Ministry of

Thailand exports 7.69 million tonnes of rice in 2022, up 22.1% from a year earlier. (Photo: Reuters) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand exported 7.69 million tonnes of rice in 2022, up 22.1% from a year earlier, the country’s Commerce Ministry said on January 31. The exports exceeded a target of 7.5 million tonnes, with top markets being Iraq, South Africa, China, and the US, it said in a statement. Thai rice exports were strong last year because of the weak baht, according to Ronnarong Phoolpipat, head of the ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office. Earlier this month, the Thai Rice Exporters Association lowered its target for 2023 from 8 million tonnes to 7.5 million as the baht, which is which is now trading around 32.50 to the US dollar, has appreciated dramatically after reaching a low of 38 last October. The price of benchmark 5% white rice remains high in world markets, having risen from 465 USD a tonne in mid-December to 523 USD as of January 18, said the … [Read more...] about Thailand’s 2022 rice exports beat target

Ministries, agencies and units concerned were assigned to perform tasks in the event organizing plan issued by the Minister of Home Affairs. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) was asked to work with the Government Office and the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) to publicize the plan and conclusions of the event on the portals of the government, MoHA and HCYU Central Committee. According to Decree No.13/2021/ND-CP, the PM and chairpersons of the people's committees at all levels are responsible for holding dialogues with young people at least once a year. Dialogue discussions include mechanisms, policies and laws for young people, activities of agencies and organizations involved in legitimate rights and interests of the youth, the role and responsibility of young people in study and labor as well as their participation in socio-economic development and national defense, and other suggestions. Source: VNA … [Read more...] about Prime Minister to hold dialogue with young people in March

As many as 95 percent of workers in Vietnam’s northern region have returned to work following the 2023 Tet Lunar New Year holiday. This year, many businesses allowed their staff to stay at home on the Friday of the holiday week, so they officially resumed operations on January 30. In Hanoi, by January 27/1, 83 percent of companies that resumed operations after Tet reported around 94.67 percent of their staff had come back to work. As many as 95 percent of workers in Vietnam’s northern region have returned to work following the Tet Lunar New Year holiday According to the Trade Union of Hanoi Industrial Parks and Export Processing Zones, no strikes happened after Tet in the locality. By January 30, 99.6 percent of employees at businesses in the northern province of Bac Ninh’s industrial parks had returned to work. People who have not yet returned to work may well be seeking other jobs. All of the 175,000 workers employed in 403 companies in the northern … [Read more...] about 95% of workers in northern region return to work after Tet

Singapore’s inflation remains high in 2023: Economists (Photo: VNA) Singapore (VNA) – Based on latest data from Singapore ’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and Industry (MTI), many economists have forecasted that the country’s inflation will remain high in 2023, despite signs of reduction from global price pressures. In 2022, overall inflation came in at 6.1%, up from 2.3% a year ago, while core inflation, which excluded accommodation and private transport, came in 4.1% year on year, an increase of 0.9% year on year. Singapore's overall inflation is forecast at 4.5-5.5% in 2023, while core inflation is forecast at 2.5-3.5% after excluding impacts of increase in Goods and Services Tax (GST). Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the MTI have also warned about risks that could lead to high inflation rates being “persistent than expected”, especially after China reopened its market. However, both MAS and the MTI are still optimistic about the second half of … [Read more...] about Singapore’s inflation remains high in 2023: Economists

People shop for food at a market in Aceh - westernmost province of Indonesia. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian government plans to spend 476 trillion Rp (31.8 billion USD) on social assistance protection as the country is transitioning from the COVID-19 pandemic to the endemic disease phase. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo said that his government will not abruptly revoke the massive spending on social programmes aimed at helping the people and businesses cope with the devastating economic impact of the pandemic over the last three years. Speaking at a recent meeting of the National Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (PC-PEN), Joko Widodo said that after lifting restrictions at the end of 2022, Indonesia is in an interim phase in which it must maintain caution, especially in deciding on economic measures. In contrast to other nations that have recently experienced high inflation, according to the President, Indonesia has … [Read more...] about Indonesia to spend nearly 32 billion USD on post-pandemic social protection

Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform, Abdullah Azwar Anas and the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) at the MoU signing ceremony in Jakarta on January 31, 2023. (Photo: ANTARA) Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry and Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) on January 31 signed a memorandum of understanding on continued cooperation in capacity-building and management of state civil apparatus (ASN). The two agencies first signed a cooperation programme in 2013. It was extended in 2018 and ended in 2021. Meanwhile, the collaboration forged in 2023 will end in 2026. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Indonesian Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Abdullah Azwar Anas said that digital-based governance is the country’s priority at the moment. Azwar said that the cooperation presents a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences for Indonesia and Australia … [Read more...] about Indonesia, Australia continue cooperation in capacity-building, management for State employees

Illustrative image (Photo: baodautu.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is paying attention to mobilising resources to invest in developing green agriculture with an aim to raising the market share of its agricultural exports to the European Union. 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 optimised many advantages of the EU- 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 … [Read more...] about Vietnam develops green agriculture to increase exports to EU

Four Vietnamese were awarded the New Zealand ASEAN Scholar Awards by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on Monday. The four were among the 40 individuals from 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be presented with the prestigious prizes in a ceremony to mark 40 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the bloc. ASEAN is a ten-member organization which includes Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. The Vietnamese recipients of the awards are Mai Kieu Lien, CEO of dairy firm Vinamilk; Nguyen Xuan Vang, head of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Education and Training; Tran Duc Lam, CEO of Tran Duc Homes Company; and diplomat Ton Nu Thi Ninh. The four were honored for their contribution to the development of Vietnam and New Zealand’s cooperation. The New Zealand-ASEAN Scholar Awards are designed to recognize New Zealand’s close … [Read more...] about Four Vietnamese awarded New Zealand ASEAN Scholar Awards

Dong said that the conference aims to launch the Government’s action program to implement the Politburo’s Resolution 26-NQ/TW on the orientations for socio-economic development and security - defense protection of the region to 2030 with a vision to 2045, and attract investment to the region. According to the official, the conference is also designed to call for the engagement of investors, domestic and foreign business associations and partners in major investment projects and programs in the region. Deputy Minister Dong underlined that the event has a significant importance to the development of the region which has a special strategic role in economy, politics, culture, society, environment, defense, security and foreign relations of the country, especially the national strategy on the sustainable maritime economic development. An investment promotion conference will be held in parallel with the event, aiming to mobilize resources for infrastructure development in the region … [Read more...] about Maritime economy to be boosted in North-central and Central coastal region

UK Minister of State The Rt Hon Gregory Hands of the Department for International Trade arrived in Hanoi on February 1 to hold high level trade talks on how the UK joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will boost the economic firepower of the world’s most dynamic trade bloc. Minister Hands meets with Vice Minister of Industry and Trade, Tran Quoc Khanh. Upon his arrival in Hanoi, Minister Hands met with Vice Minister of Industry and Trade, Tran Quoc Khanh. With the next round of CPTPP negotiations upcoming, the UK Minister expressed. his country’s desire to finalisze accession at the earliest possible opportunity. The occasion also provided an opportunity to mark 50 years of UK-Vietnam diplomatic relations and discuss the thriving bilateral trade relationship which has increased by 12.4% over the last year and is valued at £5.9 billion. As a founding CPTPP member state, Vietnam marks the first leg of the UK … [Read more...] about “UK ready to boost CPTPP’s economic firepower”: UK Trade Minister