Meanwhile, in late July or early August, VPBank is set to receive over $140 million from its arrangement to sell a 15 per cent stake to Japanese partner SMBC. The bank received a deposit equal to $156 million from the Japanes bank in mid-April. Many other lenders are currently mulling over plans to sell a stake in their businesses to foreign investors, with deals values at billions of US dollars. The most eminent among those involve Vietcombank and BIDV. Vietcombank is mulling over a private placement of over 307 million shares between 2023-2024 to a foreign financier. Assuming that the purchase price is set at around $4 a share, as was the ticker price at the close of business last week, the state lender would acquire approximately $1.2 billion from any deal. Besides selling stakes in the banks themselves, many local commercial lenders are being proactive in seeking foreign funding. Similarly, BIDV is seeking to sell a 9 per cent stake equal to over 455 million … [Read more...] about Local banks seek foreign funding
Shinhan bank online
Ho Chi Minh City to boost online exports
The Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City has said it will join hands with cross-border e-commerce platforms to support local exporters in shipping products to the world on a larger scale and in a more professional way. This is among the solutions that the city will adopt this year to help Vietnamese enterprises overcome difficulties and foster industrial production, trade, and green export. Enhancing business via online and digital channels will help exporting enterprises reduce costs and access customers faster, said Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, deputy director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade. The department has worked with many e-commerce platforms and service providers to come up with support solutions, Phuong noted. Enterprises also need to take the initiative in cooperating with partners to better meet the requirements in importing markets. Huynh Kim Tuoc, co-chairman of the Digital Economy and Technology Committee under the American … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City to boost online exports
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
Preparedness crucial in safeguarding banking sector
Factors potentially triggering the turmoil include monetary tightening, weak economic conditions, mismanagement, loss of confidence, maturity and currency mismatches, as well as instances of outright fraud and criminal activities. Most banks are resilient and avoid such difficulties -- but not all. Consequently, financial authorities must maintain preparedness to intervene whenever necessary, all while avoiding unintended consequences that could potentially sow the seeds of future banking crises. Global banking stress The current banking turmoil is largely due to the cycle of monetary tightening. Since early 2022, central banks have been quick to increase interest rates to bring inflation under control. In the United States, the effective Fed Funds rate increased by 500 basis points in just 14 months, a speed never observed since 1988. The European Central Bank has raised its policy rates by 400 basis points since mid-2022 and indicated that more rate hikes are forthcoming. … [Read more...] about Preparedness crucial in safeguarding banking sector
SBV encouragse banks to reduce lending interest rates
Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Pham Thanh Ha In the remaining months of 2023, monetary policy management is forecast to continue facing many challenges, as both the world and domestic economies are still experiencing complicated developments. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) continues to closely monitor economic and monetary developments at home and abroad in order to proactively and flexibly use monetary policy tools to control inflation and support economic growth. Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Pham Thanh Ha, spoke with the media about the management of monetary policy. How have external difficulties and challenges, as well as within the country, affected monetary policy management in the first five months of the year? What solutions has the central bank implemented to ease the pressure? In the first months of 2023, many countries continued to face the risk of economic recession and high inflation. The trend of monetary tightening is … [Read more...] about SBV encouragse banks to reduce lending interest rates
Prime Minister issues directive to enhances data sharing for e-commerce development
The directive highlighted that Vietnam's digital economy has witnessed a strong development with the important contribution of e-commerce in recent years. The Government has issued many policies, regulations and drastic measures to improve the efficiency of state management over e-commerce activities, business on digital platforms and tax management. However, the rapid development of the e-commerce market has posed big challenges to the management of e-commerce activities and tax administration, it said. To adapt to the change in the business environment on the digital platform, there must be close coordination between specialized management agencies to control payment transactions and authenticate information of business organizations, individuals and taxpayers. In order to increase the effectiveness and promote digital transformation in the state management of e-commerce activities, trading on digital platforms and cross-border business as well as the sharing of data among … [Read more...] about Prime Minister issues directive to enhances data sharing for e-commerce development
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
Miss Grand International wins lawsuit
Miss Grand International 2021 Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien. Photo from Tien’s Instagram In November 2022, businesswoman Dang Thuy Trang filed a lawsuit against Tien demanding the beauty queen pay the total amount (worth around $102,000) in money owed, damages caused, and compensation. However, the court ruled against all the claimant’s demands on Wednesday. Trang had claimed that in June 2017, Tien had asked to borrow VND1.5 billion from her. Trang said Tien had asked for the money to help with preparations for her appearance in the Miss Southern Vietnam 2017 contest. According to Trang, Tien promised to pay the money back in full after one year. Trang, 36, asked her friend Nguyen Quan Trong to sign a promissory note for the loan on her behalf because she feared she wouldn’t be able to collect the debt on her own. However, when the promissory note expired, Tien did not repay the money as promised, Trang claimed. On top of that, Trang accused Tien of slandering her … [Read more...] about Miss Grand International wins lawsuit
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
HCM City eyes jump in economic growth to 5.87% in Q2
HCM City’s economic growth is expected to climb to 5.87 per cent in the second quarter of 2023, its leader has said. A view of HCM City at night. The city is expected to face economic headwinds during the rest of this year. — VNA/VNS Photo It was only 0.7 per cent in the first quarter. Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday, Phan Văn Mãi, chairman of its People’s Committee, said its economic growth in the first half is expected to be 3.55 per cent. Public spending in the first five months is expected to be worth VNĐ10.2 trillion (US$436.4 million), up 24 per cent year-on-year, he said. The global economic decline and high inflation will continue to affect the city’s economy across the board, hindering its recovery, he said. In May, the index of industrial production (IIP) rose by an estimated 1.5 per cent month-on-month and 5.5 per cent year-on-year. It was up 1.6 per cent year-on-year in the first five months. The services sector is expected to post the … [Read more...] about HCM City eyes jump in economic growth to 5.87% in Q2