Like a rising number of her highly educated peers, Liang keeps trading down to try and find a source of income in China's worst youth job market on record. "Finding a job has been really difficult," said the 25-year-old, who lives with her parents in the northern industrial city of Taiyuan. "I told my family that I'm willing to take up manual labor and my mum straight-up cried. She felt so sorry for me." Economists expect such examples to become increasingly common in coming years, as a glut of university graduates and a shortage of factory labor due to an aging workforce deepen China's job market imbalances. Youth unemployment hit a record 20.4% in April, and a new high of 11.58 million university students are due to graduate this summer. All are competing for jobs in what remains one of the world's fastest-growing major economies, but whose manufacturing-heavy structure is increasingly out of step with the aspirations of its younger generations. The industries most … [Read more...] about Chinese graduates lower their ambitions in moribund jobs market
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Raffles Family Office bolsters private equity focus in Southeast Asia
Raffles Family Office, an award-winning multifamily office with a full suite of wealth management services for ultra-high-net-worth individuals headquartered in Hong Kong and Singapore, is intensifying its commitment to private equity (PE) transactions within Southeast Asia, leveraging this approach as a means of bolstering its portfolio diversification. This strategic move is partly driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions and regulatory risks emanating from China, further compounded by concerns surrounding rising interest rates, inflation, and the spectre of recession. According to Dealstreetasia , Raffles Family Office has allocated between 10-15 per cent of its considerable assets under management specifically for investments in the PE realm, as revealed by Jo Huang, the firm's head of Private Equity. Huang emphasised the value of geographical and sectoral flexibility as a risk mitigation measure for the company's investment undertakings, expressing a desire to expand its … [Read more...] about Raffles Family Office bolsters private equity focus in Southeast Asia
Hanoi to become processed goods export hub
Building high-tech agricultural models, integrating production chains, connecting regions, and establishing processing facilities for export are all necessary for agricultural production in Hanoi. Hanoi is poised to become a center for processed goods for export, said Hoang Thi Hoa, director of the Hanoi Agriculture Development Center under the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in an interview with Hanoimoi newspaper. Clean farm production at Japan & Vietnam Vegetable Fruit Company. Photo: Phuong Nga/ The Hanoi Times How do you assess the current prospects of Hanoi's agricultural exports? Based on its relatively large arable land , Hanoi is building a modern agriculture sector by applying advanced digital technology to create quality products that meet consumer and export needs. Over the years, Hanoi has promoted importing several items, including fruits, wood and wood products, and some processed goods. Specifically, … [Read more...] about Hanoi to become processed goods export hub
Vietnamese brands listed in Asia Architecture Design Awards’ Top 100 Outstanding Projects
Some representatives from Vietnam have garnered an overwhelming response from a remarkable total of over 436 registered projects at the regional event which shows a resurgence of architectural excellence in India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Mai Chau Culture Resort, Grand Tourane Nha Trang Hotel, and Ambassador Cruise Restaurants are several brands among the finalists of the Asia Architecture Design Awards 2023 (AADA). AADA categories include Best Resort Architecture Design, Best Hotel Architecture Design, Best Resort Interior Design, Best Lighting Design, and Best Furniture Accessories, among others. Tre Dining in HCM City is listed as one of the Best F&B Architecture designs. Photo: Tre Dining Those from Vietnam made an impressive display on the shortlist, demonstrating their architectural prowess. From May 30 to June 25, the jury will begin their work with 20 influential experts from various fields, including architecture, design, and real … [Read more...] about Vietnamese brands listed in Asia Architecture Design Awards’ Top 100 Outstanding Projects
Second home real estate on the slow path to recovery
Hotel supply in Vietnam has tripled over the past decade, photo Le Toan According to a report by DKRA Vietnam, the supply of villas and town houses across the country continued to decrease from the end of the second quarter of 2022. Specifically, in April only two projects were opened for sale, providing 12 apartments to the market, down 69 per cent from the previous month and down 98 per cent compared to the same period last year. Particularly, the Central region recorded the fourth consecutive month that no new projects were introduced to the market. “It is expected that in the next few months, supply and demand may increase slightly. However, the market will not have obvious fluctuations with key transactions, except from expected transactions on Phu Quoc island,” according to DKRA’s report. The primary selling price did not alter greatly compared to the previous month. Instead, investors have aggressively launched discounts up to 30-40 per cent to stimulate market … [Read more...] about Second home real estate on the slow path to recovery
Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island emerges as attractive destination to Cambodians
Around 9,000 Cambodian tourists have visited Phu Quoc Island off Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam since the beginning of this year, marking Cambodia as a potential market for the island this summer. “Phu Quoc has a beautiful beach scene and a bustling night market with lots of foods and souvenirs,” said Danh Sang, a Cambodia tourist. “My family and I really enjoy being here. “Phu Quoc is truly a pretty and attractive destination.” According to the Kien Giang Department of Tourism, the province is estimated to have welcomed more than 4.9 million visitors, including over 354,992 from abroad, since early this year. The number of Cambodian tourists reached about 9,145, much higher than before. According to Tran Quoc Khanh, chairman of the Kien Giang Tourism Association, Cambodia is a potential international market for the island during this summer as the number is still on the rise. Among the efforts to attract more tourists from the potential market, the Kien Giang … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island emerges as attractive destination to Cambodians
Australian prime minister to visit Vietnam this weekend
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will pay an official visit to Vietnam on Saturday at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This will be his first visit to Vietnam since he took office in 2022. The Australian prime minister’s visit will be made two months after Australian Governor-General David Hurley’s state visit to Vietnam. His two-day visit is aimed at marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Australia. Australian Prime Minister Albanese will meet several top Vietnamese officials during his trip, said the Australian Embassy in Vietnam. “The leaders will come to the table about measures to deepen the partnership in trade, investment, education, energy, and environmental protection," the embassy said. “Vietnam is one of Australia’s key strategic economic partners in Southeast Asia, which is a focus of Australian Prime Minister Albanese." “My first official visit to … [Read more...] about Australian prime minister to visit Vietnam this weekend
Summer Online Safety Playground gives self-protection skills to children in Hanoi
Hanoi's children are equipped with essential skills and knowledge to select healthy and age-appropriate information through activities by Google and Vietnamese partners. The scorching heat of the early days of June does not diminish the excitement and curiosity of Do Thi Thu Ha and her two daughters, residing in Nam Tu Liem District, as they joined games that needed their thinking skills and analyzed online data at the Hanoi Children's Palace today [May 31]. Ha's daughter, Pham Mai Anh, a fifth-grade student, told The Hanoi Times through these games, she learned about scams and how to avoid online threats. She also knew how to detect fake news and verify the reliability of information sources. Ha and her daughters are among many parents and children experiencing game space that provides them with knowledge and skills to protect themselves and behave safely online. "I find the games very interesting and informative to help me and many other kids know how to protect … [Read more...] about Summer Online Safety Playground gives self-protection skills to children in Hanoi
Socio-economic matters main topic at N.A. session on May 31
The working session will be broadcast live on television and radio channels. According to the Government report submitted to the N.A., Vietnam fulfilled 13 out of 15 targets in 2022, with GDP growth of 8.02% (the initial reported figure was 8%), GDP per capita of 4,109 USD (the initial figure was 4,075 USD), CPI growth of 3.15% (initially around 4%), and State budget collection of 1.81 quadrillion VND (77.07 billion USD), 201.4 trillion VND higher than the figure reported to the legislature earlier. The country posted export-import revenue of 371.3 billion USD and ran a trade surplus of over 12.4 billion USD, also exceeding the numbers reported earlier. Meanwhile, the GDP in the first quarter of this year increased by only 3.32%, lower than the 5.03% recorded in the corresponding time last year, and the average CPI rose 3.84% in the first four months. In the four-month period, the State budget collection reached some 632.5 trillion VND, equivalent to 39% of the yearly estimate, … [Read more...] about Socio-economic matters main topic at N.A. session on May 31
Vietnam sees 82 per cent rise in ultra-high-net-worth individuals
Projections from the report suggest that by 2027, the number of UHNWIs in Vietnam will approach 1,300, representing a further 22 per cent increase from the current level and a staggering 122 per cent growth over a 10-year period. Vietnam sees 82 per cent rise in ultra-high-net-worth individuals, illustration photo Moreover, Vietnam's high-net-worth individuals, or defined as individuals with assets exceeding $1 million, have also seen a substantial rise, with a 70 per cent increase over the past five years. It is expected that this segment will experience a remarkable surge of 173 per cent over the span of a decade, from 2017 to 2027. This shift in the affluent and super-rich population in Vietnam aligns with the broader trend of prosperity across Asia. Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia have emerged as the markets with the fastest-growing population of UHNWIs, experiencing growth rates of around 7-9 per cent. In the Asia-Pacific region, the number of these … [Read more...] about Vietnam sees 82 per cent rise in ultra-high-net-worth individuals