Vietnam was the 8th largest trade partner and the largest ASEAN exporter of the US in 2022. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The current trends in economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and the US guarantee big growth in two-way trade and investment in next 10 years and warrant upgrading the partnership to a strategic level, said Ted Osius , President and CEO of the US - ASEAN Business Council ( USABC ). In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the 10th anniversary of the two countries’ comprehensive partnership (July 2013 - 2023), the former US Ambassador to Vietnam said trade and investment play a big role in this relationship. The US is Vietnam’s second largest trading partner and biggest export destination. In 2022, bilateral trade reached a record high of 138.9 billion USD. Vietnam was the 8th largest trade partner and the largest ASEAN exporter of the US. The US was the biggest export market of Vietnam last year. Vietnam’s annual export to … [Read more...] about Current trends guarantee big growth in Vietnam – US trade, investment: USABC leader
Educational management structure at national level
Localities in Mekong Delta augment efforts against IUU fishing
Border guards of Ca Mau province examine a fishing vessel. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – In efforts to persuade the European Commission to lift the “yellow card” warning, localities in the Mekong Delta have been taking strong and concerted measures to eradicate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and help the fisheries sector develop sustainably. In Soc Trang province, the Sub-department of Fisheries said it has coordinated with the provincial Department of Information and Communications to step up checking vessel monitoring systems (VMS) installed on fishing boats and asked VMS suppliers to make timely repair if there are any breakdowns. So far, all fishing vessels over 15m long in Soc Trang have been equipped with smoothly operating VMS. The province’s Border Guard Command has also ordered local border guard posts to intensify the dissemination of the 2017 Law on Fisheries and others to fishermen. As a result, 368 vessels operating in deep-sea … [Read more...] about Localities in Mekong Delta augment efforts against IUU fishing
Responsible businesses for Vietnam’s thriving next generation: forum
VCCI Vice Chairman Nguyen Quang Vinh speaks at the forum. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - A Child Rights and Business Forum was organised in Hanoi on May 30 by UNICEF Vietnam and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( VCCI ), emphasising the need for responsible business practices that respect child rights and prevent adverse human rights impacts. “Children are both the present and the future, and business practices cannot be sustainable if they do not account for their impact on children”, said Rana Flowers, Representative of UNICEF in Vietnam. “It requires children to be a key consideration in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) assessments – where impacts and risks are assessed objectively, and key practices identified that can minimise those risks and create a positive impact for children. It will improve competitiveness and sustainability, it will win the support of stakeholders, especially investors, who are socially conscious and looking at ESG risks … [Read more...] about Responsible businesses for Vietnam’s thriving next generation: forum
Second home real estate on the slow path to recovery
Hotel supply in Vietnam has tripled over the past decade, photo Le Toan According to a report by DKRA Vietnam, the supply of villas and town houses across the country continued to decrease from the end of the second quarter of 2022. Specifically, in April only two projects were opened for sale, providing 12 apartments to the market, down 69 per cent from the previous month and down 98 per cent compared to the same period last year. Particularly, the Central region recorded the fourth consecutive month that no new projects were introduced to the market. “It is expected that in the next few months, supply and demand may increase slightly. However, the market will not have obvious fluctuations with key transactions, except from expected transactions on Phu Quoc island,” according to DKRA’s report. The primary selling price did not alter greatly compared to the previous month. Instead, investors have aggressively launched discounts up to 30-40 per cent to stimulate market … [Read more...] about Second home real estate on the slow path to recovery
Children should be key consideration in ESG assessments: UNICEF Vietnam expert
Business practices are not sustainable if they do not take account of their impact on children, said a UNICEF Vietnam representative at a child rights and business forum held on Tuesday in Hanoi. The forum, co-held by UNICEF Vietnam and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), underlined the need for responsible business practices that respect child rights and prevent adverse human rights impacts. Speaking at the event, Rana Flowers, representative of UNICEF in Vietnam, said that children, whom she described as the present and the future, should be a key consideration in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) assessments. Businesses should assess impacts and risks objectively, and identify key practices that can minimize those risks and create a positive impact on children. In doing so, businesses will be able to enhance their competitiveness and sustainability and win the support of stakeholders, especially investors, who are socially conscious and looking at … [Read more...] about Children should be key consideration in ESG assessments: UNICEF Vietnam expert
Power overhaul plan picks up steam
Vietnam’s long-awaited Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), confirmed in mid-May, is a milestone in the country’s journey towards energy transition. The main objective of the legislation is to achieve energy security for Vietnam, progressing on its climate change commitments towards the middle of this century, and more specifically to export 5,000-10,000MW of power by 2030. Towards these goals, the PDP8 proposes a new energy mix with a substantial reliance on renewables and the development of smart transmission grids to support the renewables industry, including connecting the power grids with neighbouring countries. “We appreciate the government for the approval of the PDP8, as it provides a clear path to the completion of the grid interconnection, which is critical for us and Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) to complete agreement on the tariff and schedule of the power purchase agreement (PPA). We target completion of the PPA in Q4 of 2023 in order to break ground in 2024,” said Ian … [Read more...] about Power overhaul plan picks up steam
Investors wanted for social housing efforts
Speaking at a May 19 conference on plans to develop one million social houses for lower-income people and workers by 2030, Minister of Construction Le Thanh Nghi said that the ministry would coordinate with authorities to ensure it achieved its social housing targets. The ministry (MoC) has completed the draft amended Law on Housing, which has been approved by the government and submitted to the National Assembly for approval. It is hoped that the amended law will draw policies for social housing development and take effect from 2024, including planning and reserving land for social housing development, selection of project investors, and procedures for implementation. As of Q1 2023, Vietnam has completed just over 300 social housing projects in urban areas and worker housing projects in industrial zones (IZs), with nearly 156,000 units in total. About 400 projects are still planned to be built, with a total scale of 454,000 apartments. However, demand has not been fully met. … [Read more...] about Investors wanted for social housing efforts