Goods and services

Luan provides the service to strangers for a small fee, and to friends for free. The artificial intelligence (AI) app chats with users as though it were a human being with the ability to apply encyclopedic knowledge in a variety of ways. More than one million people around the globe signed up for the app during the first week of its release in early December of last year. The AI-based chatbot became highly sought-after in Vietnam shortly thereafter. Luan said he received about 300 requests to create accounts with the chatbot in December. By mid-January, ChatGPT had taken the world by storm and the number of global users had skyrocketed. ChatGPT had signed up 10 million subscribers across the world 40 days after its launch. According to Google Trends statistics over the past three days, "ChatGPT" and "OpenAI" (the U.S. startup that created ChatGPT) have been two of the most searched keywords in Vietnam. Luan said the number of account set up requests he received last … [Read more...] about AI trend ChatGPT taking over Vietnam

Vietnam collects $78 million in tax from cross-border platforms in 2022 According to the department, in March 2022, it launched the information portal for foreign service providers. As of the end of October last year, over 40 foreign service providers had registered and declared tax on the information portal for foreign service providers. Meta, Google, Microsoft, TikTok, Netflix, and Apple, which account for 90 per cent of revenue from e-commerce services on cross-border digital platforms , have declared and paid taxes in Vietnam, totalling tens of millions of dollars. For example, Google paid $28.8 million, Meta (Facebook) $34.5 million, and Apple with $7.56 million. These cross-border platforms, which account for 90 per cent of revenue from e-commerce services on cross-border digital platforms, have declared and paid tax in Vietnam, totalling tens of millions of dollars. Tax revenue collected from cross-border platforms has increased thanks to the launch of the electronic … [Read more...] about Vietnam collects $78 million in tax from foreign tech giants in 2022

Singaporean Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S Iswaran and European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton sign the EU-Singapore Digital Partnership on February 1, 2023. (Photo: channelnewsasia) Brussels (VNA) – The European Union ( EU ) and Singapore on February 1 signed in Brussels the EU-Singapore Digital Partnership (EUSDP) that will lead to a digital trade agreement to enable consumers and businesses to transact online more seamlessly and at lower costs. The pact aims to boost participation in the digital economy by imparting relevant skills to workers in both jurisdictions and transforming their businesses and public services. Other areas of collaboration include digital trade facilitation, trusted data flows, electronic payments and standards. The deal will also focus on emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, digital identities, and 5G/6G communication networks. Signatories were Singapore’s Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S. … [Read more...] about EU- Singapore launch digital partnership

While striking an optimistic tone on sales of services and iPhones, CEO Tim Cook said an uncertain economy is expected to hurt categories like gaming and digital advertising. Overall, Apple's leaders tried to reassure investors that despite the firm being buffeted by up-and-down sales cycles for its flagship device and vulnerable to supply chain shocks, the world's largest listed company remains on a steady - if somewhat slower - rise. And in the immediate aftermath of some of the company's worst financial results in years, at least some investors seemed to give Cook the benefit of the doubt, imposing only modest share price declines. For the just-ended quarter, Apple's profits missed Wall Street expectations for the first time since 2016, dragged down by iPhone sales falling for the first time since 2020. The stock was down about 2% after Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri said that iPhone sales were likely to improve compared with the quarter ended Dec. 31. That did not quite … [Read more...] about Apple forecasts another drop in revenue, proclaims iPhone production problems over

Officials of Mong Cai and Dongxing cities at a ceremony marking the 93rd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam on February 2 (Photo: VNA) Quang Ninh (VNA) – A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of Dongxing city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China on February 2 visited Mong Cai city in Vietnam's northeastern border province of Quang Ninh to attend activities marking the 93rd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). This was the first in-person exchange between Dongxing and Mong Cai after a nearly-three-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Secretary of the Dongxing CPC Committee Peng Shaoguan offered congratulations on the CPV’s 93rd anniversary (February 3, 1930 - 2023) and presented gifts to the CPV organisation, administration, and people of Mong Cai. He expressed his wish for continued enhancement of comprehensive and sustainable cooperation between the two localities and their … [Read more...] about Dongxing delegation visits Mong Cai to attend CPV’s 93rd anniversary celebrations

Regular Cabinet press conference (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – In February and following months, Vietnam will focus its resources on three growth drivers of investment, consumption and export, said Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son at the regular Cabinet press conference on February 2 following its monthly teleconference with localities. Son said that at this conference, all Government members agreed that in the coming time, there are more difficulties and challenges than opportunities and advantages. Therefore, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked ministries, sectors and localities to proactively address arising problems and step up three strategic breakthroughs namely institutions, infrastructure and human resources. He requested giving priority to maintaining macro-economic stability, controlling inflation, propelling growth and ensuring major balances of the economy. "It is necessary to ensure the balanced, rational and effectively … [Read more...] about Vietnam focuses on investment, consumption, export: regular Government press conference

An overview of Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City is likely to face hurdles caused by a global recession this year and escalating uncertainty, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Duong Anh Duc has warned. Speaking at a meeting on February 1, he said the global economic slowdown and inflation would impact the city’s socio-economic development, slowing its recovery. Global growth is expected to decrease from 3.2% last year to 2.7% this year, he said. The real estate, stock and bond markets are all expected to face huge challenges this year amid tightening monetary policy, according to Duc. Many local businesses lack orders because of the weak global demand, and the situation would not improve until the middle of the year, he said. The city would organise meetings to discuss measures to support businesses and workers, and seek ways to supply the economy with capital amid the tight monetary policy, Duc said. For … [Read more...] about HCM City to face economic challenges, recovery to be hit

A bakery and coffee shop in HCM City. The Vietnamese food and beverage industry is expected to grow by 18 per cent this year. — Photo By Thu Ngan The food and beverage market is forecast to grow by over 18 per cent this year to VND720 trillion (US$31 billion). A recent report by iPOS.vn said that, after an impressive rebound in 2022, the F&B industry is poised to achieve “sustainable growth”. It predicted the market to top VND938 trillion ($40 billion) by 2026. It expected big players to push strongly this year to gain market share but smaller ones to exercise caution since the economic difficulties would continue in 2023. New brands like Phe La and Katinat Saigon Kafe would enter, it said. It forecast some business models to struggle in 2023, including food delivery because sellers would have to reduce their prices to be competitive. The model developed strongly when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. A representative of Golden Trust, a company in food and beverage … [Read more...] about Food and beverage industry to do well this year despite modest economy