Trade turnover touches US$100 billion in first quarter Vietnam’s total trade turnover amounted to US$100 billion between January and March 19, according to Vietnam Customs. Recently-released statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs show that the country raked in US$10.95 billion during the first half of March, with many export staples enjoying a sharp increase in value. The figure helped to lift the country’s total turnover of exports to US$47.05 billion by March 15, an on-year rise of 5.4 per cent. A number of exports recorded a strong rise in value across the reviewed period. They include telephones and components, garments and textiles, computers, electronic items and components, wood and wooden products, and means of transport and spare parts. Meanwhile, imports reached a total of US$21.3 billion during the first half of March, bringing the total import value to US$93.6 billion by March 15. The figure edged up to US$100 billion by March 19, a surge of … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 25/3
Quad cities business news
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 23/2
Danang to promote investment in hi-tech sectors Employees work at an automobile assembly and manufacturing plant in Danang’s Hoa Khanh Industrial Park in this file photo. Danang’s enterprises are being urged to suggest ideas for attracting investment in hi-tech sectors at an upcoming conference, scheduled for March 1 – PHOTO: VGP The central coastal city of Danang has urged local firms to pose ideas at an upcoming conference, scheduled for March 1, for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in sectors leveraging hi-tech applications in the 4.0 era, the Government portal chinhphu.vn reported, citing the municipal People’s Committee. The municipal government on February 20 stated that the city will prioritize receiving FDI capital for the field of hi-tech agriculture to achieve sustainable growth, alongside other hi-tech-deploying sectors. It will also prepare feasible projects to attract investors from Japan, South Korea and the United States, according to … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 23/2
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 22/2
Can Tho in dire need of international shipping routes A vessel heads for Tan Cang-Cai Cui Port in Can Tho City Although the Government has allowed Can Tho City to expand its logistics center to 242 hectares from the current 75 hectares, the center cannot develop without international shipping routes allowing the city to directly ship goods abroad, said Nguyen Minh Toai, director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade. At a seminar on development of Can Tho City’s logistics network by 2020, with a vision to 2030, in the city today, February 20, Toai said that Can Tho needs to launch shipping routes through Quan Chanh Bo Canal and Dinh An Estuary to develop a modern logistics center in the city. It costs US$10 to transport each container of goods from Can Tho to Cat Lai Port in HCMC or to Cai Mep-Thi Vai Port in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, he said, and the cost is even higher if shipping containers are carried further away. If goods are directly shipped from the … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 22/2
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 21/2
Ninh Thuan greenlights tourism projects Ninh Thuan Province People’s Committee has granted principle approvals for two large-scale tourism projects, worth a total VND2.5 trillion (US$107.3 million). Financed by Royal Ninh Thuan development and investment joint stock company, the 87.5ha tourism complex will be developed at Phuoc Diem Commnue, Thuan Nam District. It will comprise a five-star hotel with 500 rooms, 100 high-end villas and a convention centre, restaurants and an entertainment area. The complex, worth VND2 trillion, is slated for completion in June, 2022. Meanwhile, the second project — invested by Ninh Thuan international tourism joint stock company — will cover 6.56ha at Khanh Hai Town, Ninh Hai District. Worth VND550 billion, the complex will include a five-star hotel providing between 200-300 rooms, villas and food streets. It is expected to be finished in December, 2021. Ninh Thuan is seeing rising interest from investors thanks to its potential for … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 21/2
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 26/1
Rice exports set to pick up in Q1 2019 Rice exports are predicted to thrive during the first quarter of 2019 as regular importers are giving positive signs, according to a Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development source. Rice exports to regular importers such as the Philippines and Indonesia will soar in the first quarter of 2019 as both have recently been hit by natural disasters. The Agro Processing and Market Development Authority made the prediction at a press conference on January 22. The conference briefed expectations of farm produce exports during 2019, reported the news outlet Vietnam Economic Times. The authority stated rice exports to regular importers such as the Philippines and Indonesia will soar in the first quarter of 2019 as both have recently been hit by natural disasters. As many as 166 Filipino companies have made plans to import 1 million tons of rice, of which many have been ordered from Vietnam. This move came after the Philippines lifted its import … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 26/1
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 25/1
Japanese personnel provider enters Vietnamese market Representative from Sunwell Solutions Vietnam Yoshioka Reito (R) A representative from Japan’s Sunwell Solutions JSC said on January 23 that its Vietnamese office officially became operational earlier this month. Sunwell Solutions, with eight years experience in providing human resources solutions, aims to increase opportunities for outstanding Vietnamese engineers working at Japanese firms and develop relations between Japanese employers and Vietnamese employees. Yoshioka Reito, a representative of Sunwell in Vietnam, stressed that although it has been established for nine years with highly technical staff, Sunwell is looking to expand its business to great customers, focusing on key fields such as information technology, automobile technology, and refinery projects. According to Reito, Vietnam’s high-quality engineers are able to meet the requirements of Japanese businesses. Sunwell was established with … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 25/1
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 23/1
MoIT celebrates soaring export turnover in 2018 The $245 billion in total export turnover and 29 export categories exceeding the $1 billion threshold are touted as a major success for the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT). The rosy export picture was highlighted as one of the achievements of the MoIT in 2018 at the review meeting held on January 17. Notably, last year, Vietnam’s total export turnover reached $245 billion, up 13.8 per cent on-year and exceeding the target set by the National Assembly and the government. 29 goods categories reached $1 billion in turnover, with five categories hitting $5 billion and five others $10 billion. Vietnam’s export markets expanded and now Vietnamese goods are present in almost all markets of the world. Numerous goods categories have set a solid foothold in key markets, including Europe, the US, Japan, and Australia. Especially, Vietnam saw an increase in export turnover in markets it signed free trade … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 23/1
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 20/11
New trends in Vietnam’s rice exports 2018 is witnessing new trends in Vietnam’s rice export sector, notably the priority of exporting high-quality rice through international bidding as well as stricter and more diverse trade barriers from importing countries. Preliminary data by the General Department of Customs shows that Vietnam exported 264,500 tonnes of rice in October, generating a revenue of US$135.56 million, up 22.96% in volume and 31.8% in value, compared with the same month last year. The total volume of rice exports in the first ten months of 2018 was 5.15 million tonnes, worth US$2.6 billion, representing year-on-year increases of 6.62% and 21.49% in volume and revenue respectively. What is notable during the period is that the price of Vietnamese rice has now surpassed that of Thailand, averaging at more than US$500 a tonne, up about 15%. In 2016, Vietnam exported 4.8 million tonnes of rice, bringing in US$2.1 billion. The respective volume and revenue figures … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 20/11
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 13/10
Helicopter Corporation to sell 20.3 million shares of MBLand Holdings The Vietnam Helicopter Corporation (VNH) will auction 20.3 million of its shares in property developer MBLand Holdings with the beginning price of 12,366 each on October 26. According to the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, VNH holds a 31 per cent stake in MBLand Holdings. VNH is expected to collect a minimum VND251 billion from the sale. MBLand, formerly known as MB Real Estate JSC, was established on January 25, 2008 by two major shareholders, Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (code: MBB) and VNH. After nine years of establishment and development, MBLand Holdings now has an ownership capital of VND800 billion, total assets worth VND2 trillion and charter capital of VND653.7 billion. MBLand Holdings has 18 shareholders, including 12 organisations and six individuals. The main shareholder of MBLand Holdings is MB Bank with the ownership ratio of over 65 per cent, or nearly 42.7 million shares. In early … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 13/10
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 8/8
VIB buys back all bad debt from VAMC Vietnam International Bank (VIB) announced last week that it has repurchased more than VND1.46 trillion (US$64.2 million) worth of debt from the Viet Nam Asset Management Company (VAMC). With this move, VIB was recognised by the State Bank of Viet Nam and VAMC as one of four banks which required all bad debts that they sold to VAMC. Three others are Vietcombank, Techcombank and MBBank. Earlier in July, VIB released its financial report in the first half of 2018 with a profit of over VND1.15 trillion ($51 million), triple that of the same period last year, or equivalent to 57 per cent of the yearly target. During the period, the banks’ net revenue reached VND2.7 trillion, up 56 per cent year-on-year, while its lending saw a yearly rise of 9 per cent to VND91.7 trillion. From January to July, VIB’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) was maintained at 12.5 per cent while the cost-income ratio (CIR) stood at 49 per cent, … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 8/8