Vietnam experienced a notable increase in automotive imports between January and April compared to the same period last year, in spite of a subsequent drop in April, according to data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs. The country imported 54,344 completely-built-up (CBU) autos in January-April, up 47.2 percent in volume and 33.4 percent in value year on year. The imports comprised 43,856 sedans, hatchbacks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), minivans, and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), marking an increase of 45.6 percent compared to the same period last year, and 7,773 units designed for goods transportation, indicating a significant upswing of 109 percent. Thailand was Vietnam’s biggest auto exporter in the four-month period, with around 27,150 units worth US$545 million, followed by Indonesia with 19,050 units valued at $260 million and China with 3,617 units costing $135 million. The importation slowed down in April when Vietnam brought in 12,323 CBU cars worth … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s auto imports surge in January-April
Important ethics in business
PM requests intensifying administrative reform, business climate improvement
Illustrative photo (Source: vietnamnet.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 1 signed a document requesting all public agencies and localities intensify their work for effective administrative reform and business climate improvement . The document said such work should be in line with the national digital transformation to boost the quality of administrative services and tackle hurdles facing investment, production, and business activities. Since 2021, ministries have cut and simplified more than 2,200 business regulations in 177 legal documents and offered over 4,400 public services on the national public service portal. As of May this year, the country had 6,422 administrative procedures in total, a drop of 376 compared to the same period in 2020. In the document, the PM ordered a thorough review to further reduce and simplify at least 20% of the total regulations and administrative procedures related to investment, production, business and … [Read more...] about PM requests intensifying administrative reform, business climate improvement
Taiwan’s Foxconn predicts huge growth in AI server business
Taiwan's Foxconn predicts huge growth in AI server business/ illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com Foxconn -- known officially as Hon Hai Precision Industry -- is the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer and assembles devices for many international brands, most notably Apple's iPhone products. It has also moved to diversify beyond electronics assembly, expanding into areas ranging from electric vehicles to semiconductors and servers. "In 2022 alone, Hon Hai's revenue for servers reached 1.1 trillion Taiwan dollars ($36 billion) to obtain a 40 percent global market share," Chairman Young Liu told an annual shareholders' meeting in Taipei. Liu said Foxconn ranks first in global market share for mobile phones, personal computers and servers, with the AI server market now "rising faster than everyone has expected". He attributed the jump in demand to ChatGPT, the AI programme that burst into the spotlight late last year with the ability to generate essays, … [Read more...] about Taiwan’s Foxconn predicts huge growth in AI server business
Nearly 6.94 billion USD raised through Gov’t bond auctions in five months
Illustrative image (Photo: Dai bieu nhan dan newspaper) Hanoi (VNA) - The State Treasury raised 162,952 billion VND (nearly 6.94 billion USD) worth of Government bonds via auctions on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) in the first five months of 2023, up 188.4% year-on-year. The amount was equal to 48.4% of the issuance plan in the second quarter, and 40.74% of the plan set for 2023. In May alone, as many as 23,269 billion VND, or 75.06% of the total G-bonds on offer, was mobilised via 17 auctions on the HNX. Most of the total volume offered in the month was 15-year and 10-year bonds, accounting for 43.4% and 32.1%, respectively. Interest rates continued their downward trend in all terms, with a decrease of 27-35 basic points compared to the last session of April. In the last auction of May, the interest rates for 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, and 30-year terms were 2.4%, 2.95%, 3.05%, 3.19% and 3.4%, respectively. On the secondary market, the State Treasury … [Read more...] about Nearly 6.94 billion USD raised through Gov’t bond auctions in five months
Ninh Thuan province develops grape eco-system
Tourists visiting a grape orchard in Ninh Hai district’s Vinh Hai commune in Ninh Thuan province. (Photo: VNA) Ninh Thuan (VNS/VNA) - The south-central province of Ninh Thuan has introduced new grape varieties and advanced farming techniques to improve farmers’ incomes. The country’s largest grape producing province has more than 1,000ha under the fruit and an annual output of 26,000-28,000 tonnes, according to its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. It grows mostly two table varieties, Red Cardinal and NH 01-48, and the wine grape Syrah. To add value, the province has developed models of growing high quality grape to Vietnamese and global good agricultural practices ( VietGAP and GlobalGAP), and organic standards, and used advanced farming techniques in recent years. Some 31 per cent of the grape growing area sees the use of advanced techniques such as automatic irrigation and polygreen houses, and quality standards like VietGAP and GlobalGAP, … [Read more...] about Ninh Thuan province develops grape eco-system
Sun Taxi inks deal with VinFast for 3,000 EVs
Sun Taxi Joint Stock Company on Thursday entered into a deal with Vietnamese carmaker VinFast to order 3,000 VF 5 Plus electric cars to offer taxi services using electric vehicles (EVs), aside from the former’s current fleet of fuel-powered units. The move is part of Sun Taxi’s strategy on green transition, business expansion, and service quality enhancement, thereby promoting the switch to green transport and supporting Vietnam’s ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Sun Taxi plans to first launch electric taxi services in some central and Central Highlands provinces and cities in the country such as Quang Binh, Hue, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum. By 2025, the company will offer the services using all 3,000 VinFast EVs across the country. Nguyen Duy Hung, board chairman of Sun Taxi, said EV adoption is an ongoing global trend, of which Vietnamese businesses should not stand outside. The taxi service provider, which has many … [Read more...] about Sun Taxi inks deal with VinFast for 3,000 EVs
Prime Minister extends greetings on Lord Buddha’s birthday
The Government leader highlighted Buddhism’s companionship with Vietnam over the past nearly 2,000 years, saying the religion has played an important part in the spiritual and cultural life of Vietnamese people. Buddhism has significantly contributed to national construction and defense, he said, adding that Buddhist activities have been reformed over the past years, receiving the warm response of followers and people. The Prime Minister also lauded Buddhism’s material and spiritual contribution to the COVID-19 combat, as well as post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and development. Through the organization of U.N. Day of Vesak for three times, the VBS has importantly contributed to the development of Buddhism globally, improving the position and role of Vietnam Buddhism, and promoting the image of Vietnam and its people to international friends. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh used the occasion to thank the VBS, monks, nuns and followers both at home and aboard for their … [Read more...] about Prime Minister extends greetings on Lord Buddha’s birthday
Parents battle children’s video game addictions
Still, they couldn’t prevent him from wasting away his life playing video games. Anh, a 38-year-old resident of Nam Tu Liem District in Hanoi, said he’s tried everything to stop his son from compulsively playing video games. A gamer is playing games in the middle of the night. Illustration photo by Pexels He promised to give the 12-year-old boy VND 50,000 (around $2.13) a day for each day he didn’t touch video games. His son agreed with the deal, but was then caught by his mother in the middle of the night: headphones on, swearing, and pounding the keyboard with his eyes glued to the computer screen. That night, Anh and his wife Truc beat their son. The following day, they secretly installed a surveillance camera in their son’s bedroom. With the help of it, they saw their son lying in bed with a blanket over his head playing video games on his mobile phone. They decided to take his phone away and change their computer’s password. Still, somehow, their son … [Read more...] about Parents battle children’s video game addictions
Farmers work nights to escape scorching heat
Local farmers in the northern central province of Nghe An have switched to working through the night to avoid soaring temperatures. Farmers in Nghe An have switched to working through the night to avoid soaring temperatures. As temperatures soar in many parts of the central region, farmers work hard in a field in Nghi Van Commune, Nghi Loc District. Nguyen Van Hai, 28, said as the summer - autumn crop begins, he has to work almost all day to keep pace with progress. “Farmers started sowing the seeds at the same time, so I had to make the most of time to plow the fields. I rest for three to four hours a day and most of the time I work on rice fields under scorching heat," Hai said. Nguyen Van Manh in Nam Giang Commune, Nam Dan District said that due to hot weather and the risk of water shortages, it is necessary to speed up the process of soil preparation and sowing. At 10 pm the faint light from battery lamps sheds light on rice fields … [Read more...] about Farmers work nights to escape scorching heat
PM Anthony Albanese’s visit hoped to lift up Vietnam-Australia partnership
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Cambodia (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ’s visit from June 3-4 is expected to further promote the sound relations between the two countries in all fields, including peacekeeping, education and training. This is the first official visit to Vietnam by Anthony Albanese since taking office and only two months after the state visit by Australian Governor-General, showing Australia's great attention to the Southeast Asian nation. Highlighting the Vietnam-Australia partnership in peacekeeping operations, Colonel Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said that Australia was one of the first countries to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Vietnam in UN peacekeeping activities in 2015. The MoU laid a foundation for the two countries to … [Read more...] about PM Anthony Albanese’s visit hoped to lift up Vietnam-Australia partnership