It said the overnight electronic interbank rate would also be kept at the current level of 6.0%. The bank also said it will from Monday lower its refinance rate by 50 basis points to 5.5%, its latest move to support economic growth that bucks a trend among regional peers. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) said in a statement it would keep the discount rate unchanged at 3.5%. Earlier this month, the SBV cut several policy rates to increase liquidity and help spur growth, in what was a surprise move amid global financial turmoil. The announcement came just hours after a senior central bank official said the U.S. Federal Reserve's move to ease its rate hikes meant Vietnam would consider further cutting rates in future to spur growth. Vietnam's economic growth slowed to 3.32% in the first quarter, against a 5.92% expansion in the fourth quarter of 2022. The SBV pledged on Friday to keep monetary policy flexible for the rest of the year to support economic stability amid … [Read more...] about Central bank to cut deposit interest rate ceiling from Monday
Married withhold higher single rate
Reference exchange rate down 3 VND on March 31
The State Bank of Vietnam sets daily reference exchange rate at 23,600 VND/USD on March 31. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate at 23,600 VND/USD on March 31, down 3 VND from the previous day. With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applied to commercial banks during the day is 24,780 VND/USD and the floor rate 22,420 VND/USD. The opening hour rates at commercial banks showed a declining trend. At 8:45am, Vietcombank listed the buying rate at 23,270 VND/USD, and the selling rate at 23,640 VND/USD, both down 10 VND from the end of March 30. BIDV kept both rates unchanged at 23,330 VND/USD (buying) and 23,630 VND/USD (selling). During the week from March 27 to 31, the daily reference exchange rate was adjusted up on the first two days and down towards the end of the week. It ended the week down 2 VND./. VNA … [Read more...] about Reference exchange rate down 3 VND on March 31
ASEAN+3 intensifies finance collaboration
Illustrative Image (Photo: VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – The ASEAN 3 Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting (AFCDM 3) took place in Indonesia from March 29-30 to discuss the regional macroeconomic situation and the progress of implementing financial cooperation initiatives. Representatives of the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Vietnam attended the event. Under the co-chair of Indonesia and Japan, deputy ministers of finance and deputy governors of ASEAN 3 central banks discussed the regional macro economic situation and the pace of the implementation of the financial cooperation initiatives. Regarding regional macroeconomics, the ASEAN 3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) assessed that economic growth in the ASEAN 3 region in 2022 recorded a recovery after the COVID-19 period, mainly from increased domestic demand. Regional growth is estimated at 3.2%, of which China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) achieved 2.6% and ASEAN member states at 5.6%. In 2023, the … [Read more...] about ASEAN+3 intensifies finance collaboration
HDBank outstanding loans to property sector, corporate bond holdings among industry lowest
An HDBank transaction office in HCM City. HDBank hopes to maintain its high growth momentum in the coming years. — Photo courtesy of HDBank The Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank has announced its 2022 results audited by PwC, which shows profit before tax of nearly VND10.27 trillion (US$437.18 million), its highest ever and up 27.2 per cent from the previous year and 105 per cent of the target approved by shareholders. The non-performing loans (NPL) ratio was low, while operational safety indicators were among the best in the industry. The operating income for the year topped VND22 trillion ($936.39 million), up 31.1 per cent. Its credit, services, card, and digital banking businesses all saw high growth. The total number of credit cards it issued quadrupled while their transaction value nearly tripled, and the number of e-banking transactions doubled with their value growing by six times to VND761 trillion ($$32.39 million). The return on equity and … [Read more...] about HDBank outstanding loans to property sector, corporate bond holdings among industry lowest
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
Hanoi targets annual export growth of 5.5% until 2030
The plan's implementation seeks to capitalize on Hanoi's import-export advantages and promote the city's socioeconomic development toward green growth and rapid and sustainable progress. Hanoi aims to sustain an annual export growth rate of 4.4-5% between 2023 and 2025 and 5.1-5.5% between 2023 and 2030. Electronics production at Channel Well Technology Vietnam at Quang Minh Industrial Park, Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times The goals were included in the action plan to achieve Hanoi's import-export strategy until 2030, which was signed off on March 30 by Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen. The implementation of this plan seeks to leverage Hanoi's import-export advantages and support its socioeconomic development toward green growth, rapid and sustainable progress, and a stable growth rate in import-export activities. The emphasis is on the direct export promotion of key and advantageous city goods and attracting … [Read more...] about Hanoi targets annual export growth of 5.5% until 2030
Hanoi hosts a week-long exhibition showcasing OCOP farm products
On March 31, the event occurred adjacent to the Hanoi Cooperative Alliance's headquarters in Van Quan Ward, Ha Dong District. More than 100 cooperative groups of cooperative alliances from Hanoi and provinces all over the country participated in a week-long fair promoting the sale of farm produce and handicrafts recognized by the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program to showcase their products and agricultural models linked to eco-tourism. Hanoi's authorities attend the opening ceremony of the event. Photo: Trong Tung/ The Hanoi Times Do Huy Chien, the chairman of the Hanoi Cooperative Alliance, stated that the week-long fair aims to promote farm goods, processed foods, and OCOP items related to rural and agricultural sectors and traditional craft villages from Hanoi and other areas. "The event is also intended to link tourism promotion activities between the city and localities throughout the country, contributing to increasing the brand value of … [Read more...] about Hanoi hosts a week-long exhibition showcasing OCOP farm products
Vietnam expected to export 7 million tons of rice this year: Ministry
Vietnam now sees a sharp increase in rice orders from the Philippines and China. Acccording to Pham Thai Binh, General Director of Trung An Hi-tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, the company has signed an order to export 2,000 tonnes of rice to China and is under negotiation for another batch of 20,000 tons. Statistics from the General Administration of Vietnam Customs show that in the first two months of this year, China imported 152,640 tons of rice from Vietnam worth 90 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 86% in volume and 120% in value. Vietnamese rice exported to China enjoyed an average price of 589.7 USD per ton, 18.3% higher than that of the same period last year. Chinese customers mainly imported Vietnam’s high-quality rice like fragrant rice and sticky rice with high prices. Meanwhile, the Philippines is anticipated to import about 2.8 million tons of rice from Vietnam during the 2022-2023 crop because the country’s rice … [Read more...] about Vietnam expected to export 7 million tons of rice this year: Ministry
Worst over for industry: Hoa Phat Steel chairman
"In 2022 the steel industry was going through a difficult cycle. I predicted this at last year's meeting, and honestly it was worse than expected," he said at the 2023 annual general meeting on Thursday. "However, the most difficult period has passed, and the internal strength of Hoa Phat in particular is good, and now it completely depends on the demand side." Steel is an industry that depends on the real estate market and the government's public spending policy. Long said now "everything is very slow." Hoa Phat's January and February results were negative, but the losses were lower than the management had feared, he said. Things have been better in March, he said without providing figures, but promised to announce them at the end of April. Asked about his past assertion that "Hoa Phat cannot make steel forever," he said that applied for the long term and is a path that all large corporations must tread, but not easy to implement in the short term. "In theory, it is … [Read more...] about Worst over for industry: Hoa Phat Steel chairman
Vietnam a potential market for shoppertainment: report
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