D economic growth and innovation

At the press conference to release the report. (Photo: WB Vietnam) According to the latest economic update by World Bank (WB) for Vietnam, the country’s economy expanded 5.2 percent in Q4 of 2021, and respectively 5.1 percent and 7.7 percent in Q1 and Q2 of 2022. Inflation is projected to average 3.8 percent over the year. Carolyn Turk, WB Country Director for Vietnam, said that the bi-annual report “lays out a set of policy recommendations that could help mitigate the impact of these risks and make the economy more resilient going forward.” Titled “Taking Stock: Educate to Grow”, this edition underlines transforming the higher education system as the key to boosting the country’s productivity and achieving its development goals, in the context where the country re-emerges from the pandemic and into a challenging global environment. The report’s co-author Dorsati Madani said that while Vietnam’s economic recovery had been relatively stable, not all sectors witnessed the same … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s economic growth forecast at 7.5 percent in 2022: World Bank

According to the report, despite the challenging global economic environment, the outlook for the Vietnamese economy is still favorable according to the baseline forecast. Due to the impact of the low starting point, GDP is expected to grow by 7.5 percent in 2022 and 6.7 percent in 2023, when growth returns to pre-pandemic levels at 6.5-7 percent. Meanwhile, the average inflation is expected to fall around 3.8 percent in 2022, with the rising trend continuing in the second half of 2022. “The fuel price shock is expected to dissipate in 2023, but the second round of spillover effect continues to happen, and the forecasted GDP growth rate of 6.7 percent for the year will cause CPI to increase to 4 percent in 2023 before dropping to 3.3 percent in 2024,” the report said. According to WB experts, with travel restrictions lifted and international tourists gradually returning, the service sector has been recovering strongly. Export growth of manufactured and processed industrial products … [Read more...] about WB releases report ‘Educate to Grow’ on Vietnamese economic situation

In long term, transforming the higher education system will be key to boosting Vietnam’s productivity and helping achieve its goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045. Vietnam’s GDP growth is forecast to surge from an estimated 2.6% in 2021 to 7.5% in 2022, with backing from resilient manufacturing and a robust rebound in services. Overview of the event. Photo: Nguyen Tung Country Director for the World Bank in Vietnam Carolyn Turk revealed the figures at the launch of its bi-annual economic outlook for Vietnam titled “Taking Stock: Educate to Grow” today [August 8]. According to Turk, the global economy has been experiencing a series of very large and negative shocks, including ongoing Covid-19-related disruptions and supply shocks associated with the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In this context, Vietnam’s economy has shown “relative resilience and staged a strong rebound after last year’s Covid-19 induced slowdown,” Turk said. Vietnam’s economic … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s GDP growth set to expand by 7.5% in 2022: World Bank

Ly Son Island, a popular destination of Quang Ngai. Illustration. (Photo: tuoitre.vn) Quang Ngai (VNA) – Revenue from travel among Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City and the five Central Key Economic Zone city and provinces exceeded 63.07 trillion VND (over 2.69 billion USD), heard at a conference on August 8. The conference was held in the district of Tu Nghia, the south-central province of Quang Ngai, to review the two-year cooperation for tourism development among the two metropolises and the central localities of Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh. The review was expected to lay ground for the continued implementation of initiatives to boost intra-bloc partnership in tourism development post-pandemic. Reports showed that intra-bloc tourist arrivals totalled more than 17,68 million last year, given that the sector was badly hit by COVID-19. Vice Chairman of the Quang Ngai provincial People’s Committee Tran Hoang Tuan addresses the … [Read more...] about Hanoi, HCM City boost tourism linkages with Central Key Economic Zone

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son wrote an article entitled ’55 years of ASEAN: One Vision, One Identity, One Community’ on the 55th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (August 8, 1967-2022). Following is the full text of the article: “On August 8, 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established, initiating the process of extensive integration for the sake of peace, stability, and development in Southeast Asia and the region. From a group of Southeast Asian nations divided by wars, after 55 years of growth, ASEAN is today one of the most important, reputable, and successful regional organisations in the world, a ‘common home’ for 650 million people in 10 Southeast Asian countries with diverse culture, the fifth largest economic community in the world, and an important and reliable partner of many countries in the world, and an organisation that … [Read more...] about 55 years of ASEAN: One Vision, One Identity, One Community

It has also become the fifth largest economic community in the world, a reliable and important partner of countries, and played a central role in dialogues, important cooperation and connectivity in the region. In an article in celebration of ASEAN’s 55th birth anniversary (August 8, 1967 - 2022), Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son recalled that the birth of ASEAN on August 8, 1967 was the start of the process of an intensive connectivity for peace, stability, and development in Southeast Asia and the region. Building an ASEAN Community with common vision and identities The grouping gathered countries divided by war. Its inception reflected the common aspirations of many countries in the region for peace, stability, friendship, and win-win cooperation. According to FM Son, Vietnam’s admission to ASEAN in 1995 paved the way for the building of an ASEAN common house connecting 10 Southeast Asian countries. In 1997, ASEAN, for the first time, approved the ASEAN Vision … [Read more...] about 55 years of ASEAN – One vision, One identity, One community

“Thanks to the effective pandemic response and guided by the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) and its Implementation Plan, we have emerged safer, stronger, and more resilient as a community,” he said at the event, held by the ASEAN Secretariat at its headquarters in Jakarta to mark ASEAN’s 55th founding anniversary. ASEAN trade volumes have returned to pre-pandemic levels and the association’s economy is forecast to grow by 4.9% this year and 5.2% next year. “The entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) earlier this year demonstrates ASEAN’s pivotal role in contributing to regional peace and growth, bettering the life of our people, and providing opportunities for all.” According to the Secretary General, in spite of these achievements, ASEAN must remain vigilant against the ever present risks to its recovery, including disruptions to the supply of key commodities, rising costs in food and logistics, and the economic slowdown in … [Read more...] about 55th ASEAN Day Celebration solemnly held

The HCMC office worker first heard of the NFT-based game last summer, and, after a few weeks of research, decided to invest US$1,000 into three non-fungible tokens linked to in-game characters called "axies." Axies and "smooth love potion" (SLP), the game’s reward for winning battles using axies, are its two selling points since they can be exchanged into money. Axies can also be "bred" with SLP and another token called AXS to produce new NFTs. Price of Axies, SLP and AXS suddenly surged last year, tracking the boom in the popularity of the game as players from developing countries found it a prominent source of income amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Kha then quit his job and invested all his savings in the game, but prices have fallen since the end of 2021 without any signs of recovery. In March its Ronin network was hacked, and some $625 million worth of Ethereum and USDC cryptocurrencies was stolen. An AXS token now is worth $18, a 10th of its peak price last year. Kha … [Read more...] about As profits disappear from NFT game Axie Infinity, so too do players

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son addresses the ceremony (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son made a speech at the ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony in Hanoi on August 8 on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the regional grouping. Following is the full text of his speech. Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, It is my great pleasure to welcome all of you to the ASEAN Flag-Hoisting Ceremony today to mark the 55th founding anniversary of ASEAN. I am also happy to see all of you, healthy and safe after two years of COVID-19 outbreak. The ceremony this morning brings me back to the solemn moment as the ASEAN Flag was hoisted high amidst the stirring ASEAN Anthem at the very successful 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh last week. Standing before the ASEAN Flag, we are truly proud of what we all have achieved in pursuing the aspirations of nearly 700 million Southeast Asian people for an ASEAN Community of peace, solidarity, resilience and … [Read more...] about FM Bui Thanh Son’s remarks at ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony

After Vietnam's tax authorities enhanced the collection of taxes from traders on digital platforms, including social networks and e-commerce sites, many traders are seeking ways to avoid paying them or pass the buck to buyers. Shopping on websites, e-commerce platforms, and social networks is a national trend. E-commerce has boomed in Vietnam with revenue of some US$13.7 billion in 2021. The figure is forecast to reach $39 billion by 2025. However, the tax revenue from this sector has not risen commensurately its growth. Multiple tricks to avoid taxes Minh Thu, living in Thu Duc City, a district-level city in Ho Chi Minh City, said after ordering a pair of shoes from an online trader on Facebook, she was surprised as the trader announced that from August 1, customers must make payments in advance and the trader will not offer the cash-on-delivery (COD) service as earlier. Money transfer descriptions must not include the words 'buy' or 'sell,' but Facebook or Zalo … [Read more...] about In Vietnam, online vendors seek ways to avoid taxes