African problems need african solutions

A rumor stating that Samsung is moving its smartphone manufacturing chain out of Vietnam to India is false, Samsung Vietnam Complex general director Choi Joo Ho told a recent meeting with the Thai Nguyen Province leaders. Choi affirmed that over the past 10 years of its operation in the northern province, Samsung has received much support and many incentives from the provincial government, departments, and locals. Therefore, the South Korean tech firm has constantly expanded its reach. Samsung Electronics Vietnam-Thai Nguyen got off the ground in March 2013, with total capital of US$2 billion. The investment capital jumped to $3 billion a year later. Continuing the trend, Samsung has relentlessly revised up its investment capital and expand production. For example, Samsung has poured an additional $1.18 million into Samsung Electro-Mechanics Vietnam. Samsung’s total investment in Thai Nguyen has reached over $7.5 billion. The Samsung executive pledged to continue … [Read more...] about Samsung rejects rumor of shifting smartphone production chain out of Vietnam

Domestic and foreign exports have proposed solutions to develop a circular economy in Vietnam, including ideas to turn the country’s plastic waste into economic resources. About 0.73 million metric tons of plastic waste was discharged into the ocean of Vietnam in 2022, the World Bank data showed. The current problem that Vietnam needs to solve when it comes to developing the circular economy is how to turn that huge amount of plastic waste into economic resources. The Embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, organized the Nordic Day 2023 with the theme ‘Green Nordic Solutions for Circular Economy and Waste Management’ on Wednesday and Thursday. This is the fifth time the event has been held since 2018. During this year’s event, domestic and foreign experts shared their experience and proposed solutions to build a circular economy in Vietnam. The idea of using plastic waste as an input material … [Read more...] about Experts propose turning Vietnam’s plastic waste into economic resources

Hanoi's goal for 2023 is to secure the city's socio-economic performance and further develop a cultured, modern, and civilized society. Hanoi aims to constantly improve the leadership of the Party Committee and the sense of responsibility of government officials and Party members, especially the heads of government agencies, to fulfill all the socio-economic growth tasks set for 2023. Dinh Tien Dung, Member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, talks to Nhan Dan (People) newspaper about the plans and actions the city expects to carry out on the occasion of the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Hanoi Party Committee. Dinh Tien Dung, Member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee. Photo: The Hanoi Times As head of the Hanoi Party Committee, could you share some of Hanoi's achievements in the first half of 2020-2025? Hanoi has endured many international impacts in the past two and a half … [Read more...] about Innovation-centered approach boosts Hanoi’s performance in socio-economic growth

Visas, service quality, and technology were all part of discussions on a better-performing tourism sector Photo: Cuong Minh May’s National Assembly session is likely to help push ahead a revamp of the country’s rules on entry and exit for foreign visitors, after the Ministry of Public Security crafts amendments to the current law. The development will be an important basis for the issuance of new regulations related to the visa policy, removing difficulties for the tourism industry, and creating conditions to attract more international visitors this year, according to most observers. Dang Tuan Viet, deputy director of the Ministry of Public Secrutity’s (MoPS) Vietnam Immigration Department, said that the proposal emphasised two major areas related to unilateral visa exemption and electronic visa policy. The MoPS also proposes to expand the number of countries that can issue e-visas from 80 countries to the maximum. The MoPS will also ask to increase the temporary stay … [Read more...] about Visa upgrade at heart of fresh approach to tourism

By Nguyen Manh Hung - Minister of Information and Communications The MIC aims to organise conferences and forums overseas that will focus on investment promotion, digital trade, and Vietnamese digital technology. It will also advise the government to sign digital partnership agreements with other countries, and establish a consulting group to support businesses that expand past our borders. And each month, the ministry will organise at least one event to help digital technology enterprises do business abroad. Going abroad means competing with the best. This is the way for our businesses to become internationally competitive. It also brings Vietnam’s knowledge and digital technology to the world, and means Vietnam can contribute to the development of humanity. Going abroad means taking on new challenges, expanding the knowledge system, and learning to build Vietnam, all to help improve the nation’s standing in the world. Without doing this, without competition, without … [Read more...] about Expanding across borders to close the digital gap

Climate change is an urgent problem for humanity in the 21 st century, and its importance was reinforced by the presence of 197 heads of state at the Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in 2021 (COP26). Vietnam has made strong commitments and issued its National Strategy on Climate Change for the period to 2050. Time for business action According to the World Bank, Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. In 2020 alone, Vietnam has suffered a loss of $10 billion, equivalent to 3.2 per cent of GDP. Without a green transformation strategy, it is estimated that the nation could be losing 12-14 per cent of GDP every year by 2050. Green transformation describes the process of applying advanced processes and technologies to reshape business operations, ensuring economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social development. From an enterprise perspective, a common management solution is through a set of environmental, social and governance … [Read more...] about Net-Zero: Challenges and opportunities for Vietnamese businesses

Vietnam will add more countries to its visa waiver program, offer a longer visa-free stay, and expand the list of countries eligible for e-visa application, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told a teleconference on tourism development in 2023 titled ‘Boosting Tourism Recovery and Promoting Growth’ on Wednesday this week. These moves are expected to boost Vietnam’s inbound tourism one year after the country fully reopened its doors to international tourists on March 15 last year. Speaking at the event, Dang Minh Truong, chairman of Sun Group, said that Vietnam is in dire need of breakthrough solutions to prevent the tourist industry from lagging behind. Relevant ministries and departments should weigh up amending and supplementing regulations of the Law on Foreigners’ Entry in, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence in Vietnam, and report them to the prime minister as soon as possible. Besides, it is necessary to extend tourist visa validity for international tourists from 90 … [Read more...] about Vietnam strives to clear visa roadblocks to woo international tourists

There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for Marburg virus disease. Vietnam's Ministry of Health (MoH) has urged all localities nationwide to strengthen supervision and step up preventive measures to control the possible spread of the deadly Marburg virus disease. Marburg virus disease is rare but severe hemorrhagic fever which affects both people and non-human primates with a fatality rate of up to 88%, the ministry said in a dispatch to localities across the country, adding that it belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola. Human infection with Marburg virus disease initially results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus aegyptiacus bat colonies, the MoH said. The host of the Marburg virus is the African fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus. Photo: Canva Once a person is infected with the virus, Marburg can spread from person to person through direct contact (through hurt skin or mucous … [Read more...] about Vietnam steps up vigilance against deadly Marburg

La Gan offshore wind power project. Viet Nam has many favourable conditions to create a thriving offshore wind industry. — Photo vietnamplus.vn Offshore wind is a great dual opportunity for Viet Nam, helping deliver green and cost-efficient energy for the continued economic development of the country and at the same time support Viet Nam in achieving its net-zero by 2050 commitment made in COP 26. Nicolai Prytz, Denmark ambassador to Viet Nam, made the statement at the workshop “Promoting Viet Nam’s Offshore Wind Power Development: International Best Practices and Policy Recommendations” held in Ha Noi on Thursday. Viet Nam has many favourable conditions to create a thriving offshore wind industry: a long coastline, ample wind resources, relatively shallow seabed areas suitable for fixed foundations, and a well-established supply chain that can be used almost immediately or transition relatively quickly to support many parts of the construction process and associated … [Read more...] about Dual opportunity for Viet Nam in offshore wind industry development

The maximum short-term lending rate for borrowers in some sectors will be reduced, photo Le Toan The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) last week took bold steps to soften the regulatory interest rates for the first time in two years, in a bid to support the capital-thirsty local business community. The central bank issued two decisions on reducing key interest rates by 0.5 to 1 per cent, which took effect on March 15. Under Decision No.313/QD-NHNN, the rediscount interest rate will be revised down from 4.5 per cent per year to 3.5 per cent. Overnight lending rates in interbank electronic payments and loans to cover capital shortfalls in clearing payments of the SBV for credit institutions will be dropped from 7 per cent per year to 6 per cent. Particularly, the refunding interest rate will remain unchanged at 6 per cent on an annual basis. Meanwhile, under Decision No.314/QD-NHNN, the maximum short-term lending rate in VND of credit institutions for borrowers to meet capital needs … [Read more...] about Careful action required to curb inflation threat