between apartment management boards and residents to be tightened
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Apartment management boards are meant to protect the rights of residents. But when a dispute between residents and the board arises, things can get ugly. Opaque financial reports are one major reason leading to conflicts between residents and managing boards. Residents of Văn Phú Victoria project in Hà Đông District have claimed that the annual operation expenses for the building reach VNĐ17 billion (US$750,000), according to the fees they have paid. How the money was allocated, distributed and paid remains unknown as the managing board refuses to publish it. A resident who did not want to reveal his name told Vietnam Television he did not know who held responsibility for undertaking those reports. “The total amount of money paid and the sum they calculated do not match,” he said. Residents, therefore, established a supervisory team to watch out for the management board. However, the effort … [Read more...] about Ties between apartment management boards and residents to be tightened
Vinh Long holds largest-ever investment promotion conference
Photo: VGP The event, themed “Vinh Long – Ready for Cooperation and Sustainable Development”, featured the presence of more than 750 delegates,including government leaders, representatives from diplomatic corps and international organizations in Viet Nam, and a large number of investors, both at home and abroad. As a province with the second largest fruit-growing area in the Mekong Delta region and the fourth largest in the country with over 54,000 ha, Vinh Long is calling for investments in the priority fields of hi-tech agriculture; the farm produce preservation, distribution and processing industry; the construction and trading of infrastructure of industrial parks and clusters; culture-tourism; transport infrastructure; resort tourism infrastructure; urban infrastructure; housing; and trade centers. Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Quang affirmed that Vinh Long always stands by and creates the most favorable conditions … [Read more...] about Vinh Long holds largest-ever investment promotion conference
Firearms debate rages as Florida rally coincides with gun show
Student survivors of a mass shooting that killed 17 people at a Florida high school called for gun restrictions on Saturday during an angry and somber rally, but attendees at a nearby gun show said firearms could not be blamed for the massacre. Wednesday’s shooting in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Parkland fueled the long-running U.S. debate between supporters of tougher controls on firearms and advocates for gun rights, which are protected by the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment. Both sides of the dispute were on display on Saturday. Many at a rally in Fort Lauderdale that was organized to demand tougher gun laws rejected comments by U.S. President Donald Trump and others that mental illness was the main factor behind the slaughter at Margory Stoneman Douglas High School. “We need to pay attention to the fact that this isn’t just a mental health issue,” Emma Gonzalez, an 18-year-old student at the school, told hundreds demonstrators gathered on … [Read more...] about Firearms debate rages as Florida rally coincides with gun show
Hailstorm ahead for ride-hailing services in VN
Stop signs for taxi and contract rides on a street in Ha Noi. — VNS Photo Doan Tung The bumpy road thus far for ride-hailing companies Uber and Grab in Viet Nam could well end in a jagged cliff as authorities turn the scanner on their operations, tax practices and competition with domestic taxi operators. In the latest bust-up, on February 6 the HCM City People’s Court City began to hear a lawsuit filed by Anh Duong Viet Nam Jsc, better known as Vinasun Taxi, against GrabTaxi Vietnam Limited Liability Company (Grab). Vinasun’s argument is that it lost more than VND40 billion (US$1.78 million) in 2016 and the first half of 2017 because of Grab’s Illegal business operations in violation of the Law on Competition. Ta Long Hy, chairman of the HCM City Taxi Drivers Association, told the court that both Uber and Grab had suppressed local firms. Grab’s fleet of 28,000 vehicles as of 2017 was the reason why his and other taxi companies had to pull out more than … [Read more...] about Hailstorm ahead for ride-hailing services in VN
Domestic firms care little about risk management
Domestic firms care little about risk managementDuc Tam By Duc Tam - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC – Vietnamese enterprises have paid little attention to risk management even though it plays a key role in business operations, experts told a conference in HCMC late last week. Tieu Yen Trinh, general director of Talentnet Corporation, told the conference on risks in business administration that a survey of 522 companies done by Talentnet shows only 43 of them have a risk management department. Most of the 43 firms are banking and financial services providers. But it does not mean all banks have a risk management department or can manage risks effectively. Even banks, where risk management is of utmost importance, care little about risk management, said Do Hoa, general director of IME Vietnam, so it is hard to find enterprises in other sectors, especially small ones, which attach importance to risk management. Risks exist outside or within an enterprise, he said, adding internal risks … [Read more...] about Domestic firms care little about risk management
PM attends Phu Yen’s investment promotion conference
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc shakes hands with investors at Phu Yen’s investment promotion conference on January 19 (Photo: VNA) Phu Yen (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended an investment promotion conference of Phu Yen in Tuy Hoa city on January 19, where he called on investors to help transform potential and advantages of the south central province into concrete values. Having applauded Phu Yen’s efforts in economic development, infrastructure building and investment climate improvement, PM Phuc expressed his hope that with these initial foundations and local people’s industriousness, the province will develop rapidly and sustainably and become one of the leading localities in the central and Central Highlands regions. To reach the target, he asked Phu Yen to strongly reform its mindset and be creative to have more synchronous and effective solutions, adding that the entire political system needs to join hands in addressing … [Read more...] about PM attends Phu Yen’s investment promotion conference
Hanoi urged to facilitate management in model of urban government
Hai, who is also a Politburo member, made the requirement while addressing the 12th Conference of the 16th municipal Party Committee on January 15 to review Hanoi's Party building work in 2017 and discuss plans for 2018. Over past year, the Hanoi Party Committee continued to renovate its leadership in the spirit of towards the people and serving the people. It stepped up inspections at grassroots level and the removal of difficulties for local establishments. The Party Committee has synchronously implemented resolutions set by the Politburo to accelerate administrative reforms and improve the accountability and quality of officials and civil servants to serve local citizens. For the tasks in 2018, Politburo member Hai urged local authorities to effectively implement the Party and State’s policies and resolutions on streamlining the apparatus of the political system in an effective manner, while renovating, reorganising and improving the quality and efficiency of public service … [Read more...] about Hanoi urged to facilitate management in model of urban government