When facing challenges

Chairman of the Korean Business Association in Viet Nam, Shon Young Il, speaks at a dialogue between Korean business executives and HCM City authorities on June 24. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuan Anh The chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Viet Nam, Shon Young Il, has called on HCM City authorities to help Korean firms resolve difficulties they face in investing and operating in the city. Shon was speaking at a meeting between Korean business executives and city officials late last week organised by the People’s Committee and Korean consulate general in the city. The meeting was held to review the performance of Korean enterprises and for the city officials to listen to their problems and offered solutions. The problems discussed included some related to labour, with Shon saying a number of businesses complained about difficulties in obtaining work permits for foreign workers. Reducing costs, including salaries, is an imperative part of doing business, and so … [Read more...] about HCM City promises to ease problems faced by Korean investors

Peter Bernhardt, team leader of the ARISE+ Vietnam project Since coming into force in August 2021, the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has become an effective tool for boosting trade ties between the EU and Vietnam. What should Vietnam pay attention to in order to benefit more from this deal? I agree that the overall picture of EVFTA performance in this starting period, where exporters and government authorities from both sides have to adapt to the new situation, looks definitely promising. The EVFTA is the most ambitious FTA that the EU has ever signed with a developing country. The deal will mutually lift about 99 per cent of the tariffs within 10 years. Duty was lifted from 65 per cent of EU exports to Vietnam and 71 per cent of Vietnamese exports to the EU, immediately after the EVFTA came into effect. As most Vietnamese exporting products are consumer products, the real challenge Vietnam exporters will face to comply with EU consumer protection regulations is … [Read more...] about EU supporting comprehensive implementation of the EVFTA

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong is welcomed by her Vietnamese counterpart Bùi Thanh Sơn on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese foreign minister Bùi Thanh Sơn on Monday welcomed his Australian counterpart Penny Wong on her official visit to Việt Nam. Việt Nam is the first Southeast Asian country Wong paid a visit to after assuming the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs position. Congratulating Australia on its success in the federal election and COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Minister Sơn believes that Wong’s visit will further promote the strategic partnership between the two countries. Việt Nam and Australia will soon commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 2023. The Vietnamese foreign minister also expressed his gratitude to the Australian government for their prompt support in providing COVID-19 vaccines and medical equipment for Việt Nam, particularly the 14.4 million doses for children, which … [Read more...] about Concrete actions are important to shared prosperity: Australian foreign minister