A historic agreement The European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) started negotiations for a region-to-region free trade agreement in 2007. After negotiations were suspended in 2009, the EU decided to pursue bilateral trade agreements with the individual ASEAN member states. Negotiations between the EU and Vietnam on a free trade agreement were launched in 2010. Following the completion of technical discussions, talks were finalized in December 2015. In February 2016, the full text of the EVFTA was published. However, the official signing of the trade deal was delayed due to the pending judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on jurisdiction for the conclusion of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. To take the 2017 CJEU opinion into account, the original deal was split into the EVFTA and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in June 2018. Both agreements were signed on June 30, 2019 in Hanoi. The European … [Read more...] about EU trade deal offers opportunities to increase exports
The trade union act
Vietnam, UK legislatures will find common ground for closer cooperation: VUKN Chairman
Mr. Warwick Morris, Chairman of the Vietnam-UK Network (VUKN). (Photo: VNA) London (VNA) – Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and his entourage will make good use of the visit to the United Kingdom (UK) to develop further links between the two countries' parliamentarians, according to Mr. Warwick Morris , Chairman of Vietnam-UK Network (VUKN). Even though there are differences between the two systems, the two sides will find plenty of common ground, which hopefully will lead to closer cooperation and dialogue in bilateral parliamentary relations, Mr. Morris, who is also former British Ambassador to Vietnam, told Vietnam News Agency ahead of Hue’s official visit to the UK from June 28 – 30. Mr. Morris spoke highly of the Vietnam – UK relations, saying the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties next year is a fine milestone. The bilateral relationship has broadened and deepened enormously during the two decades since 2003 when Vietnam and the UK … [Read more...] about Vietnam, UK legislatures will find common ground for closer cooperation: VUKN Chairman
President hosts Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Switzerland
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Switzerland Philipp Rosler (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception on June 28 for Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Switzerland Philipp Rosler and a Swiss business delegation who are visiting Vietnam to seek opportunities for trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Germany and Switzerland. The State leader hailed the contributions by Rosler to the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership either as a German politician in the past or a business leader and Vietnam ’s Honorary Consul in Switzerland at present. Noting the fast recovery of tourism in Vietnam, President Phuc said he hopes more and more tourists and businesses from Europe will come to Vietnam. According to the President, although the EVFTA has opened up opportunities for trade and investment ties between Vietnam and Germany and Switzerland, bilateral trade between Vietnam and those countries … [Read more...] about President hosts Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Switzerland
President hosts Honorary Consul of Việt Nam in Switzerland
President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Tuesday had talks with Honorary Consul of Việt Nam in Switzerland Philipp Rosler in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất HÀ NỘI — President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Tuesday hosted a reception for Honorary Consul of Việt Nam in Switzerland Philipp Rosler and a Swiss business delegation who are visiting Việt Nam to seek opportunities for trade and investment cooperation between Việt Nam and Germany and Switzerland. The State leader hailed the contributions by Rosler to the Việt Nam-Germany strategic partnership either as a German politician in the past or a business leader and Việt Nam’s Honorary Consul in Switzerland at present. Noting the fast recovery of tourism in Việt Nam, President Phúc said he hoped more and more tourists and businesses from Europe would come to the country following the reopening. According to the President, although the EVFTA has opened up opportunities for trade and investment ties between Việt Nam and Germany and Switzerland, … [Read more...] about President hosts Honorary Consul of Việt Nam in Switzerland
Vietnamese goods, foods introduced in U.K.
The week-long event, which started on June 26, is hosted by the Vietnam Trade Office under the Vietnamese Embassy in the U.K. in collaboration with the Vietnam Business Association in the U.K. (VBUK), and Longdan and EUTEK groups. As part of activities in the trade promotion program of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the event aims to promote Vietnamese high-quality products which are benefiting from the U.K.-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), to British retailers and consumers. Handicraft products, coffee, fresh and dried fruits, canned fruit juice, vermicelli, dried noodle, rice papers, cashew nuts, and fragrant rice of reputable export enterprises of Vietnam are being displayed at the supermarket and Vietnamese markets in Nottingham city. At the event, Sao Thai Duong JSC became the first Vietnamese enterprise to set up a showroom in the U.K. to introduce its herbal healthcare and beauty products. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ambassador Nguyen … [Read more...] about Vietnamese goods, foods introduced in U.K.
NA leader’s Hungary visit grabs headlines on Eastern European media
NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (L) and his Hungarian counterpart László Kövér at the press meeting on June 27. (Photo: VNA) Budapest (VNA) – Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue's official visit to Hungary has attracted attention from the media in Eastern Europe. In Hungary, Magyar Nemzet (Hungarian Nation) newspaper ran an article saying the two countries’ traditional friendship has recorded great strides, especially since the visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Orban Viktor and a trip to the European nation by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong. Hue's visit from June 25-28 would create a stepping stone for the two countries’ comprehensive partnership to enter a new chapter in the time ahead, particularly after Vietnam and the European Union (EU) completed the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and a free trade agreement (EVFTA), according to Magyar Nemzet. In its writing, Magyar … [Read more...] about NA leader’s Hungary visit grabs headlines on Eastern European media
Young Vietnamese starts business collecting waste
As a new university graduate who wants to own a business and create jobs for young workers, Nguyen Van Tien, residing in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, chose to start his business by collecting waste. When he was a student of the Saigon Technology University, Tien set his career plan of running a company instead of being in someone’s employment. He started his recyclable waste collection business in 2012. When collecting recyclable waste for local children’s small social plans, Tien thought that those materials could be reused and it was wasteful to get rid of them. The saying 'one man’s trash is another man’s treasure' inspired him to collect recyclable waste and establish a company operating in scrap management and recycling. Every day, Nguyen Van Tien rolls up his sleeves to directly involve himself in the waste collection. His employees collect recyclable waste at locations as agreed, including trade centers, convenience stores, and schools. Waste will … [Read more...] about Young Vietnamese starts business collecting waste
Vietnam – Hungary legislative conference talks legal framework for green development
NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (second, left) and his Hungarian counterpart László Kövér (second, right) co-chair the legislative conference in Budapest on June 27. (Photo: VNA) Budapest (VNA) – Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue and his Hungarian counterpart László Kövér co-chaired a legislative conference in Budapest on June 27, with a focus on the legal framework on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction, renewable energy, and the green economy. In his remarks, Kövér said Hungary is always determined to protect the environment, which is clearly reflected in its development orientations and legal regulations. Its climate policy was adapted to the European Union (EU)’s requirements but didn’t neglect its own features and its people’s interests. Hungary was one of the first countries to issue legal mechanisms for realising the goals of reducing 40 percent of GHG emissions by 1990 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Its law on … [Read more...] about Vietnam – Hungary legislative conference talks legal framework for green development