At a Wednesday meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the delegation of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), the council's president Ted Osius said U.S. businesses consider Vietnam a strategic market and are ready to commit to long-term investments in the Southeast Asian nation. Osius said the delegation were highly supportive of the Vietnamese government’s moves towards a more digital and green society. He also encouraged steps the country has taken in infrastructure development, such as the construction of new highways and metro rail public transit options, the Vietnam Government Portal reported. U.S. ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper said the American grouping at the meeting was the largest U.S. business delegation to ever visit Vietnam. He said this confirmed the commitment of the U.S. government and the private sector to support a strong and prosperous Vietnam via cooperation. At the meeting, the delegation proposed new ideas and opportunities for business … [Read more...] about Major US companies laud Vietnam as strategic market
Vietnam 787 economy
New global tax to diminish Vietnam’s FDI attractiveness
The 15% tax on profits, which was approved by 136 countries in 2021, is considered the deepest overhaul of cross-border tax rules in decades. The purpose of the overhaul is to ensure that tech giants such as Apple and Google will not have an unfair advantage by booking their profits in low-tax countries such as Ireland. The tax applies to multinationals with total revenues of at least EUR750 million ($819 million) in two of the preceding four years. This means that a company that invests in a foreign country will have be taxed by that country by at least 15%. Vietnam, along with the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and the E.U. plan to start collecting the tax next year. It is estimated that 100 multinationals will be affected by the tax, which is expected to yield an extra $220 billions in tax income globally. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, deputy director of publicity at Canon Vietnam, said that tax incentive is one of the key factors for the company to maintain its large-scale … [Read more...] about New global tax to diminish Vietnam’s FDI attractiveness
2023 Vietnam Business Forum focuses on green growth
The annual forum, co-organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), serves as an uninterrupted and close dialogue mechanism between the Government and the domestic and foreign business communities in order to improve business conditions to promote the development of the domestic private sector and facilitate the investment environment, thus contributing to Vietnam's sustainable economic growth. In her opening remarks, MPI Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc said throughout its 25-year history, VBF has always adhered to the goal and mission of acting as a bridge between the business community and Government agencies. Through the forum, the business community has provided feedback and recommendations to improve the business and investment environment and promote sustainable socio-economic development, while constantly renewing their vision and operation methods towards paying greater attention to … [Read more...] about 2023 Vietnam Business Forum focuses on green growth
Silicon Valley Bank collapse not to impact Vietnam: VinaCapital
The Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapse by itself will end up being neutral for Vietnam’s stock market and economy, Michael Kokalari, chief economist at investment fund VinaCapital, has said in a report. Clients waiting outside a branch of the Silicon Valley Bank in Santa Clara, California. — AFP/VNA Photo “Furthermore, we see no substantial risk that the dynamics which negatively impacted SVB and certain other regional US banks could significantly impact the profitability and/or solvency of banks in Vietnam.” It was widely reported that latent losses on SVB’s securities portfolio coupled with a drop in deposits at the bank were the main factors that led to its rapid insolvency, it said. Vietnamese banks also held Government bonds on their balance sheets, and the prices of 10-year Vietnam Government bonds (VGBs) had dropped by around 15 per cent since mid-2021 and yields surged. However, VGB holdings only accounted for around 6 per cent of listed banks’ … [Read more...] about Silicon Valley Bank collapse not to impact Vietnam: VinaCapital
Vietnam, U.S. nourish economic, trade, investment ties
During a working session with a delegation from the U.S. - ASEAN Business Council (USABC) in Hanoi on March 23, Anh expressed his delight at the strong and substantial development of cooperation between Vietnamese and U.S. firms. He highly valued the U.S. businesses’ positive contributions to the transformation and growth of Vietnam's economy, and expressed the readiness to engage in dialogues with U.S. enterprises to address obstacles in bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation. Hailing the U.S. firms for expanding operations, research and development and innovation, he suggested the USABC further enhance its role as a bridge promoting Vietnam - U.S. comprehensive partnership effectively and substantially that are aligned with needs and interests of both sides; step up collaboration in diversifying and ensuring supply chains, and further expand business operations. The USABC delegation vowed to continue partnering closely with Vietnam and nourish Vietnam - U.S. … [Read more...] about Vietnam, U.S. nourish economic, trade, investment ties
Seminar seeks experts’ advice for Vietnam’s green transition
At the event (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – A seminar on green and inclusive transition toward sustainable development in developing nations took place in Ho Chi Minh City on March 25, seeking experts’ advice for such progress in Vietnam. The event was co-organised by the EfD (Environment for Development)- Vietnam , the Economy and Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA), and the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH). Dr Nguyen Quang from the UEH said, heavily affected by climate change, Vietnam has become one of the pioneering countries in Southeast Asia in green transition. He noted that Vietnam has come up with many outstanding financial policies concerning taxes, fees and economic tools to help enterprises develop green production, with many local firms switching from traditional business models to smarter and more sustainable, environmentally friendly ones. Dr Nguyen The Chinh from the EEPSEA pointed a number of existing barriers … [Read more...] about Seminar seeks experts’ advice for Vietnam’s green transition
High-tech talent pool to aid transformation
Proposals relating to cooperation and encouraging foreign investors to join Vietnam’s innovation journey were addressed at some forums, including one at VIR’s headquarters and the annual Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) organised in Hanoi over a week back. Working groups of the Vietnam Business Forum touched on a variety of topics and recommendations for greater progress Photo: Dung Minh One particular area of discussion focused on the digital economy and tech such as blockchain. Do Tien Thinh, deputy director of the Vietnam National Innovation Centre (NIC) said at VIR’s forum on digital transformation on March 21 that the NIC is working with many big foreign technology groups to connect them with domestic enterprises to implement training courses and technical supporting programmes. Thinh said Google has implemented digital skill training courses for businesses, especially startups. In mid-2022, Google launched a certification initiative and Startup Academy Vietnam, … [Read more...] about High-tech talent pool to aid transformation
Central bank must keep a close on financial market: WB
The headquarters of the State Bank of Vietnam in downtown Hanoi. (Photo: SBV) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The State Bank of Vietnam must step up efforts in the management of the country's banking sector and prepare for all possible scenarios for timely and effective interventions, according to the World Bank (WB). Carolyn Turk, WB Country Director in Vietnam, said the global economy will likely enter a period of turbulence while it's struggling with slow growth, decreased demand, high inflation and central banks around the world tightening credit. Turk's comment was made in the aftermath of an event in which three US banks: Silicon Valley Bank (the US's 16th largest bank), Silvergate Bank and Signature Bank, one after another, collapsed in a week. She said the ramifications of such an event will likely follow within a short time and consequences be felt across the global financial market, which commands policymakers to pay attention and plan for necessary interventions. She … [Read more...] about Central bank must keep a close on financial market: WB
Silicon Valley Bank collapse not to impact VN: VinaCapital
Clients waiting outside a branch of the Silicon Valley Bank in Santa Clara, California on March 13. (Photo: XINHUA/VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - The Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapse by itself will end up being neutral for Vietnam’s stock market and economy, Michael Kokalari, chief economist at investment fund VinaCapital , has said in a report. “Furthermore, we see no substantial risk that the dynamics which negatively impacted SVB and certain other regional US banks could significantly impact the profitability and/or solvency of banks in Vietnam.” It was widely reported that latent losses on SVB’s securities portfolio coupled with a drop in deposits at the bank were the main factors that led to its rapid insolvency, it said. Vietnamese banks also held Government bonds on their balance sheets, and the prices of 10-year Vietnam Government bonds (VGBs) had dropped by around 15% since mid-2021 and yields surged. However, VGB holdings only accounted for around 6% of listed … [Read more...] about Silicon Valley Bank collapse not to impact VN: VinaCapital
High pedestal to reach for 2023’s growth ambitions
High pedestal to reach for 2023’s growth ambitions Vietnam’s economic growth is projected to ease to 6.3 per cent in 2023 from a robust 8.02 per cent last year, as services growth moderates and higher prices and interest rates weigh on households and investors, according to the World Bank’s latest Taking Stock report released last week. Growth is expected to pick up to 6.5 per cent in 2024 as the economies of Vietnam’s main export markets gain strength, the report said. The outlook for Vietnam reflects heightened uncertainty in the global economy. Downside risks include weaker-than-expected growth in Vietnam’s major export markets, which include the United States, China, and the Eurozone, tightening financial conditions, higher domestic inflation, weaknesses in the balance sheets of corporate, banking and household sectors, and financial sector vulnerabilities. The Vietnamese government has set a target that GDP will increase 5.6 per cent in Q1, 6.7 per cent in Q2, 6.5 per … [Read more...] about High pedestal to reach for 2023’s growth ambitions