The Q&A session of the NA Standing Committee's 14th session will focus on public security, culture, sports and tourism matters (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Issues in the areas of public security and culture, sports and tourism will be the focus of the question-and-answer session of the 15th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee’s 14th session on August 10, according to a freshly-released plan of the NA Standing Committee. In the field of public security, the questions will focus on State management over cybersecurity, the safety of national cybersecurity system in the current period, and measures to prevent and strictly handle high-tech crimes. The implementation of resolutions of the NA and NA Standing Committee of the National Assembly related to crime prevention and control, especially drug-related crimes, credit shark, and usury will also be included in the agenda of the session, along with the implementation of the issuance of citizen identification cards, the … [Read more...] about NA’s Q&A session to focus on public security, culture-sports-tourism matters
Supply side economics focuses on tax cuts to stimulate
Modern slant found through key planning
In the updated draft national master plan for the rest of the decade and with orientations to 2050 that was released last week, the section on the nation’s urban and rural network highlighted that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are continuing to promote their effectiveness and spillover effects. It is hoped that they will develop dynamically and creatively in order to compete internationally. Vietnam’s planning orientation for the next few years aims to push development of satellite towns, Le Toan At last week’s conference on the national master plan held by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Hanoi, Tran Hong Quang, director general of the ministry’s Vietnam Institute for Development Strategies (VIDS), revealed that the two biggest cities will focus on developing high-quality and high-value-added services in sci-tech, health, training, and IT, as well as restricting processing and manufacturing industries that use a lot of land and labour. “We should push the … [Read more...] about Modern slant found through key planning
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
National master planning needs changes in development thinking for breakthrough
Until now, only seven out of 111 planning documents have been approved, including those on national land use and only 4 national industry planning pieces in the transportation field. It is obviously illogical since land is a valuable national resource and should be allocated to best promote the national competitiveness as well as the regional geographic advantages after identifying specific regional industry planning. He took the planning of Lien Chieu Port in Da Nang City as an illustration. It is too hard to transform this port into an international-scaled one no matter how much the local authorities wish for it to come true. Meanwhile, Chan May Port on the other side of Hai Van Pass is a more suitable place for this purpose. Considering the regional competitive advantage, it would be much better to invest in turning the latter port into an international one and building a railway to connect it to neighboring areas. As to the vision until 2050 of the newly released national … [Read more...] about National master planning needs changes in development thinking for breakthrough
Rough waters remain in fuel price pressure
The Government Office last week issued Dispatch No.4648/VPCP-KTTH to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) requiring it to continue proposing a reduction of taxes and fees related to fuel and consumption, especially those that can cause an increase in input costs for production and business. Rough waters remain in fuel price pressure “This aims to help reduce costs and selling prices of products in service of exports, production, and business, contributing to controlling inflation and supporting the government’s monetary policy in the short and medium term,” the dispatch stated. The MoF has also proposed to the government a plan to halve the preferential import tax for petrol and oil from the existing 20 to 10 per cent, in order to help reduce the prices of these items in the local market. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government has also submitted to the National Assembly a plan on reducing the special consumption tax and VAT for October. According to the General Statistics … [Read more...] about Rough waters remain in fuel price pressure
Demand for cotton forces adjustments
Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading JSC exported over one-third of its products to the United States in 2021. However, the company started to face challenges following the US’ blanket ban on all Xinjiang cotton. Last year, President Joe Biden signed into law the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Vietnam’s cotton imports reach up to one million tonnes each year, Photo: Shutterstock Tran Nhu Tung, chairman of the company, said that the company has adopted regulations this year related to this act. Accordingly, buyers have to be responsible for export orders to the US which source Chinese cotton materials. Thanh Cong secures many large orders from the US. In 2022, the company sets a target to generate $179 million in revenues and $10.87 million in profit, up 120 per cent and 188 per cent respectively against last year. Tung noted that yarn exports are the main driving force for Thanh Cong. “There is a rapidly growing demand for yarn imports in the global … [Read more...] about Demand for cotton forces adjustments
Cambodia announces outcomes of AMM-55 and related meetings
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn (Photo: AP) Phnom Penh (VNA) - The 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting ( AMM-55 ) and related meetings have successfully concluded, with some 30 documents on regional cooperation adopted, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on August 6. "We have reviewed the progress made thus far to strengthen ASEAN's community building, advance regional integration, and enhance our cooperation with external partners," he told a press conference. The official said that over the course of three and a half days, 19 meetings were held back-to-back, with the participation of foreign ministers and representatives from 38 countries. On the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the ASEAN foreign ministers encouraged the effective operationalisation of the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies. He added that the ministers also stressed the need to strengthen supply … [Read more...] about Cambodia announces outcomes of AMM-55 and related meetings
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
HCM City highlights local cultures to ignite urban tourism
Ho Chi Minh City's Can Gio attractive to tourists (Photo: vntrip.vn) HCM City (VNA) - Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism sector has actively brought its indigenous culture into urban tourism , considering this as one of the strategies to promote the strengths of the city’s destination network. Many districts have continuously launched new tourism products to stimulate the tourism market. The moves have initially impressed local people and helped attract more tourists to the city. Recently, the People's Committee of district 5 launched a programme named "Visiting Cho Lon to Watch the Lion Dance". This programme is implemented on Saturday and Sunday of the 2nd week of each month at The Garden Mall on Hong Bang street. Within the framework of the event, there are also many mobile booths serving food, and introducing local specialties and souvenirs. Similarly, tourism product "Tan Phu - Going is remembering" implemented by the People's Committee of Tan Phu district is attracting … [Read more...] about HCM City highlights local cultures to ignite urban tourism
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