Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The vietnam-briefing.com published by Dezan Shira & Associates - a consultancy firm on foreign investment in Asia - on May 6 run an article, emphasising that since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect in August 2020, Belgium has played a significant role in promoting trade and foreign investments into Vietnam. According to the article, major sectors that Belgian investors have particularly shown interest in is industrial zones, food and beverage, processing and manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and renewable energy. It noted that with increasing trade and investment between Belgium and Vietnam, Belgian investors have opportunities to invest in Vietnamese industries, favoring the economic and political landscape between the two countries. Over the past decade, trade and investment relations between Vietnam and Belgium have improved considerably. This has been attributed to Vietnam’s growing economy and the expansion and globalisation of some Belgian corporations. The article quoted Riccardo Benussi, Head of European Business Development of Dezan Shira & Associates, saying that more Belgian companies are looking to invest in Vietnam, especially with the implementation of the EVFTA and subsequent reduced tariffs. As of March 2021, Belgium has 78 investment projects in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of 1.1 billion USD, ranking 23rd among 131 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. On the other hand, Vietnam is Belgium’s 14th largest trade partner, with a trade value reaching approximately 707.55 million USD in 2020, up 6.7 percent compared to 2019. In the first seven months of 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam’s export value to Belgium totaled 1.4 billion USD, down 17.7 percent year-on-year. On the other hand, Vietnam imported 459 million USD worth of goods from Belgium, up 11.9 percent year on year. The article said these figures demonstrate that …
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Ministries, agencies asked to effectively hold elections amidst pandemic
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (C) addresses Cabinet meeting (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 10 requested ministries, ministerial-level agencies and relevant Government agencies to proactively develop scenarios to hold the upcoming elections amidst the COVID-19 pandemic while chairing a Cabinet meeting on election preparations. The PM asked the Ministry of Health to clarify criteria for localities on how to declare the pandemic and specific response measures. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Communications and press agencies were urged to expand dissemination on the elections and disease prevention and control measures on all means of communications, with diversified, rich, practical and effective forms. The ministries of National Defence and Public Security should stay ready to ensure security, safety and order at polling stations from now until the election day – May 23. The People's Committees at all levels need coordinate closely with the organisations in charge of the election work in the localities, ensure facilities, technology and equipment for the elections, and focus on pandemic prevention and control, Chinh stressed. Given the complex developments of the pandemic, the Government leader emphasised the need for a written request to the National Election Council requiring specific regulations on the organisation of meetings with voters and voting in an appropriate form. He asked agencies, following their assigned functions and tasks, to effectively organise in the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure to elect competent candidates and at the same time ensure pandemic prevention and control. Reporting on election organisation, a representative from the Ministry of Home Affairs said that over the past time, the National Election Council, ministries, sectors and localities have taken drastic measures to fight the …
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“Saigon Times-Great Circle” donates necessities to health workers in two districts
“Saigon Times-Great Circle” donates necessities to health workers in two districts By Dung Nguyen A truck carrying relief from the “Saigon Times-Great Circle 2021” program arrives at the Medical Center of Go Vap District - PHOTOS: DUNG NGUYEN HCMC - The “Saigon Times-Great Circle 2021” program of the Saigon Times Group donated necessities to medical workers and employees of the medical centers of HCMC’s 12 and Go Vap districts this morning, June 19 to support them in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The necessities were contributed by Vinh Thanh Dat Food Corporation and Dr Thanh and Nescafé 3in1 brands. They included 150 boxes of cooling tea, 100 boxes of instant coffee and 500 bags of eggs. Go Vap District and Thanh Loc Ward of District 12 were among Covid-19 hospots of the city and they were put under stringent social distancing following the prime minister’s Directive No. 16 in the first half of this month. Go Vap is one of the districts hit the hardest in the fourth Covid-19 wave beginning late April, with the largest cluster related to the Revival Ekklesia Mission. Pham Thi Hai Yen (2nd L), deputy director of the Go Vap District Medical Center, receives relief from the “Saigon Times-Great Circle 2021” program “When the pandemic broke out in Go Vap District, medical workers of quarantine centers had to work extremely hard due to a large number of people that needed to be quarantined. The district was supported by the HCMC Center for Disease Control, the HCMC Department of Health and hospitals in the city,” Pham Thi Hai Yen, deputy director of the Go Vap District Medical Center, said. “We had to work from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m all week long. Some days we even worked until 3 a.m. This was a really tough time for the medical workers and the citizens,” shared Vu Duc Dien, director of the Disease Control Department of the District 12 Medical Center. In the coming time, when the city accelerates the vaccination campaign, …