ASEAN countries like Vietnam are not spared from the impact of climate change. Rapid economic development also means increasing demand for energy and power to meet the pace of growth, which leads to an increase in CO2 emissions. The journey to a cleaner future Takeshi Masuyama, Managing director, regional head of Vietnam, MUFG Bank, Ltd. The Vietnamese government has announced in various international forums its commitment to address environmental issues, and has firmed up its national net-zero target. In addition, the announcement of the Vietnam Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in last December is another milestone and will further rally the private and public sectors towards accelerating the country’s green transition. MUFG is part of the working group convened by the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) supporting the JETP initiative for Vietnam. The sustainability mission Since announcing our Carbon Neutrality Declaration in 2021, MUFG … [Read more...] about Committed to empowering a brighter future
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Tech lay-off wave continues to bite at Vietnam’s heels
Entering 2023, Microsoft and Google announced global lay-offs of 10,000 and 12,000 employees, respectively. IBM laid off nearly 4,000 members, while Spotify cut about 6 per cent of staff. Since November last year, Meta, Amazon, and HP have also adjusted thousands of positions. Tech lay-off wave continues to bite at Vietnam’s heels, Illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com In Southeast Asia, Shopee parent company Sea Group, Crypto.com, e-commerce platform JD.ID, and GoTo – a merger between ride-hailer Gojek and e-commerce platform Tokopedia – are among the companies that experienced a drastic staff cut in the past year. GoTo in November 2022 cut 1,300 jobs, equivalent to 12 per cent of the number of employees, while Sea Group let go of 7,000 employees in the past six months. Both companies cited a common cause being challenging macroeconomic conditions. Industry insiders in Vietnam are generally wary of the effect this laid-off wave might have on the domestic market. … [Read more...] about Tech lay-off wave continues to bite at Vietnam’s heels
Tech group lay-off wave reaches Vietnam
After Meta, Amazon, Twitter, and Tesla, Xiaomi has become the next name to join the list of leading tech companies forced to cut staff. In a December 20 announcement, a Xiaomi representative confirmed that about 10 per cent of the total workforce will be affected by the reduction policy implemented by the company to “optimise full-time and organisational rationalisation”. Tech group lay-off wave reaches Vietnam, illustration photo/ source freepik.com Xiaomi had over 35,300 employees as of the end of September, according to its third-quarter earnings report. It is expected that about 5,000 Xiaomi employees will ultimately be affected in the near future, mainly those working in the smartphone and internet service business units. The decision by the fifth-largest smartphone vendor in the Chinese market comes after seeing a 9.7 per cent drop in Q3 results on-year. Xiaomi is not the only tech company in Asia to start laying off staff. A week earlier, online commerce … [Read more...] about Tech group lay-off wave reaches Vietnam
Vietnam: the place to innovate with tech
Could you give an update about Antler’s portfolio? Magnus Grimeland It boasts about 680 companies in 25 locations across the world including Brazil, the United States, and Canada. In Europe, we are in most of the big capitals. In Africa, we’re in Nairobi. Asia is obviously a big focus for us with most of the major tech ecosystems in India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. We’re the world’s second most active early-stage investor now, and back the top 1 per cent of founders. We got 65,000 applicants last year from founders who want to work with us. Antler backs the best of the next generation of great companies, supporting their access to co-founders, supporting business model validation, putting in the first bit of capital with advisors across the globe, helping internationalise, and then we continue to back them. We also have a later stage fund, which enables us to invest directly into later stage companies. I’m incredibly … [Read more...] about Vietnam: the place to innovate with tech
Foreign investment funds plan to pour money into Vietnamese stocks
Roundtable: Large foreign investment funds want to pour money into the Vietnamese stock market Quan Duc Hoang, chairman of A+ Fund, made the comments about foreign capital at the roundtable 'New Investments amid New Volatility' hosted by VIR at its headquarters in Hanoi on February 7. “Recently, I have business trips to work with big investment funds in the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. Not one of these investment funds have a sensitive overview of the Vietnamese investment environment. They estimate that it is an ideal time for investors to collect a portfolio of shares,” Hoang said. “In spite of the difficult situation, during the past nearly 30 years, I have yet to see a large investment opportunity similar to the current situation because many Vietnamese enterprises are operating smoothly and generating good profits. Besides, we have yet to take thorough advantage of the opportunity from free trade agreements, especially EVFTA. The important note is … [Read more...] about Foreign investment funds plan to pour money into Vietnamese stocks
Ho Chi Minh City among top markets for data centre development
The remaining top 10 markets in the category are: Columbus, Santiago, Johannesburg, Atlanta, Nashville, Phoenix, Austin, Denver, and Chicago, according to a report released by Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam on February 2. The annual report, now in its fourth year, ranks major data centre markets around the world according to 13 weighted categories including market size, connectivity, power cost and environmental risk to determine the top overall markets in each category. According to the latest Q4 2022 Ho Chi Minh City marketbeat report, the average rental price reached $159 per sq.m per lease cycle, up 3 per cent on the quarter and 10 per cent on-year. Vietnam is a frontier data centre market Vietnam may be a frontier data centre market, but it has numerous fundamentals that would suggest great potential for development. The country currently has 70 per cent internet penetration, with an estimated 29 million people yet to get online. Over 48 per cent of Vietnam’s … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City among top markets for data centre development
$15.5 billion in financing for green energy from Just Energy Transition Partnership
Established last December between Vietnam and the International Partners Group (IPG), the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) could facilitate Vietnam in achieving its goal of net-zero by 2050 and a future for green power. Chan Hong and Vi Nguyen, lawyers, Dentons LuatViet, Dentons Global Highlights of Vietnam JETP $15.5 billion to be mobilised An initial amount of at least $15.5 billion will be deployed over the next 3 to 5 years through a combination of financial instruments with the following breakdown: • IPG members will mobilise half of that total ($7.75 billion) through public sector financing, likely on more attractive terms than Vietnam could secure in the capital markets. • Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero Working Group (GFANZ) members will work to mobilise and facilitate the other $7.75 billion through private financing, once the public sector financing has been secured by the IPG. JETP Resource Mobilisations Plan The initiative … [Read more...] about $15.5 billion in financing for green energy from Just Energy Transition Partnership
PM’s Singapore visit to take economic co-operation to new heights
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Singapore aims to affirm both nations’ desire to take their economic connectivity to new heights in the context of a series of new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs) coming into effect and being implemented. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong PM Chinh, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam will pay an official visit to Singapore from February 8 to 10 at the invitation Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong. The visit takes place amid the dynamic and strong development of the Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership across multiple fields. This year will see the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership. In 2022, the exchange of delegations and high-level meetings between the two countries was maintained both regularly and effectively. This saw a trip to Singapore by … [Read more...] about PM’s Singapore visit to take economic co-operation to new heights
VinFast chooses US Bank as preferred provider of vehicle financing
A VinFast VF8 model on the road in the US. — Photo courtesy of the company VinFast on Monday announced US Bank has been chosen as its preferred provider of retail financing and leasing of VinFast vehicles in the United States. US Bank is a trusted lender for vehicle finance and leasing, serving millions of customers through consumer and business banking, payment services, corporate and commercial banking and wealth management and investment services. Under the partnership, US Bank will officially provide financing and leasing solutions for VinFast vehicles at VinFast showrooms and via the VinFast website. “With the goal to make electric vehicles accessible to everyone, VinFast is constantly looking for optimal solutions for customers. Thanks to this agreement, VinFast customers will have access to competitive finance and lease rates and world-class customer service from US Bank,” said Le Thi Thu Thuy, Vingroup Vice Chairwoman and CEO of VinFast Holdings. “Many Americans … [Read more...] about VinFast chooses US Bank as preferred provider of vehicle financing
Man rams car into police officer to escape DUI test
Cao Van Ly, 65, was arrested to be investigated for resisting law enforcement, police of Vinh Phuc's Vinh Tuong District said Tuesday. On Sunday last week, a police team of five was patrolling in Hoang Xa Village at around 2:20 p.m. when they signaled for Ly to stop his car for an alcohol check. Upon getting closer to the team, Ly made a U-turn with his car and attempted to drive in the direction of Tuan Chinh Village, local media reported. Police officers then approached the car and requested it to return. Ly then got off the car and explained that he was going the wrong way. When the police requested Ly to back off his car to the side of the road, Ly locked his car door and continued to drive towards the direction where the officers were standing. One police officer had to jump on the car’s hood and held onto it to avoid impact. Ly then drove for another two km, entered Quang Cu Village and hit a motorbike, causing its rider to fall onto the road. Ly continued to drive for … [Read more...] about Man rams car into police officer to escape DUI test