Other Briefings
Vietnam to Speed Up Development of Rural Areas
Aug. 19 – The Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee has approved a resolution that will speed up development in its agricultural, forestry and fishery sector with target annual growths of 3 to 3.5 percent by 2010.
The resolution hopes to increase rural incomes by 2.5 times and incorporate rural laborers to account for 30 percent of the country’s total workforce by 2020.
The government plans to have more than 50 percent of the workforce to undergo training. It assured that despite the planned rural development, Vietnam will still maintain its capacity for rice production to ensure national food security.
Vietnam Reduces Fuel Prices By Up to 5.3%
Aug. 15 – Vietnam has reduced the price of gas by up to 5.3 percent beginning today. The new prices reflect the drop in world oil prices of more than 20 percent from July.
"The government has ordered us to reduce prices following world price declines," a Petrolimex official told Thanh Nien News.
Vietnamese Migration Fuels Remittance Industry Growth
By Chua Siew Joo
Aug. 14 – Vietnamese workers in Asia and the Middle East are sending money home like their counterparts in the United States, Australia and Europe.
It may be a sign that lives are getting better for these migrant workers as they are currently not only sending money back to their family but also investing in business.
The Dong A Money Transfer Company reported receiving remittances of US$631 million in the first half of 2008 and expects the figure for the whole year to be US$1.2 billion. Sai Gon Thuong Tin Bank and Vietcombank (VCB) reported remittances of US$420 million and US$730 million respectively.
Vietnam Customs To Open Online Forum On Aug. 22
Aug. 13 – For the first time, Vietnam's Department of Customs will open an online forum on August 22 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to take customs inquiries.
The office located in the southern Binh Duong province and is expected to field questions from more than 2,300 local businesses. It will soon extend its services to include import-export procedures through e-customs.
The website address is www.haiquanbinhduong.gov.vn.
Vietnam Halts Joint-Stock Bank Licensing
Aug. 11- The State Bank of Vietnam announced on its website that it will no longer issue licenses for establishing joint-stock commercial banks.
The move is in response to the government’s call to revise rules for the industry.
In a statement the government said, “Pending the revisions, the issue of permits for establishing new joint-stock commercial banks will be stopped temporarily.”
The government has warned that state-owned companies should stay within their core businesses rather than diversifying to industries ranging from real estate to banking.
Vietnam Textile Sales to U.S. Surpass India, Second Behind China
Aug. 8 – Vietnam has surpassed India to move to second behind China in apparel exports to the United States, shipping garments worth US$4.76 billion in May this year against India's exports of US$3.14 billion.
Out of the total US$73 billion dollars annual imports by the US till May-end, Vietnam managed to capture 6.55 per cent share while China remained the largest exporter to the American market with 30.6 per cent share, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Dragonair to Launch Hong Kong-Hanoi Flights
Aug. 7 – Hong Kong-based Dragonair announced yesterday that it will open a new air-route to Hanoi on October 26, 2008.
Besides transporting passengers from Hong Kong to Hanoi and vice versa, Dragonair plans to conduct tourists and businessmen from North Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand to Hanoi as well.
Emerging Economy Also Gives Rise to HIV/AIDS Along China Border
by Chua Siew Joo
Aug. 6 – At a recent HIV prevention and drug detoxification symposium in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Truong Vinh Trong, urged ministries, sectors and localities to prioritize prevention programs to curb the spread of HIV/AIDs.
Steel Export Duties Doubled to 20%
Aug. 5 – Vietnam is doubling export duties on steel to 20 percent to limit overseas sales of the product.
According to the official Vietnam News Agency, the new duty will replace the current 10 percent tax and be imposed on steel billets and finished products from Aug 10.
Foreign Visitors to Vietnam Increase in First 7 Months
HANOI, July 31 – Vietnam welcomed an estimated 2.6 million international arrivals in the first seven months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 6.6 percent, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said Tuesday.
The number of foreign tourists rose by 3.1 percent to more than 1.6 million while the percent of foreigners coming to Vietnam for business surged 38.4 percent to 505,500. Foreign visitors originated mainly from China, the United States, South Korea, Japan, Thailand and Australia the VNAT said.
