The Economic Committee of the National Assembly has proposed that Vietnam restart a suspended nuclear power project in south-central Ninh Thuan Province to ensure the country’s ability to develop nuclear power in the future and to help achieve its environmental protection goal by 2050. The Economic Committee has submitted a report on the implementation of Resolution 31 of the National Assembly, which was issued to suspend the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project in the namesake province in 2016. In the report, the committee stated that Vietnam would potentially face challenges brought about by electricity shortage in the 2021-25 period. The competitive electricity market has not been developed in a synchronous manner, while the power pricing mechanism has been improved slowly. The country’s power source has yet to guarantee sustainable development and still has a negative impact on the environment. Vietnam previously pledged to reach its net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050 … [Read more...] about Vietnamese legislature’s economic committee proposes restarting nuclear power project
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Qatar Airways, Airbus want billion dollar paintwork battle settled out of court
Qatar Airways, Airbus want billion dollar paintwork battle settled out of court, illustration photo source: freepik.com The airline and leading plane maker have been fighting in the British courts for months over peeling paint on 23 A350 jets which have been grounded. A London high court judge agreed Thursday to the airline's demand for a speeded up trial schedule but refused to order Airbus to stop trying to resell jets intended for Qatar Airways to other airlines whilst they wait for a final ruling. Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker, in a rare public comment on the case, told reporters in Doha: "Every partnership has disputes and I just hope that this dispute could be resolved outside the courts of law." The airline, which is demanding about $1 billion in damages, said in a statement that it was "pleased" that the latest judgement called for an "expedited trial" and more details on the peeling paintwork that it has said is a threat to the A350's lightning … [Read more...] about Qatar Airways, Airbus want billion dollar paintwork battle settled out of court
Vietnam’s long-term credit rating upgraded to “BB+”: S&P
S&P forecast Vietnam’s GDP will grow 6.9% in 2022 before settling closer to its long-term trend of growing 6.5%-7% from 2023 onward. S&P Global Ratings on May 26 raised its long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Vietnam to 'BB+' from 'BB'. S&P expects Vietnam's economy to continue its upward trend. Source: S&P The rating agency also affirmed the country’s short-term rating at ‘B’ with a stable outlook. “The stable outlook reflects our expectations that over the next 12-24 months, Vietnam's economy will continue to recover from the challenges posed by the pandemic over the past two years. This will support the external position and rein in fiscal deficits,” it noted. S&P added it could raise the ratings if Vietnam's institutional settings improve considerably, in ways that augment policy predictability and transparency. Such favorable changes in the policy environment could bolster investor confidence in the … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s long-term credit rating upgraded to “BB+”: S&P
Vietnam seeks Australian investment opportunities in Sydney
The administration of Binh Duong province, in collaboration with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Sydney and Becamex IDC Corporation, organized an investment promotion seminar in Sydney on May 27. Binh Duong promotes investment opportunities in Australia. (Photo: baobinhduong.vn) In his remarks, Consul General Nguyen Dang Thang introduced to Australian officials and businesses the potential for expanding trade and investment in Vietnam, affirming that the two countries have treasured a close relationship in various fields, including politics, diplomacy, trade and investment. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Australia reached a record high of more than US$12.4 billion in 2021, a year-on-year rise of 49.45%. The first four months of this year alone also saw bilateral trade grow impressively, reaching US$4.8 billion, up 32.37% compared to the same period of last year. With regard to investment, as … [Read more...] about Vietnam seeks Australian investment opportunities in Sydney
Vietjet, Boeing reach agreement on 200-aircraft contract
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and then US President Donald Trump witness the signing to increase the order to 200 aircraft in 2019. (Photo courtesy of Vietjet Air) Hanoi (VNA) – Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue has congratulated Vietjet Air and Boeing on their agreement on the restructuring and continuation of the contract to purchase 200 Boeing 737 aircraft, at the meeting with Boeing’s Senior Vice President Michael Arthur. The agreement was reached during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to the US and United Nations for the ASEAN-US Special Summit held in Washington D.C. Vietjet’s contract with Boeing is one of the significant deals contributing to the countries’ bilateral trade balance and has been forged through three US Presidencies with important strides following diplomatic and economic development milestones between the two countries in the recent years. In 2016, Vietjet Air ordered 100 Boeing aircraft in the … [Read more...] about Vietjet, Boeing reach agreement on 200-aircraft contract
Vietnamese textile-garment industry strong but not stable
Garment production for export at Kim Dung Textile and Garment Company in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: SGGP) Dependence on imported raw materials Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, said that the total number of enterprises participating in the textile and garment sector in Vietnam, including foreign and domestic enterprises, is more than 7,000. Of which, only 18 percent of them produce fabric materials, 12 percent produce yarn, 2 percent produce other materials, and the rest are garment enterprises. This fact has put the textile industry in front of the challenge of unstable growth due to its dependence on imported raw materials. Currently, each year, Vietnam imports 100 percent of cotton with an estimated value of US$3.2 billion and 60 percent of fabric with an estimated value of $14 billion. The US is the largest cotton and fabric import market of Vietnam, followed by China, Japan, South Korea, and … [Read more...] about Vietnamese textile-garment industry strong but not stable
Millions of travelers book tours for summer vacation
People and tourists choose to buy tours at the Hong Ngoc Ha travel booth during Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2022 Specifically, national carriers Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and the Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) have prepared to supply more than 7.1 million seats during the peak summer season from June 1 to August 15, an increase of 10 percent compared to the same period before the Covid-19 epidemic. On average, during the peak summer season, these airlines will operate 430 domestic flights, especially those to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. With international routes, Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines provide over 852,000 seats, equivalent to more than 3,600 flights, only 40 percent of the number in 2019 because international travel demand has not recovered as before. Vietravel Airlines also said that the demand for travel and tourism will increase, so it has planned to increase the number of aircraft and frequency of flights to the Central … [Read more...] about Millions of travelers book tours for summer vacation
Vietnam to build second facility of Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Thua Thien-Hue
The Vietnam Bear Rescue Center will be located at Bach Ma National Park in the Central province of Thua Thien-Hue. The new facility will be constructed on an area of 12.7 hectares including 12 houses and 12 semi-wild houses with a total non-refund donation of US$10.5 million from Animals Asia. According to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center, on May 27, the Forest Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development , the Bach Ma National Park coordinated with the Animals Asia to organize a ceremony to publicize the project, which will be built in the administrative-service area of the Bach Ma National Park to serve over 300 species of bear in a semi-natural environment. The project is expected to start construction in 2022 and be completed in four years later. Doctor. Jill Robinson MBE, the founder and General Director of Animals Asia Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Director of the Forest Protection Department Nguyen Quoc Hieu informed that … [Read more...] about Vietnam to build second facility of Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Thua Thien-Hue
Orphans, disabled kids receive scholarships on occasion of Int’l Children’s Day
At the scholarship-awarding ceremony (Photo: SGGP) At the program, 300 children with disabilities and orphans who are children of trade union members, workers, officials, and laborers in Ho Chi Minh City were able to participate in games as well as enjoy cultural performances, and fashionable performances with recycled materials. On this occasion, the City Trade Union Social Work Center also awarded 30 scholarships to disadvantaged children who overcame difficulties to study well. Units and benefactors gave away 300 toys, 220 portions, beverages, 200 boxes of confectionery, and 750 T-shirts totally worth more than VND150 million (US$6,437). According to Mr. Nguyen Mai Huy, Deputy Director of the Center for Social Work of Ho Chi Minh City Trade Union, the program has created a healthy playground for children with disabilities and orphans. Moreover, at the same time, it helped connect units, businesses, and donors for a meaningful activity full of love for workers’ kids in this … [Read more...] about Orphans, disabled kids receive scholarships on occasion of Int’l Children’s Day
Hanoi parents brace for tuition hikes
After a year of not raising tuition fees due to the impacts of Covid-19, the Hanoi people's council passed a resolution on May 20 to hike public preschool and high school tuition fees for the 2022-23 academic year. The fees would double at first and subsequently increase by 20-40 percent every year. Sen, 43, lives in Hanoi’s Ha Dong District with her husband and two daughters, the other in 10th grade. She cleans houses for hourly wages while her husband is a laborer. They pay the highest tuition rate since their household registration is in Region 1, which comprises the capital’s inner districts. In addition, she may be required to pay VND300,000 ($12.93) per child per month for the following academic year, which is 1.4-2 times the current fee. Tuition fees for middle and high schools in Region 1 will gradually rise over the next three years to VND410,000, VND530,000, and VND650,000, respectively. Meanwhile, Sen and her husband's incomes fluctuate every month: Sometimes … [Read more...] about Hanoi parents brace for tuition hikes