FLC Group has been negotiating with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing to buy 15 airplanes to operate Viet Bamboo Airways in 2018. — Photo bizlive.vn FLC Group, the owner of Viet Bamboo Airlines Company Limited (Bamboo Airways), told US aircraft manufacturer Boeing on Tuesday that it plans to buy 15 planes ahead of its start of operations in 2018. FLC plans to buy 10 737 Max 9s and five 777Xs. The 737 MAX 9 has a capacity of 185 passengers while the 777X carries over 300. The planes are said to be suitable for "hybrid” airlines, allowing operatord to blend low-cost traits with those of traditional, full-service carriers. If the deal is completed, Bamboo Airways would own 10 737 Max 9s in the 2018-20 period. The remaining five aircraft would be delivered after 2020 to serve its international flights. Thomas Creighton, Boeing marketing director in the Asia-Pacific region, expressed his hope of … [Read more...]

Participants at the opening ceremony of "In-store Promotion for Thai Products 2017" event held in Ha Noi on June 22. — VNS Photo Linh Anh Ten branches of the Fivimart supermarket chain have displayed Thai commodities as part of the “In-store Promotion for Thai Products 2017 in Ha Noi” programme lasting from June 22 to 25. The event has been co-organised by the Department of International Trade Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand and the Thai Embassy at Ha Noi’s Office of Commercial Affairs in cooperation with Viet Nam National Trade Fair and Advertising Company VINEXAD and Fivi Mart, owned by Nhat Nam JSC. Along with exhibiting and trading activities through a series of fairs, exhibitions and B2B events, which have been organised to promote Thai products in the Viet Nam market for years, this event, held for the third time in Ha Noi, aims to enhance trade relations between Viet Nam and … [Read more...]

The shrimp sector plays a very important role in Vietnam’s agriculture, bringing home over US$3 billion from exports and creating 2 million jobs each year.  However, shrimp farming in the country has a small scale, lacks linkages and suffers higher production costs than that of its main competitors, such as India and Thailand. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in the first five months of 2017, the country’s shrimp exports grew just 4% from the same period last year, earning over US$1.14 billion. During the period, Vietnamese shrimp exports recovered in the markets of Japan, the EU and Republic of Korea, while witnessing drops in the US, China and Australia. Dr Tran Dinh Luan, Deputy General Director of the Fisheries Department, said his department has carried out a range of measures to … [Read more...]

The message was conveyed on June 21 by a working group led by the Government Office’s Vice Chairman Nguyen Cao Luc. Luc said that in May, the PM requested the working group to implement check-ups on some State-owned groups, including the EVN, on carrying out their assigned tasks. In addition, the working group will review the implementation of the PM’s Directive No.24 on key solutions to achieve the growth rate target of 6.7% this year. EVN was urged to ensure electricity supply for the economy in general and the southern region in particular to avoid power shortages, and needed to report measures undertaken to achieve the set targets. “Ensuring power supply has been one of solutions put forward to meet the economy’s growth rate target. However, there has been some overloading of the power supply in 2017, causing instability for the … [Read more...]

Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)     Hanoi (VNA) – About 600 small- and medium enterprises (SMEs) will be supported to apply an occupational health and hygiene management system as part of a programme on vocational education, employment and workplace safety. The national target programme on vocational education, employment and workplace safety for the 2016-2020 period has been recently approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc with an investment of more than 14 trillion VND (617 million USD). It includes three projects – Innovating and improving vocational education quality; Developing labour and employment markets; and Enhancing workplace safety and hygiene. The overall objectives of the programme are to assist the development of vocational education; foster the growth of the labour market; improve effectiveness in connecting workforce … [Read more...]

Visitors at a booth displaying hydroponic vegetable farming at the fifth seeds exhibition opened today at the Biotechnology Centre in District 12. — VNS Photo The fifth seeds exhibition opened today in HCM City with over 350 booths set up by business groups, research institutes, schools, farms, co-operatives and businesses from around the country. It has seven areas for showcasing agricultural materials, farm machinery and equipment, ornamental fish, bonsai, VietGap fruits and vegetables, seeds, aquaculture and livestock brood stock, and the city’s agricultural achievements. Tran Tan Quy, deputy director of the city Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and head of the event organisation board, said the fair is organised to showcase high-quality and high-yield seeds and animal and seafood brood stock. It is also aimed at creating an opportunity for localities, businesses, and co-operatives to … [Read more...]

The U.S. will support Vietnam in formulating a plan to switch to renewable energy from coal-fired power, former Secretary of State John Kerry told a Ho Chi Minh City leader in Hanoi on Wednesday. Vietnam has plans to build 19 to 50 coal-fired power plants in the future, which may do more harm than good, the top diplomat under the Obama administration said at a meeting with Nguyen Thien Nhan, secretary of the southern metropolis’ Party Committee. Kerry added he had previously held talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and both sides had agreed on a cooperative mechanism whereby the U.S. will prepare a feasibility study for Vietnam to turn its energy reliance to solar or wind power. The 73-year-old politician, who served as the 68th U.S. Secretary of State from 2013 to 2017, was on a June 20-21 visit to Vietnam. Besides energy development, Kerry told his host that he was willing to assist Ho Chi Minh … [Read more...]

Nestled in a small alley on the bustling Nguyen Trai Street in District 1, HCMC, FYI café is a popular place for book lovers given its huge collection of foreign-language books and its cozy atmosphere. Guests are seen at FYI café on Nguyen Trai Street, District 1, HCMC  It is highly recommended for those wanting to read books and improve English skills while enjoying a cup of coffee. FYI is an abbreviation of For Your Inspiration that the 40-year-old female owner who has a special love for books wants to share her passion with guests.  The coffee house boasts a modern interior décor with the theme color of white, comfortable sofas and cushioned chairs. First-time comers might be impressed by the café’s high bookshelves replete with business, communication, sales and marketing books and novels that guests can freely read.  The menu has various drinks like coffee with … [Read more...]

Perspective drawing of Trung Son Hydropower Project. — Photo cssthanglong.com.vn The Southern Power Corporation of the Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN SPC) has begun using 19 110kV power lines, built at a cost of VND2.63 billion (US$115.8 million), this year. The corporation has now started building 26 power projects. Nguyen Phuoc Duc, deputy director of SPC, said the new electricity lines have helped meet the power requirements for economic development in 21 southern localities. They have ensured electricity supply during this year’s dry season in key economic regions such as Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc and Long An provinces. As of June 20, the corporation had repaired 613 power lines at a cost of VND501.1 billion ($22.1 million). Of this, work on 262 lines is complete. Investments in building and repairing power lines have helped improve the quality of the national … [Read more...]

Vietnam recorded the fastest growth among ASEAN countries in cloud computing spending in the 2010-2016 period, Dr. Vu Minh Khuong, Associate Professor at the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore told the “Fourth Industrial Revolution: Fostering Digital Transformation with Could Computing” conference held on June 22 in Hanoi. Dr. Vu Minh Khuong Spending in Vietnam grew at some 64.4 per cent annually in the period, followed by the Philippines with 62.3 per cent and Indonesia 56.5 per cent, Mr. Khuong added.  “Spending is very little, however, at only $1.7 per person each year,” he said, and “this is 107 times smaller than in Singapore, 6.5 times smaller than in Malaysia, 2.4 times smaller than in Thailand, and 1.2 times smaller than in the Philippines. There is a major gap between cloud computing in Vietnam and ASEAN … [Read more...]

The Hanoi's Department of Industry and Trade is targeting fruits and flower vendors as part of a pavement clean-up and food hygiene drive.    Street vendors will be forced to move indoor A representative from the Department of Industry and Trade said Hanoians consumed 52,000 tonnes of fruits a month and the locally-grown fruits only met 18% of the demand. As most fruits are imported from other provinces and overseas, the city needs better management to prevent unsafe products and products with unknown origin. The authorities aim to persuade all street vendors in the city to register for business within this year.  The street vendors will be forced to move indoors and be required to have a sign board, shelves and equipment to preserve the fruits.  The sellers must also have knowledge about food safety and hygiene. The authorities will also apply a series of policies to control quality and … [Read more...]

NDO - Vietnam’s spending on cloud computing recorded the fastest rate among ASEAN countries during the 2010-2016 period, according to a professor from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Associate Professor Vu Minh Khuong told a conference in Hanoi on June 22 that spending by Vietnamese enterprises grew at an annual average of 64.4% annually, compared with ASEAN’s average figure of 49.5% and the world at 42.5%. The figures were cited from a survey on cloud applications at more than 500 enterprises in Vietnam. However, Vietnam’s spending remains low in absolute terms, 107 times lower than Singapore, 6.5 times lower than Malaysia and 2.4 times lower than Thailand. According to Professor Khuong, these figures suggest that many hurdles remain which are hindering the enhancement of cloud services in Vietnam. He elaborated that the obstacles do not arise from investment costs but come as a result of the common use of pirated software, lack of … [Read more...]

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a working session with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen in the southern province of Binh Duong on June 22 to discuss measures to further boost the two countries’ relations. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomes Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen The two leaders exchanged opinions on cooperation in the fields of economics, defence, culture and education, and agreed to facilitate investment and the trading of goods and services between Vietnam and Cambodia. They also pledged to foster coordination at regional and international forums, while proposing specific measures to prevent terrorism, trans-national crime, and smuggling and deal with issues related to security in order to ensure peace and stability in the region and in each nation. PM Phuc spoke highly of the two countries’ defence cooperation and asked Cambodia to help speed up the search for and repatriation of … [Read more...]

Included in the topics were two key trade access issues for US pork exports to the Southeast Asian country involving the use of veterinary drugs and those pertaining to entrails and internal organs. Regarding veterinary drugs, Vietnam will not issue a circular, as previously announced, implementing a zero-tolerance policy on residues for multiple veterinary drug, many of which are used in US pork production. Instead, Vietnam agreed to follow US food safety standards and abide by the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by the UN Codex Alimentarius Commission. An MRL as defined by the UN Commission is the highest concentration of a chemical residue that is permitted or accepted in a food (in this case pork) and is based on good agricultural and chemical use practices. The Vietnam government agreed that it would continue to allow imports of pork and beef from US … [Read more...]

Representatives of MARD and other sectors press the button to launch Agro Processing and Market Development Authority (AgroTrade). — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tam The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on Wednesday launched Agro Processing and Market Development Authority (AgroTrade). The new department will advise the minister on the implementation of laws on developing markets of agro-forestry and seafood products and salt; it will coordinate activities to expand markets; and organise the management, processing and preservation of agro-forestry and seafood products and salt, as per the minister’s instructions. Speaking at the launch ceremony in Ha Noi on Wednesday, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong said agriculture played an important role in the country’s economy and the society’s sustainability. After 30 years of doi moi (renewal) period, Viet Nam had evolved from being a rice deficit nation to … [Read more...]

Among continents, Asian countries accounted for the highest dollar value of exported tea sales during 2016 with shipments valued at US$4.3 billion or roughly two-thirds of the global total. African countries followed with market share of 15.1%, trailed by the EU at 14.9%, North America at 2.5%, Latin America excluding Mexico and the Caribbean at 1.7%, and Oceania nations including Australia at 0.2%. The top five exporting countries were China at US$1.5 billion (22.8% of total global tea exports); Sri Lanka at US$1.3 billion (19.2%); Kenya at US$680.6 million (10.4%); India at US$661.7 million (10.1%); and the United Arab Emirates at US$287.9 million (4.4%). Vietnam ranked as the 12th largest tea exporting country with total export sales of US$104.1 million (1.6% of total global tea exports) just slightly behind Japan in 11th with US$108.9 million of total export … [Read more...]

A project, worth US$9.9 million, launched by IFC has helped Vietnamese garment and textile enterprises enhance resource efficiency, saving $15 million by reducing water, energy and chemicals consumption. — Photo sggp.org.vn The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has helped Vietnamese garment-textile outsourcers save over 20 per cent of water and energy consumption. The information was released at a workshop reviewing the programme on enhancing resource-efficient consumption, held by IFC in HCM City on Wednesday. The sustainable production project has been carried out in 28 enterprises and factories nationwide doing outsourcing for VF Group and Target Group over the past 18 months, mostly during the stages of cutting, sewing, dyeing, printing and laundry. The project, worth US$9.9 million, has applied measures to enhance resource efficiency, saving $15 million for … [Read more...]

Vietjet vice president Dinh Viet Phuong and Safran vice president of Services & MRO François Planaud shake hands after the signing ceremony. - VNS Photo Vietjet and Safran signed the SFCO2 agreement for a fuel efficiency solution on Wednesday during the Paris Airshow 2017 in France. The SFCO2 service contract spans five years, starting in 2017, and covers the entire fleet of the HCM City-based airline. It will help Vietjet improve its operational efficiency by reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The agreement provides for operational recommendations, along with a special SFCO2 web application that enables Vietjet to track its progress and potential savings, the airline said in its statement. The SFCO2 solution combines the expertise of Safran Aircraft Engines, one of the world’s leading aero-engine manufacturers, with the long-standing experience of Safran Electronics and Defense in flight … [Read more...]

An overview of Sun Premier Village Ha Long Bay. — Photo Sungroup Sungroup plans to open its luxury resort complex Sun Premier Village Ha Long Bay at Wyndham Legend Halong Hotel in the Northern Province of Quang Ninh on July 1. The developer expects the project to stimulate tourism in the Northern Province. Carrying the luxury resort brand name, Sun Premier Village Ha Long Bay with resort villas and shophouses is among the first beach-view resort of international standards in the northern region and is guaranteed to make profits. Sungroup offers buyers many attractive financial support programmes, such as a preferential interest rate loan of 9 per cent within 15 years. Additionally, buyers who register to buy villas at the opening ceremony of the project will enjoy incentives of up to 5 per cent off the selling price, excluding VAT. When buying resort villas, investors will be entitled to a … [Read more...]

Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness, has been spreading at a rapid pace across Vietnam, particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. About 1,700 to 1,800 new cases of dengue fever are recorded every week in the Southeast Asian country. The Hanoi Department of Health convened a meeting with district-level leaders on Wednesday morning to discuss measures to cope with the alarming situation. The number of patients in the northern city has exceeded 2,000 since the beginning of this year, a four-fold hike compared to same period last year. According to Hoang Duc Hanh, deputy director of the health department, populated districts in the inner city have a higher number of reported cases of dengue fever. While dengue outbreaks happen on a yearly basis, they typically begin in September. This year’s, however, began in May, Hanh said, adding that a 19-year-old girl had been killed by the … [Read more...]