To prepare for this report, the HCMC Construction Department has asked all 21 districts and Thu Duc City as well as related state agencies to submit corresponding reports for it to compile and summarize. Only 9/31 units, namely the HCMC Transport Department, the State Bank of Vietnam – HCMC Branch, HCMC Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority, HCMC Housing Development Fund, Vietnam Bank for Social Policies – HCMC Branch, and the People’s Committees of the districts of 1, 4, Tan Phu, Nha Be, fulfilled this request. Based on those local reports, the HCMC Construction Department informed that from 2016-2020, the floor area of the city increased by 53.7 million square meters, most of which belonged to self-built housing (a rise of 38.5 million square meters). Commercial housing took the second position, at 13.98 million square meters. Social housing witnessed an increase of 1.23 million square meters in 19 finished projects, accounting for 69.2 percent of the goal. However, … [Read more...] about HCMC only fulfills 12.4 percent of relocation for households along channels
Academic achievements
Mega-deltas creating food baskets severely impacted by climate change
Farmers in the Mekong Delta are under pressure due to climate change. (Photo: SGGP) Speaking at the conference, Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production, said that mega-deltas in Asia, including the Mekong Delta, play an important role in providing food for millions of people in the region. However, the food systems in these deltas are being severely impacted by climate change, including floods, salinity intrusion, water shortages, and increasingly severe climate conditions. It negatively impacts economic growth, food security, and nutrition, besides challenges from urbanization and migration, and creates new poverty traps and hotspots of hunger. Dr. Ole Sander, Representative of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Vietnam, emphasized the role of Asian mega deltas as food baskets for countries in the region. The main goal of the Asian mega-deltas initiative is to build these deltas capable of sustaining socio-ecological integrity, … [Read more...] about Mega-deltas creating food baskets severely impacted by climate change
China slashes Covid quarantine time for international travelers
Quarantine at centralized facilities has been cut to seven days from 14, and subsequent at-home health monitoring has been reduced to three days from seven, the National Health Commission said in a statement. The latest guidelines from the health authority also eased quarantine requirements for close contacts of people who have tested positive for the new coronavirus. China has cautiously eased its Covid curbs on cross-border travelers in recent months, with health officials saying the shorter incubation period of the Omicron variant allows for an adjustment of quarantine periods. The Chinese capital Beijing in recent months has already reduced the quarantine period at centralized facilities to 10 days from 14. China, last month, also removed some Covid-19 test requirements for people flying in from countries such as the U.S. Stock markets rose in Hong Kong and the mainland, with the Hang Seng Index reversing losses and ticking up roughly 0.4 percent and the CSI300 Index … [Read more...] about China slashes Covid quarantine time for international travelers
Australia pledges to beef up strategic partnership with Vietnam
Visiting Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong has affirmed that her nation will continue promoting its strategic partnership with Vietnam and always attaches importance to the Southeast Asian country's role in the region. She was speaking at her talks with her Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son in Hanoi on Monday as part of her three-day official visit to Vietnam from June 26 to 28 at Son’s invitation. Wong told her host that Australia highly values Vietnam’s role and position in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the region and the world, and that the new Australian government in which she is a member will continue strengthening the strategic partnership with Vietnam to boost the bilateral ties to a new height. The diplomat also stated that her country highly values cooperation with ASEAN, appreciates its central role, and will continue to promote cooperation with the bloc for the sustainable development of the Mekong sub-region. … [Read more...] about Australia pledges to beef up strategic partnership with Vietnam
VEAM expects total revenue to grow 6.5% annually
Assembling cars at a VEAM automobile factory in Thanh Hoa Province. — Photo VNA The Vietnam Engine and Agricultural Machinery Corp (VEAM) has set a target of achieving average revenue growth of 6.5 per cent annually from now to 2027. The company's annual pre-tax profit, industrial output and revenue were set to grow 5 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively in the period, VEAM said, adding that it would focus on strengthening cooperation among member units while expanding its presence in the domestic market and promoting exports. According to VEAM chairman Nguyen Khac Hai, his firm will seek qualified investors to co-operate directly or through subsidiaries to invest in production projects, agricultural machinery trading, automobiles and supporting industries. The company's latest report revealed that the impact of the pandemic and caused many difficulties. However, in the first quarter of 2022, VEAM's revenue surpassed VND1.13 trillion, up 17 per cent year-on-year or … [Read more...] about VEAM expects total revenue to grow 6.5% annually
HCMC disburses only 17 percent of public investment capital in first six months
Illustrative image. (Photo: SGGP) The People's Committee of HCMC said that the disbursement rate of the Public Investment Plan in 2022 is not much compared to previous years due to many difficulties and obstacles, but mainly the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. The restart of the construction of projects in the first months of 2022 experienced a certain delay after the time the city adopted measures to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, input costs were unstable and tended to increase. Besides the above objective reasons, the People's Committee of HCMC also raised some other subjective reasons affecting the disbursement progress of public investment capital, for example, difficulties related to site clearance; it is necessary to have time to carry out the project adjustment procedures on the basis of Resolution No.99/NQ-HDND dated October 19, 2021, of the People's Council of HCMC and Decision No.4354/QD-UBND dated December 28, 2021, on the medium-term capital … [Read more...] about HCMC disburses only 17 percent of public investment capital in first six months
Vietnam – Hungary legislative conference talks legal framework for green development
NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (second, left) and his Hungarian counterpart László Kövér (second, right) co-chair the legislative conference in Budapest on June 27. (Photo: VNA) Budapest (VNA) – Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue and his Hungarian counterpart László Kövér co-chaired a legislative conference in Budapest on June 27, with a focus on the legal framework on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction, renewable energy, and the green economy. In his remarks, Kövér said Hungary is always determined to protect the environment, which is clearly reflected in its development orientations and legal regulations. Its climate policy was adapted to the European Union (EU)’s requirements but didn’t neglect its own features and its people’s interests. Hungary was one of the first countries to issue legal mechanisms for realising the goals of reducing 40 percent of GHG emissions by 1990 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Its law on … [Read more...] about Vietnam – Hungary legislative conference talks legal framework for green development
Defense Minister meets with Pho Yen voters
At the meeting, on behalf of the N.A. deputy delegation, Nguyen Lam Thanh, Vice Chairman of the N.A.’s Council of Ethnic Minorities, reported on important outcomes of the freshly-concluded third session of 15th N.A. In particular, in 19 scientific, democratic, and highly responsible working days, the 15th N.A.’s third meeting achieved all set targets. During this session, the 15th N.A. looked into a large amount of work and made decisions on many important contents for 2022 and the following years. As a result, the 15th N.A. passed five laws, adopted 17 resolutions, and gave opinions on six draft laws and resolutions and other important contents. On hearing the achievements of the aforementioned meeting, participating voters voiced their opinions and suggested the delegation of Thai Nguyen N.A. deputies make proposals to the N.A. on creating a special mechanism for Thai Nguyen province to make the best of its full potential, and strengths to develop in the coming time. With … [Read more...] about Defense Minister meets with Pho Yen voters
Room remains to boost Vietnam-Hungary cooperation: official
Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA) Budapest (VNA) – Although substantial results have been achieved between Vietnam and Hungary in terms of economic cooperation, it is still not really commensurate with the potential of the two sides, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has said. economy has achieved important improvements in the 35 years since adopting the doi moi (renewal) process. The country’s GDP reached 6% in the 2016-2021 period. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, its economy expanded by 2.58 percent last year, being one of the few countries in the world that posted positive growth. enterprises . trade cooperation with Vietnam. VNA … [Read more...] about Room remains to boost Vietnam-Hungary cooperation: official
Vietnam, Hungary agree to enhance defense cooperation
The meeting was part of Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue’s ongoing official visit to Hungary. At the meeting, the two senior officials evaluated that the outcomes of the bilateral defense cooperation achieved over the past time on the basis of the memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation signed in 2018 have actively contributed to developing the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Hungary, meeting each side’s needs and interests. They wished the two sides to bolster the implementation of existing cooperation contents with a focus on delegation exchange, training, U.N. peacekeeping operations, settlement of war legacy, collaboration between the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense and the European Union (E.U.) in realizing the framework participation agreement (FPA) on Vietnam’s participation in the E.U.'s crisis management activities. Also at the event, General Vinh informed the host of the first-ever International Defense Expo to … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Hungary agree to enhance defense cooperation