Other Briefings
Japan and Vietnam to Grow Agricultural Development Cooperation
On June 26, Japan and Vietnam held their first high-level dialogue on agricultural development cooperation in Hanoi. Present at the meeting were the President of Vietnam, Truong Tan Sang, and the Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi. The dialogue called for developing a medium-to-long-term vision for agricultural sector cooperation between the two countries.
Vietnam Airlines IPO to Finally Go Ahead
After more than two years of bureaucratic struggles, perennial no show on the IPO circuit, Vietnam Airlines, is rumored to finally be months away from beginning its equitization process. The IPO comes along as part of the Vietnamese government’s efforts to restructure the economy and attract more foreign investors.
Vietnam’s Retail Banks Seek to Entice New Customers
For years, the main source of income for banks in Vietnam has come from lending to businesses, but increasingly many banks are making a large proportion of their revenues off of the retail banking sector. This is spurring a wave of innovation throughout this sector as banks seek to entice new customers.
Coffee Prices Decline in Response to Record Vietnam Crop, Weather Issues
Vietnam’s next coffee bean harvest is predicted to produce record amounts. However, this news has been met with dispiriting results in the market – robusta coffee futures for July have slumped 3.9 percent to US$1,907 a ton in London, a three-month closing low, on the news. Coffee prices are expected to dip lower as a result.
Foreign Competition Shakes Up Vietnam’s E-Commerce Market
Singapore-headquartered e-commerce company, Lazada, is stepping up its online game in Vietnam and creating waves throughout the e-commerce industry. Local players are scrambling to remain competitive as more and more foreign companies look to Vietnam as a strong growth market.
Foreign Investors Help Grow Vietnam’s Wood Industry
Foreign investors should take note of Vietnam’s wood industry – since 2006 exports have expanded from US$1.92 billion to US$5.7 billion in 2013. Contributing to this growth were the country’s stable economy, appropriate credit growth, curbed inflation and large consumer and labor markets.
Vietnam’s Pharmaceutical Market Set for Healthy Growth
The next six years look to be very interesting for the pharmaceutical industry in Vietnam. Recent economic forecasts have predicted a US$5 billion increase in value over the next six years, reaching a net worth of US$8 billion by 2020 – a compound annual growth rate of 15.4 percent
Luxury Car Sales Speed Up in Vietnam
As the country’s economy continues to strengthen and its consumer class continues to grow, luxury car brands are increasingly looking to Vietnam as a potential market for their products.
Vietnam Plastics Industry to See Strong Growth
Over the past two years, plastics companies have been disappointed by the slowing Vietnamese economy. But now, due to global companies looking for cheaper alternatives to China, the economy is showing strong signs of recovery for plastics producers.
Vietnam Considers Strengthening Local Auto Industry
Vietnam has pledged to soldier on with its developing auto industry despite an increasingly competitive market. This increase in competitiveness is due to free trade agreements such as the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, which will be implemented in 2018 and which will allow cars to be imported duty-free from ASEAN countries.
