Precarious financial situation

A health worker administers a shot of COVID-19 vaccine to a girl . (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Prime Minister has asked the Ministry of Health to continue keeping a close eye on the domestic and international pandemic situation in to strengthen the pandemic prevention and control measures during trade and tourism activities in the festive festival in the first months of 2023 and continue to promote the socio-economic development. The ministry was asked to give timely guidelines and coordination with ministries, sectors and localities in the pandemic fight, while working with localities to direct the implementation of measures to prevent COVID-19 and seasonal diseases, promptly stamping out outbreaks, and promoting COVID-19 vaccination activities. Vietnam's COVID-19 caseload rose to 11,526,167 with 27 new cases recorded on January 16, according to the Ministry of Health. With 12 patients given the all-clear on the day, the number of recoveries rose to 10,612,117. … [Read more...] about Health ministry asked to closely monitor domestic, int’l pandemic situation

Deputy Director of the FIA Do Van Su said disbursement of foreign investment this year is expected to hit USD 22-23 billion. Su acknowledged that the opening of China’s economy might affect Vietnam's foreign investment attraction, adding that China remained the leading investment destination in the region, so when they opened up, capital will flow into this market while that to Vietnam and other economies in the region will be limited. On the contrary, the investment capital movement of the Republic of Korea (RoK), Japan, and Taiwan (China) will be accelerated. This shift will be accelerated until 2025, and Vietnam will be a preferred investment destination for investors, he added. Currently, the RoK, Japan and Taiwan (China) are Vietnam’s major sources of foreign investment and they have constantly increased their investments in Southeast Asian countries. According to FIA, essential factors for FDI to continue to prosper in 2023 include economic growth results in 2022 and … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s FDI projected to reap up to USD 38 bln in 2023

Phan Cong Chanh, CEO of developer Phu Vinh Group, said the real estate market will pose more risks than opportunities for investors in 2023, adding that would-be investors should save their money instead of spending it. According to Chanh, in the long term the market will benefit from rosy economic growth prospects, better legal frameworks and improved stock markets, especially the corporate bond market, But he said this would be gradual recovery that wouldn’t flourish to its full potential until 2-4 years from now. The Central Institute for Economic Management put forth two economic growth scenarios for this year. Accordingly, GDP growth will either stand at 6.47%, inflation at 4.08%, export growth at 7.21% and trade balance at $5.64 billion, or at 6.83%, 3.69%, 8.43% and $8.15 billion, respectively. With the draft amendments to the Land Law submitted to the National Assembly for potential approval in October, and amendments to other related laws such as the Law on Real Estate … [Read more...] about Should you invest in property or save your money this year?

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese people in Belarus and Bulgaria have joined their compatriots in the homeland and around the world in celebrating the Year of the Cat with different activities held recently. The Vietnamese Embassy in Belarus has organised a programme attracting over 400 Vietnamese and their Belarusian relatives. This was the first mass Tet gathering of the Vietnamese community in the European country after over two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his remarks, Ambassador Nguyen Van Ngu informed participants about the two countries’ socio-economic situations while highlighting their traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation. He pledged that the embassy will continue working to help the overseas Vietnamese further integrate into the local society, protect their rights and legitimate interests, develop the community, and contribute to the homeland. A similar celebration has also been held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria. Ambassador Do Hoang … [Read more...] about Vietnamese communities in Belarus, Bulgaria hold Tet celebrations

The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) convenes its extraordinary congress on January 28-29. (Photo: AKP/VNA) Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) convened its extraordinary congress on January 28-29, during which it issued many important decisions and policies regarding the leadership work, as well as orientations for national development in the time ahead. In his opening remarks, CPP Honorary President Samdech Heng Samrin , who is also President of the National Assembly, said 2023 marks an end to the 2018-2023 mandate of the legislature and the government, and it will also be the beginning of a new five-year tenure. There will be a lot of work to do in the future, he said, stressing the need to join hands and make all-out efforts to win the 7th-term parliamentary election slated for July 23, 2023. The congress set out major strategic goals for the next five years which are based on wishes of the people and reflect the real situation, both … [Read more...] about Cambodian People’s Party sets out strategic goals for 2023-28

The digital transformation has made the cybersecurity market in Vietnam more attractive, leading to the establishment of more cybersecurity companies in the country. Opswat, a provider of critical infrastructure protection cybersecurity solutions, recently opened a critical infrastructure protection lab in Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first center of the U.S. company in Asia, proving its increased focus on growing its presence in Asia, including Vietnam. Many start-ups in the cybersecurity sector have been also founded in Vietnam, including Smart Cyber Security, which offers digital transformation services in cybersecurity. Vietnam National Cyber Security Technology Corporation (NCS) has supported large financial groups and organizations, banks as well as key units in Vietnam in cybersecurity. In September last year, NCS was the first unit to detect zero-day vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server. Vietnam has emerged as one of the leading countries in Southeast Asia … [Read more...] about Cybersecurity firms on the rise in Vietnam