The relaxation of visa requirements is an urgent necessity for the attraction of more tourists and the recovery of Vietnam's tourism industry. The Government of Vietnam is seeking approval from the National Assembly to issue electronic visas to citizens of all countries and territories. International tourists on the way to the sandy beach in the southern province of Khanh Hoa's Cam Ranh Coastal City. Photo: Trung Vu/ The Hanoi Times Accordingly, Vietnam would extend visa validity from 30 to less than 90 days for single or multiple entries and stay from 15 to 45 days for foreign visitors from Vietnam's Visa Waiver Program countries and territories. The measure is seen as a boost for the development of Vietnam's "smokeless industry", which will enhance the competitiveness of national tourism in Southeast Asia. The country reinstated the visa waiver policy for citizens of 24 countries after three years of border closures due to Covid-19. Despite being one … [Read more...] about Vietnam considers issuing e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories
Why veto power is considered a negative power in the security council
Vietnam’s first blockchain peer-to-peer energy trading project launched
Nalin Wickramasingher, Powerledger's BD and Sales Executive, and Le Thi Phuong Cam (L), EVNCPC's Deputy General Director, announced the partnership. (Photo courtesy of Powerledger) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Australian energy trading technology company, Powerledger, on March 28 announced it’s partnering with Vietnam Electricity Central Power Corporation (EVNCPC) to launch Vietnam's first peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading project at the Australia-Vietnam Forum on Energy Transition. The initial 6-month trial will see Powerledger’s technology used by so-called “prosumers” with rooftop solar in central Da Nang city and Quang Nam province to sell electricity directly to consumers. “This project is a major step for Vietnam. It will showcase how, with the right technology, issues of intermittency and grid congestion can be overcome whilst still growing renewables. Everyone on both sides of the partnership is looking forward to the results,” said Powerledger Chairman Dr Jemma Green. … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s first blockchain peer-to-peer energy trading project launched
Developments for Vietnam to watch in midst of bank crisis
In 2008, the US investment bank Bear Stearns, on the verge of collapse, had to be rescued by J.P. Morgan. This marked the beginning of the global financial crisis of 2008, which sent the global economy into a deep recession and caused significant economic damage, including massive employment losses. Patrick Lenain, senior associate at the Council on Economic Policies Today, several banks are once again in trouble. As of March 22, four large banks were in distress. Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a $212 billion US bank specialising in tech startups, collapsed when it was unable to meet deposit withdrawal requests and had to be taken over by federal regulators. A few days later, Signature Bank, another midsized US bank with assets of $110 billion, also suffered a severe liquidity crisis and was seized by federal regulators. This was followed by First Republic Bank with assets of $205 billion, which was hit by rating downgrades and a tumbling share price and had to be … [Read more...] about Developments for Vietnam to watch in midst of bank crisis
Private sector urged to enter eco-IP arena
The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) is urging a project steering committee to accelerate the transition of traditional industrial parks (IPs) to an ecological model as part of a nationwide eco-IP intervention initiative. Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc said, “The project has contributed to the replication of the eco-IP model in Vietnam, in line with the National Green Growth Strategy for 2021-2030, Vietnam’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and the net-zero emissions commitment to 2050.” Private sector urged to enter eco-IP arena, illustration photo. Developing eco-IPs is inevitable as many countries are applying the carbon tax mechanism on imported goods, the deputy minister added. “Meanwhile, many tenants in IPs are manufacturers for export, and they need a green certificate to export products. Thus, relevant parties continue to spread technical and financial support to many IPs at different … [Read more...] about Private sector urged to enter eco-IP arena
HoREA proposes extension of repayment schedules for businesses
On March 26, HoREA sent a document to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to propose some solutions for credit and project transfers to remove difficulties in the real estate market. According to HoREA, Decree No.08/2023/ND-CP has had a positive impact on the confidence of the market and its investors. This is the legal basis to pave the way for a negotiated agreement between the companies that have issued upcoming bonds and the bondholders. The decree, dated March 5, focuses on amending, supplementing, and ceasing the effect of a number of articles in previous decrees on the private placement of corporate bonds and the trading of privately placed corporate bonds on the domestic market, along with the offering of corporate bonds on the international market. These mechanisms and policies will remove the difficulties businesses have issuing bonds that are about to come due and support bondholders, while at the same time creating favourable conditions for the transfer of … [Read more...] about HoREA proposes extension of repayment schedules for businesses
Japanese banks to provide 300 million USD for Vietnam’s renewable energy
Illustrative photo. (Photo: baodautu.vn) Tokyo (VNA) – Four Japanese banks - the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Mizuho Bank, Joyo Bank, and Shiga Bank - will co-finance a total of 300 million USD in credit lines to power producers using renewable energy in Vietnam to help the growing Southeast Asian country decarbonize, according to the Nikkei Asia. The banks will provide funds through the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam ( Vietcombank ) which will in turn provide subleasing loans, mainly to local businesses. By indirectly utilizing Vietcombank's credit information, the Japanese banks expect that high-risk loans can be provided swiftly, Nikkei Asia said. In January, JBIC issued a joint statement related to the Vietnam Climate Finance Framework, which aims to promote Vietnam's decarbonisation in partnership with US and Australian government financial institutions and others. This co-financing by the four Japanese banks is … [Read more...] about Japanese banks to provide 300 million USD for Vietnam’s renewable energy
Australian firms willing to transfer energy-storage battery tech to Vietnam
Australian enterprises, participating in the Australia-Vietnam Energy Transition Business Forum held in Hanoi on Tuesday, said they are willing to help Vietnam develop systems and equipment to produce large energy-storage batteries domestically to reduce their prices. At the forum jointly held by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), the energy transition of the two countries and Australia’s new energy technology and solutions were introduced. The event was among those to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia. Building energy storage systems in Vietnam Renewable energy needs large storage equipment which meets safety standards and is eco-friendly. A typical solution in Australia is the energy storage battery. This is a feasible solution to optimize the renewable energy … [Read more...] about Australian firms willing to transfer energy-storage battery tech to Vietnam
Vietnamese banks urged to embrace green financing
What is the role of banks in green growth? Banks will have a crucial role in driving green growth in Vietnam. One of the main roles will be enabling project financing. Billions of dollars worth of investments will flow into the renewable energy sector over the next few years. Banks will help facilitate that flow. This is critical moving forward. Over the past five years, Vietnam has issued $220–230 million of green bonds. On a cumulative basis, three other countries, namely Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, have issued over $40 billion of green bonds in the same period. The issuance of those bonds is done by banks. What we've observed in these countries is the setup of a clear regulatory framework that provides the ability to issue those bonds on a larger scale. This has not been at the top of the list of priorities for banks in Vietnam, which are focusing on other essential things. What can the Vietnamese banking sector do to accelerate green growth? I think it … [Read more...] about Vietnamese banks urged to embrace green financing