High note planner 2023

According to recent statistics, foreign direct investment (FDI) disbursement in Vietnam in 2022 reached a record of $22.4 billion, an increase of 13.5 per cent on-year. Peter Ryder - CEO at Indochina Capital Vietnam’s attractive geographical location, ample supply of young and skilled labourers, and a consistent track record of high-performing economic growth have contributed to the country’s success in attracting FDI. Additionally, the Vietnamese government has implemented attractive incentives, making the country a desirable destination for foreign investors. One notable example of FDI in Vietnam’s high-tech sector is Samsung, which has invested heavily in the country. In December 2022, Samsung opened Southeast Asia’s largest research and development centre in Hanoi, with an estimated cost of $220 million. The company also announced plans to increase funding in Vietnam from $18 billion to $20 billion. Moreover, the Samsung Electro-mechanics Vietnam project … [Read more...] about Insights garnered in high-tech FDI

At Thai Phien high school in the northern city, just before the curtains came down on the event on May 24, 16 of its teachers came out in black hats, vests and wacky pants in front of the students. Pham Doan Khanh Linh, a 10th grader, was impressed that the teachers were not afraid of looking silly. "To see such a side of our teachers made us feel excited." She explained that the school had not included it in the day's program probably to keep it a surprise. Ngo Xuan Nhy, another 10th grader, said: "We were very surprised. I initially thought the dancers were students. Everyone took out their phones to record the whole thing since it was something we do not want to miss." A video of the performance was posted on the school's Facebook fanpage and garnered over 13,000 likes, 1,000 comments and 560 shares in just three days. Le Thanh Tinh (2nd L), deputy headmaster of Thai Phien High School in Hai Phong, dances with other teachers at the end of the school year … [Read more...] about Teachers surprise students with dance routine at Hai Phong high school

Fertiliser products of Petro Viet Nam Ca Mau Fertilizer JSC (DCM) being processed. DPM is among the Top 50 prestigious and effective public companies of 2023 (VIX50). — Photo DPM The Top 50 prestigious and effective public companies of 2023 (VIX50), recently announced by the Vietnam Report JSC, has witnessed a significant change compared to 2022 with cautious forecasts. This list in 2023 has seen an amazing change with the spectacular performance of the banking industry. The Vinhomes Joint Stock Company, topping the list in 2022, has been plunged to the bottom of the ranking to make room for the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank). A series of popular enterprises such as Hoa Phat, Masan, The Gioi Di Dong had to leave the Top 10 list to make room for PetroVietnam Fertiliser and Chemicals Corporation (DPM); FPT Joint Stock Company and a series of banks such as Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank); Military … [Read more...] about Top 50 public companies of 2023 sees major changes

Masan chose South Korea as the next key market to launch its premium Chin-su collection after Japan. The company has invested in research and development to create a set of products that appeal to the country's culinary traditions and standards, as part of Chin-su's goal to bring Vietnamese cuisine to the world. Chin-su also launched a selection of Pho seasoning at the event, along with its chilli, soy, and fish sauces, developed with input from chefs, young people, and families in South Korea. There are three varieties of Chin-su chilli sauce available. First, the Original flavour makes any Korean dish hot with the spicy warmth of Vietnamese chilli peppers. With the harmony of spicy, sweet and sour flavours, Chin-su chilli sauce can be easily incorporated into typical Korean dishes such as pancakes, fried chicken, Gyoza (dumplings), fish cakes, and fried potatoes. The second variety is Bibim chilli sauce, which is mixed with rice sauce and is inspired by the typical … [Read more...] about Chin-su leaves strong impression at Seoul Food 2023

Vietnam and Israel on April 2 announce the conclusion of negotiations for their free trade agreement (FTA). (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Embassy of Israel in Vietnam held a ceremony in Hanoi on May 30 to celebrate Israel’s 75th Independence Day (1948-2023) and the 30th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (1993-2023). In his remarks, Ambassador Yaron Mayer noted that the Vietnam-Israel relations are developing strongly in economy and technology, saying high-level visits and cultural exchanges have consolidated the two countries' friendship and enhanced their mutual understanding, as well as people-to-people dialogue. He added that the bilateral trade has exceeded 2 billion USD, and the recent conclusion of negotiations on the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) is expected to facilitate their trade and investment collaboration. On behalf of the Vietnamese government and people, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc extended … [Read more...] about Israel’s 75th Independence Day celebrated in Hanoi

The clearance of 200-300 coal wagons per day via the La Lay border gate in the central province of Quang Tri is being deemed impractical, affecting Logistics PTS Vietnam’s future aim of importing five million metric tonnes of coal annually. “Transportation and warehouse infrastructure is scarce, and so we can only remove about 100 vehicles per day,” said PTS general director Nguyen Quang Huy. According to him, if Vietnam fails to strengthen infrastructure, improve National Highway 15D, and invest in warehouses, it will miss the chance to compete with Thailand in purchasing coal from Laos. In February, Laos’ energy ministry announced findings of coal field surveys in the provinces of Sekong and Saravane, indicating that reserves may be as high as 500 million MT. Coal still with part to play in energy mix, Source: evn.com.vn Vietnam may experience a power scarcity if the availability of coal becomes constrained. According to Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the total … [Read more...] about Coal still with part to play in energy mix

Factors potentially triggering the turmoil include monetary tightening, weak economic conditions, mismanagement, loss of confidence, maturity and currency mismatches, as well as instances of outright fraud and criminal activities. Most banks are resilient and avoid such difficulties -- but not all. Consequently, financial authorities must maintain preparedness to intervene whenever necessary, all while avoiding unintended consequences that could potentially sow the seeds of future banking crises. Global banking stress The current banking turmoil is largely due to the cycle of monetary tightening. Since early 2022, central banks have been quick to increase interest rates to bring inflation under control. In the United States, the effective Fed Funds rate increased by 500 basis points in just 14 months, a speed never observed since 1988. The European Central Bank has raised its policy rates by 400 basis points since mid-2022 and indicated that more rate hikes are forthcoming. … [Read more...] about Preparedness crucial in safeguarding banking sector

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

Raffles Family Office, an award-winning multifamily office with a full suite of wealth management services for ultra-high-net-worth individuals headquartered in Hong Kong and Singapore, is intensifying its commitment to private equity (PE) transactions within Southeast Asia, leveraging this approach as a means of bolstering its portfolio diversification. This strategic move is partly driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions and regulatory risks emanating from China, further compounded by concerns surrounding rising interest rates, inflation, and the spectre of recession. According to Dealstreetasia , Raffles Family Office has allocated between 10-15 per cent of its considerable assets under management specifically for investments in the PE realm, as revealed by Jo Huang, the firm's head of Private Equity. Huang emphasised the value of geographical and sectoral flexibility as a risk mitigation measure for the company's investment undertakings, expressing a desire to expand its … [Read more...] about Raffles Family Office bolsters private equity focus in Southeast Asia

Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Pham Thanh Ha In the remaining months of 2023, monetary policy management is forecast to continue facing many challenges, as both the world and domestic economies are still experiencing complicated developments. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) continues to closely monitor economic and monetary developments at home and abroad in order to proactively and flexibly use monetary policy tools to control inflation and support economic growth. Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Pham Thanh Ha, spoke with the media about the management of monetary policy. How have external difficulties and challenges, as well as within the country, affected monetary policy management in the first five months of the year? What solutions has the central bank implemented to ease the pressure? In the first months of 2023, many countries continued to face the risk of economic recession and high inflation. The trend of monetary tightening is … [Read more...] about SBV encouragse banks to reduce lending interest rates