Dialogue discusses PPP projects in Vietnam The first high-level dialogue to accelerate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in Vietnam was held in Hanoi on March 21. The event was co-chaired by Minister of Planning and Investment (MPI) Bui Quang Vinh and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) General Director, Hiroshi Wantanabe, along with related representatives. Addressing the dialogue, Minister Bui Quang Vinh emphasised that the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan has developed well and seen remarkable milestones across many fields. He highlighted Japan's support, especially in strengthening cooperation between the private sector and the State sector to develop Vietnam's infrastructure. Japan is now Vietnam's largest Official Development Assistance (ODA) provider and the biggest national investor. Vinh also spoke highly of JBIC's contribution to infrastructure projects with the involvement of a number of international partners. JBIC has been a … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 23/3
Truong cao dang nghe da nang
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 8/3
Sales make Women's Day special Shops, supermarkets and even amusement parks in HCM City have announced promotions to mark International Women's Day, which falls next Friday. The Co.op Mart supermarket is offering discounts of up to 45 per cent on more than 4,000 products such as garments, beauty care products and household appliances. HTV Co.op, its television shopping channel that airs on HCM City Television will slash prices on certain items by up to 37 per cent until March 31. The channel will present vouchers worth VND50,000 for every order on Women's Day. French supermarket chain Big C is offering discounts of between 5 and 50 per cent on 2,000 cosmetic and fashion products until April 1 under its Ton vinh ve dep Viet ('to honour Vietnamese beauty') programme. Female customers will be offered free consultancy on skin and body care. Big C is also offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on 800 essential goods such as household items, food and confectionery until April … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 8/3
SOCIETY IN BRIEF 16/12
Official calls for crackdown on fuel fraud A top HCM City official has asked the Department of Science and Technology to punish 11 fuel wholesalers who were caught selling substandard gasoline. At a meeting on Wednesday, Le Manh Ha, deputy chairman of the People's Committee, suggested slapping them with the highest prescribed fine for palming off what were actually A82 to A90 petroleum products as A92. The numbers refer to the octane count in petroleum, with higher numbers indicating higher performance. He also said their licences should be withdrawn for 12 months and they should be made to make good the loss they caused consumers since selling sub-standard fuel was tantamount to selling fake products. Department officials concurred saying the fine of VND20 million to VND50 million (US$2,400) prescribed under Decree No. 71 was too little for the dishonest dealers. The profits they would have made by cheating was much bigger than the fine, they pointed out. Ha … [Read more...] about SOCIETY IN BRIEF 16/12
SOCIETY IN BRIEF 4/11
Island divers lack proper treatment for 'the bends' Decompression sickness, or " the ben ds", was a common and dangerous condition among Vietnamese fishermen who relied on deep sea diving to make their living but few hospitals had the ability to treat it effectively, health experts have said. Decompression sickness occurred following a sudden drop in the surrounding pressure when deep-sea divers ascended too quickly from a dive, said Dr Khuong Van Chu, deputy director of the Naval Medical Institute, which is located in northern Hai Phong port city. As they ascended to the surface and the pressure decreased, nitrogen formed bubbles in the blood and tissues which caused severe pain and possibly paralysis or even death, he said. A survey conducted on the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago showed that six out of every 33 divers suffered from decompression sickness but few received proper first aid and treatment. Bui Van Van, a deep sea diver on Con Dao Island in southern Ba Ria-Vung … [Read more...] about SOCIETY IN BRIEF 4/11
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 21/2
Restructuring of State-run firms faces challenges Restructuring of a number of State-owned enterprises has been delayed due to problems of redundant workers, collecting past-due debts and writing down losses, said deputy head of the Government Office and vice chairman of the Steering Committee on Business Renovation and Development, Pham Viet Muon. Muon told a meeting held here Wednesday by the Government Office and the World Bank that the process of equitising State-owned enterprises (SOEs) has slowed in the past five years. He said the Government has requested economic groups to submit restructuring plans by March of this year which would be focused on key lines business and plan for divestment from non-core business fields such as banking, real estate development, insurance and securities before 2015. Equitisation of companies was expected to be completed before 2020. Once operations were totally focused on key lines of business, with improved corporate governance, … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 21/2