Canada supports SME development in Tra Vinh

The management board of the small- and medium-sized enterprise development project in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh (SME Tra Vinh) has revealed that it will spend 70 billion VND (3 million USD) to support provincial SMEs in 2019, including over 65 billion VND from the Canadian government in non-refundable aid.

To Ngoc Binh, the project director, said that of the investment, more than 10 billion VND will be used to support startup activities, while over 23 billion VND will be spent to assist the building of trademarks for major products, promote production connectivity, and expand markets.

Additionally, nearly 22 billion VND will be invested in activities to improve the business environment and enhance provincial competitiveness. The rest will be poured into communications and project management, said Binh.

In 2018, the SME Tra Vinh project disbursed nearly 28 billion VND on activities supporting businesses, including developing SMEs in the 2018-2020 period in association with activities related to gender, ethnic minorities and the environment; expanding markets and communications for coconut products; facilitating startups; and the building, monitoring and evaluating of plans to develop SMEs.

Through the activities, local SMEs have enhanced their management capacity and strengthened their connectivity with partners to expand their markets, while receiving support to realise ideas on developing key products of the province.

Currently, Tra Vinh has about 2,200 businesses operating with a total investment of over 25,600 billion VND and a combined workforce of nearly 90,000 hands.

To support the growth of firms, Global Affair Canada has funded the SME Tra Vinh project in the 2014-2020 period with a total investment of 12.1 million CAD (8.17 million USD).

The objectives of the project include assisting the growth and improving the competitiveness of SMEs in the province, benefiting about 200 enterprises and more than 194,000 locals in 22 rural areas.

HCM City’s industrial production index up 6.21 percent in Jan-Feb

The index of industrial production (IIP) of Ho Chi Minh City expanded by 6.21 percent in the first two months of 2019, higher than that of the same period in 2018.

The growth was recorded in the mining sector (up 96.95 percent), processing and manufacturing industry (up 6.09 percent), electricity production and distribution (up 6.57 percent), and water supply and waste treatment (up 3.57 percent).

According to the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, the export turnover of industrial goods in January and February was estimated at 4.21 billion USD, up 27.4 percent and making up 75.5 percent of the country’s total exports.

Computers, electronics, and spare parts rose by 19.4 percent against the same period last year; garment-textiles, up 48.6 percent; footwear, up 35.5 percent; and machinery, equipment, and components, up 8.2 percent.
Novaland launches two new projects

     

 

Representatives of Novaland and Hoa Sen University at a signing ceremony in HCM City on Thursday.

 Property developer Novaland Group on Thursday launched two new tourism property projects called NovaWorld Phan Thiet and NovaWorld Binh Chau.

The two complexes, located in Binh Thuan and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces, respectively, will include property, tourism and entertainment.

The company said the development of the two projects is part of its strategy to put a foothold in the local tourism property market.

To carry out the strategy, Novaland said it would develop products under the brand name of NovaWord which refers to tourism property projects extending from 100ha with houses, second-home villas, hotels, resorts, theme parks, a safari and golf courses.

NovaWorld Phan Thiet and NovaWorld Binh Chau are the first two.

NovaWorld Phan Thiet is located in Phan Thiet City in the south central province of Binh Thuan.

Covering an area of over 1,000ha, the project will have houses, second-home villas and shophouses, all with views to the sea. In addition, it will contain an entertainment area with theme parks, a petting zoo, golf course and beach club.

Meanwhile, NovaWorld Binh Chau will be built on area of over 100ha in Binh Chau in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. Built with a tropical style, the project will have many theme parks including adventure land, salt-water swimming pool, diving pool and a place for adventure games.

Novaland said that to develop NovaWorld, the company has co-operated with many experienced domestic and foreign partners to bring the best services to customers.

Novaland signed strategic agreements with Hoa Sen University and Hai Au Trading Investment Corporation the same day. Under the agreement, Hoa Sen will have close co-operation with Novaland in training and providing human resources.

On its side, Hai Au Corporation will co-operate with Novaland to develop helicopter services.

Novaland is a giant property developer in the country. It has developed over 40 housing projects in HCM City, bringing 26,000 products to the market.

The company has invested in tourism property projects in recent years. This year, the company launched three brand names for their tourism property projects, NovaHills, NovaBeach and NovaWorld.

The company plans to bring about 2,400 hospitality products to the market this year, along with about 4,500 housing products in HCM City and neighbouring provinces.

Novaland targets expanding its investment to the hospitality sector in the tourism sites of Phu Quoc, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Ninh Thuận Province uses QR code on grape products

Ninh Thuận Province uses QR codes on grape products to help consumers check the origin of the products via a mobile app. 

The Grape and Apple Association of Ninh Thuận Province has begun placing a QR code on grape products which allows consumers to verify the origin and quality of local grape products.

Phạm Châu Hoành, head of the association, asked grape growers and processing and trading facilities to strictly comply with regulations on quality and to ensure food safety.

All the information of the products will be checked by agencies before being posted online.

A QR code allows consumers to check the origin of the product on mobile, apposite use of such codes also helps the province promote its grape products.

Nguyễn Văn Mọi, owner of the Ba Mọi grape processing facility located in Ninh Phước District, said that Viet Gap standards must conform to the rules and procedures set by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the production, harvesting and handling of products post-harvest.

The province’s department of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked agencies to encourage farmers and enterprises to work together in a supply chain to ensure food safety.

Ninh Thuận has nearly 1,250 hectares of grape cultivation, mostly located in Ninh Phước, Ninh Sơn, Ninh Hải and Thuận Nam districts.

Last year, the province’s grape production was more than 28,000 tonnes, an increase of 10.2 per cent compared to 2017.

Trade ministry ensures pork supply despite African swine fever outbreak

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is keeping a close watch of the pork market and will promptly take measures to ensure supply amidst concerns about possible shortage due to outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in northern localities. 

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on March 8, Deputy Director of the MoIT’s Domestic Market Department Hoang Anh Tuan stressed that the ministry will not let instability happen on the pork market. 

According to the official, pig farming is strongly shifting from small scale (households) to large scale (farms), with 70-75 percent of pork on the market coming from pig farms in 2018, compared to 40-45 percent in 2014. He said the move has facilitated disease control and helped reduce the spread of diseases.  

Tuan reported that the volume of pigs infected by ASF and thus culled has so far accounted for only 0.012 percent of the year’s total supply, while supply of other kinds of meat is abundant, meeting consumption demand. In 2018, total meat output came to 5.35 million tonnes, including 3.81 million tonnes of pork. 

He said the ministry is coordinating closely with the agricultural sector and pork production and trading firms in implementing measures to maintain demand-supply balance and a stable market for pork. 

According to the official, ASF outbreaks were reported in 36 communes in 17 districts of 9 provinces and central-level cities, all in the northern region, with 6,500 pigs weighing more than 450 tonnes culled from February 1 to March 6.

The ASF virus does not affect humans but causes haemorrhagic fever in pigs and wild boars that is almost always fatal. There is currently no antidote or vaccine, with the only known preventative measure is a mass cull of infected livestock. The disease spreads by contact between infected pigs or other wild animals and can inflict massive economic damage on farms.

Workshop seeks to help farmers in smart agriculture

A workshop was held in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang to help farmers with the application of smart agriculture.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Tien Chau said the workshop is a practical activity that looks to restructuring the agriculture sector towards sustainable development; the construction of new rural areas; and the prioritisation of investment in seafood, fruits and vegetables, rice, and high-tech agriculture.

It also aims to seek ways to help Hau Giang transform from agrochemical to organic and smart agriculture, as well as help farmers and businesses alter their mindsets to save production costs and increase the quality of products.

In 2019, Hau Giang will continue promoting green economy and smart agriculture, Chau said, adding that the province will support scientists, institutes, universities, and businesses in the field.

Associate Professor, PhD Nguyen Duy Can from the Faculty of Rural Development of Can Tho University, said Hau Giang has the potential to apply high technology in multiple sectors such as rice production, basa fish breeding, and the combined cultivation of aquaculture and flowers or vegetables.

Participants also discussed the development of agriculture models in association with tourism, as well as how to strengthen connectivity between farmers, businesses, scientists, managers, and bankers. 

HCM City’s industrial production index up 6.21 percent in Jan-Feb

The index of industrial production (IIP) of Ho Chi Minh City expanded by 6.21 percent in the first two months of 2019, higher than that of the same period in 2018.

The growth was recorded in the mining sector (up 96.95 percent), processing and manufacturing industry (up 6.09 percent), electricity production and distribution (up 6.57 percent), and water supply and waste treatment (up 3.57 percent).

According to the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, the export turnover of industrial goods in January and February was estimated at 4.21 billion USD, up 27.4 percent and making up 75.5 percent of the country’s total exports.

Computers, electronics, and spare parts rose by 19.4 percent against the same period last year; garment-textiles, up 48.6 percent; footwear, up 35.5 percent; and machinery, equipment, and components, up 8.2 percent.

Thua Thien-Hue, Japan’s Gifu prefecture work to promote tourism

Scene at the signing ceremony of a cooperation pact between Thua Thien - Hue and Gifu last year (Photo: thuathienhue.gov.vn)

A conference on tourism cooperation between the central province of Thua Thien-Hue and the Japanese prefecture of Gifu took place in the city of Hue on March 8.

The conference introduced the outcomes of their joint tourism research projects and a draft plan for future collaboration.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Dung said the two localities should support each other and exchange experience as they share similarities in their tourism sectors, particularly in terms of scenic and historical sites, culture, cuisine, and craft villages. 

He noted that their cooperation will include boosting mutual understanding; exchanging information on the official websites and social media platforms of their authorities, associations, and businesses; attending each other’s annual cultural festivals; and organising fact-finding tours to their respective localities.

According to him, they will also hold a tourism and exchange programme between Hue University and Gifu University and make it part of the annual activities of the Vietnam-Japan friendship association.

As heard at the conference, the two provinces have worked to increase mutual understanding and promote their images to draw visitors in recent times. 

They established their partnership in November 2016. Since then, regular bilateral exchanges, meetings, and discussions have taken place, with a number of business delegations from Gifu visiting Thua Thien-Hue to look for investment opportunities. 

Gifu’s Takayama city and Thua Thien-Hue’s Hue city signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation and exchange, while Gifu University and Hue University have collaborated in academic researches and projects to improve the quality of teaching

Canada supports SME development in Tra Vinh

The management board of the small- and medium-sized enterprise development project in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh (SME Tra Vinh) has revealed that it will spend 70 billion VND (3 million USD) to support provincial SMEs in 2019, including over 65 billion VND from the Canadian government in non-refundable aid.

To Ngoc Binh, the project director, said that of the investment, more than 10 billion VND will be used to support startup activities, while over 23 billion VND will be spent to assist the building of trademarks for major products, promote production connectivity, and expand markets.

Additionally, nearly 22 billion VND will be invested in activities to improve the business environment and enhance provincial competitiveness. The rest will be poured into communications and project management, said Binh.

In 2018, the SME Tra Vinh project disbursed nearly 28 billion VND on activities supporting businesses, including developing SMEs in the 2018-2020 period in association with activities related to gender, ethnic minorities and the environment; expanding markets and communications for coconut products; facilitating startups; and the building, monitoring and evaluating of plans to develop SMEs.

Through the activities, local SMEs have enhanced their management capacity and strengthened their connectivity with partners to expand their markets, while receiving support to realise ideas on developing key products of the province.

Currently, Tra Vinh has about 2,200 businesses operating with a total investment of over 25,600 billion VND and a combined workforce of nearly 90,000 hands.

To support the growth of firms, Global Affair Canada has funded the SME Tra Vinh project in the 2014-2020 period with a total investment of 12.1 million CAD (8.17 million USD).

The objectives of the project include assisting the growth and improving the competitiveness of SMEs in the province, benefiting about 200 enterprises and more than 194,000 locals in 22 rural areas.

Construction planning for Tan Nam int’l border gate approved

At Tan Nam border gate 

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of southwestern Tay Ninh province Duong Van Thang has recently signed a decision approving a detail construction planning scheme for Tan Nam international border gate in Tan Bien district. 

The border gate will cover an area of over 43 ha, 34 ha of which are forest land for special use. 

The gate will be opposite Cambodia’s Mien Chay border gate in Cam Chay Mia district, Pray Veng province. They stand at some 150 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 120 km from Phnom Penh.

The Tan Nam international border gate is expected to shorten the travelling time between Vietnam, Cambodia, and other countries; facilitate imports-exports; and ensure state management of trade, services, immigration, and national defence-security. Due to its location in the Lo Go-Xa Mat national park, it will also look to develop itself into an eco-tourism border gate.

The border gate will be home to administrative agencies, a border guard station, shopping outlets, warehouses, and parking lots. 

During 2019-2020, Tay Ninh will build a border guard station and upgrade road 791. Later during 2021-2030, it will expand Tan Nam bridge as well as upgrade technical infrastructure along a major road passing through the gate and other facilities. 

The PM had also approved the upgrade of the Tan Nam auxiliary border gate into international one.

EVNGENCO1 ensures coal supply for thermal power plants

Vietnam Electricity (EVN)’s Power Generation Corporation 1 (EVNGENCO1) said on March 8 that it has built a coordination plan to ensure coal supply for thermal power production.

Accordingly, the company will sign a contract to import this year’s first batch of 1 million tonnes of coal to serve the operation of Duyen Hai 3 Thermal Power Plant. 

In March, EVNGENCO1 will work with subsidiaries of the Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited and the Ministry of National Defence’s Dong Bac coal corporation to ensure coal supply for its thermal electricity plants.

It will also sign a series of mid- and long-term contracts to make sure the operation runs smoothly in 2019 and the years following.

The plan looks to prepare for the peak months of dry season this year. Currently, the amount of domestic coal still meets production demand, however a stock shortage has been noticed.

EVNGENCO1 reported its electricity output at 2.53 billion kWh in February, up 27 percent year-on-year. Of the total figure, thermal power generated over 2.05 billion kWh, while hydropower produced 487 million kWh.

As thermal power accounts for the largest proportion of Vietnam’s energy production, the country is facing challenges to ensure a sufficient supply of coal for its plants in the coming years.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, by 2020, Vietnam is expected to produce about 26,000 MW of coal-fired thermal power, accounting for 49.3 percent of the total electricity generation and consuming about 63 million tonnes of coal.

Gia Lai conference seeks to expand credit for production, consumption

A conference was held in Pleiku city, the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, on March 8 to launch tasks towards expanding credit for production and consumption, thus limiting loan sharking. 

Suggested measures include refining the legal framework to boost consumption lending among commercial banks, issuing new credit policies for households that have recently escaped poverty, and limiting such households’ access to loan sharks, thus meeting the demand for local socio-economic development and consumption. 

The banking sector will continue working closely with ministries, agencies, localities, and socio-political organisations to raise public awareness of Party and State’s guidelines and regulations on credit supply. 

Several opinions held that despite crackdowns, loan sharking is persistent in poor and ethnic minority areas. They suggested cutting lending requirements and handing out stricter punishments for loan sharks.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Duong Van Trang said that due to limited awareness, people of ethnic minorities here have become victims of loan sharking, resulting in home and land loss. Therefore, banking credit supply is important, especially from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP). 

He suggested issuing bilingual guidelines to raise public awareness of banking credit. 

Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Le Minh Hung said that in the near future, the SBV will submit a comprehensive financial strategy to the Government and the PM to facilitate public access of financial resources, especially those in remote, mountainous, and ethnic minority areas. 

He asked banks to promptly refine Circular No.39 and No.43 to closely control activities of financial companies and encourage credit organisations to expand their networks in remote and mountainous areas. 

The VBSP was required to increase lending and consider the extension of debt payments in necessary cases. 

As of the late December 2018, the country’s outstanding loans surpassed 7.2 trillion VND (313 million USD), up 13.93 percent. Of this, loans for rural development hit 1.78 trillion VND, up 21.4 percent. In the Central Highlands alone, deposits increased by 9 percent to nearly 150 trillion VND, meeting 45.56 percent of demand.

VIAGS authorised to host IATA training center course

Director of IATA Vietnam Do Nhu Phung (L) hands over the training certificate to a representative of VIAGS 

The Vietnam Airport Ground Services Company Limited (VIAGS), a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, has received the IATA Authorised Training Centre Certificate from the International Air Transportation Association (IATA).

The IATA certificate will have global legal validity. The VIAGS courses commissioned by IATA will include category 3 dangerous goods, basic goods service, live animal service, aviation security awareness and many other courses related to aviation transport.

Under the guidance of VIAGS trainers, students register for the course and participate in the tests organised by IATA in Vietnamese territory.

With the IATA centre in Vietnam, individuals and organisations operating in the aviation transport sector can save on learning costs compared to IATA training courses in foreign countries, while ensuring the certification of the most prestigious airline organisation in the world.

At the end of 2015, Vietnam Airlines launched VIAGS under the first professional business model in Vietnam to unify the process, quality and efficiency in providing ground services at airports. 

The company currently specialises in providing services at terminals and aprons, technical service, ground trade for passengers and aircraft, and commercial services, tourism, hotels, duty-free sales at terminals.

Vietnam, US look to bolster investment, trade ties

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (R) receives Charles Freeman, Senior Vice President for Asia at the US Chamber of Commerce, in Hanoi on March 8 

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue had a working session in Hanoi on March 8 with Charles Freeman, Senior Vice President for Asia at the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC).

The two sides agreed that meetings between Vietnamese leaders and US President Donald Trump in late February in Hanoi contribute to promoting the bilateral partnership between the two countries, especially in investment and trade.

Freeman said that he is looking forwards to welcoming Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong at the USCC in the future when the Vietnamese leader visits the US at the invitation of President Trump.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham Vietnam) has coordinated closely with Vietnamese ministries, sectors and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry to introduce the White Book on Vietnam-US trade partnership, and organise the US-Vietnam Business Summit in May this year, he said.

Freeman said that the USCC supports the US’s opening of its door for Vietnamese firms, as well as Vietnam’s similar act for US businesses.

Deputy PM Hue thanked the AmCham Vietnam for assisting the Vietnamese Government in assessing the attraction and the use of foreign investment in the country.

Noting that the Vietnam-US relationship is now developing very well, Hue suggested that the USCC and Vietnamese enterprises continue to work out initiatives to foster bilateral investment and trade ties, to be manifested in the White Book that will be introduced soon.

The Vietnamese Government pays great attention to proposals of US enterprises to promote trade and investment collaboration between the two business communities, he stated.

Can Tho improves in city prosperity index

The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho has scored 66.78 out of 100 points in the City Prosperity Index (CPI) designed by the UN-Habitat, as heard a conference in the city on March 8. 

The CPI measures the overall achievements in a city that are related to how cities create and distribute socio-economic benefits or prosperity. It has 62 criteria in six dimensions, namely productivity, infrastructure development, quality of life, environmental sustainability, equity and social inclusion, and urban governance and legislation.  

Can Tho basically met 32 out of the 62 criteria – a minimum level to be recognised as a prosperous city, mostly focusing on economic growth, urban traffic, health care and education. It also met 30 expanded criteria in aspects of infrastructure, information technology, economic fairness, social integration and environment quality. 

With such achievement, Can Tho is likely to become a model urban area in the future if it strives to meet basic socio-economic indexes. 

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Dao Anh Dung said Can Tho strives to become the first smart urban area in the southwest by 2025 by adopting technological advances to promoting sustainable socio-economic development, and improving competitiveness and global integration. 

He asked local departments and agencies to facilitate energy saving and pro-business environment, with a focus on support for businesses in terms of infrastructure and policies.

According to him, the municipal Department of Planning and Investment is also building technical platforms to develop after an e-government model.

Vietnamese businesswomen face extreme pressure

Vu Thi Thuan (R), chairwoman of the board of directors at Traphaco firm, is among renowned Vietnamese female business leaders. In this file photo, Thuan is attending an economic conference held in December 2018 in HCMC

Vietnam’s proportion of women in high-ranking positions remains relatively high on the global scale and is the second highest in the ASEAN region, but they face more pressure than their counterparts in other countries.

The latest “Women in Business” research study released by Grant Thornton International on March 7 revealed that Vietnamese businesswomen holding high-ranking positions usually have to take on more responsibility at home and at work compared with others in the same jobs in foreign countries.

They also lack access to career-development opportunities and have limited chances for networking.

These obstacles hinder local businesswomen from acquiring more skills and seeing success in their roles, according to the report.

In the region, the percentage of Vietnamese women holding high-ranking management positions accounted for 36%, preceded by the Philippines (at more than 37%) and followed by Singapore, Indonesia and South Korea.

The top four roles typically taken by Vietnamese women are chief finance officer (36%), chief executive officer or managing director (30%), human resources director and chief marketing officer (25%).

On a global scale, 29% of high-ranking leadership positions are taken by women. The proportion of businesses with at least one woman in a leading position is 87%.

Although the number of female high-ranking leaders has maintained an upward trend, the gender equality factor in assigning personnel to key positions is still a matter of concern. When it comes to the post of the CEO or managing director, only 15% of businesses globally have a woman holding these positions.

HCMC tightens control over pigs into city

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Husbandry and Animal Health yesterday said around 2,500 pigs are transported from the North to the South through the central province of Thua Thien – Hue; accordingly, the Department will quickly test to find out diseased animals to prevent it into the city.

Also, the Animal Health Department in the section 6 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development yesterday announced to set up three supervision teams in cities and provinces to stop spread of African swine fever to the South.

Statistically, the amount of hogs transported from the North to the south-central province of NInh Thuan and the southern province of Dong Nai decreased by 40 percent compared to before thanks to close coordination in quarantine of responsible agencies.

Purchase power in traditional markets in HCMC has slightly gone down because of worry of the transmission risk but insignificantly.

 Presently, price of pork in several markets such as Tan Chanh Hiep in district 12 and Nhat Tao in district 10 was fluctuating at VND110,000 - VND115,000  ($4.73 - $4.93) for a kilogram of pork side; VND98,000 - VND115,000 per kilogram of ham; VND100,000 - VND125,000 per kilogram of shoulder meat averagely down by VND2,000 - VND3,000  per kilogram in different places because of various transportation fee and pork quality.

Apart from that, purchase power in supermarkets and convenience stores such as Co.opMart, BigC, VinMart maintained because of clear sources of pork.

Saigon Co.op announced 60 tons of pork is consumed daily and it increases to 70 - 80 tons in weekend days while a representative from Vissan reported a slight reduction in pork consumption but Vissan still sells around 60 tons a day.

In a talk with Sai Gon Giai Phong reporter, Head of Hoc Mon wholesale market Le Hoang Phong said that from early March, 5,000 pigs are transported a day averagely to the market, decreasing by 450 pigs a day compared to previous month.

Similarly, BInh Dien wholesale market has seen a reduction in the amount of pig into the market.

Both Hoc Mon and BInh Dien are under close supervision; hence, pigs from the North will hardly enter the two.

What is more, big farm operations in HCMC have voluntarily lowered price of hogs with the aim to deter transportation of the animal from the North into the city.

More importantly, traders said straight not for profit to cause disastrous impact on breeders.

Related agencies have kept monitoring the disease; however, there has been a worry that pigs will be transported to the South for consumption sneakily because of small subsidy for breeders; as a consequence, farmers and enterprises petitioned for higher subsidy to deter people from selling off diseased pigs  secretly leading to more outbreaks.

Tra fish export expected to bring home 600 million USD in Q1

Vietnam expects to earn 600 million USD from tra fish export in the first quarter of the year, a year-on-year jump of 35 percent. 

Of the figure, exports to the US are estimated at 95 million USD (up 26 percent), China at 125 million USD (up 23.7 percent) and the EU at 67 million USD (up 21 percent).

Experts have forecast bright prospects for tra fish exports this year based on robust market signs.

Last year, tra fish shipments brought home a record of 2.26 billion USD and the figure is hoped to rise to 2.3 - 2.4 billion USD for 2019.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture has proposed that Vietnam, along with Thailand and China, has a catfish inspection system equivalent to those in the US, and thus eligible for exporting the fish to the US. 

If approved by the US government, the recognition will facilitate Vietnam’s export of tra fish to the market, and will also have positive impacts on other markets like the EU and China.

Meanwhile, China’s tilapia shipments to the US have suffered a lot from the escalating US-China trade, and this is a good opportunity for Vietnamese exporters to boost shipments of tra fish.

At the same time, demand for tra fish in China remains high, from low-end to high-end segments.

In Europe, the market for Vietnamese tra fish is making good recovery, particularly in western and southern Europe..

As local exporters target to maintain high export price rather than increase export volume, they will pay due attention to develop high-quality products, meeting requirements of fastidious markets.

Upgraded website promotes access to CPTPP information

The website on the CPTPP has been upgraded to boost people and businesses' access to relevant information (Photo: screenshot of the website)

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has upgraded the website on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to help people and businesses gain a better insight into the major deal to which Vietnam is a signatory.

The website, http://cptpp.moit.gov.vn, provides an overview of the CPTPP, the full text of the agreement in both English and Vietnamese, implementation plans of the Government, ministries, sectors and localities, along with legal documents revised or issued to carry out the pact.

It explains Vietnam’s main commitments relevant to goods, services-investment, Government procurement, intellectual property, labour, and State-owned enterprises.

Other CPTPP members’ commitments relating to the commodities Vietnam has strength in are also listed on this website.

Additionally, the website also posts reference documents, including studies on the CPTPP conducted by some countries and international organisations, along with some frequently asked questions.

The ministry said it will continue updating news, implementation plans, new legal documents, and relevant papers on this website, thereby helping businesses and people optimise opportunities created by the CPTPP. 

The CPTPP, which officially took effect in Vietnam on January 14, gathers 11 member states, namely Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam that altogether make up 13.5 percent of the global GDP.

Hanoi targets sustainable tourism development

Ngoc Son Temple attracts foreign visitors. 

Price of Travel has named Hanoi as the cheapest Asian city for backpackers, which, the tourism price index website, said gets high marks from most visitors. 

In the Asia Backpacker Index for 2019, the website said “the food is also top-notch, especially when you are sitting amongst locals at one of the thousands of plastic-chair cafes throughout the city.”

“Keep costs even lower by sticking with Bia Hoi, the world's cheapest beer. Hostel beds are cheap, but private rooms are too, so don't automatically book a bunk.”

Cheap price is an advantage that helps attract holiday-makers to the capital city. However, experts said, sustainable tourism development requires more than that.  What is more important is diverse and quality products and services to keep tourists staying longer, spending more money and coming back to the city. 

Given this, the city’s tourism sector is consistently pursuing long-term and sustainable strategies. 

Apart from cultural and historical values, rich cuisine and hospitable people, Hanoi has focused on developing high-quality tourism products and upgrading local infrastructure. 

Hanoi received more than 2.4 million tourists in January, a year-on-year increase of 10.4 percent, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

Of the figure, international arrivals to the capital city reached nearly 634,000, up 16 percent compared to the same period last year. Those who stayed overnight in the city numbered 445,000, mainly from the Republic of Korea, China and Japan, according to local accommodation service providers.

Meanwhile, domestic holidaymakers amounted to 1.7 million, an increase of 8.5 percent.

Total tourism revenue was estimated to surge 34.2 percent year on year to 8.89 trillion VND (383.3 million USD).

Hanoi welcomed 5.74 million foreign visitors in 2018, up 16 percent against 2017, among 26 million tourists spending time in the city.

Last year, the city was ranked 12th among the 25 best global destinations, and one of the two cities in Vietnam to enter the most prominent group in the world in terms of room reservation. 

Hanoi’s key tourism markets include China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, France, the US, the UK, Germany, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Canada. 

Some of the popular destinations in the city are the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh, the Temple of Literature and National University (Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam), the Hanoi Old Quarter, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple.

The city aims to greet 6.7 million foreign visitors out of nearly 28.6 million tourists in 2019.

Fruit, vegetable exports down 9.9 percent in Jan-Feb

In February 2019, the US allowed the imports of fresh mangoes from Vietnam. This is the sixth fruit exported to the market, after dragon fruit, langon, rambutan, “thieu” lychee and star apple. 

The export turnover of fruits and vegetables fell 9.9 percent year-on-year to 584 million USD in the first two months of 2019, according to the department of agro-product processing and market development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The reduction was attributed to fluctuations of the fruit and vegetable market in February due to the prolonged Lunar New Year (Tet holiday).

China ranked first in importing fruits and vegetables from Vietnam in January 2019 with 72.6 percent of the market share.

Strong growth was also seen in the Republic of Korea (up 68.2 percent), the Netherlands (up 60.2 percent), Australia (up 54.8 percent) and the United Arab Emirates (up 36.8 percent).

Notably, in February 2019, the US allowed the imports of fresh mangoes from Vietnam. This is the sixth fruit exported to the market, after dragon fruit, langon, rambutan, “thieu” lychee and star apple.

Last year, the US was one of the markets with the most impressive growth of 37 percent compared to 2017. It is forecast that Vietnam’s fruit exports to the US will continue seeing high growth thanks to the export of mangoes.

Vietnam is able to ship around 3,000 tonnes of fresh mangoes to the US, equivalent to nearly one percent of the US’s mango imports.

The fruit and vegetable sector aims to gross nearly 4.2 billion USD in export turnover in 2019.

In 2018, Vietnam exported 3.8 billion USD worth of fruits and vegetables, an annual rise of 8.9 percent.

Bình Dương tightens real estate

Many real estate companies from HCM City and Đồng Nai have moved to do business in Bình Dương province. — cafef.vn

The hot development of the real estate market in the southern province of Bình Dương has led to hundreds of projects that now provide thousands of apartments for residents and migrant workers, but many violations by investors in the projects have occurred.

As many as 358 housing projects covering over a total area of 4,500 hectares have received licenses, but only 270 of them have kicked off, according to the provincial Construction Department.

In addition, many real estate companies from HCM City and Đồng Nai have moved to do business in the province and have caused the price to increase in a very short period of time, sometimes even doubling.

The hot development, with the participation of hundreds of real estate companies, has led to many violations.

In 2018, the province established 19 task forces to investigate nearly 1,500 construction project and handed out fines of VNĐ2.4 billion (over US$100,000).

Most violations include capital mobilisation based on the Real Estate Law which took effect in 2014. Inspectors found that investors did not have enough capital, lacked legal documents, and made illegal advertisements.

Six projects were withdrawn and 24 others were told to submit their plans so that a deadline could be determined.

To increase state management and limit risks for buyer, by the end of 2018 the Construction Department publicly announced the name of real estate projects which could be transferred and warned buyers to carefully seek information about investors and projects.

“Buyers should sign a contract with investors that clearly states the time for capital payments and the deadline for completion,” a spokesman for the department told Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Sài Gòn) newspaper. 

UK helps HCM City build pork market

The signing ceremony of MoU on support for building a market specialised in pork trading (Source: VOH)

Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Industry and Trade and the Regulatory Delivery International Directorate under the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on support for building a market specialised in pork trading in the city on March 7.

Under the MoU, the Regulatory Delivery International will provide technical assistance for, and share information and experience with the Department of Industry and Trade to help it in building and running a pork trading floor.

The cooperation will begin on March 31 and end on February 28, 2021.

According to deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City department Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, around 10,000 pigs are traded in the city every day, with a total value of 500 million USD per year.

Therefore, forming a pork trading market will help standardise the quality of pork and ensure safety and hygiene.

The trading floor will also allow direct purchases, without intermediaries, from pig farmers.