Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan (R) and Mayor of Frankfurt Peter Feldmann (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan has stated that improving the efficiency of cooperative ties between Ho Chi Minh City and the German city of Frankfurt not only benefits both sides, but will also develop Vietnam-Germany relations. During a reception in the city on April 1 for Mayor of Frankfurt Peter Feldmann, Nhan suggested that the two cities seek out common areas to reinforce their cooperative ties, especially in trade, technology, and education. He said Ho Chi Minh City wants to acquire experience from Frankfurt as a major financial hub of Germany in order to build its economic development model for the future, oriented at transforming the city into a financial and trade centre for the country and region. According to Nhan, the two cities hold great … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City, Frankfurt boost cooperative ties
Ho chi minh city seaport
Ho Chi Minh City keen to increase exchanges with Belgian localities
Ho Chi Minh City hopes for more exchange activities with Belgian localities to learn from each other’s experience, as well as strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation. Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Council Pham Duc Hai (R) and head of the Belgium-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group Georges Dallemagne The statement was made by Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Council Pham Duc Hai at a meeting with a delegation of Belgian parliamentarians – led by Georges Dallemagne, head of the Belgium-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group – in the southern city on March 11. At the meeting, Vice Chairman Hai said that since Vietnam and Belgium set up diplomatic relations 45 years ago, bilateral partnership has been expanded in many areas, paving the way for Ho Chi Minh city to boost ties in agriculture and seaport development with Belgium and Belgian localities such as the regions of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels, as well as the … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City keen to increase exchanges with Belgian localities
HCM City, Cuba join hands in tourism development
The Ho Chi Minh delegation visits a primary school named after Ho Chi Minh in Havana. (Source: sggp.org.vn) Hanoi (VNA) - The Tourism Department of Ho Chi Minh City and Cuba’s Tourism Ministry, along with travel businesses of both sides have inked cooperation deals aiming to create a legal foundation for organising tours to the Caribbean nation, according to Sai Gon Giai phong newspaper. The documents, which were signed during a visit to Cuba from May 31 to June 7 by a delegation from Ho Chi Minh City, will also assist Vietnamese businesses which want to build hotels and resorts in Cuba. The Cuban side will also take part in tourism promotion activities and international tourism events in HCM City. At a working session with Cuban Deputy Tourism Minister Louis Sanchez during the visit, head of the HCM City delegation - Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong briefed his host on the city’s socio-economic development, as well as potential … [Read more...] about HCM City, Cuba join hands in tourism development
HCM City calls for investment in waterway, seaport projects
According to the municipal Department of Transport, the city plans to organise a seminar on investment in waterway and seaport projects in June. At present, the city is drafting a planning scheme for seaport and waterways system until 2030, which is expected to be passed in the second quarter of 2018. A project to upgrade Sai Gon waterway from Binh Loi bridge to Ben Suc port will also be carried out under Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract to develop the transportation of passengers and goods from Binh Duong province, and the city’s Cu Chi district to the city’s centre and Cai Mep-Thi Vai port in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. In addition, HCM City is considering investing in public passenger transport routes by waterway from the city downtown to Districts 2, 7, 9 and 12, and Nha Be and Go Vap districts, after the two river bus services which were put into operation last year. At the Transport Department’s press conference on May 22, the department’s … [Read more...] about HCM City calls for investment in waterway, seaport projects
Swedish firms seek investment opportunities in HCM City
At the working session (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – A delegation of leading Swedish firms in mining, finance-banking, hi-tech, construction, transport and logistics is on a visit to Ho Chi Minh City to seek investment opportunities in the southern economic hub. Representatives of Swedish firms expressed their wish to expand cooperation, and open offices in Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, in the coming time, as well as to increase investment and FDI in Ho Chi Minh City during a meeting with Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong on April 24. Head of the delegation Jan Stjernstrom, who is Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, said his organisation has 300 member firms, adding that many Swedish businesses have cooperated with the Vietnam side, and some of those operating in HCM City – the economic hub of Vietnam. At the working session, Chairman Phong applauded Swedish firms’ active cooperation with HCM … [Read more...] about Swedish firms seek investment opportunities in HCM City
HCM City pledges to support Iranian businesses
Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan (right) and Speaker of the Parliament of Iran Ali Ardeshir Larijani. (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City commits to creating favourable conditions for Iranian enterprises to cooperate with partners in the city, and run long-term business in the Vietnamese southern metropolis, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan told visiting Speaker of the Parliament of Iran Ali Ardeshir Larijani on April 17. Nhan stressed that HCM City treasures Iranian people’s sentiments towards Vietnam and the city, and stands ready to work together with Iran to further the bilateral friendship and cooperation across fields, thus bringing pragmatic interests to both sides. He said the visit to Vietnam by the Iranian top legislator, which takes place on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties, has contributed to increasing mutual understanding and enhancing relations between … [Read more...] about HCM City pledges to support Iranian businesses
Ho Chi Minh City, Switzerland discuss joint work
Speaking highly of Switzerland’s role in negotiating a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) comprising Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, Liem expressed his belief that both sides will soon complete negotiations to facilitate bilateral trade. He said the city is building a high-tech energy system to ensure rapid and sustainable development, and calling on domestic and foreign firms to turn wastes into energy. Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem (R) and Swiss Minister of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications Doris Leuthard The host suggested clean water supply, transportation and seaports as potential cooperative fields to bring mutual benefits. Liem affirmed that the city supports the issuance of e-visas for Swiss aircrew and citizens, especially in the context that the Zurich-Ho Chi Minh City direct flights are to open in late 2018. … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City, Switzerland discuss joint work
Easy seaport procedures lauded
Dao Trong Hung, a representative of Ho Chi Minh City-based Vietfrach – a shipping company, said that thanks to administrative reforms, especially online procedures, the company submitted few paper dossiers/applications at the ‘single window’ section when its vessels wanted to come or leave seaports. "It’s much simpler than previously to fill and submit maritime applications at the ‘single window’ - a system that allows businesses to declare information and submit documents in a standardized form once at a single location to complete all legal requirements concerning import, export and transit (regarding cargoes, transport means and passengers)," Hung said. A corner of Hai Phong Port in the Northern city of Hai Phong When time spent performing administrative procedures is reduced, businesses save hundreds of millions of VND per month on renting vessels, while costs for wharfs, berths, commuting and labor are also reduced. Le Van … [Read more...] about Easy seaport procedures lauded
Ho Chi Minh City car imports drop to zero as new regulations take effect
Ho Chi Minh City’s seaports went through January without receiving a single automobile shipment, an ode to the immediate impact of a government decree that applies stricter regulations on car imports. While Vietnamese consumers often buy cars during this time of year to celebrate the Lunar New Year, or Tet, which falls in the middle of this month, the supply of imported cars is falling short due to Decree 116, which took effect on January 1. The fiat requires all models of imported vehicles to obtain a Vehicle Type Approval certification issued by authorities in the exporting country. The problem is that most countries that sell cars to Vietnam don’t use such a document and it will take time for exporters to enact measures to meet those requirements. The decree has effectively closed the door for car importers to bring new stock into Vietnam until changes are made. Dinh Ngoc Thang, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City customs department, confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City car imports drop to zero as new regulations take effect
HCM City’s Customs hopes to meet target in 2018
Illustrative image (Source: http://customsnews.vn) HCM City (VNA) – The Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has collected more than 109 trillion VND (4.8 billion USD) in export-import duty revenues in 2017, translating to an increase of 7.75 percent compared to 2016. A report at the meeting held in the city on January 17 to review the department’s performance last year and deploy tasks for this year said the department had retrieved tax debts of 1.115 trillion VND, reaching 118.8 percent of target and up 326 percent over 2016. In the fight against smuggling and trade fraud, the department has dealt with 1,598 violations, an increase of 6.3 percent over the preceding year. This year, the department has been assigned to collect 108 trillion VND for the State budget. The department said it was determined to meet or surpass the target despite the challenge. Nguyen Xuan Binh, head of the department’s Customs Control and Supervision Division, said the target was … [Read more...] about HCM City’s Customs hopes to meet target in 2018