Illustrative image (Source: baodautu.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is one of the most potential markets in the Asia-Pacific region for shoppertainment - a trend that combines online shopping with entertainment, according to a report named “Shoppertainment: APAC’s Trillion-Dollar Opportunity” by the US-based Boston Consulting Group ( BCG ) and TikTok. The report shows that the shoppertainment opportunity in the region is projected to expand to a market value of over 1 trillion USD by 2025, doubling from the 500 billion USD value last year. Indonesia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea will contribute 67% of gross market value (GMV) in shoppertainment by 2025, reflecting their large and established e-commerce bases. Meanwhile, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand add to the mix of some of the region’s most exciting growth markets, and, alongside Australia, will contribute to a remarkable 63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next three years, quadrupling the market … [Read more...] about Vietnam a potential market for shoppertainment: report
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50th anniversary of Vietnam-Italy diplomatic ties celebrated in HCM City
An art performance at the ceremony (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City organised a ceremony on March 23 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Italy (March 23, 1973-2023). In his remarks, Chairman of the People’s Committee Phan Van Mai highlighted the increasingly close ties between the two countries, saying over the past 50 years, the bilateral relationship has grown actively across spheres, both bilaterally and multilaterally. The good traditional friendship has also been consolidated and enhanced, the official added. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam presented Italy with more than 300,000 masks, while Italy donated 2.8 million doses of vaccines to the Southeast Asian nation. This vividly demonstrates the intensive and effective strategic partnership and friendship between the two countries, he said. HCM City, for its part, has actively worked to promote cooperation with … [Read more...] about 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Italy diplomatic ties celebrated in HCM City
Viet Nam to enhance competitiveness of logistics sector
Cat Lai Port in HCM City. Viet Nam will focus on enhancing the competitiveness of the logistics sector. — VNA/VNS Photo Viet Nam will focus on enhancing the competitiveness of the logistics sector and removing bottlenecks in the sector in order to promote trade and investment with India, an official has said. Speaking at a meeting on Thursday in HCM City, Pham Thi Ngoc Thuy, director of the Office of the Private Economic Development Research Committee, said there was immense potential for improvement in bilateral trade between Viet Nam and India, especially in the logistics sector. Viet Nam’s heavy investment in infrastructure development has created significant opportunities for logistics enterprises, she said. In addition to logistics, other key investment sectors include hi-tech agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, the supporting industry, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and tourism, among others. Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown … [Read more...] about Viet Nam to enhance competitiveness of logistics sector
This young man is the backbone of Vietnam’s community library network
Phung Ba Hung was recently named amongst the recipients of the Fulbright Master’s Program Scholarship so that he can continue to spread his love for reading in Vietnam. Hung’s passion for reading began when he was a child. It was not until after he graduated from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi with a degree in journalism and media studies that he started sharing his passion with others through the launch of Duong Lieu. Duong Lieu is a private library he opened in his living room designed to create a safe space for neighborhood children to lose themselves in the magic of literature. When Hung, 33, launched Duong Lieu in 2013, the few private libraries that existed in his Hanoian neighborhood were primarily run by retired teachers, veterans, and the elderly. While these libraries were appreciated by many, they were not particularly approachable and child-friendly. “My knowledge of journalism and media has really … [Read more...] about This young man is the backbone of Vietnam’s community library network
Vietnam, Italy agree on orientations to enhance Strategic Partnership
Vietnam ese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) and Italian Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi (Photo: VNA) Rome (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and Italian Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi co-chaired the fifth political consultation between the two ministries to discuss orientations to promote the bilateral Strategic Partnership in the coming time. The two sides expressed their delight that the consultation was held on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties, and the 10th founding anniversary of the Strategic Partnership. They highly appreciated outstanding results in bilateral economic cooperation with the two countries becoming each other's important trading partner in the region. Two-way trade reached more than 6.2 billion USD in 2022, up 11% year-on-year, thanks to … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Italy agree on orientations to enhance Strategic Partnership
Global dealmaking sinks to lowest level in over a decade
NEW YORK/LONDON -- Global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity shrank to its lowest level in more than a decade in the first quarter of 2023, as rising interest rates, high inflation and fears of a recession soured the appetite of companies for dealmaking. M&A volumes during the first quarter slumped 48% to $575.1 billion as of March 30, compared to $1.1 trillion during the same period last year, according to data from Dealogic. A banking crisis that started in the United States this month with Silicon Valley Bank and spread to Europe with the Swiss government-orchestrated sale of Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S) to UBS Group AG (UBSG.S) roiled markets and stopped many deals in their tracks, investment bankers and lawyers said. "The first quarter had extraordinary levels of volatility and uncertainty - more than expected going into the year. And that has the impact of postponing some announcements," said Anu Aiyengar, global head of M&A at JPMorgan Chase & … [Read more...] about Global dealmaking sinks to lowest level in over a decade
Vietnam, Australia eye stronger multifaced cooperation
Vietnam and Australia are actively coordinating to prepare for activities commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations, including high-level visits, cultural events, people-to-people exchange, and tourism promotion. Australia aims to expand cooperation with Vietnam in many fields, such as energy, education, defense, science, technology, innovation, gender equality, and cultural exchange. Delegates looked at children's drawings on display at the program. Photo: VNA That's the statement of Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski during a friendship exchange to celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia (February 26, 1973). The event was jointly organized by the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association in Hanoi on March 31. Speaking at the ceremony, the Ambassador emphasized that the bilateral relationship … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Australia eye stronger multifaced cooperation
Hanoi plans new rules on parking
As of March 25, the municipal administration had imposed fines totaling VND50.5 billion ($2.15 million) for infractions on the pavement. Hanoi's authorities will make public the guidelines on the streets and roads where drivers can park their cars, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan has said. A local police officer travels to check on the station of motorbikes on the streets of Hanoi. Photo: Cong Trinh/The Hanoi Times There will be a new list of streets and roads on which the city forbids the parking of motorbikes and cars, Tuan told an online meeting of the Hanoi Party Committee, the Hanoi People’s Council, the Hanoi People’s Committee, and chiefs of the 30 districts and towns. The city's legislators will also modify the regulations governing vehicle parking, instructing local governments to reserve a specific portion of the pavement for parking motorcycles and bicycles only, he said. The vice chairman added that substantial … [Read more...] about Hanoi plans new rules on parking
Britain, building post-Brexit ties, to join trans-Pacific trade pact
Britain on Friday said it had struck a deal to join an 11-country trans-Pacific trade pact which includes Japan and Australia as it looks to deepen ties in the region and build its global trade links after leaving the European Union. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain had agreed to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), in a move his office said was the biggest trade deal since Brexit. A previous government impact assessment estimated the deal would add just 0.08% to GDP in the long term, but Britain has strategic - not just economic - motives, as it can now influence whether applicants China and Taiwan may join the group. "Joining the CPTPP trade bloc puts the UK at the centre of a dynamic and growing group of Pacific economies," Sunak said, adding the deal demonstrated "the real economic benefits of our post-Brexit freedoms." Britain has been looking to build trade ties following its departure from the EU in 2020, … [Read more...] about Britain, building post-Brexit ties, to join trans-Pacific trade pact
Export price of Vietnamese rice on the rise
An ongoing rise in Vietnam's rice price is the continuation of a trend that began last year when Chinese and Indonesian importers upped their consumption of the Vietnamese staple. Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development indicated that Vietnam exported an estimated 900,000 tonnes of rice worth VND11.3 trillion (US$480 million) in March, taking the total volume and value of rice exports in the first three months of the year to 1.79 million tonnes and VND22.3 trillion ($952 million), respectively. While the total value of Vietnamese rice exports surged 30 percent against the same period last year, the volume fell 19 percent. From January to March, Vietnam’s rice export price averaged VND12.5 million ($531) per tonne, up 9.2 percent year on year. During the first two months of 2023, Vietnam shipped 401,980 tonnes of rice valued at VND4.8 trillion ($204.69 million) to the Philippines, making the archipelago Vietnam’s largest rice buyer, accounting for 43 … [Read more...] about Export price of Vietnamese rice on the rise