Tourists are flocking to Dubrovnik, lured by scenes from Game of Thrones set in Croatia's ancient walled city. AFP Photos By Lajla Veselica and Nicolas Gaudichet Shepherding tourists through the arches and towers of Croatia's medieval walled city of Dubrovnik, Ivan Vukovic spends half his time leading tours of a capital that doesn't exist: the fictional King's Landing from Game of Thrones. The two cities now rival each other for fame after Dubrovnik – already a tourist and cruise ship magnet – became a set in 2011 for the cult HBO series, whose final season starts on April 14. Doubling as King's Landing, the capital of Westeros' Seven Kingdoms, "can be a blessing and it can be a curse" for Dubrovnik, said 38-year-old guide Vukovic. While the Game of Thrones stardom has been a boon for his business, it is also bringing a new inundation of visitors to a city already struggling with overcrowding. "It's an amazing thing because it brings us so many people, but now we … [Read more...] about Dubrovnik or King’s Landing? Game of Thrones is ‘blessing and curse’
Water tower place mall
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 1/3
Vietnam, DPRK advised to foster economic cooperation A confectionery production line Vietnam and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) should maintain exchanges through political and diplomatic channels and step up the sharing of information on policies and regulations related to import-export and investment so as to boost bilateral economic and trade ties, according to an official from the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Do Quoc Hung, Deputy Head of the ministry’s Asia-Africa Market Department, further suggested the two countries’ enterprises actively participate in trade promotion activities and fairs in each country to foster their imports and exports that are not banned following the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions. According to the ministry, before 2010, Vietnam mainly bartered with the DPRK. Since 2011, the country has not imported goods from the DPRK, but mainly exported pharmaceutical products, plant oil, consumer … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 1/3
Social News 25/1
Polluted water kills fish at Vinh Citadel Polluted water has caused mass fish deaths since early this month in the moat around the ancient Vinh Citadel in the central city of Vinh, Nghệ An Province, an environmental official said. Head of the city’s Natural Resources and Environment Department Nguyễn Huy Hoàng said on Wednesday that after receiving reports about the dead fish, local authorities’ examinations found waste water from local residents’ daily activities being discharged into the moat. The waste water should have been collected and transferred to Hưng Hoà Waste Water Treatment Plant. Since early this year, the dry season has made the moat water stagnant, resulting in a shortage of oxygen that kills fish, according to Hoàng. Relevant agencies are also investigating to see if there are any production units releasing untreated waste water into the moat. Since January 9, people living around the moat have reported that … [Read more...] about Social News 25/1
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 19/10
Norwegian solar companies seek cooperation opportunity in Vietnam A group of Norway’s leading solar companies attended a Norwegian Solar Seminar in Hanoi on October 15 to look for cooperation opportunities with local partners in the solar energy sector. The event is co-organized by Royal Norwegian Embassy and Power Engineering Consulting Joint Stock Company 1 (PECC1), under the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) with the attendance of Norweiginan Ambassador designate, Ms Grete Lochen, Commercial Counsellor Mr Harald Naevdal, General Director of EVN PECC1 Mr Pham Nguyen Hung, representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and over 70 participants from the EVN and its subsidiaries, independent power plant owners, construction companies, private investors from Vietnam and Laos, suppliers and consultants and other stakeholders. At the seminar, an energy consultant of the World Bank presents an overview of Vietnam’s solar energy, highlighting the achievements of … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 19/10
Super typhoon slams into China after pummelling Philippines, Hong Kong
A woman uses her umbrella as she walks past collapsed bamboo scaffolding hanging from a building during Super Typhoon Mangkhut in Hong Kong on Sep 16, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Anthony Wallace) Typhoon Mangkhut, dubbed the "King of Storms" by Chinese media, made landfall in Haiyan town at 5pm, after wreaking havoc in Hong Kong and Macau and killing more than 50 people in the Philippines. Ports, oil refineries and industrial plants in Guangdong have been shut. Power to some areas was also reduced as a precaution. In Shenzhen, the electricity supply to more than 130,000 homes was cut at one point on Sunday. The storm has fuelled concern about sugar production in Guangdong, which accounts for a tenth of national output at about 1 million tonnes. China sugar futures rose last week on fears for the cane crop. Guangdong is also China's most populous province, with a population of more than 100 million. According to state media, two people were killed in Guangdong due to the typhoon as of 8pm on … [Read more...] about Super typhoon slams into China after pummelling Philippines, Hong Kong
A Singaporean all rounder rises high
Mapletree currently manages a portfolio of about $1 billion worth of assets under management in Vietnam Vietnam’s transformation into a market-oriented economy with two thriving business cities, a young and industrious population, and a growing middle-class underline the long-term economic potential of the country. Mapletree has grown to be one of the largest Singaporean real estate firms in Vietnam by capital, with a portfolio of about $1 billion in assets under management since first investing in this market in 2005. The group is present in all segments of the real estate field, such as large-scale mixed-use developments, grade A offices, build-to-suit designs, high-quality real estate space, logistics, industrial facilities, and serviced apartments. According to Wendy Koh, regional chief executive officer for Southeast Asia at Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd., Vietnam is currently Mapletree’s largest Southeast Asian market, outside of Singapore. “As an established … [Read more...] about A Singaporean all rounder rises high
Hanoi 2018: Investment and Development Co operation
The conference will take place on June 17 at the National Conference Center in Hanoi with the participation of 1,500 representatives. Lotte Center Hanoi is the symbol of South Korean investment in the capital Around 1,500 representatives, including leaders of the government, ministries, agencies, cities and provinces, international organisations and hundreds of investors and businesses will attend “Hanoi 2018—Investment and Development Co-operation.” About 160 projects covering various fields, including smart city, education development, hi-tech agriculture, healthcare, environment, and tourism will be introduced. Twenty Memoranda of Understanding and investment certificates are expected to be signed or granted with the total value of VND270 trillion ($12 million). Nguyen Gia Phuong, director of the Hanoi Promotion Agency, said that this is a good opportunity to create a transparent investment climate in line with the process of international … [Read more...] about Hanoi 2018: Investment and Development Co operation
Ho Chi Minh City looks underground for urban expansion
Vietnam's largest city Ho Chi Minh is seeking to forward its plan for expansion and easing traffic congestion by building underground. The planning of the city's new underground space would be finalized by 2019, with focus on the 930-hectare (2300-acre) downtown area and Thu Thiem new urban area to the city's east, according to the city's Department of Planning and Architecture. "This would open up more space for vehicles and services underground, therefore reducing traffic congestion and meeting the needs of the city's rapid development," a department official said at a meeting on Saturday. According to the plan, the department's planning team would analyze the geology, hydrology and current construction status of these areas before determining the boundaries and purposes of future underground structures. Based on the city's projected needs, these underground spaces would be filled with metro stations, car and pedestrian tunnels, parking lots and shopping centers. Ho Chi Minh City's … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City looks underground for urban expansion
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 1/4
No door for return of RON92 petrol After RON92 petrol was replaced by E5 bio-fuel for about three months, several enterprises said that the consumption of E5 was lower than that of RON92 and petitioned the authorities to resume the use of RON92. However, experts and businesses have asserted that the use RON92 petrol should not be resumed. Recently, Ho Chi Minh City One Member Limited Liability Oil and Gas Company (Saigon Petro) sent an official document to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Finance, saying that the consumption of E5 bio-fuel in the first two months of 2018 accounted for a very low proportion of the total petrol consumption of Saigon Petro, at over 30% of total petrol consumption, while the consumption of RON92 made up 65% of the total consumption. In addition, the company said that many vehicles that require the petrol standards of E5 or RON92 have to switch to using RON95, with a higher price, which is a waste. The company also recommended the … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 1/4
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 29/3
Vietnamese firms urged to deeply explore Cuban market Vietnamese, French firms urged to foster partnerships Domestic pharmaceuticals stocks send good vibes to Abbott and Taisho Since the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2018, pharmaceutical stocks have been forecast to thrive as bustling activities such as state divestitures, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and notable investments from foreign healthcare firms are being announced left and right. Speaking about the investment and divestment activities between Vietnam-based pharmaceuticals and foreign investors, a representative of State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) disclosed that 34.71 per cent capital at Domesco Medical Import Export Joint Stock Corporation (HSX: DMC) is on its divestment agenda in April. US-based multinational healthcare firm Abbott has already expressed a wish to participate in the divestment. In late 2017, Latin American CFR International SpA, DMC’s former largest shareholder, transferred its … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 29/3