Speakers at last week’s conference noted that dozens upon dozens of multinationals are interested in the healthcare PPP model in Vietnam. Photo: Chi Cuong At last week’s conference on the issue, hosted by VIR , Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong said that Vietnam’s healthcare sector is facing a number of big issues, including rising infectious and non-communicable disease figures, hospital overload, and an ageing population. The pandemic has also revealed some weaknesses in the sector. “To further improve healthcare service quality and meet demand, mobilising financial resources for new development of infrastructure and medical equipment is a key requirement,” he noted. For the past five years, the government has looked to strengthen the implementation of a model for public-private partnerships (PPPs) for the public sector, including in healthcare services. However, according to VIR’s editor-in-chief Le Trong Minh, the picture of such investment in … [Read more...] about More favourable rule system urged for healthcare PPPs
Bankruptcy delaware local rules
Indonesia resumes palm oil exports
Indonesia is the world's biggest palm oil producer. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesia has resumed its palm oil exports from May 23 after a three-week ban. However, shipments are not likely to restart until details emerge on how much of the edible oil must be held back for domestic use, industry players said. Indonesia, the world's biggest palm oil producer, halted exports of crude palm oil and some derivative products on April 28, in an attempt to bring down soaring local prices of cooking oil. The ban rattled global edible oil markets at a time of supply shortages due to the war in Ukraine. Indonesia n President Joko Widodo expressed confidence that bulk cooking oil was generally heading towards the target price of 14,000 rupiah (0.95 USD) per litre. Indonesia's Trade Ministry has issued rules stating that companies must obtain an export permit that would be granted only to those able to meet a so-called Domestic Market Obligation (DMO). Indonesia … [Read more...] about Indonesia resumes palm oil exports
Japfa policy change irks chicken farmers
Japfa policy change irks chicken farmers-illustration photo, source: freepik At the end of April, some affiliated farms in Buon Ma Thuot city in Dak Lak province were quietly closed, and a lot of equipment for livestock has now become useless. Some of them have even had to sell their homes or suffer billions of VND in losses with chicken breeding. Hoang Thi Cuc, a farmer in Hoa Thang ward, poured in over $108,000 into lodging and began to work with Japfa in 2019 to feed 15,000 chickens, but he has now abandoned the farm. “At the time, Japfa said that we could recoup capital within the next three years. So we decided to borrow money and rent land to build the farm. However, after the first year and gaining some profit, we have suffered losses since then. To cut the losses, we stopped receiving chickens from the company for the last six months and have decided to abandon the farm,” said Cuc. Cuc said the farm was losing $8,700 and land rent for every farrow of chicken. While … [Read more...] about Japfa policy change irks chicken farmers
Indonesia policy uncertainty hampers resumption of palm oil exports
JAKARTA -- Indonesia allowed a resumption of palm oil exports from Monday after a three-week ban, but shipments were not expected to get underway until details emerge on new rules aimed at securing domestic supplies of the edible oil. The Southeast Asian country, the world's biggest palm oil producer, halted exports of palm oil from April 28 in an attempt to bring down soaring local prices of cooking oil, rattling global edible oil markets already struggling with sunflower oil supply shortages due to the war in Ukraine. President Joko Widodo announced the lifting of the ban on exports of crude palm oil and some derivative products last week, expressing confidence that bulk cooking oil prices were heading towards a target level of 14,000 rupiah ($0.9546) per litre, even if they were currently higher in some areas. Palm oil, used in everything from margarine to shampoo, comprises a third of the world's vegetable oil market, with Indonesia accounting for about 60% of supply. To … [Read more...] about Indonesia policy uncertainty hampers resumption of palm oil exports
Firms fined for Covid-19 spread in Bac Lieu
Two firms in the southern province of Bac Lieu have been fined for violating Covid-19 prevention rules which have led to a large virus outbreak in the area. The Gia Rai Town People's Committee on November 10 announced a fine of VND 20 million each to Tan Khoi Seafood Company and Chau Ba Thao Seafood Company for violating Covid-19 prevention rules which have caused the largest virus outbreak in the area so far. According to local authorities, the two companies had failed to conform to the government's regulations on Covid-19 prevention and control. They didn't carry out weekly Covid-19 testing for workers at their workplaces, which had caused a large-scale virus spread in the community. A report from the Gia Rai Town People's Committee said that a female worker from Tan Khoi Seafood Company was accidentally found to be infected with Covid-19 on October 19 when being asked to take a quick test by a local healthcare centre where she took a relative to for a health check-up. Local … [Read more...] about Firms fined for Covid-19 spread in Bac Lieu
United States widens ASEAN engagement
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) met with US President Joe Biden, VNA All eyes were focused on last week’s US-ASEAN Special Summit in Washington D.C., where both sides demonstrated their closer ties across many sectors including global health security, climate change, sustainable development, maritime cooperation, human capital development, and education, as well as connectivity and economic engagement, and especially digital development. The US and ASEAN have reaffirmed their commitment to support digital development in the bloc so as to realise its vision “of a peaceful, secure, open, interoperable, reliable and resilient ICT environment”. The US vows to “support development of ASEAN’s digital infrastructure to drive robust, inclusive economic growth and prosperity; and promote development of a secure, resilient, and innovative 5G ecosystem as well as exchange views and experiences on cyber threats and on the regulatory framework and technical standards that … [Read more...] about United States widens ASEAN engagement
Young Vietnamese woman endeavors to preserve Dao culture
Thinking back to 2018, Ly May Hanh said that every time a passenger coach passed by, around 20-30 people of the Dao, an ethnic group in Vietnam, rushed forward, with some offering brocade and others selling medicinal plants to the visitors. Some days, they could not sell anything. When visitors are nearing Ta Phin bamboo forest, a tourist hotspot in Ta Phin Hamlet, Sa Pa Town in northern Lao Cai Province, a cool breeze comes up as a welcome relief to them especially after they have had to cross a bumpy trail with rocky mountains on one side and a deep abyss on the other. The sounds of forest birds twittering and leaves rustling mingle with admiring voices of the young visitors. Looking at Hanh's smiling face when she tells her stories about the bamboo forest and the culture of the Dao people in Ta Phin, little does one know that this 22-year-old woman used to be a tour guide and interpreter for owners of fruit shops in Lao Cai City, the provincial capital. By … [Read more...] about Young Vietnamese woman endeavors to preserve Dao culture
Navigating legal challenges in healthcare partnerships
Public-private partnership (PPP) is a mechanism and common practice to mobilise and encourage investment in areas promoted by governments. The main characteristic of such projects is that both private investors and public authorities share the risks and responsibilities in construction and operation. The public sector typically contributes only a small portion to these projects, with the private sector still in charge of construction and operation. The risks of these projects typically involve the phases of selection, approval, design, construction, financing, operation, and management phases. Over the years, Vietnam issued several decrees before the new Law on Public-Private Partnership Investment was promulgated in 2020 and took effect from January 2021. The law and accompanying decree guiding the implementation of the law have overcome and limited barriers to investment in the form of PPP, creating favourable conditions for such investment. PPP investment in health is one of … [Read more...] about Navigating legal challenges in healthcare partnerships
NA standing committee reviews budget allocation for national target programmes
National Assembly Deputy Chairman Nguyễn Đức Hải speaking at the session. — VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn HÀ NỘI — The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Friday reviewed the central budget allocation for the 2021-25 period, and the year 2022 in particular, for the implementation of national target programmes (NTPs). These three programmes focus on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, new rural development, and sustainable poverty reduction. In the meeting, the NA Committee for Finance and Budget approved the Government’s proposal to allocate VNĐ100 trillion (US$4.3 billion) to the medium-term public investment capital for the 2021-25 period. A majority of the committee members also agreed that the proposal, which excluded the non-business capital allocation, went in line with the Law on Public Investment and Law on State Budget. This budget approval will be the basis for ministries, departments, and localities to determine annual public … [Read more...] about NA standing committee reviews budget allocation for national target programmes
‘Games held in spirit of fair play’: organisers
Reporters take part in the third international press conference on May 21. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Đức Thanh Hà HÀ NỘI — The SEA Games 31 is considered an event of solidarity in the spirit of fair play, according to the Organising Committee at the third international press conference on May 21 in Hà Nội. Many local and international reporters and journalists attended the conference chaired by deputy head of the Information and Communications Sub-Committee Lê Thị Hoàng Yến, who summarised and reviewed the regional sports meet's activities. "Almost competitions have been well organised in the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship. Olympic sports are run following clear rules and regulations while sensitive sports, including martial art performance events, are assessed fairly and objectively," said Yến, who is the vice chairwoman of the Việt Nam Sports Administration. "The chief-de-missions of all teams are satisfied with organising activities of the hosts. To date, we have not … [Read more...] about ‘Games held in spirit of fair play’: organisers