Other Briefings
Plastics Industry Aiming for US$1Billion in Exports
Mar. 9 – The Vietnam Plastic Association is aiming for an export turnover of US$1 billion this year, an increase of 15.9 percent compared to previous figures.
The plastic industry shows the most potential for growth considering its export growth rate in the past years. In 2006, export growth rate grew by 37 percent then 33 percent in 2007 and 34 percent in 2007.
According to the U.N. Comtrade, the Vietnamese plastic goods have the opportunity to break into foreign markets.The association said that the plastic industry is still struggling to develop world-class standards of quantity and design.
Vietnam to Invest US$50 Billion for Coastal Economic Belt
Upon completion, the area's economic growth is expected to grow 1.4 to 1.5 times more than Vietnam's GDP growth by 2020 and account for an estimated 6.5 to 7 percent of the country's GDP.
The plan will transform the northern coastal region into an economic area for economic, scientific and technological cooperation with China and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Vietnam to Spend VND300 Trillion to Boost Growth
Mar. 5 – As part of its overall annual budget, the government announced that it would allocate RMB300 trillion to cope with the slowing economy.
The money will be used to improve infrastructure, help exports, and invest in social security projects. The figure is close to a quarter of Vietnam's US$$71 billion economy.
For 2009, the government is forecast to spend VND491 trillion, an increase of 23 percent higher compared to last year.
“The spending will help boost economic growth and investors’ confidence,” Cao Sy Kiem, president of the Vietnam Association for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, told Bloomberg.
Renminbi Use at Sino-Vietnamese Border Increasing
Mar. 3 – The use of the Chinese renminbi for trade settlement has been increasing at the Sino-Vietnamese border.
Transnational commuters crossing to the border number several thousands daily with more than 10,000 local Chinese are engaged in border trade. In the urban districts of Dongxing alone there are more than 6,000 registered dealers. Dongxing is located in Vietnam's Mong Cai special economic zone and across the Beilun River.
"When I began to do this business, traders were prone to choosing the U.S. dollar or the Vietnamese dong for trade settlement payments. But the Renminbi has become a hot choice in recent few years, " said Ruan Jinhua, a resident in the border city of southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region told Xinhua.
Office Space Demand in HCMC Slowing
Mar. 3 – Demand for office space in Ho Chi Minh City is slowing down as businesses stall expansion plans or downsize.
Some businesses have even resorted to renting from homeowners instead office buildings.
The marketing director of a popular office building in downtown HCMC who wished to be anonymous told Thanh Nien News that up to 30 percent of offices at high-end buildings were unoccupied while the rate is 40 to 70 percent for lower-grade buildings.
Dezan Shira & Associates Expands Offices in Hanoi
HANOI, Mar. 2 – Dezan Shira & Associates, the boutique professional services firm and publishers of Vietnam Briefing expanded to a larger office in Hanoi last Friday.
The new offices, located in the Pacific Place Building in downtown Hanoi will be managed by Hoang Thu Huyen, who joined the firm in 2008.
Dezan Shira & Associates opened offices in Vietnam last year as a response to the increased investment from multinationals elsewhere in Asia that had spurred a flurry of activity around the region. The firm has moved to better serve their growing client base in the country. In addition to Hanoi, the practice also has offices in Ho Chi Minh City.
A Look at Vietnam in Numbers
By Christian Fleming
Mar. 2 – Over the last 40 years, Vietnam has managed to transform itself from a nation in a seemingly constant state of war to an economic force on the rise.
Here is a look at Vietnam in numbers:
66 – The percentage devaluation of Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index in 2008. The indicator, which is tied to the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, was the worst performing Asian index last year.
28 – As a percentage, the continued decline in the VN-Index so far this year, as of Feb. 27.
Non-Residents Required to Pay Income Tax
Feb. 27 – Vietnam has released new details regarding the deferral of the new Personal Income Tax (PIT) implemented last January 1 involving non-residents.
The latest regulation says that non-residents would still be subject to PIT. A non-resident is defined as someone with income arising in the country who is (a) not residing in Vietnam; (b) will leave Vietnam before June 30, 2009; or (c) has lived in Viet Nam since January 1, 2009.
This includes non-residents that have not confirmed their departure from the country, has not registered for permanent residence, and has not entered into a house rental contract for a term of over 90 days, reports Vietnam News.
Bird Flu Spreads to 11 Provinces
Feb. 26 – Bird flu continues to spread in the country now affecting 11 provinces, reports the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The latest province to be hit by bird flu is northern Dien Bien province where is has spread to two communes leading to the culling of 1,460 ducks and more than 1,000 their eggs.
The dead ducks found in the province had tested positive for the H5N1 virus. The department said it is likely that Vietnam will see more bird flu outbreaks in more provinces in coming days.
Consumer Price Index Up by 1.49 Percent
Feb. 25 – Vietnam's consumer price index (CPI) grew by 1.49 percent during the first two months the year despite a slowing economy.
CPI for February rose by 1.17 percent compared to the month before indicating a slow increase over highest inflation months of last year but a abrupt hike in comparison with the recent months' figures.
Among the commodities and services used to calculate for CPI, food and food stuff saw the highest price increases, up by 1.67 percent this month. The second highest increase in prices came from housing and construction materials with 1.59 percent.
