World bank singapore

The country’s young start-up ecosystem now consists of some 3,000 companies, one-third of which are engaged in the technology sector, she said, adding that the Government is also working hard to create the best possible conditions for start-ups to grow and stretch their reach to the world. … [Read more...] about Vietnamese firms connect with potential partners at Singapore forum

Nguyen Trong Hieu, deputy head of the Institute of Business Studies and Development, said though the fund could not lend to more than 5 percent of the total number of SMEs in the country, it is still a major step in supporting startups, which are struggling to access bank credit. … [Read more...] about Banks out of loop, government fund to lend directly to startups

Hanoi (VNA) – The International Finance Corporation (IFC) – a member of the World Bank Group – has signed an agreement to provide another 40 million USD for the Orient Commercial Bank (OCB) to help it with the support of COVID-hit clients, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises. The one-year renewable senior loan offers OCB additional liquidity to continue lending to businesses as the bank is offering payment relief to its borrowers at the same time. OCB will prioritise clients working in sectors facing direct impact of COVID-19 like tourism and production as well as those related to disease response activities. Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of OCB, said COVID-19 impacts are projected to continue for a long period of time, thus difficulties facing the business community, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), remain tremendous.  … [Read more...] about Additional 40 million USD for Vietnamese bank to aid SMEs amid COVID-19

WEF is aiming for around 1,000 delegates in Singapore, the sources said, possibly up to 1,800 if conditions allow. The usual side events - which have in previous years seen the population of the Alpine town of Davos swell from 10,000 to about 30,000 - will be significantly curtailed due to the virus, the sources added. … [Read more...] about WEF targets Marina Bay Sands for Singapore’s ‘Davos’ summit: sources

Hanoi (VNA) – The national target programme on electricity supply for rural, mountainous and island areas will reach approximately 871,263 households between 2021 and 2025, as heard at a conference held in Hanoi on January 14 to review its implementation in the past five years. According to the Electricity and Renewable Energy (EREA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), among these households, 153,911 or 0.74 percent have yet to access electricity, while the rest are using unstable power sources. The programme will also bring electricity to 2,638 small- and medium-sized pumping stations in 13 Mekong Delta localities, while working to help a number of islands join the national grid or access renewable electricity sources. On December 13, 2018, the Prime Minister issued Decision 1740/QD-TTg approving the target programme. Seventeen communes, with 9,890 villages and 1.05 million households expected to benefit. Specifically, until 2020, the programme hoped to … [Read more...] about Over 870,000 households to access electricity in 2021-2025