Remittances contributed by migrants account for 5% of Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP). International migration and internal migration in Vietnam have long played a very important role in the country’s socioeconomic development and they will continue to do so. Park Mihyung, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Vietnam, shared that view with The Hanoi Times . Park Mihyung, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Vietnam. Photos: IOM Vietnam “If you look at the GDP, up to 5% of the country’s GDP comes from remittances contributed by international migration and that’s only recorded remittances, so it should be a lot more,” she said. For that reason, when the migration governance is done right and well, there’s a lot of positive development and contributions to Vietnam when they return and with their remittances, Park added. In addition, there’s also a recognition that … [Read more...] about Migration significant to Vietnam’s socio-economic development: IOM
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Prime Minister examines Mai Son – National Highway 45 project
The first phase of the 652.86km North-South Expressway has 11 component projects, three of which are invested in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) and the rest, including the Mai Son-National Highway 45 project, are funded with public investment. The Mai Son - National Highway 45 section has a total length of 63.37km and an investment of 12.11 trillion VND (561.03 million USD). Its construction started in September 2020, and is scheduled to complete on April 30, 2023. So far, 83.7% of all workload has been finished. PM Pham Minh Chinh took the occasion to pay New Year visits to workers in some construction sites along the route and relocated residents at the resettlement area in Dong Minh commune, Dong Son district of Thanh Hoa. He later moved on to examine the Dien Chau - Bai Vot project, another component of the North-South Expressway, which connects Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. The PM also had a working session with relevant ministries, sectors and localities on … [Read more...] about Prime Minister examines Mai Son – National Highway 45 project
Thailand, E.U. to resume FTA talks in March
Commerce Minister of Thailand Jurin Laksanawisit made the statement following a meeting in Brussels with the E.U. Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. Dombrovskis wrote on Twitter that both sides want a comprehensive, high-quality agreement, with ambitious and sustainable provisions. The E.U. is now Thailand's fifth largest trade partner, behind ASEAN, China, the U.S. and Japan. Two-way trade hit 41 billion USD last year, of which, Thailand’s exports to the E.U. totaled 22.8 billion USD, mostly computers, equipment and spare parts; gemstones and jewelries, air conditioners and components, rubber products and electronic circuit boards. Thailand currently has 14 FTAs with 18 countries, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that came into effect early last year. On December 15, 2022, the two sides signed the Thailand-E.U. Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) to promote bilateral cooperation. Source: VNA … [Read more...] about Thailand, E.U. to resume FTA talks in March
Hanoi coffee shop among world’s quirkiest: US weekly magazine
"It's not just the coffee," said the American magazine, "but the hundreds of handwritten notes that adorn most every surface." Located at 64 Luong Van Can Street right next to Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake in the heart of Hanoi, the entire coffee shop is covered with colorful post-it notes written by its customers. The notes are mainly inspirational quotes or comments about the lessons of life left by visitors from around the world. The three-story café attracts passers-by with its red signboard, views of Hoan Kiem Lake and nearby pedestrian zone. "Make sure to try a cup of egg coffee, which is more delicious than it sounds," Newsweek recommended. In addition to signature egg coffee, the café serves fresh juice, smoothies, snacks and sweet cakes with prices ranging from VND30,000-50,000 ($1.28-$2.13). The list also included Coffee 101 in Colombia, Majestic Café in Portugal, Café Sofa in the Czech Republic, Blacklist Coffee Roasters in Australia and The Roastery by Nozy Coffee in … [Read more...] about Hanoi coffee shop among world’s quirkiest: US weekly magazine
Vietnam’s famous comedian apologizes to TV audiences
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Van Hoa newspaper published his apology on Friday, which said it was a personal story and not meant to offend anyone. The comedian and director of the Vietnam National Drama Theater had posted "Mother’s slap" three days earlier to seemingly take a potshot at people who criticized his TV show. In the story, a woman cooks "banh chung" (glutinous square rice cake) every year for Tet, but her son, who does not know how to make it himself, always criticizes it. It read: "This year is no exception. At 8pm on Lunar New Year’s Eve, I criticized the cake after the first bite. My mouth has two sides, one to chew on ‘banh chung’ and the other to criticize the cake. "Not really because the cake is not delicious, not necessarily because it is bad, but because it is not what I imagined, it is not what I wanted. I criticize it because I have the right to criticize, because it is my mother’s responsibility to cook cakes as I want them." In the … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s famous comedian apologizes to TV audiences
PM examines Mai Son – National Highway 45 project
PM Pham Minh Chinh inspects construction of the Mai Son-National Highway 45 project (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 28 inspected the Mai Son (Ninh Binh province)-National Highway 45 project, a section of the North-South Expressway. The first phase of the 652.86km North-South Expressway has 11 component projects, three of which are invested in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) and the rest, including the Mai Son-National Highway 45 project, are funded with public investment. The Mai Son-National Highway 45 section has a total length of 63.37km and an investment of 12.11 trillion VND (561.03 million USD). Its construction started in September 2020, and is scheduled to complete on April 30, 2023. So far, 83.7% of all workload has been finished. PM Chinh took the occasion to pay New Year visits to workers in some construction sites along the route and relocated residents at the resettlement area in Dong Minh commune, … [Read more...] about PM examines Mai Son – National Highway 45 project
Vietnam’s youth union to plant 20mn trees in 2023
The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the largest organization of young people in Vietnam, will plant 20 million trees this year, said first secretary of the Central Committee of the union Bui Quang Huy. The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union on Saturday cooperated with the Party Committee and the People’s Committee of Hoa Binh Province in northern Vietnam to launch the Tet tree planting movement. At the launching ceremony, Huy informed that young people nationwide would plant 1.9 million trees on the day. In Hoa Binh alone, young people planted 30,000 trees. This is the first step to realize the target of planting 100 million trees in 2022 – 27, heading toward the prime minister’s plan to cultivate 100 million trees. Huy also asked each young person to plant, take care of, and protect at least a tree in their workplaces, schools, and residences. He required the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union at all levels to come up with solutions to apply … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s youth union to plant 20mn trees in 2023
E.U. to focus on deepening economic ties with ASEAN: diplomat
The diplomat said that the signing of the E.U.-ASEAN comprehensive air transport agreement, the first ever region-to-region aviation agreement in 2022, will provide quite a boost to air connectivity between the 37 countries involved. The E.U. wants to invest more in the region, he said, adding that leaders of the union have announced 10 billion EUR (10.88 billion USD) in investment in Southeast Asia in the next couple of years through the “Global Gateway” sustainable investments in the region at a hope to address some of ASEAN's big connectivity needs and build on some of the successes in that respect of our previous cooperation. He noted that the E.U. has already signed free trade agreements (FTA) with Singapore and Vietnam. The union will open negotiations for FTAs with other ASEAN countries, while resuming FTA negotiations with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Driesmans said that the E.U.’s second priority is to develop a joint green and sustainable agenda … [Read more...] about E.U. to focus on deepening economic ties with ASEAN: diplomat
Cambodia’s ruling party opens extraordinary national congress
Phnom Penh (VNA) - The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) opened its extraordinary national congress at its headquarters in Phnom Penh on January 28. According to CPP spokesperson Sok Eysan, on the first day, following an opening speech of CPP Honorary President Samdech Heng Samrin , participants will review the party's work in the 2018-2023 period and sketch out directions and tasks for 2023. The congress's agenda also includes CPP policies in national construction and defence in the 2023-2028 period and tasks for the general election slated for July 23. CPP President and Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Techo Hun Sen will address the event. Earlier, in a speech at a graduation ceremony of Western University in Phnom Penh, CPP President Hun Sen said the extraordinary congress is held to build a policy framework for the 2023-2028 period, with the participation of district officials who will give their opinions on policy directions of the party in the next five … [Read more...] about Cambodia’s ruling party opens extraordinary national congress