Mangrove wood worm

HIROSHIMA -- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that it was time to reform both the Security Council and Bretton Woods to align with the "realities of today's world". Speaking at a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan, where the Group of Seven summit meeting had been held, Guterres said both institutions reflected the power relations of 1945 and needed to be updated. "The global financial architecture became outdated, dysfunctional and unfair," he said. "In the face of the economic shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian [attack on] Ukraine, it has failed to fulfil its core function as a global safety net." Guterres also spoke of how he felt that at the G7 summit there was a growing consciousness among developing countries that not enough was being done to reform outdated institutions or "remove the frustrations" of the Global South. India's economy will grow over 6 percent this year and next, the International Monetary Fund said in its World … [Read more...] about UN chief says it’s time to reform Security Council, Bretton Woods

An overview of the meeting (Photo: MoF) Hanoi (VNA) – Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu on May 22 chaired a meeting between the Steering Committee for Economic Diplomacy and representative agencies of Vietnam abroad to evaluate impacts, challenges and opportunities from new regulations of markets to wood and forestry sector of Vietnam, and seek ways to support the sector in promoting exports. Participants agreed that the world economy has seen many difficulties, affecting many sectors, including the wood and forestry sector . In the long term, Vietnam is facing challenges from new policies and regulations as well as the increasing demands from countries, especially major markets such as the EU and the US, with the EU having enacted the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and new rules in supply chain and labour. In this context, wood and forestry businesses asked for support from Vietnamese representative … [Read more...] about Measures sought to assist wood sector in promoting exports

Illustrative image (Photo: nongnghiep.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Wood and fine arts enterprises hope to seek potential customers at the Vietnam ASEAN International Furniture & Home Accessories Fair (VIFA ASEAN 2023), scheduled to take place in HCM City from August 29 - September 1, in the context of a sharp decrease in the export of wood and wooden products in the last four months. Addressing a May 23 conference to announce the organsation of the fair, Tran Ngoc Liem, Director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ho Chi Minh City Branch (VCCI-HCM), said facing the global economic downturn, an average of about 19,000 businesses withdraw from the market every month. Over 80% of the enterprises operating in the wood industry have been affected, with decreasing revenue, he added. Statistics of the General Statistics Office show that the export turnover of wood and wood products totaled an estimated 1.2 billion USD in April, and 4 billion USD in the first four months of … [Read more...] about Wood companies seek orders through fairs amid declining export

Producing wooden products for export (Photo: VNA) Binh Duong (VNA) – Wood processing and export businesses in the southern province of Binh Duong have been making every effort to overcome difficulties facing the industry. Statistics showed that the province raked in 1.5 billion USD from exporting wood and wooden products in the first four months of 2023, down 38.5% year-on-year. In the context that major export markets of Vietnam such as the US and Europe have large inventories, and purchasing power has decreased sharply, Vietnamese wood exporters have continued to face negative growth . Recently, Truong Thanh Wood Industries JSC reported that its revenue and profit in the first quarter of 2023 reached 331 billion VND (over 14 million USD) and 1.8 billion VND respectively, down 38% and 90% compared to the same period last year. In 2023, the company plans to increase the capacity of all factories in Binh Duong. It is improving production processes at all stages to … [Read more...] about Binh Duong’s wood businesses exert great efforts to overcome difficulties

Farmers in Tu Ky district , Hai Duong province said sand worms are very sensitive to chemicals and can only live in clean soil and water. Therefore, farmers grow rice without the use of any chemicals. The rice and worms live in a symbiotic environment, with the rice providing a suitable environment for the worms to grow. Since their main source of income comes from sand worms, local farmers must create the cleanest environment possible to ensure their stable growth and development. If a field is not clean and pesticides are used, the worms will die and farmers will face losing 300 million to 1 billion VND each year. To protect and promote the specialty Bai Rui rice, the local government has mapped out a plan to develop high-tech agricultural production and organic agricultural products such as sand worms and rice. This includes financial support, seeds, and technology transfer for local farmers to grow clean organic rice ./. VNA … [Read more...] about Organic rice being grown in sand worm fields

Wooden products are made at the Woodsland Tuyen Quang Co. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnamese wood and wooden furniture enterprises have been facing many difficulties as export orders have dropped 50-60% since the beginning of this year, pushing firms to cut off at least half of their production capacities. Data from the General Department of Customs showed that the export turnover of wood and wooden products reached 3.9 billion USD in the first four months, down 30.6% year-on-year. The export of wooden goods saw a yearly decline of 38% to $2.6 billion. At the same time, the import value of wood and wooden products also decreased significantly to 634 million USD, down 33.6% over the same period last year. During the four months, Vietnamese exports of these goods to major markets all decreased sharply such as the US (2.02 billion USD, 38%); Japan (556 million USD, 1.5%); the Republic of Korea (274 million USD, 22%) and China (481 million USD, 13%). Analysts and … [Read more...] about Timber exporters face sharp decline in orders

"Very ambitious project given current financial and population constraints. Like the metro, it will take 3-4 times longer so look to 2150 to complete." nnnosg "They should shelve this idea right now. Awful proposal. No international tourists will be attracted to this. Not to mention the dramatic ecological damage this sort of development would cause. The 100% focus should instead be cleaning up the existing beach resort destinations like Phu Quoc, which is a total mess with trash in the water." Pascal Visage "Not only is this going to displace generational families who have lived and worked there for centuries but it's going to destroy the mangroves and homes of countless species. We all know that the bulldozing will be done soon and then not a single brick will be laid for decades. Can we please, please finish the projects along the coast in Binh Thuan, Ba Ria-Vung Tau etc as well as inside HCMC like Thu Thiem before anything is done here? It's just not needed and blow anyone … [Read more...] about Turning HCMC’s Can Gio into resort town is ambitious

As areas with special nature and biodiversity values, the 11 world biosphere reserves in Vietnam have been recognised by UNESCO. They play a crucial role in conserving and developing ecosystems , preserving the environment and adapting to climate change. The wetland ecosystem in Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve in Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh City, helps create urban green areas and landscapes, protect and prevent coastal erosion, and respond to climate change. The Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve Management Board said the unit has implemented various research, and conducted resource assessment programmes with the aim of increasing forest coverage, conserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable development. Mangrove forests in the Ca Mau Cape National Park play an important role in protecting, preventing winds and erosion; improving the environmental, reducing temperature fluctuations, and regulating rainfall, contributing to climate change adaptation and rising … [Read more...] about Great efforts to sustainably develop biosphere reserves

"After sluggish GDP performance in the first quarter, Vietnam is still not out of the woods yet. In particular, we have not seen the light at the end of the tunnel on the trade front," HSBC analysts said in a recent report. Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that the economy faces a number of challenges, including high inflation and tightened monetary policy globally. But although exports dropped 11.2% and imports fell 13% year-on-year last month, revenue from retail and services grew 11.5%, implying a rise in domestic consumption, data from the ministry showed. Total supply of goods at Ho Chi Minh City’s wholesale market in the five-day national holiday earlier this month rose 5.7% year-on-year, and consumption at supermarkets and malls surged, according to the city’s Department of Industry and Trade. Tourism also showed signs of recovery. Vietnam welcomed around 984,000 international tourists last month, taking the year-to-date figure up … [Read more...] about Retail, services shine amid cloudy economic outlook

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien in a meeting with Embassy of Israel in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam will continue to work closely with Israel to early sign and enforce the two countries’ Free Trade Agreement (FTA), bringing practical benefits to businesses and people of both sides, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien stressed at a meeting with Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Yaron Mayer in Hanoi on May 19. FTA . Vietnam mainly exports products such as phones and components, seafood, cashew nuts, coffee, shoes, pepper, garment and textiles, wood and wood products to Israel. VNA … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Israel cooperate to early enforce trade deal