What have been some successful stories involving your members thus far in Vietnam? Tharabodee Serng-Adichaiwit, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam Thailand has become the ninth-biggest foreign direct investment of Vietnam with nearly 690 projects and $13 billion so far. While Thai investment properly kicked off in the early 1990s here, Bangkok Bank started investment in Vietnam way back in 1961 with its first branch in the former Saigon. We believe that with the growing potential of Vietnam itself and our continuous promotion to Thai investors, one day Thai investment could enter the top five. This will also to help the two countries to achieve the bilateral trade goal of $25 billion by 2025, and ultimately bring our two countries closer in sub-regional, regional, and multinational cooperation. Most big Thai conglomerates already have a presence in Vietnam, such as C.P., SCG, Bangkok Bank, IVL, Red Bull, and more. Thai investment is also … [Read more...] about A land of promise for Thai investors
Discuss various kinds of law
Dutch regulator rejects Apple’s objections to fines
Dutch competition watchdog ACM on Monday said it had rejected objections by Apple against fines of 50 million euros ($53 million) it gave the company over failure to comply with orders to limit the dominant position of Apple's App Store. The ACM said Apple has complied with most of its demands to open its App Store to alternative forms of payment for dating apps in the Netherlands, but had not met an undisclosed third element of the conditions related to the fines. The ACM in 2021 ruled that Apple violated Dutch competition laws in the dating app market and required Apple to allow developers of dating apps to use third-party payment processors. It fined Apple 5 million euros per week, eventually reaching 50 million euros during the period it failed to comply. Apple objected to these fines, saying that the regulator had incorrectly defined relevant markets and had overestimated the dominance of Apple's position in the dating app market. The regulator rejected all of Apple's … [Read more...] about Dutch regulator rejects Apple’s objections to fines
Hanoi Autumn Festival is a success: 80,000 people attend
Under the golden sunshine and fresh breeze, the Hanoi Autumn Festival was successfully held over the weekend, attracting large crowds of visitors. With the theme "Hanoi Autumn: Come to Love," the Hanoi Autumn Festival 2023 was successful as its diverse program of activities attracted about 80,000 visitors, according to the head of the Tourism Promotion Department. On October 1, the Hanoi Autumn Carnival, part of the Hanoi Autumn Festival, was held in a lively and colorful way in the pedestrian area of Hoan Kiem Lake. A booth selling banh cuon (steamed rice crepe) at the Hanoi Autumn Festival. Photo: Moc Mien/The Hanoi Times Held under the theme "Bright Colors of Autumn," the festival featured performances by art groups and the presence of women dressed in ao dai (traditional long robes), which added a charming touch to the event. Nguyen Thi Chanh, head of the Muong Gong Club in Phu Man commune, was happy that her ancient gong … [Read more...] about Hanoi Autumn Festival is a success: 80,000 people attend
Beauty queen denies knowing interview question in advance
Miss Universe Vietnam 2023 Bui Quynh Hoa. Photo from Hoa's Instagram When being asked to define the beauty of confidence during the 2023 Miss Universer Vietnam contest final on September 29, Hoa almost instantly provided her answer, saying that the concept could be defined as a woman being confident in herself and thus, being able to lead her own life. A "confident beauty," according to her, is also someone that can acknowledge others’ successes and get over her own failures in order to improve and become a better version of herself. It was discovered in the time since that this answer shares similarities with a top result appearing on Google when users search for the phrase "what is the beauty of confidence." More specifically, Hoa’s answer was partially identical to a 2012 article published on the official website of the Vietnam Women’s Union which wrote: "Confident people are willing to cooperate with others and acknowledge others’ successes." "They are not … [Read more...] about Beauty queen denies knowing interview question in advance
Defining SOE priorities vital
Do Thanh Trung, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Although SOEs account for a small proportion of the economy, they hold significant resources for the nation’s socioeconomic development, playing a core and vital role in building and safeguarding our homeland in a new context. The significant growth of SOEs contributes to socioeconomic development and serves as an effective tool for macroeconomic regulation, price stabilisation, social security, national security, and sovereignty, especially in border and island areas. SOEs are vital in building and developing essential economic infrastructure and leading industries to drive economic growth, especially in a context where the private sector has not yet fully grown and lacks the capability to perform better. Despite the positive results achieved, the activities of SOEs, especially investment activities, still have some existing limitations. Firstly, SOEs are slow to adapt to the new era, and their roles in … [Read more...] about Defining SOE priorities vital
Bayer leveraging digital models to enhance healthcare
In the healthcare sector, it has become clear that we need to act now in order to provide opportunities to live healthier for longer. Digital health and ICT solutions have come to define a new standard of how people of all ages manage their health and prevent diseases. Digital platforms are combined with hospital expertise across a range of services Dr. Michael Devoy, chief medical officer at global healthcare and nutrition enterprise Bayer AG, says that digitalisation is a means to enhancing how healthcare innovations are brought to patients. “It encompasses an improvement in our processes, rendering them faster and more efficient than before, as well as facilitating a more profound understanding of our patients and delivering better outcomes for them,” Devoy explained. “I am proud of how we already make use of digitalisation at Bayer, as we continuously strive to provide new treatment options for patients across generations.” In Vietnam in recent years, the … [Read more...] about Bayer leveraging digital models to enhance healthcare
SOE issues can be solved with support
How does the Commission for Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) extend support and critical advisements to the VIMC? Le Quang Trung, deputy general director of VIMC and vice chairman of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association The symbiotic association and support extended by CMSC to businesses, especially the VIMC, is immense and substantial. Every project we undertake, be it short-term or enduring, bears the unmistakable imprint of CMSC’s support, enabling us to overcome various challenges, notably during exceptional periods such as the recent pandemic. CMSC’s partnership has been crucial, aiding us in overcoming challenges related to capital mobilisation and ensuring the smooth implementation of projects. A notable instance is their contribution to the financial and operational restructuring project of SP-PSA, one of our crucial joint venture ports. With the indispensable support from CMSC, we were able to conduct successful negotiations with … [Read more...] about SOE issues can be solved with support
TTG steps up green energy and emission cut ambitions
Chairman Tran Dinh Quyen with Acuity Funding president Ranjit Thambyrajah at September 25’s signing event On September 25, Australian Acuity Funding committed to invest $6.4 billion for Tin Thanh Group (TTG) to implement green projects. Accordingly, circa $1 billion will be used to develop four biomass power plants and thousands of hectares of sorghum cultivation in central and south of Vietnam. Around $1.7 billion will be set aside to build a tyre retread, tyre recycling and truck service plant in South Carolina over one million trucks in the United States with the goal of reducing emissions, saving costs, and transitioning to green energy. TTG has been granted land and support from the state of South Carolina with huge incentives over $500 million. The remaining $3.7 billion in funding will go towards building a green hydrogen manufacturing facility in the same state. According to chairman and CEO of TTG Tran Dinh Quyen, the company’s strategy is to become a … [Read more...] about TTG steps up green energy and emission cut ambitions
Ba Huan runs on real-time data thanks to SAP and FPT
Ba Huan has pioneered the application of FPT's modern and comprehensive digital technology system to transform its purely agricultural model. Thanks to this digital transformation, Ba Huan is aiming to keep pace with development trends globally and become a leading food solution provider in Vietnam. The digital transformation platform, developed by FPT applications with an SAP core system, is designed to help Ba Huan's board of directors manage in real-time and create a seamless management process with strict oversight over every stage. FPT's successful deployment of its closed management feed-farm-food system for Ba Huan includes the in-depth RISE with SAP solution set for the agricultural industry, with three sets of packaging solutions on the SAP platform, and three made by FPT applications. They are being applied across the entire Ba Huan network, including at its headquarters, factories, and subsidiaries located in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Long An, and Hanoi. … [Read more...] about Ba Huan runs on real-time data thanks to SAP and FPT
Bain Capital leads Masan Group’s equity funding round
The transaction is an equity investment in the form of Convertible Dividend Preference Share (CDPS) to be issued at a price of VND85,000 ($3.49) per share, which can be converted into ordinary shares at a 1:1 conversion ratio. In addition to the normal dividends payable (if any) to the company’s shareholders, the CDPS has no preference dividend for the first five years, then followed by a 10 per cent preference dividend at par value of each outstanding CDPS per annum from the sixth anniversary onwards. On the tenth anniversary of the issuance, the outstanding CDPS will be mandatorily converted into ordinary shares of Masan Group. Masan is also in discussion with other investors to upsize the investments to up to $500 million, which is subject to prevailing market conditions and the company’s capital needs. Proceeds from the transaction will be used to strengthen the company’s financial position and de-lever its balance sheet. This marks Bain Capital’s first-ever investment in … [Read more...] about Bain Capital leads Masan Group’s equity funding round