Indonesia mulls reducing tax on EVs sales to 1% (Photo: AFP/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs of Indonesia said it is considering reducing the value-added tax on electric car sales from 11% to 1% to drive up demand and attract investment. Septian Hario Seto, a senior official of the ministry, said the country has a target of having at least 1.2 million electric motorcycles and 35,000 electric cars in use by 2024. He revealed the government will give a cash incentive of 7 million rupiah (467.6 USD) for every electric motorcycle sold until sales reach a certain volume that is still under discussion. However, the planned incentives may only be available for electric vehicles (EVs) that are at least 40% locally-made. The official said the local content percentage will be increased further to 60% and more in the time ahead. The regulation laying out incentives for EVs is expected to be issued next week./. VNA … [Read more...] about Indonesia mulls reducing tax on EVs sales to 1%
Arai approved electric vehicle
Thai, Japanese businesses forge links
The Thai government's spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri. (Photo: nationthailand) Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai government's spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on February 1 that the Ministry of Industry has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture to forge links between local enterprises. Anucha stressed that Ishikawa is the 23rd out of Japan’s 47 prefectures to sign an MOU with Thailand to promote industrial cooperation under the theme of “Otagai”, which means “to help each other”. On the Thai side, the Department of Industrial Promotion will match cluster industries in Ishikawa, including machinery, textile and fibre, food and agriculture, with suppliers and partners in Thailand. Both sides also agreed to participate in the 22nd Otagai Forum in Nanao City, Ishikawa, on February 22 to promote collaboration in the carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer and food processing industries and the bio-circular and green (BCG) economy. Anucha said over … [Read more...] about Thai, Japanese businesses forge links
MoIT propose adjusting fuel prices every Thursday
A petrol station in HCM City. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed that fuel prices be adjusted weekly on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to take measures to ensure the supply of all key commodities, especially fuel, and to stabilise the country's distribution channels for the economy after the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. Vietnam Electricity (EVN) was told to speed up the construction and implementation of major power projects, including renewable energy, to ensure enough power for the country's crucial industries. In addition, priority should be given to connecting isolated and remote communes to the national power and telecommunication networks. MoIT, the ministry in charge of Viet Nam's power sector, was told to quickly finish and submit the country's Power Planning VIII to the central government for review. The PM said the country's top priority in the short term is to focus on boosting … [Read more...] about MoIT propose adjusting fuel prices every Thursday
Violations at registration centres an organised corruption case: ministry spokesman
Lieut. Gen. To An Xo (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Violations at vehicle registration centres have signalled an organised corruption case , causing severe losses to the society, Lieut. Gen. To An Xo , spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security, told the Government’s regular press conference on February 2. The Departments of Public Security in localities have to date examined 32 centres and prosecuted 248 defendants on charges of "bribery brokerage", "giving bribes", "receiving bribes" and "forgery at work", released Xo. Investigations show that some inspection and registration leaders received monthly and quarterly bribes from several registration centres to ignore errors in dossiers of vehicle owners, or violations during periodical or unexpected inspections and assessments. Regarding Viet A and rescue flight cases – which have drawn great public concern, Lieut. Gen. Xo said that the ministry is striving to complete investigations into them within the first … [Read more...] about Violations at registration centres an organised corruption case: ministry spokesman
Vietnam develops green agriculture to increase exports to E.U.
Last year, Vietnam’s export revenue of agro-fishery-forestry products set a record high of 53.22 billion USD, up 9.3% year-on-year. However, Europe accounted for only 11.3% of its market share. This is a modest number, although the agricultural sector has optimized many advantages of the E.U. - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). One of the main reasons is said to be the union’s high requirements on farm imports, while Vietnam’s agricultural production has yet to meet green growth requirements. According to the World Bank’s report, agriculture is the second highest emitter, accounting for 19% of the nation’s total gas emissions in 2020. About 48% of the sector’s emissions and more than 75% of methane emissions are from rice production. Therefore, to boost farm exports to the E.U., the sector is advised to pay more attention to green growth indicators through making policies and roadmaps to reduce greenhouse gas and methane emissions in accordance with international … [Read more...] about Vietnam develops green agriculture to increase exports to E.U.
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City record highest disbursement of public investment capital in January
In January, an estimated 27 trillion VND from the State budget was disbursed, including 4.2 trillion VND managed by the State, or 3.1% of the annual plan and up 15.7% compared to the same period last year. The remainder was managed by local authorities, equivalent to 4.2% of the annual plan and marking a rise of 1.2% over the corresponding period of 2022. The total capital investment plan for 2022 from the state budget approved by the National Assembly was over 580 trillion VND, including more than 276 trillion VND from the State and the remaining from localities. By December 31 last year, the disbursement of the investment plan from the state budget was estimated at over 435.6 trillion VND, or 75.11% of the plan assigned by the Prime Minister, lower than the 77.3% recorded in the same period of 2021, yet the absolute figure of the disbursement in 2022 was more than 79 trillion VND higher than the same period of 2021, according to the Finance Ministry. Of the figure, over 424 … [Read more...] about Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City record highest disbursement of public investment capital in January
Organizer of Ho Chi Minh City’s 18+ show fined $4,690
The organizer of the 18+ SpaceSpeakers Live Concert - The Kosmik held in Ho Chi Minh City in November 2022 has been fined VND110 million (US$4,690) for showing three unapproved and two erotic performances. The fine decision was issued to Fansviet Co. Ltd., which is based on Nguyen Van Dau Street in Binh Thanh District, on December 14, 2022 and was signed by the city’s deputy chairman Duong Anh Duc. Fansviet organized the 18+ SpaceSpeakers Live Concert - The Kosmik at Quan Khu 7 Stadium on Hoang Van Thu Street in Phu Nhuan District on November 12, 2022. The show, which attracted an audience of 5,000 people, included three performances that did not conform to the script previously approved by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, namely ‘Live Set’ by producer TINLE, ‘Nhac Anh’ by rappers Andree and Wxrdie, and ‘A Veil of Mist’ by 11 performers. In two other performances, performers used costumes, words, sounds, images, movements, and means of expression contrary … [Read more...] about Organizer of Ho Chi Minh City’s 18+ show fined $4,690
ChatGPT and AI booms in Vietnam
ChatGPT and AI is set to boom in Vietnam In the early days of 2023, ChatGPT released by OpenAI is becoming popular all over the world. ChatGPT is a chatbot providing solutions to complex problems directly like composing essays, coding, and drafting business proposals. Within a few seconds after entering keywords, ChatGPT will provide text, images, audio, and other entertainment media in excellent quality. Just a few weeks after launching, this “super AI” has reached over 10 million users and has rapid growth. This success helps OpenAI negotiate an investment agreement worth $30 billion, more than double its valuation in 2021. After investing $1 billion in ChatGPT in 2019, Microsoft is planning to invest another $10 billion in exchange for 49 per cent of OpenAI's stake. This tech giant is considering integrating ChatGPT into Word, Powerpoint, Outlook, and even the Bing search engine to compete for market share with Google Search. Eric Boyd, CVP of AI Platform at Microsoft, … [Read more...] about ChatGPT and AI booms in Vietnam
Volatile real estate market puts pressure on business results
A construction site of Phat Dat Real Estate Development Joint Stock Company (PDR). PDR reported net revenue of VND14.6 billion (US$622,600) in the last 3 months of 2022. — VNA/VNS Photo A volatile real estate market caused revenues and profits of realty businesses to decrease sharply in the fourth quarter of 2022. Phat Dat Real Estate Development Joint Stock Company (PDR) reported net revenue of VND14.6 billion (US$622,600) in the last three months of 2022, a sharp decrease compared to the VND1.29 trillion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2021. The company suffered an after-tax loss of VND229.4 billion in Q4 of 2022, while in the same period in 2021, it reported a net profit of VND751.4 billion. This was considered Phat Dat's "failure" quarter as the company reported a loss for the first time since it announced business results. Dat Xanh Group Joint Stock Company (DXG) reported a loss of VND460 billion in the last quarter of 2022. During the period, the company's net revenue … [Read more...] about Volatile real estate market puts pressure on business results
Vietnamese tech workers high and dry amid layoffs in Silicon Valley
"This is the worst Tet (Lunar New Year) of my life," he said. The 27-year-old joined Google's new project development team in Silicon Valley last year after passing a series of rigorous interviews. This Tet , which began on January 22 this year, he took time off work to visit his family in Vietnam. On January 20, however, he received a shocking email dismissal letter. "Before I was fired, I didn't hear a word from the management team. I didn't have time to ask my coworkers what was going on because I was too busy with other things during Tet . I didn’t know what to tell my loved ones about this news," he lamented. Since his H-1B visa, a work visa with a cumulative maximum duration of six years, is set to expire in 60 days, he cut short his vacation and came back to the U.S. to complete the paperwork and get ready to start looking for a new job. Similar frustrations were felt by former Meta employee Hong Anh, who was in the U.S. with only a few weeks left on her visa … [Read more...] about Vietnamese tech workers high and dry amid layoffs in Silicon Valley