A picutre of District 7 in HCM City where located many office buildings. The hybrid working in Viet Nam and the Asia Pacific region is accelerating. — Photo Courtesy Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam The popularity of hybrid working in Viet Nam and the Asia Pacific region is likely to accelerate as Generation Z – those born between 1997 and 2012 – accounts for a larger percentage of the working-age population, experts said. Gen Z, which will reach one billion by 2030, is the first generation of digital natives. They expect a seamless connection between the physical and the digital, which is also what allows hybrid working to flourish. A report by Cushman & Wakefield titled “Asia Pacific Office of the Future Revisited” revealed that the majority of office workers in Asia Pacific, including Viet Nam, want to be more flexible in the way they work. Hybrid working is not a new concept, but it was relatively foreign to the masses before the COVID-19 virus hit. A hybrid office is … [Read more...] about Hybrid working grows in popularity in Asia
Slums how informal real estate markets work
EVFTA underpinning growth in Vietnamese tech market
As Vietnam steps into the post-pandemic era, experiences and learnings from the pandemic serve as a reminder of the importance of digital transformation and its crucial technology component. Eunjung Han, consultant at Rouse Legal Vietnam and vice chair of the Digital Sector Committee of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam Despite COVID-19’s negative economic and social impact, Vietnam remains an attractive destination to European investors. According to the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) 2021 White Book, Vietnam’s stable macro-economic climate, with inflation in the single digits, continues to increase investor confidence in the country’s trade and investment environment. Only adding to that, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is paving the way for continued foreign direct investment (FDI) from the EU and is viewed as a means for shared recovery and economic rebound. As the first comprehensive FTA between the EU and a developing country in … [Read more...] about EVFTA underpinning growth in Vietnamese tech market
Prospects abound for land-rich industrial players
According to Ngo Thi Kim Thanh, senior expert at the Investment Analysis and Consulting Centre for SSI Research, the land lease demand in industrial zones (IZs) continues to secure positive growth for 2022 and beyond. This is attributable to diverse factors such as China’s strict pandemic policy, and reopened borders – paving the way for foreign investors to strike new deals or wrap up land lease procedures which were signed earlier. Prospects abound for land-rich industrial players, Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA) Thanh gave the remarks at a talk show on the charm of real estate tickers, hosted by VIR in Hanoi last week. In the stock market, the performance of real estate tickers is being deemed a bright spot in the context of a lasting market correction since April. During the period, the ticker IDC of IDICO Corporation gained more than 20 per cent, KBC of Kinh Bac Urban Development Corporation rose more than 15 per cent, and VGC of top building material maker … [Read more...] about Prospects abound for land-rich industrial players
New foreign capital stutters despite overall deal boost
At a meeting with the leader of the southern province of Binh Duong last week, chairman of Sharp Corporation Yoshihiro Hashimoto revealed an expansion plan in the locality. Investors already with factories in the country are demonstrating that they trust the business climate here, Photo: Le Toan Sharp Group is exploring opportunities in the southern provinces of Vietnam, including Binh Duong, to move the supply chain away from the Chinese market, promoting market diversification and distribution, according to Hashimoto. “In the coming time, Sharp will continue to expand and build one more large-scale factory, oriented to develop high-tech and advanced products,” he said. Binh Duong is assessed as a locality with an attractive investment environment, in line with Sharp’s criteria. The group has two production factories located in Vietnam, at Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) I and an extended VSIP II. Sharp hopes to be supported in construction land, labour, and … [Read more...] about New foreign capital stutters despite overall deal boost
Businesses remain optimistic for remainder of the year
Scores of businesses have already unveiled their second-quarter business results, with many showing healthy figures. In the first half of this year, Hang Xanh Motors Service JSC (Haxaco) reaped $7.5 million in pre-tax profit, soaring 134 per cent on-year. This year, the company aims to reach $9.2 million in its profit-before-tax target, meaning it has completed 81 per cent after just six months. Haxaco’s board chairman Do Tien Dung unveiled that the company is committed to fulfilling its profit target in only nine months. However, Dung is cautious saying that the auto trade relies heavily on macro factors like fuel price, inflation, and interest rates. Haxaco is confident in reaching its full-year business targets early The auto industry is facing many challenges as customers find it harder to borrow after the central bank declined to loosen credit limits for banks and the scarcity of auto components continues. “Haxaco avoids heavy reliance on bank capital … [Read more...] about Businesses remain optimistic for remainder of the year
US ratchets up origin-tracing on cotton materials
Kenneth Chan, senior director of Market Development at Renze Textile JSC, under Texhong Group, has unveiled a new process to monitor origin-tracing. A tracing system is slated to be put into operation in August for the subsidiaries of Texhong Group, after Chan informed the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association and the American Cotton Association (CCI) at a meeting earlier in June. This US has made major decisions on cotton origin-tracing that affects Vietnam and beyond, Duc Thanh Renze, one of eight Texhong member companies, is using American cotton for its products to ensure product quality and comply with strict requirements for export to the United States and EU. From March, customers were able to access the Texhong cotton tracing system to trace the details of their orders. Chan noted that Renze is focusing on sustainability and transparency. He also informed the company’s partners about key development trends as well as viable solutions for Vietnamese suppliers to … [Read more...] about US ratchets up origin-tracing on cotton materials
Ten Hag era at United begins with defeat to Brighton
MANCHESTER, England -- New manager Erik ten Hag saw the depth of the crisis at Manchester United when his side fell to a 2-1 Premier League defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Sunday, with German Pascal Gross scoring twice. United fans' hopes that the off-season would mark a turning point have faded, with the club failing to make major moves yet in the transfer market and there was a grim familiarity to the club's opening match. The former Ajax coach witnessed a performance that was every bit as disjointed as those produced under his predecessors Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last season. The sense that this was a continuation of last year's decline began before kick-off where there were yet more loud and angry protests against United's owners, the American Glazer family, under the South Stand If that felt familiar, then the sight of Scott McTominay and Fred in midfield as United laboured against Graham Potter's superbly drilled side was verging on … [Read more...] about Ten Hag era at United begins with defeat to Brighton