Riccardo Puliti, IFC’s new regional vice president for Asia and the Pacific. — Photo courtesy of IFC Riccardo Puliti, who was on Wednesday appointed IFC’s new regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific, will focus on addressing multiple crises amid global economic slowdown. An Italian national, Puliti will oversee IFC’s regional efforts in spurring private sector growth and identifying impactful collaborations for a green, resilient, and inclusive recovery in response to multiple crises and a deteriorating global economic outlook. Economies in the Asia and Pacific region continue to suffer from COVID-19 disruptions. At the same time, Russia’s war in Ukraine, tightening global financial conditions, weaker global growth, and more frequent disruptive weather events linked to climate change threaten to dampen the region’s growth trajectory, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report. In taking on the role of IFC’s Vice President for Asia and the … [Read more...] about IFC appoints new regional Asia-Pacific VP
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Digital technology to spearhead Vietnam’s drive for Industry 4.0
By 2025, the Ministry of Information and Communications expected Vietnam to have 80,000 digital tech firms, meeting at least 50% of digital tech and services from state agencies. Vietnam aims for the digital technology industry to lead the implementation of Industry 4.0 in the country, with revenue growth 2.5 times higher than the overall GDP expansion rate. ICT to help Vietnam realize the digitalization process. File photo The target was revealed in the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC)’s directive for information and communication technology (ICT) development in 2023 and the 2024-2025 period. "Digital technology focused on design, creation, and manufacturing in Vietnam is the main industrial sector driving the nation's industrialization and modernization, contributing to greater digitalization capability and shaping a digital country," the MIC stated. Under the plan, the ministry expected revenue from the ICT sector would hit US$165 … [Read more...] about Digital technology to spearhead Vietnam’s drive for Industry 4.0
Party chief’s book on fight against corruption and negative phenomena released
Participants at the ceremony (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A ceremony was held in Hanoi on February 2 to release the book entitled “Resolutely, persistently fighting corruption and negative phenomena to contribute to building more transparent and stronger Party and State” by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong. The release of the book is part of activities to celebrate the 93rd founding anniversary of the CPV (February 3) and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Central Steering Committee for Prevention and Control of Corruption and Negative Phenomena (February 1). Jointly published by the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs and the Su That (Truth) National Political Publishing House, the book presents directions of comrade Nguyen Phu Trong as the Party leader and head of the steering committee in a systematic manner, and demonstrates the Party’s consistent ideology on the prevention and control of … [Read more...] about Party chief’s book on fight against corruption and negative phenomena released
Vietnam develops green agriculture to increase exports to E.U.
Last year, Vietnam’s export revenue of agro-fishery-forestry products set a record high of 53.22 billion USD, up 9.3% year-on-year. However, Europe accounted for only 11.3% of its market share. This is a modest number, although the agricultural sector has optimized many advantages of the E.U. - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). One of the main reasons is said to be the union’s high requirements on farm imports, while Vietnam’s agricultural production has yet to meet green growth requirements. According to the World Bank’s report, agriculture is the second highest emitter, accounting for 19% of the nation’s total gas emissions in 2020. About 48% of the sector’s emissions and more than 75% of methane emissions are from rice production. Therefore, to boost farm exports to the E.U., the sector is advised to pay more attention to green growth indicators through making policies and roadmaps to reduce greenhouse gas and methane emissions in accordance with international … [Read more...] about Vietnam develops green agriculture to increase exports to E.U.
AI trend ChatGPT taking over Vietnam
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
Vietnamese woman hospitalized after swallowing toothpick
Doctors at a hospital in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam have successfully removed a sharp bamboo toothpick from the duodenum of a female patient. The patient, 56-year-old N.T.H., had suffered stomach pain since January 21 but she did not see a doctor because it was the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. As the pain escalated, H. was taken to a local medical center where she was diagnosed with foreign bodies in the digestive tract, and was later transferred to Quang Ninh General Hospital. Her CT scan result showed a sharp rod-shaped foreign body about three centimeters long in the second part of the duodenum. Doctors later performed a gastroscopy to remove the object. During the procedure, doctors discovered that the foreign body was a sharp bamboo toothpick, with one end piercing through the intestinal mucosa. Despite difficulties, doctors were able to remove the toothpick from the patient’s duodenum after nearly an hour. The patient is now in a stable condition and is … [Read more...] about Vietnamese woman hospitalized after swallowing toothpick
Vietnam prioritizes macroeconomic stability in 2023: PM
The country is forecast to be the second-fastest growing economy in Asia-Pacific this year. Vietnam would continue to prioritize macroeconomic stability and containing inflation in anticipation of greater challenges from both domestic and international fronts in 2023. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the meeting. Photos: VGP Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gave the remarks during a monthly Government meeting today [February 2]. According to Chinh, Vietnam’s socioeconomic performance in January has been positive with strong results in all fields and sectors, especially in industries, agriculture, and tourism. The World Bank in its latest global economic outlook report forecast Vietnam’s GDP in 2023 at 6.3% year on year, down 0.2% from the previous assessment, but still the second highest in Asia-Pacific. In addition to economic development, the authorities have taken measures to ensure social welfare and provided financial support for 25 million eligible … [Read more...] about Vietnam prioritizes macroeconomic stability in 2023: PM
ChatGPT and AI booms in Vietnam
ChatGPT and AI is set to boom in Vietnam In the early days of 2023, ChatGPT released by OpenAI is becoming popular all over the world. ChatGPT is a chatbot providing solutions to complex problems directly like composing essays, coding, and drafting business proposals. Within a few seconds after entering keywords, ChatGPT will provide text, images, audio, and other entertainment media in excellent quality. Just a few weeks after launching, this “super AI” has reached over 10 million users and has rapid growth. This success helps OpenAI negotiate an investment agreement worth $30 billion, more than double its valuation in 2021. After investing $1 billion in ChatGPT in 2019, Microsoft is planning to invest another $10 billion in exchange for 49 per cent of OpenAI's stake. This tech giant is considering integrating ChatGPT into Word, Powerpoint, Outlook, and even the Bing search engine to compete for market share with Google Search. Eric Boyd, CVP of AI Platform at Microsoft, … [Read more...] about ChatGPT and AI booms in Vietnam
Rikkeisoft enters the US market to realise the “Go Global” strategy
Rikkeisoft's leaders announced the establishment of RKTech in the US and appointed Bui Hoang Tung as their Senior Executive Vice President of Rikkeisoft Corp. and CEO of RKTech Corp. — Photo courtesy of the firm Rikkeisoft on Tuesday officially announced the establishment of its subsidiary company - RKTech in the US, acting as a bridge coping with timezone and communication challenges between US businesses and Viet Nam-based production teams. Located in Plano, Texas - a technology hub in the US, RKTech could help US companies easily access Southeast Asian IT services as an alternative to ones from other outsourcing countries such as India and Argentina. RKTech will develop and deliver high-value IT services to the US market. This is also an opportunity for the corporation to access global cooperation, helping them achieve their goal of becoming a billion-dollar company in the next five years. RKTech also appointed Bui Hoang Tung as their Senior Executive Vice President of … [Read more...] about Rikkeisoft enters the US market to realise the “Go Global” strategy
Senior officials discuss preparations for ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat
Poster promoting ASEAN Indonesia 2023 in Jakarta (Source: baomoi.com) Jakarta (VNA) – Senior officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta on February 2 to discuss preparations for the 32nd ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMMR). Acting head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam , Ambassador Vu Ho , actively exchanged views on ASEAN cooperation as well as Vietnam's contributions to the group in 2023, such as organising activities to disseminate information about ASEAN and its cooperation with partners. He proposed organising several conferences related to ASEAN-China cooperation in the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). The Vietnamese representative also expressed his belief that Indonesia will successfully assume its role of ASEAN Chairmanship 2023. Participants also discussed specific proposals to promote cooperation among … [Read more...] about Senior officials discuss preparations for ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat