MEXICO CITY -- Mexican archaeologists unearthed a richly adorned human body in a grave that could be more than 1,000 years old, in an area where workers were finishing construction on a major tourist rail project, the country's national antiquities institute INAH said on Monday. The discovery took place this month during archaeological salvage work carried out in tandem with building a multibillion-dollar tourist train in southern Mexico designed in large part to draw tourists to southern Mexico's many ancient Maya sites, as well as nearby top beach resorts like Cancun and Tulum. The remains of a human burial, unearthed by Mexican archaeologists during salvage work carried out in Palenque in tandem with building the rail project known as the Maya Train, are seen in this undated Handout photo received from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) on September 25, 2023. Photo: Reuters The rail project, known as the Maya Train, is a top economic … [Read more...] about Ancient Maya grave found in Mexico as tourist rail project advances
Vietnam delayed project
Vietnam eyes $10bn trade with Brazil by 2025: PM Pham Minh Chinh
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on Brazilian enterprises to beef up trade and investment activities in Vietnam to fully tap the great cooperation potential between the two countries, with the aim of boosting two-way trade to US$10 billion by 2025. PM Chinh was speaking at a powwow with representatives of Brazilian businesses in Sao Paulo on Sunday morning (local time) after he and his entourage arrived a day earlier for a four-day official visit at the invitation of President Lula da Silva. “The political relationship between our two countries is very good, but trade and investment relations are still not comparable, as there is still a lot of room for cooperation that has yet to be tapped,” the PM said at the event. Last year, the trade turnover between the two countries reached $6.78 billion, with Vietnam mainly importing from Brazil. Such bilateral trade remained modest as Brazil is the largest South American country with a population of 214 million people, … [Read more...] about Vietnam eyes $10bn trade with Brazil by 2025: PM Pham Minh Chinh
Vietnam news in brief – September 26
Check out the latest news about Vietnam. European Commission to inspect IUU fishing in Vietnam A delegation from the European Commission (EC) will visit Vietnam on October 10-18 to work with Vietnamese authorities on efforts to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing , the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said on September 25. A high-level dialogue session between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the EC working group will take place on October 18, 2023 to discuss the findings of the inspection. Delegates attend the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Goods Week in Paris. Photo: VNA Vietnamese products promoted at Frech Système U supermarket chain A delegation of 15 Vietnamese enterprises in agriculture, food, and textile industries are promoting their products at the Système U supermarket chain in France as part of the Vietnamese Goods Week in France. The event was inaugurated on September 25 in … [Read more...] about Vietnam news in brief – September 26
Vietnam’s retail sector faces mounting challenges
On September 22, Vietnam Report unveiled its annual list of the Top 10 Credible Retail Companies for 2023. The rankings, reflected an industry grappling with significant challenges of considerable interest to investors and stakeholders. Since the fourth quarter of 2022, Vietnam’s retail sector has witnessed subdued growth. Profits have been under strain thanks to subdued demand stemming from a dip in public incomes due to export challenges. Additionally, many retailers are navigating the complexities of high interest rates and stringent credit conditions set by consumer finance entities. The fresh survey conducted by Vietnam Report highlighted that almost all businesses (100 per cent) cited weak consumer demand as a concern, with 92.9 per cent noting the persistent economic slowdown. Early 2023 also saw retailers facing fierce price competition, further straining profits. To combat this dip in consumer spending, nearly 64 per cent of retailers plan to launch consumer incentive … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s retail sector faces mounting challenges
Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minorities featured on Google Arts
Visitors can gain a deeper insight into Vietnam's rich and diverse ethnicity through the virtual photo exhibition. Two hundred photographs of women in traditional costumes from 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups, taken by renowned French photographer Réhahn, are being displayed for the first time on Google Arts' online digital museum - Google Arts & Culture. This portrait of a Red Dao woman was taken by Réhahn in Sapa, Vietnam's northern province of Lao Cai. The photo exhibition of 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups called "Precious Heritage" is divided into eight categories, including the costumes and cultures of ethnic groups living in the north, south, central, and southeastern regions and the art of indigo cloth dyeing of ethnic people in northern Vietnam. The captions are written in three languages-Vietnamese, English, and French-and introduce the different characteristics, lifestyles, and customs of each ethnic group, helping viewers better understand the … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minorities featured on Google Arts
Cuban delegation visits Vietnam-Cuba friendship hospital in Dong Hoi
President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez presents a gift to a child patient treated at the hospital. (Photo: VNA) Quang Binh (VNA) – A Cuban high-level delegation headed by President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez on September 25 visited the Vietnam-Cuba friendship hospital in the central province of Quang Binh’s Dong Hoi city, which was built in 1973 following then President Fidel Castro's visit to the region. Welcoming the delegation, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and head of the provincial delegation of NA deputies Vu Dai Thang highlighted Quang Binh’s appreciation of Cuba’s affection and assistance for the province and the liberated zone in South Vietnam during the fiercest days of the struggle. Recently, as part of a visit by Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue to Cuba in late April, the provincial People's Committee signed a memorandum of understanding on … [Read more...] about Cuban delegation visits Vietnam-Cuba friendship hospital in Dong Hoi
Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic ties anniversary celebrated in Can Tho
Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic ties anniversary celebrated in Can Tho . (Photo: VNA) Can Tho (VNA) – The Union of Friendship Organisations in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and the Dutch Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City jointly organised a ceremony on September 25 to mark the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands (1973-2023). Addressing the function, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien reviewed developments of the bilateral relations over the past 50 years, saying Can Tho has organised diverse activities to celebrate the anniversary. The comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the Netherlands as well as cooperation between Can Tho and Dutch localities will grow further for the sake of the two countries, and for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large, he said. Professor Ha Thanh Toan, Rector of Can Tho University, highlighted cooperation between the … [Read more...] about Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic ties anniversary celebrated in Can Tho
State-owned groups keen on roadmaps for reform
“In recent times, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) haven’t been contributing as much as they once did,” said Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, at last week’s national conference to address SOE production, business, and investment improvements. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, there are almost 50 SOEs. As of July, these enterprises boasted total assets of $4.43 billion with an equity capital of $3.16 billion. Their collective revenues for the first six months stood at $1.33 billion, with a profit of $205 million. Harnessing the vast resources of these SOEs is imperative for Ho Chi Minh City’s economic growth, Mai stressed, adding that the private sector, inclusive of both private domestic groups and foreign direct investment, have also been expected, and even tasked, to stimulate economic growth. Such a predicament is not solely Ho Chi Minh City’s cross to bear. The decline has echoes globally, influenced by international economic instability, political … [Read more...] about State-owned groups keen on roadmaps for reform
Forum discusses impact of climate change
At the forum, held also thanks to the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, speakers emphasised the substantial challenges faced by the climate finance sector in Vietnam in aligning significant investment opportunities with environmental objectives. This sentiment was shared by Allen Forlemu, the IFC's regional industry director for Financial Institutions Group, Asia-Pacific, when he said, “It is evident that climate change is an increasingly disruptive factor for Vietnam's economy, and the costs are already starting to undermine growth. In 2020, Vietnam lost $10 billion, or 3.2 per cent of its GDP, to climate change impacts.” “If nothing is done, costs will only rise. In a business-as-usual scenario with limited global mitigation efforts, climate change could cost Vietnam up to 14.5 per cent of GDP annually in roughly 30 years, with the potential to push a million people into extreme poverty in less than a decade,” … [Read more...] about Forum discusses impact of climate change
Vietnamese, Brazilian firms asked to work together to raise trade to 10 billion USD
An overview of the meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Brazilian businesses . (Photo: VNA) Sao Paulo (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 24 asked Vietnamese and Brazilian businesses to concretise cooperation mechanisms with specific programmes and projects, with an aim to bring two-way trade turnover to 10 billion USD by 2025, and 15-20 billion USD by 2030 in a more balanced direction. PM Chinh, who is in an official visit to the South American country, stressed that after nearly 35 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties, the bilateral relations have developed positively in all fields. Vietnam and Brazil are currently each other's largest trading partner in Southeast Asia and South America, with their trade turnover reaching a record level of about 6.78 billion USD in 2022, up 6.6% year-on-year, and by threefold in the past decade. However, investment cooperation remains very modest, as Brazil currently has six valid projects … [Read more...] about Vietnamese, Brazilian firms asked to work together to raise trade to 10 billion USD