Center for sustainable development

He made the call while addressing the United Nations General Assembly’s informal meeting on Myanmar held on February 26 under the chair of its President Volkan Bozkir. Quy underlined that the current developments in Myanmar are harmful to the stability, development and legitimate interests of its people. He urged stakeholders to exert restraint, avoid escalating tensions and seek dialogues towards satisfying solutions which are in line with the Constitution and the law, as well as people’s aspiration and will. The Vietnamese Ambassador also noted that the international community needs to support and create the best conditions for the democratic transition process in Myanmar, respect its independence and national sovereignty, and not interfere in countries’ interior affairs. Safety, humanitarian access and essential services for Myanmar people, especially the vulnerable, are also needed to be ensured, he added. The diplomat emphasized that Vietnam hopes Myanmar will soon become stable, for the sake of the country's development, as well as for peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the building of the ASEAN Community. Vietnam supports the efforts and mediatory role of Special Envoy Burgener, he added, asking her to coordinate with ASEAN in stabilizing the situation in Myanmar. Regarding ASEAN’s role, Quy affirmed that ASEAN supports Myanmar’s efforts to bring peace, stability and the rule of law; foster harmony and reconciliation and ensure sustainable development. He informed delegates on the ongoing endeavors of ASEAN in the issue, including the release of a statement by the Chair of ASEAN. People must always be placed at the center of all dialogues and trust-building measures in Myanmar, Quy stated. The meeting was attended by UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener and representatives of 50 members of the UN and eight regional organizations. For her part, Burgener urged the international community to join hands in …

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VIETNAM BUSINESS NEWS Rice exports enjoy opportunities for breakthrough in 2021 High hopes are pinned on Vietnam’s rice exports in 2021 when major export markets such as the Philippines and Africa continue to sign contracts to buy rice from Vietnam, while many others have great demand for fragrant rice and sticky rice – which are advantageous staples of Vietnamese enterprises. The bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements between Vietnam and other countries such as the EU-Vietnam and the UK-Vietnam FTAs with preferential tariffs would create favourable conditions for Vietnamese rice to compete with that from rival countries, the Vietnam Food Association said. According to the Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in the UK Nguyen Canh Cuong, rice shipments to the country this year will sharply rise against 2020. He added more UK firms will purchase Vietnamese rice under the UK-Vietnam FTA, creating a chance for Vietnamese rice to expand its market share in the UK this year. In 2019, rice exports from Vietnam to the UK had a leap forward with a turnover growth of 376 percent. That meant the UK has great potential as a rice export market for Vietnam. In order to tap into the advantages under FTAs, rice export giants such as Intimex JSC, Loc Troi Group, VRICE Co, Trung An High Technology Agriculture JSC are planning to seek new customers in markets where Vietnam had signed FTAs, especially in the UK. The Ministry of Industry and Trade said it would provide rice export firms with information about the market demand situation in a timely manner while implementing trade promotion activities to help Vietnamese rice exporters better access customers. Detailed information about the regulations and barriers under these FTAs’ commitments will be also offered by the ministry so that businesses can improve their understanding and draw up suitable business plans. As part of its efforts to facilitate Vietnam's rice exports, the VAF has built up online sales …

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The Hanoitimes - Vietnam is believed to have the most competitive commercial tax regimes and local supply chains to lure foreign investors. Vietnam has become a major alternative manufacturing destination for businesses that want to diversity supply chain amid uncertainties caused by the global health crisis. Vietnam is poised to be one of the biggest manufacturing hubs. Photo: AFP Savills Vietnam has pointed two critical factors for the growing trend in which local developers are planning more industrial parks to capture this increasing foreign investment and further ramp up appeal. The first factor is competitive commercial tax regimes. There are corporate income tax (CIT) incentives, fixed asset import duty exemptions, and exempted land rental fees. Notable incentives include zero profit tax for the first two years (usually 20%), followed by a 50% reduction for the next four years. The government provides even more preferential CIT incentives for strategically prioritized industries, such as those in Industry 4.0 and hi-tech manufacturing. Projects in special economic zones (SEZ) or in socio-economically challenged regions; and large scale projects that meet minimum requirements for investment capital, revenue, and headcount. Projects qualifying for any of the above will have a 10% CIT rate for 15 years, four years CIT exemption; and a -50% tax reduction for the next nine years. Vietnam is also one of the most cost-efficient markets for industrial building costs, according to Turner & Townsend’s 2019 Construction Costs Survey. In Ho Chi Minh City, the average construction cost of basic factory and warehousing is US$352/m2 while factory units and larger distribution centers cost US$412/m2; and hi-tech factories US$618/m2. Ms. Hoang Nguyet Minh, Associate Director of Investment of Savills Hanoi, said Vietnam is clearly benefiting. Developing fresh industrial real estate is a smart long term play, especially considering …

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