In the updated draft national master plan for the rest of the decade and with orientations to 2050 that was released last week, the section on the nation’s urban and rural network highlighted that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are continuing to promote their effectiveness and spillover effects. It is hoped that they will develop dynamically and creatively in order to compete internationally. Vietnam’s planning orientation for the next few years aims to push development of satellite towns, Le Toan At last week’s conference on the national master plan held by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Hanoi, Tran Hong Quang, director general of the ministry’s Vietnam Institute for Development Strategies (VIDS), revealed that the two biggest cities will focus on developing high-quality and high-value-added services in sci-tech, health, training, and IT, as well as restricting processing and manufacturing industries that use a lot of land and labour. “We should push the … [Read more...] about Modern slant found through key planning
Why economic stability is important
Vietnam, Laos contribute greatly to ASEAN Community building: Lao Deputy PM
Granting an interview to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s correspondents in Laos on the occasion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s 55th founding anniversary (August 8), Saleumasay said that Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995, and two years later, Laos also became a member of the group. Since then, the two countries have become active members, making important contribution to the bloc's policy and vision making. Regarding the building of the ASEAN Economic Community, he said that Vietnam is a major country and plays an important role in the region, and has relations with many countries, especially great powers, which is also its direct contribution to the ASEAN Economic Community’s important role in the region and the world as well. Since their admission to ASEAN, Vietnam has assumed the role as ASEAN Chair thrice, while Laos will take on the position for the third time in 2024. During these times, both Laos and Vietnam have stressed the central leadership role of … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Laos contribute greatly to ASEAN Community building: Lao Deputy PM
Stock market to benefit from unexpectedly strong domestic growth: VinaCapital
Viet Nam has the cheapest valuations and second highest EPS growth in Southeast Asia, as this table shows. — Source VinaCapital “Viet Nam’s economy is even stronger than we had expected at the beginning of the year, but that strength is not reflected by higher stock prices due to the [US’s] aggressive rate hikes and the recent regulatory crackdown in Viet Nam,” Michael Kokalari, chief economist at VinaCapital, has said in a report. “That said, we expect over 20 per cent [company earnings] growth in 2022, which should support a recovery in the VN-Index by the end of 2022.” July economic statistics have not only reinforced VinaCapital’s forecast of 7.5 per cent GDP growth in 2022 but also make it look like the economy would grow by a stunning 10 per cent year-on-year in the current quarter, he said. “Our expectation that Viet Nam’s economy will grow by at least 7.5 per cent this year (and by at least 10 per cent in Q3) leads us to believe that the consensus forecast for 16 per … [Read more...] about Stock market to benefit from unexpectedly strong domestic growth: VinaCapital
Cambodia announces outcomes of AMM-55 and related meetings
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn (Photo: AP) Phnom Penh (VNA) - The 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting ( AMM-55 ) and related meetings have successfully concluded, with some 30 documents on regional cooperation adopted, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on August 6. "We have reviewed the progress made thus far to strengthen ASEAN's community building, advance regional integration, and enhance our cooperation with external partners," he told a press conference. The official said that over the course of three and a half days, 19 meetings were held back-to-back, with the participation of foreign ministers and representatives from 38 countries. On the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the ASEAN foreign ministers encouraged the effective operationalisation of the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies. He added that the ministers also stressed the need to strengthen supply … [Read more...] about Cambodia announces outcomes of AMM-55 and related meetings
Demand for cotton forces adjustments
Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading JSC exported over one-third of its products to the United States in 2021. However, the company started to face challenges following the US’ blanket ban on all Xinjiang cotton. Last year, President Joe Biden signed into law the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Vietnam’s cotton imports reach up to one million tonnes each year, Photo: Shutterstock Tran Nhu Tung, chairman of the company, said that the company has adopted regulations this year related to this act. Accordingly, buyers have to be responsible for export orders to the US which source Chinese cotton materials. Thanh Cong secures many large orders from the US. In 2022, the company sets a target to generate $179 million in revenues and $10.87 million in profit, up 120 per cent and 188 per cent respectively against last year. Tung noted that yarn exports are the main driving force for Thanh Cong. “There is a rapidly growing demand for yarn imports in the global … [Read more...] about Demand for cotton forces adjustments
Euro-dollar parity threatens the nation’s exports
The EU is Vietnam’s second-largest trading partner and an export market that witnessed the euro fall below $1 for the first time in nearly 20 years on July 29. Euro-dollar parity threatens the nation’s exports, source: freepik.com Pham Van Viet, chairman of Viet Thang Jeans, the top 5 leading fashion companies in Indochina, said that the immediate impact on textile and garment export enterprises is a decrease in value. All customers in Europe pay in euros and Vietnamese businesses that receive money back home must exchange it for USD. Now that the euro has fallen to the level of the US dollar, the export value of each shipment will decrease accordingly. “Profits of businesses are low because input costs such as gasoline, input material prices, and labour costs have all increased, now the plunge in euro prices will drag profits down even more,” he told VIR. Viet added that the depreciation of the euro shows that the European market is currently unstable, and … [Read more...] about Euro-dollar parity threatens the nation’s exports
EVFTA underpinning growth in Vietnamese tech market
As Vietnam steps into the post-pandemic era, experiences and learnings from the pandemic serve as a reminder of the importance of digital transformation and its crucial technology component. Eunjung Han, consultant at Rouse Legal Vietnam and vice chair of the Digital Sector Committee of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam Despite COVID-19’s negative economic and social impact, Vietnam remains an attractive destination to European investors. According to the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) 2021 White Book, Vietnam’s stable macro-economic climate, with inflation in the single digits, continues to increase investor confidence in the country’s trade and investment environment. Only adding to that, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is paving the way for continued foreign direct investment (FDI) from the EU and is viewed as a means for shared recovery and economic rebound. As the first comprehensive FTA between the EU and a developing country in … [Read more...] about EVFTA underpinning growth in Vietnamese tech market
Defense minister inspects Vietnam Military History Museum’s project and Army Corps 2
During the visit, General Giang directly inspected the construction progress of the project and listened to reports delivered by the investor and the contractors about the results of the first phase of the project. Speaking at the working session with the investors and contractors, General Giang praised the collaboration among relevant agencies and functional organs of the defense ministry to ensure the project’s progress. He underlined that the project is significantly meaningful in terms of history and culture; therefore, he urged the investors to continue disseminating the importance of the project to relevant units and agencies, implementing the work in close line with legal regulations on managing construction investment and bidding, and avoiding wastefulness. Also, the defense minister required the contractors to ensure regulations of occupational safety and the construction’s quality as required. * The same day, General Giang worked with Army Corps 12 (Truong Son … [Read more...] about Defense minister inspects Vietnam Military History Museum’s project and Army Corps 2
Thailand’s Kasikornbank opens first branch in HCM City
The bank has served Vietnamese customers via its two representative offices in Hanoi and HCM City since 2015. Speaking at the opening ceremony held on August 5, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura said that Thailand is currently the 9th largest foreign investor in Vietnam and also the largest trading partner of the country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. The opening of a branch by KBank in HCM City is an important milestone reflecting the bank’s strategic vision in strengthening economic ties between Thailand and Vietnam, he said. Nguyen Van Dung, Deputy Director of the State Bank of Vietnam, HCM City branch said putting into operation of KBank branch in the city will raise the number of foreign bank branches in the city to 32, contributing to diversifying the activities of the credit institutions in the locality. Sharing about the potential of the Vietnamese market, Kattiya Indaravijaya, CEO of KBank said that Vietnam is a rising star … [Read more...] about Thailand’s Kasikornbank opens first branch in HCM City
The art of combined-arms operations in victory of air defense troops’ first battle
The victory in the first battle of the air defense troops also left invaluable lessons, of which the most remarkable one is the art of employing combined arms in air defense operations. To prepare for the war of destruction against North Vietnam then, from February 1964, U.S. air force used recce aircraft and paratroops to intrude the territory of North Vietnam from the sea so as to sabotage coastal economic and military facilities. At the beginning of April 1964, with the plan to air-raid 94 targets in the North, the U.S. “invented” the Gulf of Tonkin incident to legalize its war of destruction. Closely following the developments and learning the plot as well as activities in preparation for the war of destruction of the U.S. troops, in June 1964, the Politburo issued a resolution on enhancing combat capabilities and staying ready to foil the plot of the U.S. invaders. Party committees and governments of localities were to enhance their civil air defense alert and strengthen air … [Read more...] about The art of combined-arms operations in victory of air defense troops’ first battle