SINGAPORE - A technical glitch at entry points into Singapore led to rare delays at one of the world's busiest airports on Friday, with snaking queues and disgruntled passengers for several hours as automated immigration lanes suffered problems. The city-state's immigration authority said it had "resumed normalcy" at checkpoints by 4 p.m. local time (0800 GMT) and was investigating the cause of the disruption, after earlier reporting "system slowness" at selected checkpoints, including, Changi Airport and two land border crossings with Malaysia. Changi, one of the busiest gateways in the world, had warned passengers to expect delays and authorities urged postponement of non-essential travel. Passengers queue at the departure hall of Changi Airport Terminal 3 in Singapore March 31, 2023. Photo: Reuters It handles nearly 150,000 passengers a day while about 300,000 people cross daily at the Woodlands and Tuas causeways linking Singapore with Malaysia. Posts on … [Read more...] about Singapore sees rare travel delays as tech problem hits immigration checkpoints
Silver 6 apple tech 752
Viet Nam remains favoured destination for global investors
Speakers at the Vietnam Innovation Forum titled “Sailing the digital sea” in HCM City on Thursday. — Photo Courtesy of NIC Investors hold an optimistic view of the country’s start-up eco-system, according to the 2023 Viet Nam Innovation and Tech Investment Report. Released by the Viet Nam National Innovation Centre (NIC) and Do Ventures at the Vietnam Innovation Forum titled “Sailing the digital sea” in HCM City on Thursday, it was the third annual report. It said: “Despite the turbulent global investment climate, Viet Nam remains a favoured destination for investors due to its sturdy economic growth and skilled young workforce.” The most common advice given to start-ups was to focus on the fundamental aspects of business, utilise capital wisely with a strategic approach and adjust to changes in the economic climate. The country's venture capital developments began to reflect global economic distress. So, despite a strong economic rebound, there was a 56 per cent decline … [Read more...] about Viet Nam remains favoured destination for global investors
Hanoi targets annual export growth of 5.5% until 2030
The plan's implementation seeks to capitalize on Hanoi's import-export advantages and promote the city's socioeconomic development toward green growth and rapid and sustainable progress. Hanoi aims to sustain an annual export growth rate of 4.4-5% between 2023 and 2025 and 5.1-5.5% between 2023 and 2030. Electronics production at Channel Well Technology Vietnam at Quang Minh Industrial Park, Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times The goals were included in the action plan to achieve Hanoi's import-export strategy until 2030, which was signed off on March 30 by Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen. The implementation of this plan seeks to leverage Hanoi's import-export advantages and support its socioeconomic development toward green growth, rapid and sustainable progress, and a stable growth rate in import-export activities. The emphasis is on the direct export promotion of key and advantageous city goods and attracting … [Read more...] about Hanoi targets annual export growth of 5.5% until 2030
Hanoi hosts a week-long exhibition showcasing OCOP farm products
On March 31, the event occurred adjacent to the Hanoi Cooperative Alliance's headquarters in Van Quan Ward, Ha Dong District. More than 100 cooperative groups of cooperative alliances from Hanoi and provinces all over the country participated in a week-long fair promoting the sale of farm produce and handicrafts recognized by the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program to showcase their products and agricultural models linked to eco-tourism. Hanoi's authorities attend the opening ceremony of the event. Photo: Trong Tung/ The Hanoi Times Do Huy Chien, the chairman of the Hanoi Cooperative Alliance, stated that the week-long fair aims to promote farm goods, processed foods, and OCOP items related to rural and agricultural sectors and traditional craft villages from Hanoi and other areas. "The event is also intended to link tourism promotion activities between the city and localities throughout the country, contributing to increasing the brand value of … [Read more...] about Hanoi hosts a week-long exhibition showcasing OCOP farm products
Vietnam expected to export 7 million tons of rice this year: Ministry
Vietnam now sees a sharp increase in rice orders from the Philippines and China. Acccording to Pham Thai Binh, General Director of Trung An Hi-tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, the company has signed an order to export 2,000 tonnes of rice to China and is under negotiation for another batch of 20,000 tons. Statistics from the General Administration of Vietnam Customs show that in the first two months of this year, China imported 152,640 tons of rice from Vietnam worth 90 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 86% in volume and 120% in value. Vietnamese rice exported to China enjoyed an average price of 589.7 USD per ton, 18.3% higher than that of the same period last year. Chinese customers mainly imported Vietnam’s high-quality rice like fragrant rice and sticky rice with high prices. Meanwhile, the Philippines is anticipated to import about 2.8 million tons of rice from Vietnam during the 2022-2023 crop because the country’s rice … [Read more...] about Vietnam expected to export 7 million tons of rice this year: Ministry
Promoting interregional linkage in the Red River Delta
The policy was announced by the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai at a workshop organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade together with Thai Binh People’s Committee on March 30. The workshop discussed ways to promote investment and create regional business linkages, aiming to consolidate the implementation of Politburo Resolution 30-NQ/TW on the Red River Delta development. The Red River Delta comprises 11 cities and provinces, including Hanoi, Haiphong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and Ninh Binh, with Hanoi and Haiphong as centrally governed cities. The delta is in a favourable geographic and political position for socioeconomic development, as it lies between the northeastern and northwestern regions, and between the northern mountainous areas and the central region. The delta is also adjacent to the Chinese market, with access to other northeast Asian countries, helping the northern provinces promote trade with the world. Speaking at the workshop, Minister of … [Read more...] about Promoting interregional linkage in the Red River Delta
Global minimum tax should not impact investors’ benefits: Conference
At the conference (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnam needs to develop appropriate policies to adapt to the global minimum tax and remain an attractive FDI destination , heard a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on March 29. Dr Tran Du Lich told the seminar, titled "Global Minimum Corporate Tax - Prospects and Challenges in attracting FDI in HCM City", that the global minimum corporate tax rate of 15%, which is set to be applied next year in Vietnam , is forecast to have a significant impact on Vietnam in whose economy FDI plays a significant role. The tax applies to multi-national corporations with revenues of at least 750 million euros (870 million USD). When a company invests in a foreign country but pays corporate income tax of less than 15% in that country, it will have to pay the difference in the country where it is headquartered. As of today, 141 countries and territories have signed up to implement the tax. “It is estimated that 1,015 FDI companies in … [Read more...] about Global minimum tax should not impact investors’ benefits: Conference
Global dealmaking sinks to lowest level in over a decade
NEW YORK/LONDON -- Global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity shrank to its lowest level in more than a decade in the first quarter of 2023, as rising interest rates, high inflation and fears of a recession soured the appetite of companies for dealmaking. M&A volumes during the first quarter slumped 48% to $575.1 billion as of March 30, compared to $1.1 trillion during the same period last year, according to data from Dealogic. A banking crisis that started in the United States this month with Silicon Valley Bank and spread to Europe with the Swiss government-orchestrated sale of Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S) to UBS Group AG (UBSG.S) roiled markets and stopped many deals in their tracks, investment bankers and lawyers said. "The first quarter had extraordinary levels of volatility and uncertainty - more than expected going into the year. And that has the impact of postponing some announcements," said Anu Aiyengar, global head of M&A at JPMorgan Chase & … [Read more...] about Global dealmaking sinks to lowest level in over a decade
Viet Nam, S Korea firms boost ties on agricultural technology, exports
Representatives of Sao Mai Group, JVC Hightech Energy LTD and J ONE Nuri Company sign an MoU. — Photo nongthonviet.com.vn Viet Nam’s Sao Mai Group and two South Korean companies, the JVC Hightech Energy LTD and J ONE Nuri, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for investment cooperation and technology transfer in agriculture. The cooperation aims to train Vietnamese farmers to master cultivation technologies and support manufacturers with export potential. On behalf of the South Korean delegation, CEO of J ONE Nuri Company Kim Heung-young said that Sao Mai Group can consider his company as a branch in East Asia. He emphasised the two reasons why South Korea chose Viet Nam as a destination, namely, South Koreans' love for Viet Nam and its favourable climatic conditions for agricultural development. The South Korean business delegation expressed their desire to find cooperation opportunities between the two countries in the field of technological application, … [Read more...] about Viet Nam, S Korea firms boost ties on agricultural technology, exports
Viet Nam to enhance competitiveness of logistics sector
Cat Lai Port in HCM City. Viet Nam will focus on enhancing the competitiveness of the logistics sector. — VNA/VNS Photo Viet Nam will focus on enhancing the competitiveness of the logistics sector and removing bottlenecks in the sector in order to promote trade and investment with India, an official has said. Speaking at a meeting on Thursday in HCM City, Pham Thi Ngoc Thuy, director of the Office of the Private Economic Development Research Committee, said there was immense potential for improvement in bilateral trade between Viet Nam and India, especially in the logistics sector. Viet Nam’s heavy investment in infrastructure development has created significant opportunities for logistics enterprises, she said. In addition to logistics, other key investment sectors include hi-tech agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, the supporting industry, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and tourism, among others. Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown … [Read more...] about Viet Nam to enhance competitiveness of logistics sector