Beyond petrostates the burning need to cut oil dependence in the energy transition

"The pandemic years are behind us and borders are open as normal," Willie Walsh, head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), told IATA's annual summit of some 300 carriers. IATA boosted its industry profit forecast to $9.8 billion from $4.7 billion cheered by strong travel demand and an easing in oil prices. Revenue is expected to grow by 9.7% to $803 billion, inching closer to 2019's pre-pandemic level of $838 billion. But slender profit margins of 1.2% mean repairing damaged balance sheets and offering sustainable returns on investments will continue to be a headache for some airlines, Walsh said. He said airlines on average make $2.25 per passenger, "which is less than the price of a cup of coffee, a subway ticket". The profit forecast, raised from one given in December, reflected a boost in Europe, despite a wave of strikes. Airlines have in recent months reported strong results as they prepare for a busy summer season, with travel demand … [Read more...] about Global airlines more than double 2023 profit outlook

Asian markets wobbled Tuesday after a two-day rally as profit-takers stepped in and traders weighed the chances of the Federal Reserve skipping an interest rate hike this month. The tepid performance came after a global advance stumbled in New York and Europe on Monday, with a below-par read on US services sector activity hinting at weakness in a key area of the economy. Analysts also warned that with the US borrowing ceiling now lifted, the Treasury is expected to unleash a flood of debt onto the market as it looks to restock its coffers, sucking cash from the financial system and putting pressure on liquidity. Sylvia Jablonski, at Defiance ETF, told Bloomberg Television that such a move that soaks up money "is something that will probably keep us in a range-bound mode until we see where it all lands, including the Fed’s final decision on rates". Traders have been broadly upbeat after a "Goldilocks" jobs report Friday that was neither too good nor too bad suggested the economy … [Read more...] about Asian markets struggle to kick on after rally, with eyes on Fed

Difficulties on way out for Vietnam’s Visa policy The short duration of stay, along with complicated factors related to the visa application procedure, have been causing headaches for foreign tourists. However, the Minister of Public Security has submitted to the National Assembly a draft amendment and supplement to a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam at the end of May. The new draft has proposed to increase the duration of e-visas from no more than 30 days to a maximum of three months, valid for one time or multiple times. At the same time, the scope of e-visa issuance would be expanded to more than 80 countries and temporary residence would rise from 15 to 45 days. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also proposed to consider supplementing the pilot regulation of issuing visas at border gates for international tourists. This proposal also requires a clearer regulation of the extension of visa-free entry for … [Read more...] about Difficulties on way out for Vietnam’s Visa policy

The most effective competitive advantage for Vietnam's economy is creating a favorable business investment environment free of legal barriers. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a decree to urge ministries and provinces/cities to boost administrative reforms and improve the investment environment to support local enterprises. Electronics production at Katolec Vietnam in Quang Minh Industrial Park, Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times "A conducive investment environment is a fundamental platform helping businesses operate smoothly and drive growth. This, in turn, promotes job creation and contributes to overall socio-economic development," said the decree. Vietnam has been trying to cut administrative regulations and compliance costs as part of its national digital transformation effort. As of May 2023, the country's total number of administrative procedures was 6,422, 376 fewer than the same period in 2020. This is expected to improve the … [Read more...] about PM urges greater efforts to accelerate administrative reforms

Thua Thien - Hue grants investment licences to nine projects in the first five months of 2023. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Since the beginning of the year, nine new projects have been granted investment licences by central Thua Thien - Hue province with a total investment of more than 2 trillion VND (85 million USD), according to a report by the provincial Department of Planning and Investment. Of the total investment, five are FDI projects with registered capital of 28.5 million USD. The growth rate of the province’s GRDP in the first quarter is estimated at 6.61%, higher than the national average of 3.32%, and is expected to increase from 7.5% to 8.5% in the second quarter, a representative of the department said at the recent regular meeting. Import and export turnover in May rose month-on-month but decreased over last year. Many industrial production sectors, such as textiles, garments, cement, wood chips, and power generation, have slowed down. Especially, … [Read more...] about Thua Thien – Hue grants investment licences to nine projects