VietNamNet Bridge – American are nearly secure in the No 1 position among biggest investors in Vietnam with the moves made recently by the US and Vietnamese business circles.
While the Vietnam – US two-way trade has been growing at a dizzy speed after the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), the US investment in Vietnam has still been below expectations. However, the situation has been improved.

The stamp of US investment

According to a report released recently by the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), by mid May 2007, Americans had made investment in 325 projects with the total registered capital of $2.3bil, amounting to 4.4% of the total projects and 3.5% of total foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam. The US ranks 8th among the 77 countries and territories that have investment projects in Vietnam.

Phan Huu Thang, Head of FIA, repeatedly said that the said figures did not reflect the actual US investment in Vietnam. Many big US groups, including Coca Cola, Procter & Gamble, Unocal and Conoco, have invested in Vietnam, but through other countries like the British Virgin Islands, Singapore or Hong Kong. That explains why the investment deals were not listed as US investment.

Statistics showed that 74 US invested projects in Vietnam have been carried out through third countries, totaling $2.4bil. As such, if counting on the investment through third countries, American have invested in 396 projects capitalized at $4.7bil, ranking the sixth out of 77 nations and territories that have FDI in Vietnam.

In 2006, through Hong Kong, the US-based Intel group registered the investment project on Intel Products Ltd, the maker if Intel chips, which had the total capital of $1bil. The project is expected to help lure more US investors to Vietnam in the time to come.

Therefore, it is understandable why in the recent reports on BTA implementation, experts from the project on BTA implementation support repeated the possibility to see the US as the biggest investor in Vietnam.

Many big companies and groups have been presented in Vietnam, namely Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Citigroup and American Group, New York & Company, Alfonso DeMatteis, Dickerson Knight Group and AIA. All of them have cemented their positions in the destination countries, and this is the convincing proof to show the attractiveness of Vietnam as an investment destination.

Marching towards the No 1 position

A bridge which aims to help boost trade and investment has been set up, the Vietnam – US Advisory Council. With the help of the bridge, over the last year, investors have suggested at least 10 projects in important fields, including oil and gas, power, aviation and information technology. Ten official members of the council, together with other US businesses, have committed to invest $4-5bil in Vietnam in two or three years.

Most recently, a delegation of 18 big US businesses came to Vietnam and had a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. The trip which has been assessed as very effective, and is hoped to bring more new investment projects to Vietnam.

US investors tend not to suggest big scaled investment projects. At the APEC summit week last year, US investors reached the agreement on the Mong Duong thermopower plant project and the Cai Lan port expanding project. Two US insurers, ACE and Liberty Mutual obtained the operation licenses sooner than expected. This shows the readiness of the both sides for the new era in the Vietnam – US business relationship. Big names in the IT sector like Microsoft, Unisys, Qualcom and Motorola are also seeking the way to boost cooperation projects with Vietnam. Qualcom, for example, wants to provide the infrastructure facilities for the 3G mobile network to EVN Telecom and Hanoi Telecom, and get involved in the project on wireless Internet for Vietnamese education.

Experts have predicted that many agreements will be signed between US and Vietnamese businesses in the visit by Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet to the US.

The US visit by the then Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai two years ago could help bring salient results in business commitments, while the President Nguyen Minh Triet’s visit is hoped to open a new chapter in the economic relationship between the two countries.

VietNamNet Bridge – Around 120 companies operating in various fields will escort President Nguyen Minh Triet to the US from June 18-23 and many big contracts worth up to $4.5 billion will be signed between Vietnamese and American companies.
The most notable contract is one between Vietnam Airlines and Boeing Group. Other events of interest include cooperation signing ceremonies between the Hanoi Securities Trading Centre and the Nasdaq Stock Market Inc and the HCM City Securities Trading Centre and the New York Stock Exchange.
During this visit, President Triet will meet with the chairman of the General Electrics group, which is seeking an opportunity to open a plant in Vietnam.
Dang Thanh Tam, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saigon Telecom JS Company (Saigon Tel), who is a member of the Vietnamese delegation that will travel to the US, said that the visit was to seek business cooperation opportunities with US partners. The general goal is promoting exports, drawing US investment, particularly into hi-tech and finance and banking sectors.
Mr Tam said that during recent meetings with US partners, American investors expressed interest in Vietnam’s financial market, especially the stock market.
Three workshops on investment attraction and trade promotion are scheduled to be held in New York, San Francisco and California during this time. Vietnam and the US will also sign the Framework Agreement on Trade and Investment.
In an interview with Labour newspaper, Nguyen Thi Bich Van, Vice Head of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said that many US investors considered Vietnam as a potential market while Vietnam wanted to attract US investment in finance and hi-tech areas and the two sides would both benefit.
According to statistics, US investors have invested in 325 projects with the total registered capital of $2.3bil, accounting for 4.4% of total projects and 3.5% of total foreign direct investment in Vietnam. The US ranks 6th among the 77 countries and territories that have investment projects in Vietnam.
US investors are also interested in portfolio investment through investment funds, the stock market, etc. Infrastructure development projects are now attractive to US investors since the Vietnamese government has been encouraging the private sector to develop infrastructure facilities in Vietnam, Ms Van said.
Among the US-invested projects that are under negotiation, according to Ms Van, are the Mong Duong Thermo-power Plant 2 in Quang Ninh province (a joint venture between the AES group and the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Group in the form of build-operate-transfer totalling $1.46 billion of investment), the Nhon Trach 2 Thermo-power project of the Gannon group and the $1.5 billion Dak Nong bauxite ore and aluminum project.
“US companies are seeking investment opportunities in Vietnam and it is forecast that US investment into Vietnam will rapidly increase after the US visit by President Nguyen Minh Triet,” she said.

Japanese utility Electric Power plans to build a US$2.4 billion coal-fired power plant in Vietnam's southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau to meet soaring demand there, a newspaper reported on Monday.

A group of executives from Electric Power Development Co. (J-Power) had submitted proposals to build a 2,400-megawatt coal-fired plant in the province's district of Tan Thanh, the Ba Ria-Vung Tau newspaper said, quoting an unnamed provincial government source.

The paper said the $2.4-billion plant would use 100-percent coal imported from Indonesia and Australia.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau, 125 km (78 miles) southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, is Vietnam's oil and gas hub where several gas-fired power plants and a liquefied petroleum gas facility are up and running.

Last week Vietnam's Industry Ministry said more than 30 power plants were being built and 30 more were planned around the country between now and 2020 to meet soaring demand, forecast to rise around 17-18 percent annually.

The second wave of investment of the UK in Vietnam with the participation of big corporations in financial services, oil and gas, software, mining and telecom has begun to appear, affirmed Robert Gordon, UK Ambassador to Vietnam in a talk with the press about the economic relations between Vietnam and the UK.

Talks with the UK Ambassador



With nearly four years in Vietnam, you have contributed to promote the ties between Vietnam and the UK in many areas. What fields are you satisfied with the most and what fields do the two countries need to promote in the future?



The relationships between Vietnam and the UK are more diversified. The UK has become one of the largest non-refundable aid providers for Vietnam. The signing of the 10-year development partnership agreement in 2006 is the peak in my term.



Along with opening opportunities when Vietnam becomes a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), challenges in sensitive areas of Vietnam are also very big. Those fields require special attention and we are assisting Vietnam to get this attention through the “Post-WTO” initiative/project.



Another new challenge that can make remarkable influences on Vietnam is the challenge that originates from climate change and the global warming phenomenon. We took climate change as the topic of the British Queen’s birthday party in Hanoi this June. We want to cooperate with Vietnam to raise awareness in this issue and to help Vietnam have suitable preparations.



New waves of investment from Japan, the US, and the Republic of Korea are now mentioned very often. As one of the biggest investors of the European Union in Vietnam, should we have much hope about a new wave of investment from the UK in the near future?



The UK is now an important investor in Vietnam. We are proud of what British famous companies such as Prudential, BP, Unilever, Tate & Lyle and others have performed in Vietnam.



With opportunities of the post-WTO period, Vietnam is being known more in Britain and we have seen the second wave of investment of the UK in Vietnam. This wave brings to Vietnam big companies operating in the areas of financial services, oil and gas, software, mining and telecom.



If those projects are successful, the volume of new investment capital of Britain in Vietnam may be very large.



Last year the UK’s import turnover from Vietnam was ten times higher than its export revenue to Vietnam. Does the country plan to balance its trade with Vietnam?



For the UK, actually, trade is as significant as supporting Vietnam’s economic development. By opening our market for Vietnamese goods, we are creating jobs for thousands of Vietnamese labourers.



The above trade deficit statistics doesn’t reflect the real picture of trade between the two countries because the re-export via the third countries needs to be considered. Trade deficits can be partly balanced by invisible incomes from services. I believe that there are many chances for British export goods to Vietnam.



To solve hindrances for the both sides in trade exchange, we are building the Joint Economic and Trade Committee between the two sides (Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his British counterpart Tony Blair expressed their great support to the establishment of this committee). The first meeting of this committee is slated for this year’s end.



Could you make a sketch of the trade picture between the two countries in the next five years?



By 2012, Vietnam will complete its WTO accession commitments. At that time, the economy of the two countries will integrate deeply and widely into the world economy. Other initiatives like the EU-ASEAN Free Trade Area will promote this process.



Vietnam’s goods will be very popular in the UK. Vietnam’s first big companies will open their offices in London. Vietnamese companies will list their stocks on the London Stock Exchange. Many British investors will buy stocks of newly equitised firms and banks of Vietnam. Vietnamese consumers will have more chances to have access to British financial and telecom services in Vietnam.



As a country which has per capita income at the medium level, Vietnam will be less dependent on preferential grants for large infrastructure and financial demands. We can see the first private-state partnerships that will provide funds for important projects like school and hospital building in Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines is planning to service Los Angeles and San Fransisco with her own metal in the near future.

"VN has submitted proposals to authorities to delay the opening of new routes directly to the US. Pham Ngoc Minh, the airline's deputy general director, says the company is not ready to offer the service, given strong competition in the US market. In addition, American customers tend to choose US carriers over foreign airlines, says Minh. If VN decided to launch the new routes now, it could put a VND 500-billion (USD 33 million) dent in annual earnings."

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/118/306314649_de8259a7f3.jpg?v=0

In the last four months, Korean investors came in force with FDI capital, with 84 projects and almost US$600 million. Following were India, Singapore, Thailand and the US. Hong Kong was the lead investing country last year, with more than US$610 million. This year it slipped down to eighth place with only US$111 million in registered capital.

http://www.shtp.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/webshtp/data/news/2007/3/575/Khanh%20thanh%20Nidec.jpg
Nidec president Shigenobu Nagamori (4th R) introduces models of Nidec factories which will be built at the Saigon Hi-tech Park to Le Hoang Quan (3rd R), chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City

The Department also said it expects that about 20 provinces and cities will be able to draw US$16-17 billion in FDI this year, far beyond the US$12 billion projected for the year. By the end of March, 38 large projects were to go forward in Vietnam representing total registered capital of almost US$35 billion. These include the Foxconn (Chinese Taipei) US$5 billion electronic high-tech park in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces. So far, Foxconn has opened a representative office in Bac Ninh.

Among large projects are electric energy plants like 1) the Van Phong 2,640MW, US$3.5 billion coal-fired power plant in Khanh Hoa province of the Sumitomo Group (Japan), 2) the Mong Duong 2 1,200MW, US$1.463 billion thermopower plant in Quang Ninh province of AES (USA) and the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Group and 3) the US$1.4 billion southern coal-fired power plant in Binh Thuan province, an investment of the Yunnan-CSG Power Grid Company (China).

In addition there are oil refinery projects such as the US$1.53 billion Oil Refinery Complex No. 3 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province to be developed by the Thailand Chemical Group and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation, and the US$1.2 billion, one-million-tonne-per-year oil refinery of the SP Chemical Joint Stock Company (Singapore).

There are also to be many large industry and high-tech projects. These are to include a steel plant in Ha Tinh province that would include a 4.5-million-tonne-per-year steel plant and iron ore quarry in Thach Khe district that's to cost a total cost of about US$3.75 billion. At this time, a number of investors such as Posco (Korea), Sunsteel (Chinese Taipei), TaTa Steel and ESSAR (India) and Bao Steel and Wuhan (China) have lined-up to take part in this project.

There will be a bauxite ore mining and alumina treatment project, a US$1.5 billion joint venture between Alcoa Group (USA) and the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Group.
Others are to be Compaq's US$500 million laptop production plant in Vinh Phuc province, the STX Group's (Korea) US$500 million ship building project in Van Phong in Khanh Hoa province and a US$570 million rolled steel joint-venture involving ESSAR (India), the Vietnam Steel Corporation and the Vietnam General Rubber Corporation.

2 year lately, I realize Dong Nai Pro is no longer place attracted FDI in TOP 5, replaced by other provinces. In near future, there are many big projects will be licenced in Vungtau, Khanh Hoa, Bac Ninh, Vinh Phuc,....Not Dong Nai.....why? why?....:ohno:

Hi yeutoidi, are you in Dong Nai? Why do you show excessive interest in Dong Nai? A timely and judicious policy will attract foreign investment and encourage investment.
Other news:
Gannon has submitted a pro*posal to build a 1,000-MW power plant in Dong Nai Province near Ho Chi Minh city
Conoco Phillips has invested some $1 billion in petroleum ex*ploration and drilling in Vietnam.

Trade through Chinese border gates in Quang Ninh and Lao Cai provinces increased sharply in the first half of the year to over US$1.26 billion.

Quang Ninh’s Mong Cai bor*der gate alone recorded $965.5 million in cross border trade, up 21 per cent year-on-year, including $323.7 million worth of ex*ports and $105.4 million worth of imports. The rest was in re-exported commodities.

At the Lao Cai border gate, trade reached nearly $300 million, up 74 per cent over the same period last year.

Trade was helped along by co-operation programs between Lao Cai and China's Yunnan Province, particularly in transport.

The two provinces opened new overland routes enabling about 100-150 trucks and cars travel through the Lao Cai border gate per day.

Vietnam mainly exports coal, rubber and agricultural products to China while importing urea fertilizer, construction materials, electronic components and automobile parts.

A Vietnamese garment company has won a contract worth US$141 million to supply apparel to a US retailer.

Following a deal signed Tuesday in San Francisco, the US, the Da Nang Garment and Textile 29-3 Company will supply 20 million pieces of garments to Spaceman Corp by 2010, in the process becoming the largest textile exporter in central Vietnam.

The deal was signed in the presence of Le Quoc An, chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, who is accompanying President Nguyen Minh Triet during his ongoing visit to the US.

Vietnam's apparel exports to the US have grown by 20 percent to $927 million in the first quarter this year.

The US is the largest importer, accounting for 55 percent of Vietnam’s textile shipments.

Vietnam’s total apparel exports are set to grow by 27 percent this year to $7.3 billion.

Hi yeutoidi, are you in Dong Nai? Why do you show excessive interest in Dong Nai? A timely and judicious policy will attract foreign investment and encourage investment.
Other news:
Gannon has submitted a pro*posal to build a 1,000-MW power plant in Dong Nai Province near Ho Chi Minh city
Conoco Phillips has invested some $1 billion in petroleum ex*ploration and drilling in Vietnam.

Hi Jimmyfa, I'm from Vungtau, near Dongnai, so I'm interested in DN...Thanks for your infomations...

Trade through Chinese border gates in Quang Ninh and Lao Cai provinces increased sharply in the first half of the year to over US$1.26 billion.

Quang Ninh’s Mong Cai bor*der gate alone recorded $965.5 million in cross border trade, up 21 per cent year-on-year, including $323.7 million worth of ex*ports and $105.4 million worth of imports. The rest was in re-exported commodities.

At the Lao Cai border gate, trade reached nearly $300 million, up 74 per cent over the same period last year.

Trade was helped along by co-operation programs between Lao Cai and China's Yunnan Province, particularly in transport.

The two provinces opened new overland routes enabling about 100-150 trucks and cars travel through the Lao Cai border gate per day.

Vietnam mainly exports coal, rubber and agricultural products to China while importing urea fertilizer, construction materials, electronic components and automobile parts.

Yeap! Mong Cai always is the number one border gate of Vietnam!

http://www.thanhniennews.com/images/newsimages/triet-Bush-174-07.jpg
Vietnam's president Nguyen Minh Triet shakes hands with President Bush in the Oval Office


Besides TIFA Triet also witnessed Friday the signing of six investment and cooperation deals between Vietnamese and US businesses worth around US$5 billion.

These include a contract between software giant Microsoft and Vietnam’s Ministry of Post and Telematics, the country’s largest IT firm FPT Corp, Vietnam’s leading computer and communications corporation CMC, and Agribank.

Other major deals included one between Electricity of Vietnam and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and the US’s Chevron Group, Vietnam Posts and Telematics Group and Motorola, and the SSA Marine and Vietnam National Shipping Lines

$5 billion heh:) ..this kind of news is a slap to the faces of those whining losers who won't stop barking at Vietnam's government:)

Hi sqd, don't cut or add detail. That is only your thinks. Don't impose one's viewpoint on me. Thanks.
And news:
VietNamNet Bridge - After a one-hour talk, which is described by the press as a ‘historical meeting’ between the Vietnamese and US Presidents, at the joint press conference, President Bush affirmed: “We want to have good relationships with Vietnam”. In response, President Triet said: “The Vietnamese and American people want peace, unity, and friendship and the two countries have to hold each other’s hands to go to the future”.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200706/original/images1344673_1.jpg
Photo: AP

President Nguyen Minh Triet and the Vietnamese mission came to the White House in Washington D.C at 10.50am, June 22 (local time).

At 11am, the talks took place between the two Presidents. The high-level talks was attended by senior officials of the two countries. Immediately after the one-hour talks, the two Presidents appeared in the Oval Office to announce the results of the talks.

Speaking to the press, President Bush welcomed President Triet and the Vietnamese mission to the US. He said: “I still remember good memories about my visit to Vietnam last November. I still remember the warm welcome of President Triet and Vietnamese officials to me and the US mission”.

Mr Bush said that he had outspoken and constructive talks with the Vietnamese President. “During this visit, the two sides signed the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement… Vietnam’s progress has impressed me,” he affirmed.

Mr Bush again thanked Vietnam’s goodwill, cooperation and positive assistance in many issues, particularly in the search of American missing in action soldiers during the Vietnam War.

The US President affirmed: “We are willing to spend money for the efforts to help Vietnamese dioxin victims. We are also determined to assist Vietnam to combat and check HIV/AIDS”.

Recently the US Congress has decided to provide US$3 million for Vietnam to detoxicate areas with dioxin.

In his response, Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet thanked the warm, thoughtful reception of the US and the hospitality of American people. Mr Triet described the talks with President Bush fruitful, effective and constructive.

"We shared the view that the Vietnam-US relations have recorded enormous gains and are entering into a new stage of development," President Triet said.

He added that the two Governments would work harder to develop the two countries’ constructive and friendly partnership in a sustainable, comprehensive and effective manner.

The President also told the press that he and his US counterpart had discussed a host of measures to elevate bilateral ties in the fields of politics, economics, trade, science and technology, education and humanitarian affairs in addition to comparing notes on issues of mutual concern.

During the visit, the two countries signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and other important economic deals and contracts, President Triet said.

President Triet sent Vietnamese people’s friendly greetings to the American people, emphasising that Vietnam is no longer a country of war but a peaceful country that is rising up as an active element in the international community.

He also asserted that the Vietnamese people wish to befriend with the Americans and work with them for the sake of mutual benefits, and for peace and prosperity in the world and international cooperation.

The Vietnamese President once again affirmed the ‘looking to the future’ message of Vietnam in the relationships with the US.

“We want to say that Vietnam is now a peaceful, stable and friendly country. Vietnamese people want unity and friendship with American people. The two nations want peace, unity and friendship and have to hold each other’s hands to go to the future,” the Vietnamese President said.

At the event, President Triet also conveyed warm greetings to overseas Vietnamese in the US, expressing his hope that they will help serve as a firm bridge between Vietnam and the US.

After the press conference, Mr Triet attended a luncheon of President Bush and his wife to welcome the visit of the Vietnamese President.

Anh Tuan (from Washington D.C)(source www.vnn.vn)

yeah and after they give you 5 billions they will slap you then make you whine for 10-15 yrs before their money are transfered to your bank account

This is business and you must to know fortune and misfortune. Nobody gives you free things. That's the price you have to pay for your success. If you are intelligent, you will success. Think before you do and these are big investments, they aren't toys to play or say in a few minutes. If they can enter the hardship, they can certainly go out. "They can cut two trees with one saw". One coin will be transfered from here to there, you pay one coin to a worker, and the worker will spend it to buy food from salesman, then the salesman will continuously buy others and ... It will become a currency circle. And one coin will become two coin, three coin or more. This is good for both. The investor will make a good profits from their projects and we can use the funds to invest others. That's only my ideas. And i think it's business. You must to accept the risks. You can have victory or defeat. The businessman often say "no arrogance in victory and no defection in defeat".

5 tháng đầu năm 2007, FDI TOP 10:

STT địa phương Số dự án Tổng vốn đầu tư Vốn pháp định
1 BR-Vũng Tàu 6 724,680,000 605,680,000
2 Thừa Thiên - Huế 4 553,350,000 183,975,000
3 Hậu Giang 1 280,000,000 280,000,000
4 Quảng Ngãi 1 260,000,000 113,000,000
5 Bình Dương 47 254,886,000 102,911,216
6 Hà Nội 74 253,186,809 145,877,594
7 Tp.HCM 79 205,988,951 88,501,545
8 Bình Định 6 186,500,000 97,500,000
9 Hải Dương 26 174,279,063 67,783,719
10 Hà Tây 14 125,629,289 50,638,233

Nguồn :Bộ KH-ĐT

Vietnam’s first-half export value would have surged 19.4 percent over the same period last year by the end of the month, predicted the Ministry of Trade recently.

The ministry estimated that US$22.5 billion worth of exports will have been sold over the six month period.

In June alone, export value topped $4 billion.

Over 7.6 million tons of crude oil were exported for $3.8 billion as the country’s number one export turnover earner dropped slightly both in volume and value.

Analysts attributed the small slip to declining global prices and lower than expected output by certain overseas operations.

Garment and textile industry earnings grew 25.9 percent to $3.4 billion despite difficulties in the US, the sector’s largest importer, where the Department of Commerce began monitoring the import of textile and apparel products from Vietnam after lifting quotas due to Vietnam's WTO entry in January.

The US accounts for 55 percent of Vietnam’s textile shipments.

Footwear manufactures ranked third in export value at $1.93 billion, a year-on-year rise of 11 percent.

The footwear sector is increasingly competitive these days, owing to significant tax cuts on raw materials brought about by WTO membership.

Seafood exports met the high expectations placed on their potential this year by earning $1.65 billion, up 23.1 percent.

Coffee experienced the country’s highest growth, a 99 percent leap, to hit $1.2 billion in export value thanks to global coffee peaks.

Vietnam, the world's second largest coffee exporter, is diversifying coffee products for export, partaking more actively in international coffee trading floors and applying more advanced farming and processing techniques.

The country shipped to mainly the US and EU bloc, with wood-based products totaling $1.1 billion in the first half, up 21 percent against the same period last year.

The nation’s four giant exporting markets now are the EU, the US, Japan and China.

Trade officials said exports to the US were forecast to rise 35 percent from last year to nearly $11 billion in total this year while revenues from goods sold to Europe would jump 22 percent to $8.3 billion by the year’s end.

Exports are expected to maintain robust growth, helped by Vietnam's membership in the WTO. The country’s ambitious export goal is to reach a whopping $100 billion in export value by 2010, according to the Ministry of Trade.

Source:Not in My House: Corruption in Vietnam (http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=550&Itemid=31)

Patrick Tan
25 June 2007
“Lying has become an everyday habit” as officials ignore fraud at home.



Earlier this month, Vietnam’s top anti-corruption agency, the Government Inspectorate, completed its annual investigations in the country’s central, central highlands, western and southern regions, and to no one’s surprise, nobody found dust in his own home, although they found plenty elsewhere.


“The higher levels only detected corruption in lower levels. Provinces detected corruption in districts, districts did the same with communes. No one said they had found corruption in their own organization,” Bui Ngoc Lam, Deputy Head of the Government Inspectorate, told the press. Apparently in the minds of many state officials, if there are problems, they must exist elsewhere.


This attitude has become pervasive. Last year, in a similar investigation 28 ministries and sectors as well as 58 provinces and cities submitted their reports to the central government. The result? Only six of the units reported corruption. The rest happily declared, “No corruption here.!”


At that time, Prof. Nguyen Dinh Cu, the lead author of Vietnam’s first corruption survey, said he was surprised that so many ministries and provinces were “immaculate.”

“There are only two cases that can explain this: first, there is corruption but it is not detected, or there is no corruption so of course corruption is not reported. I myself believe in the first case: corruption exists but it is not detected.”


According to international monitors, corruption is rife in Vietnam. In its 2006 Corruption Perceptions Index, the monitoring group Transparency International placed Vietnam 111th of 163 countries. Even the Communist Party’s leaders have warned of the danger posed to its legitimacy by corruption. Corruption “threatens the survival of our regime,” As Party Chief Nong Duc Manh told party members at the National Congress last year.

“Leading officials must be responsible for the shortcomings, corruption and wastefulness in their branches, localities and units,” Manh told a party plenum in 2004. “Driving back corruption and wastefulness is an important task to consolidate the people’s confidence and promote the strength of the great national unity for the cause of national construction and defense.”

But despite such fierce rhetoric, party officials seem to be a blissful state of denial. Anti-corruption begins at home, yet many government agencies prefer to point at others and few are willing to clean up their own act.


Many lawmakers have lamented the lack of will to confront dishonesty in state agencies. Last November, when the National Assembly discussed the implementation of Vietnam’s one-year-old anti-corruption law, just over half of the country’s 64 provinces and cities had worked out an action plan. A National Assembly Deputy commented that some local leaders “plainly pretended there was no corruption at all in their agencies.”


One man’s corruption….

But what is corruption in the eyes of state employees? The official salaries of Vietnam’s public officials are notoriously low. In October last year minimum salaries for state employees were raised by nearly 30 percent — but the minimum is still only 28 dollars per month. As a result, many workers on the government payroll resort to getting money any way they can.


…Is another’s livelihood

“We are living in a society where we have to lie to one another. Everyone receives salaries but no one lives on them. Lying has become an everyday habit,” lamented Tran Quoc Thuan, vice chairman of the National Assembly, in an interview with Thanh Nien, an official publication of the Vietnam Youth Association. In this context, Thuan said, it is taken for granted that a state official can take a “commission” for whatever he does in his job.


“The current state structure and mechanism are creating loopholes for corrupt people to loot the state budget,” the official said. “It would be amazing if a single official is not corrupted.”


While people at all levels may not like it, when corruption permeates all institutions, they learn to live with it as it gradually transforms itself into a simple fact of life. Vietnam’s first systematic survey of corruption, released in 2005, showed that three quarters of the respondents listed corruption as the country’s most serious problem. However, according to the World Bank’s Vietnam Development Report of 2006, few companies see corruption as an obstacle to their business. Most enterprises appear to have simply adapted to reality.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t a flurry of activity aimed at combating the problem. Periodic executions take place, such as that of Phung Long That, a former senior customs official who was shot by a firing squad in March 2006 for abetting one of the country’s largest smuggling rings. That, the former head of the anti-smuggling investigations squad, helped to smuggle US$83 million in goods, mostly electronics and cars, into the country. Some 72 other defendants, many of them customs or police officers, were given lengthy jail terms. Since the beginning of 2007, at least 33 others have been sentenced to death, 24 for drug trafficking, according to figures compiled by several news outlets from officials and state media. Four have been executed.

The government inspectorate established a new anticorruption department in December. According to an upcoming government decree, heads of agencies and units will be held responsible for any corruption cases occurring under their watch. But it will be not surprising if anti-corruption initiatives fail to achieve their objectives. The reality is that the laws in Vietnam look good on paper, but that’s by and large where they remain because of weak enforcement.


The attitude seems to be that playing the game by the rules never works for ordinary people. The clean-up strategy targets lower governmental levels, while clans with powerful connections are rarely touched.


Thus while people acknowledge corruption is rampant and that the fight against graft needs strengthening, real change is proving elusive.

HCM City authorities now have to choose trustworthy faces from among many local investors to whom to give the city’s remaining ‘golden’ land plots in the hub to build buildings.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the 61-storey Bitexco Trade and Financial Service Centre project, which fronts the three streets of Hai Trieu, Ho Tung Mau and Ngo Duc Ke in the centre of HCM City, in 2005 stirred the real estate circle. This was not only the largest real estate project invested in by a local investor ($90 million) but also the sign of the start of the movement to build Vietnamese buildings in HCM City’s hub, where land is more valuable than gold. Since then, many Vietnamese-invested building projects have been carried out.

Most recently, the nine-storey Opera View was inaugurated on May 12 at the Le Loi-Dong Khoi crossroad in District 1, which is considered the best site in HCM City. The building is invested in by Artex Saigon with VND57 billion ($3.56 million), on 798sq.m of land.

There are only world top fashion brands sold in Opera View, such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Furla, Lazoe, Lacoste, French Connection UK and Doc Martens. This is the most luxurious trading centre in HCM City and Vietnam in general; Louis Vuitton had to wait for five years to get its favourite site. Tens of foreign investors wanted to buy this plot of land but Artex decided to build the building with its own capital.

Also in May, the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) announced Singapore’s DP Architects had won the first prize in a contest to design BIDV tower in HCM City.

The 152m BIDV building will be built at 117-119 Nguyen Hue Road, District 1 at a total investment capital of VND1,800 billion ($112.5 million), wholly invested in by BIDV. The construction will begin in early 2008 and be completed in 2010. The building will host offices of banking and securities groups in the world and the region.

The PetroVietnam building at 1 Le Duan Street, District 1 is about to open after tens of years in stagnancy. Previously, many foreign investors refused to invest in this project but now it is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in HCM City and all of its space has been hired though the building is not open yet.

One June 21, Vincom announced it would implement a project to build three towers in the centre of District 1, HCM City. Those towers will be built on two plots of land. Two towers comprising trading centres, offices for lease, luxurious apartments and garages will be built on the first 12,000sq.m plot of land. The second plot of land will be a tower totaling 62,000sq.m in area, which will be offices for lease. Those buildings will be connected by tunnels.

All of those projects are on plots of land that many foreign investors dreamed of but couldn’t invest in for many reasons.

“Buildings in the city’s centre which bear Vietnamese trademarks are not only the pride of Vietnamese investors but also prove the development of the Vietnamese economy. HCM City will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese economic groups to invest in the city’s centre,” said Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan.

Apart from wholly Vietnamese-invested real estate projects, there are many others in which Vietnamese capital makes up a large part, for example the 35-storey building of the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) and the 40-storey International Trading Centre of the Saigon Trade Corporation.

In the next ten years, tens of made-in-Vietnam buildings will become the focal points of HCM City’s central area besides foreign-invested buildings.

In the next ten years, tens of made-in-Vietnam buildings will become the focal points of HCM City’s central area besides foreign-invested buildings.

Ideally, those made-in-Vietnam buildings will be designed by Vietnamese architects.

it is sad to see Vietnam develope in this manner, Vietnam should learn from other mistake about building a city, high rise are popping up left and right, concrete are every where but where are all the public space, landscape area, green area, lush tree, and people park, one day they will realize that all these green area with come in place, but by then it is too late.
in western world they all see the mistake they have done, they are now changing their view about city, nature play an important role in the city. look at Thailand, Bangkok, it is disgusting, polluted.

Cheese, I don't understand your idea very much but I think that's a good idea. Value of land are raised by green space. However, someone live off one's land. And land is very expensive. They refuse to use land to build green areas. Because land for construction bring more money than land for green area. They even sold land for park. Maybe Phu My Hung urban is alone place in Vietnam where has good conditions for life.
They are going to build some new centers (Thu Thiem, Binh Quoi, Cu Chi, Can Gio...). And i hope it will be more green.
Cheese, If you were a manager, what would you do?

I understand, business is business, Vietnamese are hunger for development, the people yearn for modernize; I just hope they don't ruin the city with their greed.
Only if there are any organization that would reach out to the government to let them know the good and bad side of development.

I understand, business is business, Vietnamese are hunger for development, the people yearn for modernize; I just hope they don't ruin the city with their greed.
Only if there are any organization that would reach out to the government to let them know the good and bad side of development.

cheese,
If the government would ever listen... Even if they listen, corruption will take precedence over any good planning and development in VN. Unfortunately, that's the reality.
--Capee

^ that's the reality to most developing nations, be it a democracy like indonesia (who has higher corruption than vietnam FYI) or communist nation like Vietnam.

^ that's the reality to most developing nations, be it a democracy like indonesia (who has higher corruption than vietnam FYI) or communist nation like Vietnam.

LOL. Indonesia only became democratic AFTER Suharto's fall in 1997!! What about the past 30 years? LOL. Lame, dude! Do you have proof Indonesia is listed as more corrupt than Vietnam.

Commie rule Vietnam takes the crown in Southeast Asia for corruption. You're probably here studying on the corrupt money. Don't tell most VC cadres can afford to send their kiddies overseas for an education. In addition most visa students aren't even that bright! I'm not trying to be mean but's true!

LOL. Indonesia only became democratic AFTER Suharto's fall in 1997!! What about the past 30 years? LOL. Lame, dude! Do you have proof Indonesia is listed as more corrupt than Vietnam.

Commie rule Vietnam takes the crown in Southeast Asia for corruption. You're probably here studying on the corrupt money. Don't tell most VC cadres can afford to send their kiddies overseas for an education. In addition most visa students aren't even that bright! I'm not trying to be mean but's true!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Index

Indonesia is the most corrupted, and next is the PHillipines.

Most Visa students I know aren't good with English, but their science and math skills are amazing, most students I know from Vietnam are from the top public schools.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Index

Indonesia is the most corrupted, and next is the PHillipines.

Most Visa students I know aren't good with English, but their science and math skills are amazing, most students I know from Vietnam are from the top public schools.


http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2006

Here is the list from Transparency Int'l. Vietnam is 111th out of 163 countries. Amazingly corrupt. Look where Thailand and South Korea and all the other mature democracies. They are at the top of list for least corruption. Tell me where in the list is a totalitarian state that is least corrupt? There is no such thing!!

http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2006

Here is the list from Transparency Int'l. Vietnam is 111th out of 163 countries. Amazingly corrupt. Look where Thailand and South Korea and all the other mature democracies. They are at the top of list for least corruption. Tell me where in the list is a totalitarian state that is least corrupt? There is no such thing!!
Singapore and China?

Amazingly try to change topic, my point is that developing countries no matter whether its' "democratic" or authoritarian, corruption is relative. But of course, you have to jump off and say what please you no? I mean first you put Vietnam down in other forums, and then try to TELL me who I am.. I'm used to it now I guess.

Thailand is a mature democracy? HAHAHAHA

You should try to read more serious papers, like The Economist or the Financial Times before you make such silly comment

Singapore and China?

Amazingly try to change topic, my point is that developing countries no matter whether its' "democratic" or authoritarian, corruption is relative. But of course, you have to jump off and say what please you no? I mean first you put Vietnam down in other forums, and then try to TELL me who I am.. I'm used to it now I guess.

wantuhoa,
I don't know if and how you're working for living in VN... That's said, I have a close friend that owns a store in VN, she showed me the official tax document for her shop... The actual tax is very small, all other required "VOLUNTARY" contribution is HUGE!!! Do you know such a thing in the free world... with the government sanctioned robbing of people? How long do the people of VN have to endure this crap?
--Capee

wantuhoa,
I don't know if and how you're working for living in VN... That's said, I have a close friend that owns a store in VN, she showed me the official tax document for her shop... The actual tax is very small, all other required "VOLUNTARY" contribution is HUGE!!! Do you know such a thing in the free world... with the government sanctioned robbing of people? How long do the people of VN have to endure this crap?
--Capee

What's the "free world" do you mean? Corruption is inherent in most developing economies.

What's the "free world" do you mean? Corruption is inherent in most developing economies.
So corruptions is the "OFFICIAL" sanctioned rule of law in VN!!! I got it now...
--Capee

So corruptions is the "OFFICIAL" sanctioned rule of law in VN!!! I got it now...
--Capee

Yes and it's all inherent to any developing economies.

Yes and it's all inherent to any developing economies.
wantuhoa,
I admire your candid and frankness!!! just wish the rest of the commie machine does the same...
--Capee

Thailand is a mature democracy? HAHAHAHA

You should try to read more serious papers, like The Economist or the Financial Times before you make such silly comment
Thailand is still better than most south east asia, Thailand is the only country around this region that is not a dictator rule or commi, people are still have the freedom to choose and elect their Priminister, they can also boot out a corrupt Priminister as you can at the momment.

Thailand is a mature democracy? HAHAHAHA

You should try to read more serious papers, like The Economist or the Financial Times before you make such silly comment

Mature democracy as in the Western democracies of Europe or Japan, retard. How did you infer that I had Thailand in mind? But Thailand is economically, politically, and culturally more mature than Vietnam as long as a totalitarian dictatorship is in place.

If you want to debate with about political economy and the correlation between free market and democracy, I'm more than game!

BTW, did Thailand ever had 're-education' camps, Cong An, 'Land Reform', 1 million Vietnamese exodus from North to South, 2 million Vietnamese exodus after 75 after commie victory, press censorship, banned books, political prisoners such as Pham Hong Son, Nguyen Van Dai, and others? The answer is NO. NO BLOODBATH, NO Coercion, no exodus. Thailand had a more humanitarian, civilized society.

Understand, kiddo. Now go back playing your video game!

Singapore and China?

Amazingly try to change topic, my point is that developing countries no matter whether its' "democratic" or authoritarian, corruption is relative. But of course, you have to jump off and say what please you no? I mean first you put Vietnam down in other forums, and then try to TELL me who I am.. I'm used to it now I guess.

What topic am I changing, commie? Corruption is corruption. BTW, kiddo, Singapore is not a one party dictatorship. An opposition is allow to form there. They do not jail people for having a divergent political view like boys from Hanoi. But in Asian democracies there tend to be less confrontational and more consensus. Singapore is NOT a Marxist Leninist retarded state like Vietnam.

Singapore and China?

Amazingly try to change topic, my point is that developing countries no matter whether its' "democratic" or authoritarian, corruption is relative. But of course, you have to jump off and say what please you no? I mean first you put Vietnam down in other forums, and then try to TELL me who I am.. I'm used to it now I guess.


China is not even listed in the top 20 in ranking of least corrupt according to Transparency Int'l. The reason behind Tienanmen Sq. was the prevalence of corruption in China. Singapore is not a one party state! It is not even a Marxist Leninist state. The correlation between democratic governance and least corruption is because of a free and independent press, independent judiciary, and competitive political and pluralistic system. Finland, Chile, Germany, UK, Norway, France....etc. have all those attributes.

What topic am I changing, commie? Corruption is corruption. BTW, kiddo, Singapore is not a one party dictatorship. An opposition is allow to form there. They do not jail people for having a divergent political view like boys from Hanoi. But in Asian democracies there tend to be less confrontational and more consensus. Singapore is NOT a Marxist Leninist retarded state like Vietnam.

:lol: :ohno:

Ok. If Vietnam's so retarded then why don't you just leave it alone :cheers: Talking like this would get you banned from other forums in here, but really. Actually I think it's better if you go to Thailand chat and start talking more trash about Vietnam. :)

Thailand is still better than most south east asia, Thailand is the only country around this region that is not a dictator rule or commi, people are still have the freedom to choose and elect their Priminister, they can also boot out a corrupt Priminister as you can at the momment.

come again??? :ohno: is thailand really the only country in se asia that doesn't have a dictator?

Well,I'm Thai and I'm happy to see vietnam becoming a new tiger in Asia which is not a bad thing to have other potential country in this region.About the country development I still believe Thailand is still far from Vietnam (no ofense) but I also believe that Vietnam can develop their country as well as their today's economy

Vietnam's economy is continuing to expand, with the General Statistics Office putting the first half's gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 7.87%.

Industry and construction in January-June grew 9.88%, which is attributed to a strong increase in the manufacturing industry and the stability in the electronic, gas and water production and distribution industries.

Services registered growth of 8.41%, the highest ever against the same period of previous years.

Agriculture expanded a mere2.67%due mainly to a fall of 3% in the output of the winter-spring rice crop.

For fiscal activities, the office has estimated that State revenue in the first half of the year rose 14.5% from a year earlier and reached 46% of the year's target. Especially, revenue from crude oil exports fell 13.4% from the same period of last year and met only 3 8.6% of the target of the year.

Meanwhile, State expenditures were up 18.7% against the year-earlier period and reached 45.8% of this year's projected level.

Regarding investment activities, total investments implemented so far this year have amounted to almost VND197 trillion, or 43.5% of the year's target.

For commercial activities, total revenue from retail sales and services was up nearly 23% to VND335.6trillion.

The consumer price index rose 5.2% in Jan-June. Annual inflation in June rose 7.8% on higher fuel and food costs, up from 7.31 % in May.

The rise in the consumer price index was above a government target to keep annual inflation this year at less than 7%.

The statistics office's figures show food prices in June rose 14.86% from last June, above a rise of 14.6% in May from a year earlier. Food prices account for 42.8% of the price basket used to calculate inflation.

Total foreign trade was put at almost US$50 billion, up 25.2% year-on-year. Export turnover was up 19.4% to US$22.5 billion.

Exports to ASEAN in-creased29.8%, EU28.4%, the U.S.23% and China below 5%, whereas those to Japan were down 0.4% and to Australia down 11%.

Export turnover was up 30.4% as well.

The trade deficit was reported at US$4.78 billion, up from US$2.8billion a year earlier.

Figures from the statistics body also show that Vietnam has in the year to date attracted an estimated 2.11 million foreign visitors, up 14.7% year-on-year.

Of them, 1.3 3 million came here for travel, 307,700 for business and 308,800 for visiting relatives.

(Source: Saigon Times)

Nice to hear tha Vietnam is gearing up it economy!... Just hope that it will maintain its present momentum. The growth of Vietnam will definitely improve the entire SEA. Just hoping the other members of the CMLV (Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos) group will do the same. They really have to catch up with their much,... much well off neighbors in SEA... or else a regionwide community is not going to be realized at all.

VNECONOMY updated: 26/06/2007

Vietnam 's Consumer Price Index (CPI) surged by 7.8 percent for the month of June over last year's figure, the General Statistics Office (GSO) has reported.

Economic experts have warned that unless drastic measures are taken it would be highly unlikely that Vietnam will keep inflation under the Government's set target of 6 percent for the year.

The June CPI spiked by 0.85 percent over May, with Ho Chi Minh City and central Thua Thien-Hue province recording increases of 1.27 percent and 0.92 percent respectively, the GSO said.

Agricultural experts pointed to the jump in foodstuffs and restaurant prices as being due to bad weather and a glut of new bird flu outbreaks that have recently plagued the country,

Since oil subsidies were cut by the government, petrol prices again recorded gains which in turn nudged up transportation and other services costs, while the development of the securities market was blamed on the explosion of real estate and car prices.

Homes and construction materials soared by nearly 11 percent alone over 2006 as steel ingot costs surged on the world market.

Inflationary pressures are expected to continue as World Trade Organisation commitments, the importation of between 70-90 percent of production materials and price fluctuations of items such as petrol, oil and electricity continue to be felt in the pocketbooks of consumers.

Source: Vietnam Agency

VNECONOMY updated: 10/07/2007

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070710085716_FDI%203.jpg

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Viet Nam is expected to reach US$20 billion this year, double the figure of 2004, said the British Ambassador to Viet Nam Robert Gordon.

Viet Nam’s FDI rose 50 percent in 2005 and 60 percent last year, and “these are staggering figures,” the ambassador said at a recent luncheon talk in Bangkok.

Viet Nam's growing confidence has resulted in part from membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), making the country more attractive for foreign investment, he said.

Viet Nam can close the gap between itself and the ASEAN founding members, Ambassador Gordon said, adding that “We can expect Viet Nam to take what some would otherwise see as a surprisingly forward position on issues such as the new EU-ASEAN free trade agreement.”

According to the ambassador, in order to further boost the economic development, Viet Nam should focus on some issues, including improvement of quality of economic governance and commitments to foreign investors, restructuring of state enterprises, welcoming back overseas Vietnamese who are an important source of capital and entrepreneurial drive.

In addition, Viet Nam should also focus on sectors and goods in which it has some competitive advantage such as agriculture. The country is the world’s largest exporter of pepper and cashew and the second largest exporter of rice and coffee, he noted.

The ambassador said he believes that in any case Viet Nam should not be complacent about its achievements.

Source: Vietnam Agency

VNECONOMY updated: 10/07/2007

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070710090326_Do%20go.jpg

Viet Nam’s wood processing sector depends much on imported materials although exports has so far this year fetched more than US$1.1 billion, a year-on-year rise of 23 percent, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In the first half of 2007, the industry’s import value has climbed to US$480 million, a year-on-year increase of 42 percent.

Last year, the sector earned an export turnover of almost US$2 billion while its spent half of the number for material timber imports and facilities for processing, according to the Viet Nam Timber and Forest Product Association (ViForest). However, locally grown timber accounts for only 20 percent of the total demand from processors and craftsmen, said the association.

ViForest and its members are focusing on establishment of three timber transaction centers in northern, southern and central regions with the aim of increasing the availability of materials.

Under its long-term development strategy, ViForest will encourage processors to directly invest in developing material zones to increase the supply of locally grown timber over the next 10-15 years.

The country boasts more than 1.4 million ha of forest, which is capable of yielding 30.6 million cu.m of timber, but most of which will be zoned off for paper processing, fibre and chipboard.

Source: Vietnam Agency

VNECONOMY updated: 09/07/2007

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070709160011_Dem%20Dollar.jpg

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung last week approved a State Bank of Viet Nam proposal to enhance the convertibility of the dong and curb the dollarisation of the market.

By 2010, the central bank hopes to completely liberalise the foreign exchange market and have the dong dominate import-export transactions.

The proposal will also see capital transactions partly liberalised, whereby the dong will be able to act as the primary currency in borrowing and debt payment transactions.

Authorities also plan to improve enforcement of forex regulations in an effort to reduce and finally remove the illegal use of foreign currencies in the market.

Authorities will try to bring complete control of forex trading under the control of the banks and other financial institutions, and remove monetary policies that could encourage the dollarisation of the market.

The central bank hopes to make the dong more easily convertible while trying to increase foreign reserves. The Ministry of Finance will also apply suitable measures to develop the dong capital market.

The Ministry of Trade will work with the SBV to encourage the use of dong in financial transaction, particularly in trading essential goods.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment will also encourage foreign investors to use the dong in making investments.

Source: Vietnam Agency

The consumer price index (CPI) increased by 5.2% in the first six months of the year, a figure that surprised every one. Head of the Ministry of Finance’s Price Management Department Nguyen Tien Thoa talked about this.

Prices in Vietnam increased more rapidly than in other countries

According to official explanations, prices in Vietnam escalated because prices increased all over the world. However, prices did not increase so sharply in other countries which also were affected by oil price increases and animal epidemics. How can you explain this?

I know you want to know why price increases were different in different countries, though the countries were all in the same situation. Firstly, I think the root cause is the weak competitiveness of the national economy. You can see this in the high production costs of Vietnam-made products. It is clear that the high domestic production costs plus the higher input material prices pushed the selling prices up.

Secondly, the measures which have been carried out by Vietnamese enterprises to cope with the difficulties caused by the world’s price fluctuations remain insufficient.

Thirdly, in a national economy like Vietnam, the imports of many key materials are always at very high levels. For example, Vietnam imports 100% of petrol, 60-70% of ingot steel, 90% of materials for drugs. Therefore, Vietnam is heavily affected by the world’s price fluctuations, and domestic prices escalate right when the world’s prices increase.

Other countries seem to find it easier to cope with the difficulties caused by the price hikes (for example, they improve production technologies and try to reduce fuel consumption), while Vietnamese enterprises still find it hard to overcome the difficulties.

I also have to say that other countries have got used to the market pricing system with no subsidies, while Vietnam still maintains the subsidisations of several key product items. Therefore, price increases do not cause special impacts in other countries, while causing shocks in Vietnam as the price increases are bigger in Vietnam than in any other countries.

Money put into circulation equal to 67% of yearly target

In the last six months, the central bank has bought $7bil, which means some VND112tril has been put into circulation. How has the move affected the monetary supply? (Total goods and service retail value was VND335tril, or $20.93bil in the first six months of the year)

In the first six months of the year, the foreign investment inflow increased, which has resulted in bigger supply of foreign currencies, putting pressure on the local currency to revaluate against other foreign currencies, while increasing the total means of payments. In the last six months, Vietnam has attracted $5.2bil more in foreign direct investment (FDI), $1.7bil in portfolio investment.

The central bank has put more money into circulation by buying more foreign currencies for reserve, while trying to withdraw cash from circulation by selling SBV bonds. The total sum of money put into circulation since the beginning of the year is equal to 67% of that approved by the Government for the whole of 2007.

The stock market keeps developing, the total value of listing securities has reached VND221,156bil, or $14bil, or 22.7% of 2006’s GDP.

Regarding the total means of payment and credit, an estimate by the central bank showed that by the end of May, the total means of payment had increased by 16.9% over the end of 2006, and by 39.8% over the same period of 2006. The total outstanding loans increased by 15.04% over the end of December 2006, and 33.53% over the same period of 2006.

Prices of key consumer goods rose rapidly

Two groups of goods and services saw price increases higher than the average levels, construction materials and food. Could you please give more details about the increases of the two categories of goods?

The real estate markets in Hanoi and HCM City saw price fever when prices rose by 20-50%. The prices of fuel, including petrol, also increased twice, by 8.9% and 7.2%, while the prices of gas and steel also saw sharp increases.

Food products saw big price increases due to higher demand and higher export prices, while the supply was shorter due to animal epidemics.

The Government plans to apply a lot of measures in order to curb inflation. In the immediate time, taxes will be cut as a result of global integration with the average reduction of 44%, especially on products which have high tax rates, including paper, wooden products and cars.

In terms of monetary policies, the central bank will maintain the basic interest rate for VND, while requiring higher compulsory reserve ratio, withdrawing money from circulation, thus easing the pressure on prices.

Does admission to the WTO influence prices?

Vietnam began implementing WTO commitments right at the beginning of the year, which has resulted in the reduction of prices of many goods. What can you say about the impact of WTO membership on prices?

You should not think in the one way that WTO membership will only make prices lower. There will be both price decreases and increases, which will depend on market supply and demand. More foreign-made goods will be imported thanks to lower tariffs, which will lead to the price decreases of many goods, but when Vietnam exports more goods, this will make the prices of the export items on the domestic market increase.

The principle that the Government and relevant ministries will observe is to follow the world’s market closely.

Source: VietnamNet

Japan’s government has agreed to fund a project making it easier for foreign firms and organisations to invest in Viet Nam.

A deal to this effect was inked in Ha Noi on July 9 by Phan Huu Thang, director general of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and Hiroaki Nakagawa, a representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The three-year project aims to strengthen the Foreign Investment Agency’s capacity to effectively manage and promote foreign direct investment. Provincial-level Department of Planning and Investment and industrial zone management boards from Ha Noi, Vinh Phuc, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai as well as the Hoa Lac and Sai Gon Hi-Tech Parks will also benefit from the programme.

Project leaders will first establish an information management system that can be shared with relevant organisations. The second stage will focus on training human resources whose jobs involve managing, advertising or processing FDI.

The project is expected to further improve Viet Nam’s investment environment as per agreements already ratified by the Government.

Viet Nam is currently home to 7,490 FDI projects with a total registered capital of 67 billion USD. Of those, some 575 new projects worth 4.3 billion USD set up shop in the first six months of 2007.

Source: Vietnam Agency

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070712085925_IT1.jpg

An online article for CNET News has predicted that Viet Nam is to become a more popular outsourcing destination than both China and India within the next five years.

The tip was made on July 10 by Harvey Nash, a British recruitment company that recently acquired Ho Chi Minh-based recruitment business SilkRoad for 1.8 million USD.

The recruitment company said Viet Nam has the second-highest gross domestic product growth after China and the country is now the third-largest offshore-services destination in Southeast Asia.

The emerging position of Viet Nam as a new outsourcing hub was firmed up by a fast-growing information technology work force. The country’s labour pool has about 80,000 IT graduates with some 9,000 more graduates added every year.

More than half of Viet Nam’s 84 million population is under 25 years old and the number of science-majoring students account for 83 percent of the total number of graduates.

"With a growing and youthful IT workforce, low costs and high aspirations to develop its software services, Viet Nam is a natural offshore location and has all the ingredients to become the leading market choice in the next few years," said SilkRoad CEO Marc Voss in a recent statement.

Companies already outsourcing IT services to Vietnam include Honda Motor and Intel, the world leading chip producer that just invested 1 billion USD in a chip factory in southern Viet Nam.

Source: Vietnam Agency

The high purchasing power of foreign securities investors in the so-called ‘hibernation’ period of the market shows that a huge sum of capital is waiting to be injected in Vietnam’s stocks.

Foreign investors still persistent

When domestic investors got frightened by the warning that the VN Index would fall to the 900 point level by the end of 2007, foreign investors kept buying shares.

In May 2007, the trading volume of foreign investors reached 752,000 units for every trading session, worth VND105.51bil ($6.59mil). The trading volume slightly decreased in the next period, from June 1 to 25, to 378,000 units a session, worth VND55.31bil ($3.45mil). The purchasing volume rose again in the last 10 trading sessions to 790,000 units a session, worth VND119.06bil ($7.44mil). In many trading sessions, foreign investors’ trading volume accounted for 45% of the total transaction volume of the market.

Meanwhile, statistics showed the fear of domestic investors as their trading volume was just some 4mil units. The prices of many share items fell down to their deepest lows as investors did not make transactions in the last time.

More foreign investment funds?

The recently released report by HSBC, which provided a contradictory forecast about the VN Index of 900 points by the end of this year, also showed that the number of newly set up investment funds was increasing rapidly.

According to HSBC, since April 2007, 13 new investment funds have become operational, raising the total number of funds established in 2007 to 22, and total operational funds to 55, which have the total assets of $6bil.

However, with the maximum foreign ownership level in Vietnam’s listing companies at $4.8bil, most of the capital remains in cash.

A report from the State Bank of Vietnam also confirmed the news that capital in foreign currencies was now profuse. In the last six months of the year, commercial banks did not buy foreign currencies from the central bank as they could buy foreign currencies from enterprises and the public themselves. The amount of foreign currencies remitted into Vietnam in the first six months of the year increased by 12% compared to the same period last year.

As the supply was in excess, the central bank had to buy foreign currencies in large quantity. By the end of May 2007, the amount of purchased foreign currencies had reached $7bil.

Several domestic securities companies have estimated that the foreign currencies of foreign institutions ready for disbursement reach nearly $3bil.

Phuong Hoang Lan Huong, Director of the Securities Depository Centre, in June 2007 alone, the centre granted trading codes to 26 institutions and 789 foreign individuals. As such, by the end of June, there were 5,705 foreign investors on Vietnam’s stock market, 335 institutions and 5,370 individuals, granted trading codes.

According to HSBC, most of the newly set up big funds are now ‘sitting atop a pile of money’ which needs to be disbursed when a series of IPOs are made.

However, information that may affect the disbursement plans of the funds is that the IPO roadmap may be reconsidered after experts warned that a massive number of IPOs would cause ‘indigestion’ of commodities.

Source: Lao động

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged to support the development of traffic systems in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and to effectively utilise the “East-West Economic Corridor.”

The commitment comes as Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam are gearing up for the “Week of East-West Economic Corridor” scheduled to take place in Viet Nam’s central Da Nang city from August 27 to September 1.

The bank had previously provided Viet Nam with a loan of 25 million USD to build Road No. 9 that is part of the 1,450-km corridor running through 13 provinces of the four countries.

The ADB has also agreed to finance water supply, environmental sanitation and urban traffic projects in Da Nang city and support Viet Nam’s efforts to eliminate hunger, reduce poverty and step up socio-economic development.

In another move, the bank decided to prioritise the Dau Giay – Lien Khuong expressway as part of its strategy to develop the Sub-Mekong region between now and 2012.

The 189-km road that will link the southern province of Dong Nai and the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong is estimated to cost 600 million USD.

Half of the financing will be sourced from the ADB, said Hua Van Tuan, Director of the Lam Dong Transport Department.

Once completed, the route will promote economic development, particularly services and tourism, in the two provinces.

Lam Dong alone expects to welcome 5.6 million visitors each year who travel to the province on the future road.

The ADB resumed its operations in Viet Nam in 1993 and since then has approved 63 loans worth 3.8 billion USD, 194 technical assistance grants to the tune of 140 million USD and 17 other grants worth 87 million USD.

The bank lent 308 million USD to the country in 2006 and is expected to see that figure surge to over 1 billion USD for 2007.

Over the past decade, ADB support has helped build 1,500 kilometres of roads in Viet Nam, provided 6.7 million people with clean water and sanitary facilities, and brought irrigation to 200,000 hectares of land.

ADB grants and loans have also helped millions of families by providing support for income generation and livelihood programmes for the rural poor, nutrition programmes for vulnerable children, health care services in the Central Highlands and HIV/AIDS prevention programmes for vulnerable youth.

Source: Vietnam Agency

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070713090417_Mat%20bang%20XD.jpg

According to a survey by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on the acquisition of land by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of Vietnam, of every four SMEs only one is directly allocated or able to lease land from the state.

Some 75% of developing SMEs say that the biggest hindrance for their development is land shortage.

It is estimated that in 2007, around 50,000 SMEs will be established. The increase of new enterprises has made the demand for land to build factories, offices, shops increase dramatically.

Most enterprises want to be allocated land from the state to be assured in production. However, the fund of land is limited and usually only big enterprises can directly access land allocated by local governments, mainly foreign-invested projects.

According to Nguyen Thi Chuyen, Chairwoman of the Minh Tam Pottery and Lacquare Cooperative, the land reserve for industrial zones is still large but SMEs are unable to implement long-term plans to use large areas of land in industrial zones. They mainly use land owned by their own families or hire small plots of land and thus, face limitations in expanding investment and production.

Dao Trung Chinh, Vice Head of the Land of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, also affirmed that private companies that wanted to have land often had to hire land from state-owned firms at high prices and for unspecified durations.

According to most SMEs, seeking land to serve production is the most complicated, most costly, time-consuming task among all the administrative formalities necessary to establish a new firm.

A survey of GTZ reveals that normally, to be allocated land from the state, enterprises must fulfill seven kinds of formalities which require around 230 days for completion and they have to go through many related state agencies.

The dissatisfaction of enterprises revealed in the survey regarding the land use right licencing process is quite high. Meanwhile, most enterprises complain of competent agencies’ sluggishness in this issue.

Recently, land registration centres have been established in almost all provinces and cities, contributing to reduce administrative formalities related to land. However, the time needed to fulfill those formalities remains long.

Besides access to land, the biggest worry for investors at present, particularly small- and medium-size ones which have enterprises located outside industrial zones, is the constant change of land-use plans of local governments.

According to Truong Thai Son, Deputy General Director of the Hoang Quan Real Estate Company, land-use plans are not good because the registration system and grassroots information (social-economic, natural resources, development forecast information) for making decisions on planning are insufficient. The making of land-use plans is sometimes based on the orientations of the upper level and inaccurate reports from the lower level, which make land-use plans frequently change, causing difficulties for production plans of enterprises.

In addition, the planning process doesn’t witness the participation of enterprises and people.

According to Mr. Son, in Vietnam the need for intermediate services on land for production is a fact but the market scale is not large enough to encourage the appearance of professional service providers. At present, an enterprise that seeks land for production often thinks of going to the local government to submit its project and ask for land allocation, not to land brokerage agencies.

More than 50% of SMEs of Vietnam in IFC’s survey said that it was very difficult to find a suitable plot of land on the secondary market. Up to 66% of SMEs that have been successful in seeking land have been so thanks to their personal relations. This shows that the improvement of information infrastructure can have positive impacts on the information balance of the land market.

One thing needed to improve the transparency of the market is the efforts of the local government in creating and making public the land reserved for production. Moreover, local government and management boards of industrial zones also have to permit the construction of industrial zones with small plots of land suitable for small- and medium-sized enterprises, instead of only those for big enterprises.

Source: Thời báo Kinh tế Việt Nam

có nhiều em nói là rất vui với chính phủ Việt Cộng hiện tại vì nhờ nó mà Việt Nam có ổn định để phát triển không giống như những nước Á Châu khác không được " ổn định" và không ổn định thì không phát triển được và lôi ra hết chứng cứ này tới chứng cứ kia của thái land tới phi tới indo tum lum cà beng........

rồi còn tự nhận mình là sinh viên kinh tế nữa.........ta không biết học về kinh tế loại gì? (kinh tế mới?) anyhoo...đọc về một đoạn ngắn của bài viết này của kinh tế gia Nguễyn Xuân Nghĩa rồi mở mắt ra.


ổn định không phát triển


Thưa ông Ng xuân Nghĩa, ngày mùng 2 tháng 7 năm 1997, tức chỉ một ngày sau khi hongkong hồi quy cố qốc, một vụ kiến động ngoại hối bất ngờ xảy ra tại Thái Lan và lập tức lan rộng qua indonesia, phillippines, malay, lên tới Nam Hàn và hongkong rồi tràn qua nhiều nước khác trên thế giới ,Vụ khủng hoảng ấy kiến hàng loạt chính phủ Đông Nam á bị đổ và gây hậu quả bất lợi cho các nước. cây hỏi đầu tiên của chúng tôi : dâu là bài học then chốt của vụ khủng hoảng này?

NG Xuan Nghia
Vu Khủng hoảng kkhiến người ta nhới tới lý luận của một kinh tế gia người Áo là ông Joseph Schumpeter về sự " hủy diệt sáng tạo"
Ông đưa ra lý luận này cách đây 65 năm vào năm 1942, rằng chủ nghĩa tư bản là một sự sáng tạo không ngừng và chính sự sáng tạo ấy đã hủy diệt những thành quả của nguyên trạng và tạo ra những đổi thay tiến bộ hơn

Bàng bạc trên dưới lý luận nay đã thưộc loại sơ đẳng và không thể thiếu của kinh tế học nhập môn là vì khủng hoảng đã vạch trần một sai lầm lớn về sự liên hệ giua ổn định và phát triển.
Riêng với Việtnam
điều này thật quan trọng vì nhiều người ở trong và ngoài nước vẫn còn lý luận sai là VN cần ổn định để phát triển. Chính yêu cầu ổn định ấy đã cản trở tinh thần dân chủ, tính sáng tạo và chi phối thái độ hàng ngày của người dân đối với rủi ro của đời sống . Nom na là sự ổn định khiến ta ươn hèn đi, là trở lực chống phát triển và duy trì chế độ độc tài hay độc quyền kin tế. Người dân trong nuớc cần được giải thoát ra khỏi ảo tưởng này.






bài này đã mang mọi người trở lại hiện tại và hiểu là tại sao những nước CS như Cuba và Bắc Hàn người dân dược chính phủ lo cho y tế nhưng vẫn là nghèo vì người dân chẳng biết làm cái gì ngoại trừ ngồi chờ nhà nước lo cho mình........chẳng ai biết làm kinh tế chẳng ai biết cạnh tranh

đọc bài này và cũng nên hiểu là nhờ có cuộc "đổi mới" thập niên 80 của Việt Cộng thì VN mới thay da đổi thịt.......chứ nếu vẫn co ro giữ lý thuyết Mác Lê thì chưa chắc bây giờ tuổi trẻ Vn có ăn có mặc chứ nói chi đến việc lên internet ngồi chat với ta

nên ta thiệt sự không biết mấy em VC học kinh tế ở nước ngoài kiểu gì mà luôn luôn nói "vn cần ổn định mới phát triển nên cám ơn nhà nước VN"

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070716091147_FDI%203.jpg

Foreign investment in the Vietnamese property market is expected to reach US$9 billion in 2010, according to real estate and marketing research company VietRees.

The company’s research shows that foreign investment increased significantly over the last two years. Leading investors come from the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Ho Chi Minh City topped the list for investors, followed by Ha Noi, central Da Nang and northern Ha Tay province.

VietRees predicted that the number of foreign invesotment projects will continue at a bustling rate in the next three years.

Source: Vietnam Agency

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070716090028_Swiss%20Minister%20of%20Economics%20Doris%20Leuthard.jpg
Swiss Minister of Economics Doris Leuthard

Swiss businesspeople highly rated Viet Nam's potential and investment environment, Swiss Minister of Economics Doris Leuthard said.

The visiting Swiss minister, who was accompanied by a number of businesspeople, delivered the message to Vice State President Truong My Hoa at their meeting in Ha Noi on July 15.

Leuthard also informed her host of several cooperation agreements reached by the two countries during the visit in such areas as the management of water resource use and the protection of intellectual property.

Business representatives from Switzerland took the occasion to unveil their plans to make long-term investment in finance, mechanical manufacturing, services and processing industry in Viet Nam.

In her reply, Vice President Hoa thanked Switzerland for worthy support and assistance in recent time, hailing Swiss businesspeople for their charitable activities in Viet Nam , especially in the fight against poverty and programmes to aid physically-challenged children and calamity victims.

She expressed her hope that the Swiss minister's visit would help heighten multi-faceted relations between the two countries and that Swiss entrepreneurs could find new opportunities for their business in Viet Nam.

The Vietnamese leader also relayed to her guests the Government's commitment to continue perfecting its legal system to facilitate foreign investors' activities in the country.

Source: Vietnam Agency

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070717095949_NH.jpg

Switzerland will provide 3.9 million USD as aid for Viet Nam’s banking sector for the 2007-2009 period. An agreement was signed in Ha Noi, on July 16, between the Swiss Minister of Economics Doris Leuthard and Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Viet Nam Phung Khac Ke.

The aid project will provide support for the State Bank of Viet Nam and its agencies including the Banking Institute, the Ho Chi Minh City Banking College, the Bank for Housing Development in the Mekong Delta and a number of State commercial banks in holding seminars and providing consultancy and training.

Minister Leuthard said she hoped that the project would help the Vietnamese banking sector maintain and develop the reforms it has introduced.

Deputy Governor Ke expressed his hope that the project would help the banking sector raise its capacity to face rapid changes in the domestic and international business environment and challenges that the WTO integration process has brought to the sector.

Source: Vietnam Agency

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070717231722_0(5).jpg
Photo: Bloomberg

Le Hai Tra, Deputy Director of the HCM City Securities Trading Centre, talked about his feelings regarding the report just released by Merrill Lynch.

How did you feel after reading the report by Merrill Lynch?

I was very surprised. The financial group once described Vietnam as the market with the biggest potential in Asia, providing information about the impressive economic growth rate in the first half of 2007 and the good business performances of listing companies. Yet, the group now makes recommendations contrary to all its viewpoints expressed before.

Do you think that it was Merrill Lynch’s report which caused the falls in the stock market in the last few trading sessions?
In fact, it is very difficult to measure the impact of the report on the stock market. However, I can say that the report will cause big impacts on the market, since there are not many professional analysts. Most investors are individuals and most of them do not have much experience and knowledge. Inexperienced investors rely on such reports by foreign institutions like HSBC and Merrill Lynch to make investment decisions.

What are the most noteworthy points of the report?

First, the report has pointed out that the policy by the State Bank of Vietnam on monetary tightening has influenced the liquidity of the stock market.

Second, the report said that one of the things that had made the market less attractive was the habit of enterprises of issuing additional shares. To some extent, I do agree that the continued additional share issuances would affect the price of enterprises’ shares.

When the growth rate of profit enterprises can get is lower than the share dilution rate, the EPS (earning per share) will decline and impact share prices. The dilution will also cause a high P/E.

However, one cannot rely on P/E (Price/earning) only to assess an enterprise or stock market. P/E is a forecast which shows the market’s expectation of shares rather than the price levels, cheap or expensive.

In the 1980s, for example, US electronics companies had a P/E at 10x, while Japanese companies’ P/E was 20x. If just considering P/E, one would think that Japanese stocks were expensive, but the reality showed the opposite thing.

In 1980s and 1990s, Japanese electronics companies dominated the world’s market, and shares of these companies brought colossal profit to investors.

Besides, I think there are two other factors that need to be re-considered.

First, the suggestion by Merrill Lynch to withdraw investment capital from Vietnam originated from the worry that the Government would adjust the process of equitising big corporations. It is understandable, because profit is always the top priority for foreign financial investors.

Investors have been hoping that once the Government raises the supply of securities, the share prices will decrease, which would benefit them. However, the state, as the owner of the enterprises to be equitised, should consider things to ensure that the IPOs will bring benefits to the stock market.

The report itself quoted the fears of Dragon Capital about the indigestion of IPOs as a lot of big corporations have been planning IPOs for the coming time.

Second, I think it is unreasonable to compare the Pakistani and Vietnamese stock markets. We have been well informed that the levels of political stability and economic growth of Pakistan were both lower than Vietnam’s.

How would you advise investors?

Investors should expect contradictory analysis and information and be rational when making investment decisions.

Just several months ago, Merrill Lynch released a report which forecast bright prospects for Vietnam’s stock market. And now it released a report with completely contradictory viewpoints.

Therefore, investors should not be surprised if Merrill Lynch releases a report with opposite conclusions in several months. The reality and the performance of the stock market will show if Merrill Lynch’s conclusions are reliable or not.

Source: Thời báo Kinh tế Việt Nam

investors should buy a small and big red commie flags (to wave in case they see police)

they should get married with locals so they know how to be flexible with the new agendas and bribery

they should sleep with 1 eye open incase someone rush in at night and steal their business..and we are not talking about robbers

they should learn 5 dieu Bac Ho day: 1 iu to quoc, iu dong bao....1 iu USD

they should wear helmets on streets patrol by police and take it down when they see no police

they should run when they see red light and stop when see green light...because if you do otherwise you will get killed in the street of Vietnam

they should buy a nanny to taste their food first before they eat....or else they will get poisoned.

they should wear batman and robin suits and masks when they dealing business in VN

they should clean their teeth before they praise Ho CHi Minh or they will get imprisoned

they should not swallow too much air because they wil fart after while in meeting with commie officials, this is also a crime

they should avoided eye contact with ho chi minh statue or they will be cursed and hipnotized

etc.....

Trade between Viet Nam and the United States has skyrocketed since the two countries implemented a landmark exchange deal in 2001, according to a report released yesterday.

The US-Viet Nam Bilateral Trade Agreement has also helped modernise this country’s commercial and legal systems as well as opened the Vietnamese marketplace to greater foreign competition, said the report compiled by the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the US-funded Support for Trade Acceleration Project, or STAR Viet Nam for short.

During the first two years of the trade pact, exports to the US more than tripled, making the US Viet Nam’s single biggest export market. Before the deal, Viet Nam mainly exported raw materials to the US. But since its signing, manufactured goods have accounted for about 75 per cent of total exports, with clothing the dominant export.

"The United States is proud to have played a role in Viet Nam’s extraordinary economic growth over the past five years," said US Deputy Chief of Mission Jonathan Aloisi at a seminar to present the report’s results yesterday.

The report said Vietnamese shipments to the US may increase in 2007 and beyond thanks to the lifting on quotas on clothing exports. Viet Nam’s increasingly diversified manufacturing sector could also drive the increase in exports, officials said.

US exports to Viet Nam more than doubled over the last five years, but did not accelerate nearly as dramatically as Viet Nam’s exports to the US, said Steve Parker from STAR project.

According to the report, Viet Nam’s economy has shifted towards the export of light industrial products and handicrafts.

Foreign investment into Viet Nam also surged during the last five years, said Parker. The trade deal had had an indirect impact on improvements in the business environment, the WTO accession process and hopes for sustained growth, he said.

The US led the way in investment in Viet Nam, according to the report.

However, many challenges remain. Viet Nam’s infrastructure is below par and the implementation of some laws is lagging behind their official passage.

The trade deal came into effect on December 10, 2001. It covers trade, commercial law and dispute settlement, intellectual property rights protection, trade in services, investment, business facilitation and transparency and the right to appeal.

Source: Vietnam News

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070719140959_Seafood.jpg

Only two years after the signing of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), the United States has become Vietnam’s largest export market, accounting for 20% of Vietnam’s total export turnover, according to a report released on July 17.

The report on the impact to Vietnam of the BTA on trade, foreign investment and the economy has been is released by the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Central Institute for Economic Management, the Ministry’s Foreign Investment Department and the Support for Trade Acceleration (STAR Vietnam).

In the 2001-2006 period, Vietnam’s exports to the US increased by eight times. Vietnam’s key export items to the US include footwear, household appliances and garments. US exports to Vietnam has also increased by two times over the past five years. Vietnam imported mostly transport vehicles, machinery and other manufacturing products from the US.

The report also assesses the impact of BTA to Vietnam’s economic structure. The opening of the US market to Vietnamese exports and the improvement in business environment in Vietnam, along with the implementation of BTA has contributed to shifting the Vietnamese economy towards an export-oriented one.

Source: Nhân Dân

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070719142025_nha.jpg

The Government has given the nod to the Ministry of Construction to set up three new corporations, said the ministry’s equitisation board at a meeting in Ha Noi on Monday.

The scheme to set up corporations covering industrial construction, heavy mechanical manufacturing, and housing and urban development will be presented to the Prime Minister for approval by the end of the year.

The government also asked the ministry to conduct feasibility studies to establish other corporations in the future. The ministry has continued to implement the equitisation process of its four parent companies: Construction Machinery Corporation (COMA), Song Hong Corp, Construction Corp No1 and Dic Corp.

From now until the end of the year, the ministry will complete asset appraisals and equitisation plans for 18 of its affiliates. According to the ministry, by late June this year, it completed asset appraisals of its 325 equitisied subsidiaries.

Their value has increased from VND4,273 billion (US$267 million) to VND8,486 billion ($530 million) while revenues increased by 14.2 per cent and profit before tax rose 102.74 per cent. The average income of employees has increased 24.63 per cent and average dividends were 13.9 per cent last year.

However, according to the Minister of Construction, Nguyen Hong Quan, after equitisation some companies have failed to meet expectations as one-third of recently equitised companies are either loss-making or not profitable. By April, of the 195 companies who have been in operation for one-year, 32 are loss-making and 29 others are not profitable.

The ministry attributed the profit-problem of fledging equitised companies to lax supervision and cumbersome management. To overcome this problem, the ministry and corporations’ boards of directors need to outline appropriate policies and increase their responsibility for the use of State finance in an effective manner, he said.

The ministry’s target for the remainder of the year is VND45,248 billion ($2.8 billion) or 50.4 per cent of its yearly plan. In an attempt to achieve this, the minister has told construction companies to raise their revenues by making the best use of the existing production environment.

Corporations are asked to rapidly reorganise their businesses and merge affiliates with a view to raise capital, enhance manpower and update equipment to ensure their domestic and international competitiveness.

Source: Vietnam News

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070720094627_Cafe.jpg

Vietnam, which is the biggest Robusta exporter in the world, is now considering importing materials for re-export.

At this moment, the storehouses of Vietnamese coffee exporters are all empty. They have exported all the coffee products they had after signing a lot of contracts when the harvest ended. They wish they had not exported all the products, because they would reap more if they exported at this moment, when the price is escalating.

Right at the end of 2006, Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (Vicofa) advised its member companies not to export coffee in large quantities and not to sign contracts with the delivery time too far from the contract signing time, in order to avoid possible risks due to price fluctuations. Vicofa anticipated that the coffee output would decrease this year, while the demand would be increasingly high.

Vietnam is the nation with the biggest Robusta growing area, 500,000 ha, which can provide the yield of 750-800,000 tonnes. Most of Vietnam’s coffee has been exported as raw material, which cannot bring high profit. Now, with the world’s price increasing, Vietnam has no more coffee to sell.

Since 2002, the Robusta price has tripled in the world, and is now staying at the highest peak since 1998. The coffee price has increased sharply due to decreased supplies from the biggest producers, who have lower output as a result of bad weather, while the demand is increasing sharply in Europe.

Analysts said that in general, the price would keep rising because the supply remains short.

As their stocks have run out, Vietnamese enterprises are now thinking of importing coffee material, and if they do that, they will have to buy coffee at a high price (as the world’s price is increasing).

The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) said that the world’s coffee output for the 2007/2008 crop would be 6-8mil bags (60kg/bag) lower than the consumption level, surely making the price increase further.

Meanwhile, the Robusta output of Vietnam in 2007/2008 is expected to increase by 30%, or 780-950,000 tonnes, as the coffee plant has recovered from the drought eight years ago.

According to Vicofa, in order to take full advantage of being the leading Robusta exporter, a lot of things still need to be done, including developing the material area, expanding trade and the drawing up of a market strategy.

Vicofa said that it was very necessary to have coffee in reserve. Brazil, for example, the leading coffee producer, buys coffee for reserve every year to sell when the price is high.

Source: VietnamNet

Emerging market investors are shifting over to a new group of destination countries, including Viet Nam, as returns from their businesses in BRIC economies that group Brazil, Russia, China and India are now shrinking.

According to the Infobaeprofesional website in Argentina, aside from South Africa, Turkey and Argentina, the countries that have been named as investment portfolios for a long time, Viet Nam and Indonesia are now beginning to come grab investors’ attention.

Samarjit Shankar, global strategy director at Bank of New York Mellon in Boston said though his favourite market is Brazil, Viet Nam is still the country with the highest potential.

“Viet Nam seems to be the one with more room for growth and that may attract the investors,” Shankar was quoted by the website as saying.

The term BRIC was first used in an economic paper by analysts at Goldman Sachs in 2003 to indicate economies that were developing at a pace reckoned to allow them to outstrip most of the richest countries in the world by 2050.

Source: Vietnam Agency

Vietnam and India have agreed to officially establish strategic partnership to pave the way for comprehensive cooperation.

This was the most important deal reached during Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s three-day visit to India last week. Dung and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh agreed to take steps toward signing a free trade agreement and create favorable conditions for the operation of businesses of the two countries. The Indian Prime Minister appreciated Vietnam’s support for India to become a permanent member of the expanded UN Security Council, and said India would back Vietnam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the council in the 2008-2009 term. India will grant Vietnam a US$45-million preferential credit for hydropower construction.

Dung thanked India for its support for Vietnam’s accession to the WTO and requested it to recognize Vietnam to have a full market economy status.
The two government leaders witnessed the signing of a joint communiqué on strategic partnership and eight important documents on bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Dung also paid a courtesy call on Indian President Abdul Kalam and Indian National Congress Party Chairwoman Sonia Gandhi and met executives of many top Indian companies, such as ONGC, Essar, Tata, Ranbaxy, Infosys and NIIT.

According to Vietnam News Agency, businesses of the two countries signed a number of deals with total value of US$4.5 billion. Some big deals are cooperation to build a steel mill between Vietnam Steel Corp. and India’s Tata Steel, cooperation in hydro power construction between Agrimexco and India’s Athena Projects and National Hydropower (US$300 million), and cooperation in mining, power and energy between Vietnam’s Sovico Group and India’s Sun Group (US$200 million).

Vietnam and India expect to increase bilateral trade to US$2 billion by 2010 and US$5 billion by 2015. Two-way trade rose from US$75 million in 1995 to US$1 billion in 2006.

By end 2006, India had 12 investment projects in Vietnam with total capital of more than US$46 million. But this year has witnessed a strong surge in Indian investment in Vietnam.

(source Saigon Times Weekly)

Dongkuk Steel Group, South Korea’s third largest steel maker, plans to build a US$1-billion steel mill in Dung Quat Economic Zone in the central province of Quang Ngai.

The 300-hectare mill will manufacture steel bars, sheets and other products for domestic sale. According to Dung Quat Economic Zone Authority’s Investment Promotion Center, Dongkuk Steel made the proposal after studying the province’s investment environment late last month.

If the project is approved by Vietnamese authorities, it will rival another US$1-billion steel complex in the same zone, to be built by Taiwan’s Tycoons Steel International Co., Ltd. The project is slated to open late next year. After the first phase, it will turn out two million tons of steel billets a year. The investor plans to increase annual output by three million more tons in the second phase, achieving the full capacity by 2013.

Many foreign steel groups are awaiting permission to invest in other steel projects because the country is viewed as a gateway to the Southeast Asian market — the world’s largest steel importer.

Authorities have estimated Vietnam will need 10 million tons of steel by 2010, 15 million tons by 2015 and 20 million tons by 2020. However, many high-tech steel products cannot be made by Vietnamese producers and will still need to be imported.

(source Saigon Times Weekly)

Many Vietnamese corporations own rubber plantations in Laos, creating employment for local people and helping to boost trade ties between the two countries. However, to reach the 2010 goal of having 100,000 hectares of rubber trees, Vietnamese corporations must tackle a number of existing problems.

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/dataimages/original/images133244_small_106252.jpg
A rubber plantation

Since July 2005, the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) invested US$30 million to plant 10,000 hectares of rubber trees in the Champasac province of Laos. To complete the project, VRG has established seven member enterprises which have reached a charter capital of VND100 billion (US$6.25 million).

Meanwhile, Vietnam-Laos Rubber Joint Stock Company has reported the successful planting of 8,000 hectares of rubber trees and is expecting to finish planting a further 10,000 hectares by 2008, a project that is funded by 100% Vietnamese investment capital.

The Vietnam-Laos Rubber Joint Stock Company has agreed to rent agricultural land from Laos in 50 year blocks, in the seventh year of the project, the company will start to harvest rubber latex and only then must they pay tax to the Laotian Government at a rate of US$9/hectare/year.

A plantation project to plant 4,900 hectares of rubber trees and establish a rubber processing factory, build houses, schools and streets has recently begun in Laos with investment from the Quasa-Geruco Company. 2,300 people, 90% of whom are Laotian, have been employed to work on the project with a monthly salary of VND2.5 million (approximately US$156).

According to Mr. Ho Van Ngung, General Director of the Vietnam-Laos Rubber Joint Stock Company, many corporations find Laos a good place to expand their rubber business because in comparison to Viet Nam, Laos has a cheaper labor force, the weather is more suited to growing rubber trees and most importantly, investors in Laos can reap greater benefits than if they had invested the same amount of money in Viet Nam.

According to many industry experts, Viet Nam’s goal to plant 100,000 hectares of rubber trees by 2010 is not simple; many Chinese and Thai corporations are interested in renting Laos’ agricultural land for their own rubber plantation projects, a great threat to Vietnamese corporations. Therefore, Vietnamese corporations must speed up the rate at which they are renting land from Laos or they will face harsh competition.

Viet Nam is interested in the land of Champassak, Salavan, Atopu and Sekong provinces of Laos, currently used for growing vegetables and forest trees. Therefore, Viet Nam rubber corporations need to produce a more reasonable compensation plan for the landowners if they want to entice them to change their land-use. They must also develop a better investment strategy if they wish to earn the trust of the local people, helping them to develop their country’s economy.

(source SGGP)

The biggest cable factory in Southeast Asia, the Taihan-Sacom joint venture plant in Dong Nai Province’s Long Thanh Industrial Park, was inaugurated yesterday.

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/dataimages/original/images133088_Cable-Factory.jpg
The telecommunication cable production line of the Taihan-Sacom Company

The new facility makes power, optic and telecommunication cables along with copper and aluminum rods.

The first medium and high-voltage power cables for local sale and export were produced on the inauguration day.

The US$40-million plant occupying 15 hectares employs more than 600 people and can turn out 25,000 tons of power cable and 6,000 tons of telecommunication cable per annum.

It also has workshops to cast and roll 6,000 tons of bronze and 20,000 tons of aluminum per year.

The TSC joint venture between South Korea’s Taihan and the Vietnamese listed firm Cable and Telecommunication Materials (Sacom) has chartered capital of US$28 million. Taihan, one of South Korea’s leading cable producers, holds a 70 per cent stake.

(source SGGP)

The Prime Minister has issued decision 97/2007/QĐ-TTg concerning the development and application of aquatic biotechnology through 2020.

Accordingly, the project’s purpose is high productivity and quality aquatic breeding research, after-harvest technology application and research, and increasing the rate of aquatic products processed by biotechnology in order to become more competitive.

Through 2020, Vietnam aquatics must obtain a level equal to the Southeast area and establish small and medium biotechnology businesses networks to serve disease prevention, aquaculture and processing. The aquatic industry has to guarantee 100% high quality aquatic breeding demand corresponding to other ecological areas.

(HCM City, July 19, 2007)

lacailacai,
If I'm just reading from everything you've posted so far... everything in VN seems to be so rosy!!! Any bad news you missed

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070723100812_thep.jpg

Steel price rose to around 2 million VND per tonne from the end of 2006 due to the increasing prices of imported steel ingot, energy and transportation, said the Viet Nam Steel Association (VSA).

In an official dispatch sent to the Ministry of Finance on July 20, the VSA said that the price of imported steel ingot rose from 389 USD per tonne in 2006 to 513 USD per tonne in June 2007.

The VAS said that steel producers are required to reduce production costs and dependence on imported steel ingot to stabilize price on the local market.

Locally manufactured steel ingot is expected to meet almost half of the domestic market’s demand this year and the proportion is expected to reach up to 80 percent when more steel ingot plants are put into operation, said the VSA.

Source: Vietnam Agency

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070723125058_ACB%20bank%202.jpg

It is expected that operation licenses will be given to one or two banks by the end of the year, which will be established in accordance with the new laws.

From July 20, 2007, the institutions and individuals that can meet the requirements of financial situation and corporate governance will be able to apply to the State Bank of Vietnam for setting up new banks.

The regulation on licensing banks and stipulating the operation of joint stock banks was published on the official gazette on July 5, thus making the regulation effective as of July 20, 2007, or 15 days after it was available on the official gazette. The regulation sets new strict requirements on financial capability, sources of capital contribution, governance and management skills.

In order to be licensed right in 2007, investors must have at least VND1tril ($62.5mil), which must be sourced from shareholders’ contributions, not from loans.

According to Kieu Huu Dung, Director of the Department for Banks and Non-bank Credit Institutions under the State Bank of Vietnam, nearly 30 applications have been made to the central banks prior to the date the new regulation came into effect, and 20 of them have applied again after the new regulation became valid and the central banks announced that they were receiving new applications.

“Our preliminary consideration shows that several investors can meet the new requirements, and it is expected that one or two banks will get the license by year’s end,” said Mr Dung.

Besides the applications for setting up new joint stock banks, the central bank is now also considering the shifting of the Postal Savings Service Company into a bank. It remains unclear whether the company will shift to operate as joint stock bank or under the mode of a state owned bank.

Mr Dung said that the central bank has received the applications for setting up three 100% foreign owned banks from the Hong Kong Shanghai and Banking Corporation HSBC, ANZ and Standard Chartered Bank. Four other banks in Asia have made the same request, but they have not fulfilled the necessary documents for submission. If meeting the set requirements, 100% foreign owned banks will be licensed five or six months after the day of document submission.

Source: VnExpress

An online real estate trading floor was officially launched on July 22 with the support from the Ministry of Construction and the Viet Nam Real Estate Association.

The online exchange, at http://www.sanbatdongsan.net.vn and http://www.vietreal.net.vn, would supply a large amount of accurate information about the property market in Viet Nam, said Construction Minister Nguyen Hong Quan.

The exchange now has 52 registered members, including trading floors, centres and businesses in the real estate field.

Source: Vietnam Agency

man, don't paste the whole articles from other newspaper. Show your own opinion

man, don't paste the whole articles from other newspaper. Show your own opinion

"show your own opinion!!!" Ah... that would be a challenge :lol:

no it's good
i can read vn news and don't have to come in VC websites and see a bunch of propagandas and uncle ho pictures
plus downloading this is enough, I don't have time to wait for commie newspaper to download too

this is a nguyen-nguyen situation

Everyone knows what this means for the rosy 8% economic growth for VN, right!!! :ohno:

Source: International Herald Tribune (http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/24/business/vietecon.php)

===================
Reuters
Tuesday, July 24, 2007

HANOI: Vietnam said Tuesday that inflation in July would reach 8.4 percent from a year earlier because of higher prices for food, housing and medicine.

The estimate showed price increases pushing inflation further from the government's initial goal of below 7 percent.

The Finance Ministry recently revised its 2007 inflation forecast upward to a range of 7.5 percent to 8.2 percent after faster-than-expected price growth in May and June.

The statistics office estimated that consumer prices had risen 6.2 percent so far this year.

Consumer prices are expected to rise 1.4 percent next month from July after an estimated 0.9 percent rise this month, Nguyen Duc Thang, a deputy manager at the General Statistics Office told the official Vietnam News Agency.

He said food prices were set to rise further after outbreaks of bird flu and a pig disease in the central part of the country.

Preliminary data showed prices of food, which makes up 42.8 percent of the national consumer price basket, rose 15 percent in July from a year earlier.

The Agriculture Ministry said thousands of pigs had been infected by a virus in two central provinces and in the city of Da Nang, and bird flu returned to ducks in a third central province. Doctors said 22 people had been infected and 2 had died in the first half of the year.

The statistics office estimated costs of medicine and health care would rise 5 percent this month from a year earlier, faster than the 4.6 percent increase last month.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung said last week that controlling inflation was a priority for Hanoi this year. Gains in prices have been exacerbated by the government's policy of weakening the currency to help exporters, Hung said.

"The environment in Vietnam does suggest that inflation will remain relatively high," said Tai Hui, an economist at Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong. "Vietnam has high inflation right now, but also the direction is on the rise."

The central bank has been selling dong and buying dollars to weaken the Vietnamese currency. The dong Monday depreciated to 16,141 against the dollar, its lowest level since at least 1993, helping to quicken inflation by making imported goods more expensive.

Vietnam aims to keep the pace of inflation below the country's economic growth rate, Hung said last week. Gross domestic product expanded at a year-to-year rate of 7.9 percent in the first half, and the authorities are aiming for full-year growth of 8.5 percent.

"To ensure inflation will be lower than economic growth, we have to closely watch the prices of goods in local and international markets, as well as carry out analysis and forecasts on market supply and demand," Hung said.

..

^^^GDP growth has been measured in real term - meaning it has been adjusted for inflation.
skidlin,
That what country like the US is reported... I don't know if VN economic growth is adjusted for inflation... Keep in mind that the BUYING POWER is more important for the living souls in VN, and it's not good since theirs already at the bottom... How sad!!!

..

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070727100848_Xuat%20gao%202.jpg

Exports in the first six months of the year were not as successful as expected, which has raised a question about whether or not the ambitious export plan for 2007 can be fulfilled.

Deputy Minister of Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien on July 24 expressed his concern about export performance in the second half of the year at a conference on exports.

Exports up, but worries exist

According to Pham The Dung, Director of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Trade, though exports in the first half of the year increased by 20% over the same period of last year ($22.54bil in turnover) the figure was still lower than expected.

A lot of efforts are needed for the remaining months of the year to reach the targeted export turnover of $48bil. Mr Dung acknowledged that it proved to be a very difficult task to fulfill, especially as exports of key items might not be satisfactory.

Except coffee, apparel, footwear, seafood and plastics, which maintained stable export growth, other key export items had low export volume in the first half of the year.

For example, Vietnam exported 2.3mil tonnes of rice ($732mil), down by 5% in price and 18% in quantity. Rubber exports brought $527mil in turnover, down by 4% over the same period of last year, while Vietnam previously planned to increase the export turnover of this product by 7%. Vietnam exported 7.7mil tonnes of crude oil in the first six months, a decrease of 6.7% in volume, while the country has to export 17.5mil tonnes in 2007 to fulfill the plan in turnover.

The quality of exports – a big problem

Officials from the Ministry of Trade (MoT) stressed that the quality of exports remained a big problem. If drastic measures are not taken, Vietnam may lose its export markets. The Ministry has asked the Government and the Ministry of Finance to budget for the works of inspecting export products.

Regarding apparel exports, Mr Bien said that MoT was trying to do what it could to minimise the bad impacts of the US’s programme on Vietnam’s apparel imports monitoring.

Mr Bien said that MoT would strengthen the supervision and control over the origin of exports. In the immediate time, MoT will not allow temporary import for re-export later, a move aiming to prevent fraud in the declaration of product origin. The proposal by MoT has been accepted by the Government.

According to Huynh Minh Hue, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Food Association, there are many reasons behind the decreases in rice exports. Exporters now have to pay more for transport fees (up by 40% compared to 2006) and for storage fees, as many exporters cannot charter ships for carrying rice.

Mr Hue said that though rice exports could go for good prices, at $290/tonne on average, $39-40/tonne higher than during the same period last year, profit remained modest.

Pepper exporters are also facing big difficulties, as the export volume decreased by 31.1%, though the export price was triple last year. American and European countries are now limiting importing pepper from Vietnam because they think that Vietnam-made pepper is too expensive.

Ambitious plan can be fulfilled?

Mr Bien said that the fulfillment of the export plan would rely on the export of key items, including coffee, apparel and seafood.

High hopes are still put on rice and crude oil, which had ‘problems’ recently. Experts said that the export prices of these products always go up in the last months of the year.

Wooden products, electronic accessories, and plastics are also forecast to maintain high growth rates. Apparel exports are believed will bring the highest turnover, at $7.3-7.5bil. Currently, the average turnover of apparel exports remains above the ideal level, at $600mil/month.

Mr Huy said that enterprises would have a lot of pressure as they would have to ensure both export growth and the quality of exports.

Van Thanh Huy, Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association, has also expressed his concern about exports in the second half of the year. The industry has fulfilled 92% of the yearly export plan, and only has to export 300,000 more to fulfill the plan of 1.2mil tonnes and $1.5bil in turnover. However, Mr Huy said it would be a big difficulty to ensure the quality of exports.

Especially, quality is a big problem for seafood exports. The EU, US and Japan are now inspecting imports from Vietnam very carefully, and if the problem of unsafe exports cannot be settled, Vietnam may lose the export markets.

Russia has also created difficulties for Vietnamese exporters as an inspection delegation will arrive in Vietnam to make the final inspection tour of seafood processing establishments, a necessary procedure for considering if it will allow Vietnam to resume exports to the market.

In the immediate time, the state will spend VND50bil ($3.12mil) to buy five machines which can examine the quality of seafood. This is hoped will help bring $2.1bil in turnover from seafood exports in the second half of the year.

(Source: Tuổi trẻ)

A US$5 million project has revitalised lands once unsuitable for living and farming and has given hope and purpose to the residents of 11 poor Vietnamese coastal communities.

This project has directly benefited over 41,000 farmers and an additional 20,000 residents in the development of improvements such as better street circulation, dikes to prevent sand encroachment and increased agricultural capabilities.

Rural poverty in Viet Nam has led to this type of project as a way of improving the use of land and the quality of life for the village residents.

The project works by granting land and money to the residents - 0.5 to 1 hectare of land and VND 12-13 million for fertiliser and seed in the case of Trieu Phong district - as a social mechanism for improving the lives of residents while allowing them to reciprocate value and labour into the economic system.

To date there are 11 such villages, consisting of 545 poor households. The improvements of gardens, fish ponds and cattle pens which produce between VND10 million and VND30 million for the once struggling farmers.

These farms require the natural resources and protection, therefore eight canals for irrigation and 12km of dikes to prevent erosion have been constructed.

Also, 900ha of protective forest has been planted to further combat erosion and another 523ha is coloured with the vibrant green of peanuts and various other plants.

The residents of Trieu Phong district are eager for their chance to benefit from this project, they welcome a new life in what used to be a barren and poverty stricken area of Viet Nam.

"The project of developing rural, coastal areas of the district funded by Norway has partly contributed to this optimism," said Phan Ngoc Kieu, Secretary of the district’s Party Committee.

Trieu An Commune, another beneficiary of this project, donates one hectare of barren land and provides the necessary investments in ploughs and seed to members of the land improvement movement.

"Actually, it is like a revolution, changing people’s lives entirely," said Hoang Cong Hoa, Secretary of Trieu An Commune’s Party Committee.

Between 2001-2003, one ha of improved land can produce VND7 million every year and an incredible 90 per cent of infertile land has been improved.

"In order to stabilise development, future projects will focus on aquaculture breeding," said Le Canh Bien, Vice Chairman of Trieu Phong district.

With the assistance of the Seafood Research Institute 1, Aquaculture Department of Quang Tri, the central province including Trieu Phong, are drawing up plans for seafood farms benefiting poor people and supporting environmental improvements. The seafood development plan will be carried out between now and 2010.

Source: Vietnam News

In the meantime, corruption is well and alive in VN without any sign of slowing... Indeed, it's going full blast all over Vietnam :ohno:

=====================================


Source: Tiền Phong Online (http://www.tienphong.vn/Tianyon/Index.aspx?ArticleID=90810&ChannelID=12)

Quan chức được 'biếu' đất đút túi hàng trăm tỷ đồng

TP - Khi vụ “hô biến” hơn 700 ha đất công ở Bình Dương thành “của riêng” đang được làm rõ thì chúng tôi phát hiện địa phương đang tìm cách “phù phép” ném hàng trăm tỷ đồng ngân sách vào túi các cán bộ được “biếu đất” nhằm hợp thức hóa sai phạm.

Mỗi ha đất cao su được “biếu” không, các “quan” bỏ túi gần 1 tỷ đồng tiền ngân sách - Ảnh: C.H

Tiền phong cũng đã có thông tin về sai phạm của UBND tỉnh Bình Dương và huyện Bến Cát trong việc “hô biến” hơn 700 ha đất công ở xã An Tây (Bến Cát, Bình Dương) thành “của riêng” của một số quan chức ở địa phương.

Đất “biếu quan” biến thành… dự án khu công nghiệp - dịch vụ

Ngày 21/3/2007, UBND tỉnh Bình Dương đã có Công văn 1291 chấp thuận quy hoạch cho Cty Sản xuất – Xuất nhập khẩu Bình Dương (SXXNKBD) 1.350 ha đất thuộc địa bàn hai xã An Tây và An Điền (huyện Bến Cát) để đầu tư xây dựng và kinh doanh hạ tầng khu liên hợp công nghiệp – dịch vụ.

Công văn nói trên của UBND tỉnh Bình Dương đã gây ra nhiều bức xúc trong dư luận địa phương, bởi nếu căn cứ theo họa đồ quy hoạch được chấp thuận thì toàn bộ khu đất công hàng trăm ha mà trước đó địa phương đã “biếu” cho các quan chức nằm trong phạm vi dự án, thuộc diện được đền bù giải tỏa để thu hồi đất.

Đáng nói hơn, việc địa phương “vẽ” ra khu liên hợp công nghiệp - dịch vụ An Tây có nhiều vấn đề không minh bạch, cần được làm rõ. Cụ thể: Tuy ban hành sau văn bản 1291 đúng 2 ngày nhưng Thông báo 43 của UBND tỉnh truyền đạt ý kiến kết luận của Chủ tịch UBND tỉnh Bình Dương Nguyễn Hoàng Sơn xung quanh vụ biếu không hàng trăm ha đất công cho gia đình các quan chức thì lại không đả động gì đến chuyện sẽ làm khu liên hợp công nghiệp- dịch vụ An Tây tại khu vực nói trên.

Và, để mau chóng “hợp thức hóa”, UBND tỉnh thậm chí còn “đốt cháy giai đoạn” bằng cách không yêu cầu các Sở chức năng kiểm tra, xem xét sự phù hợp của dự án để trình UBND tỉnh ban hành như thông lệ mà có văn bản chấp thuận ngay sau khi nhận được văn thư của chủ đầu tư, sau đó mới “ấn” cho các cơ quan tham mưu.

Và, UBND tỉnh Bình Dương càng lộ rõ sự khẩn trương trong việc xóa “dấu tích” hơn 700 ha đất công đã biếu cho cán bộ bằng cách ngay sau đó đã ký hàng loạt quyết định thành lập hội đồng bồi thường giải phóng mặt bằng, ban hành đơn giá bồi thường hỗ trợ về đất và tài sản trên đất để thực hiện dự án xây dựng khu liên hợp công nghiệp - dịch vụ An Tây...

Các quan chức sẽ tiếp tục được bỏ túi hàng trăm tỷ đồng?

Theo phương án bồi thường giải tỏa và hỗ trợ di dời mà UBND tỉnh Bình Dương đã phê duyệt, đất sản xuất nông nghiệp, lâm nghiệp sẽ được đền bù với giá 50 nghìn đồng/m2 (vị trí tiếp giáp đường giao thông nông thôn được nhân thêm với hệ số 1,2), giá hỗ trợ thêm cho loại đất này là 30 nghìn đồng/m2.

Giá đền bù cây cao su trồng từ 5 – 10 năm tuổi là 95 nghìn đồng/cây, mật độ trồng không quá 555 cây/ha). Ngoài ra, người bị giải tỏa còn được tính thêm khoản tiền thanh lý cây cao su 50 triệu đồng/ha.

Nếu chỉ tính riêng các khoản bồi thường, hỗ trợ nói trên thì với đất cao su trước đó gần như được chính quyền địa phương cho không (mua với giá 22 – 50 triệu đồng/ha cách đây hơn 4 năm) các quan chức sẽ bỏ túi gần 1 tỷ đồng/ha.

Với hơn 700 ha đất cao su bị biến thành “của riêng”, ngân sách Nhà nước sẽ bị thiệt hại hơn 700 tỷ đồng. Đó là chưa kể hàng chục tỷ đồng ngân sách buộc phải “gánh” khi tiến hành giải tỏa, di dời như trợ cấp để ổn định cuộc sống, trợ cấp di dời, hỗ trợ đất thổ cư, hoán đổi nền tái định cư...

Theo nguồn tin của Tiền phong, địa phương đã cho xuất toán trên dưới 100 tỷ đồng để chi trả đền bù, hỗ trợ. Đã có hơn 20 trường hợp bị giải tỏa nhận được tiền bồi thường giải tỏa, trong đó có một cán bộ lãnh đạo chủ chốt của UBND huyện Bến Cát nhận được 3,8 tỷ đồng.

Huy Thịnh
Copyright (C) 2005 Tien Phong Online

sorry for being off topic but does anybody in here know this company archetype-group.
this company suppose to be in Vietnam
http://www.archetype-group.com/

yes we know archetype.....we've been stealing their photos eversince we got this forum

Honda Viet Nam Co., Ltd (HVN) began construction of its second motorcycle plant in the northern province of Vinh Phuc on July 28.

The 65 million USD plant is scheduled to begin production on top of the line scooters by the latter half of 2008 with a forecast initial annual output of 500,000 units.

The new factory will help increase Honda Viet Nam’s total production capacity to 1.5 million units per year, and create jobs for nearly 1,400 workers.

HVN General Director Koji Onishi said the plant will be equipped with Honda’s latest advanced technology to produce high-end scooters to meet the growing demands of the Vietnamese market.

Source: Vietnam Agency

yes we know archetype.....we've been stealing their photos eversince we got this forum

:lol: , are they really locate in Vietnam, the reason i ask is, I run a Landscape Architecture company in Bangkok, i really like to have a project in Vietnam, maybe i should hook up with them. the last time i been back to Vietnam was ten years ago, it was a diferent Vietnam.

http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/pictures/070731105414_Tay%20Ba%20Lo.jpg

Viet Nam received 2.46 million foreign holidaymakers over the past seven months, a year-on-year increase of 16.2 percent, the General Statistics Office (GSO) has said in its July report.

In July alone, 343,000 international tourists arrived in the country, representing an annual rise of 2.4 percent.

Visitors from Italy increased 65.4 percent; Russia, 64.9 percent; Malaysia, 61.8 percent; and New Zealand, 40.2 percent.

According to the GSO, the number of holidaymakers from Japan, the Republic of Korea, the US, Australia and Canada were stable in the last 7 months while there were fewer visitors from China, Laos and Cambodia.

Room occupancy rates at major tourism areas reached over 80 percent, even 100 percent in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang.
The GSO further said that the achievements were attributed to the government’s recent major policies to help the tourism sector.

Many large festivals, international exhibitions and fairs were held in the country and abroad to attract visitors and promote the country’s image.

Source: Vietnam Agency

Thailand's investment into Viet Nam surged quickly in the recent past, making investment a successful cooperative area in the two countries' ties, said the Foreign Investment Department under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Thailand, with 153 investment projects and a combined registered capital of 1.54 billion USD, currently ranks 12th in the list 79 countries and territories or third among ASEAN countries to directly invest in Viet Nam.

They include 83 operational projects employing 12,000 workers, and also indirectly generating jobs for many workers in the areas of construction and services.

Almost all Thai investment projects focus on such areas as building infrastructure for industrial zones, new urban centers with hotels, and facilities for tourism and industry, concentrating on Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces, Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The Foreign Investment Department also reported that nearly 67 percent of Thailand's projects in Viet Nam are wholly-foreign invested projects, holding nearly 56 percent of the total registered capital; and 27.6 percent of projects are by joint venture companies, holding with 43 percent of the total capital.

Among Thai projects operating profitably in Viet Nam is the CP Viet Nam animal feeds company in Dong Nai province. With a capital of 328 million USD, it turns out feeds for cattle and breeding poultry. In 2006, the company fetched a revenue of 300 million USD, generating jobs for more than 5,000 locals.

Another successful Thai investor is Siam Cement, a 100-year-old economic group of Thailand. Siem Cement has invested in five chemical and building materials projects in industrial parks in Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces. After 10 years' operation in Viet Nam, it decided to invest 220 million USD to build a high-grade wrapping paper factory in My Phuoc industrial park, southern Binh Duong province. The factory with a capacity of 220,000 tonnes of product per year will be the biggest of its kind in Viet Nam. Construction of the project will begin in the third quarter of this year and the factory is expected to be operational in 2009.

Vice President of Siam Cement Group Roongrote Rangsiyopash, said that Viet Nam's potential in natural resources, labour force in addition to stable political situation are the main factors to attract Thai investors to the country.

The Thai Chemical Group, which has operated many investment projects in Viet Nam, also plans to enter a joint venture with the Viet Nam Oil and Gas Corporation to launch a petrochemical complex in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province with a total investment of over 1.5 billion USD.

Thailand-based cement companies are also carrying out a plan to increase their investment into Viet Nam to 3 billion USD this year and to 6 billion USD in the next several years.

Speaking on the occasion of the Viet Nam visit by more than 100 Thai businesses last Mach, former Thai Foreign Minister Arsa Sarasin praised Viet Nam's high economic growth rate and affirmed that Thai businesses would continue boosting investment into Viet Nam.

For Viet Nam, Thailand is one of important addresses for its promotion activities to lure foreign direct investment.

Phan Huu Thang, Director of the Foreign Investment Department, said that Vietnamese localities and businesses will increase efforts to attract Thai investment into the production of export goods, processing industry, service industry and agricultural and rural economic development, IT applications, biotechnology and electronics.

Source: Vietnam Agency

Viet Nam exported over 19.3 million USD worth of products to Morocco in the first six months of this year, double the figure of the same period last year, according to the Viet Nam Commerce Office in Morocco.

The major export items to Morocco included coffee (8.8 million USD), colour TVs (5.1 million USD), computer components (1.4 million USD), and footwear (1.2 million USD). However, Viet Nam’s goods accounted for 0.14 percent of Morocco’s total imports.

During the period, Viet Nam imported products worth 538,400 from Morocco, mostly scrap iron (225,000 USD) and sports shoes (114,000 USD), the office added.

They noted that Vietnamese exports to Morocco were erratic and undiversified, mostly agricultural products and consumer goods of low value, while imports were almost non-existent.

Experts with the Trade Ministry said that Morocco is a major potential market for Vietnamese goods, as there is a huge demand for popular products at reasonable prices. Besides, it also had its advantageous products, especially fertiliser. Thus, there are opportunities for the two countries to exchange consumer goods and commodities.

They also suggested that cotton yarn production, seafood processing, auto assembly, shipbuilding, real estate and tourism are promising sectors for Vietnamese investment in Morocco.

Since April 2006, the Viet Nam Office of Commerce in Morocco has displayed product samples for export from Viet Nam at the showroom in the office’s headquarters to introduce Vietnamese products to Moroccan businesses.

Governments of the two nations are negotiating bilateral agreements on double taxation avoidance, as well as investment protection and incentives, which could lay the foundation for improved trade ties between the two countries in the future.

Furthermore, Morocco plans to reduce import taxes by the end of the year and streamline customs procedures, which could create more favourable conditions for the import of products from other countries, including Viet Nam.

Source: Vietnam Agency

Southern Dong Nai province has announced that its export value increased by 30.2 percent year-on-year to more than 3.02 billion USD in the first seven months of this year.

The accomplishments continue triggering the southern industrial hub’s hope for breaching 5 billion USD in export value this year.

The foreign-invested sector exported over 2.7 billion USD worth of commodities in the seven months, which accounted for over 90 percent of the province’s total. Its export staples included circuit boards, electronic components, footwear, foods and textiles.

The domestic sector earned over 204 million USD from exports, mainly coffee, cashew nuts, rubber latex, garments and agricultural machinery. The sector’s export value was the highest ever in comparison with the same periods of previous years.

During the period, the province exported more than 32,400 tonnes of coffee, up 3.8 percent year-on-year; nearly 5,880 tonnes of cashew nuts, up over 73 percent; and 471 tonnes of rubber latex, up 16 percent.

The province also exported 15.3 million USD worth of wood furniture and more than 15 million USD worth of footwear, representing an increase of 6 percent and 22 percent from the same period last year.

Source: Vietnam AgencySouthern Dong Nai province has announced that its export value increased by 30.2 percent year-on-year to more than 3.02 billion USD in the first seven months of this year.

The accomplishments continue triggering the southern industrial hub’s hope for breaching 5 billion USD in export value this year.

The foreign-invested sector exported over 2.7 billion USD worth of commodities in the seven months, which accounted for over 90 percent of the province’s total. Its export staples included circuit boards, electronic components, footwear, foods and textiles.

The domestic sector earned over 204 million USD from exports, mainly coffee, cashew nuts, rubber latex, garments and agricultural machinery. The sector’s export value was the highest ever in comparison with the same periods of previous years.

During the period, the province exported more than 32,400 tonnes of coffee, up 3.8 percent year-on-year; nearly 5,880 tonnes of cashew nuts, up over 73 percent; and 471 tonnes of rubber latex, up 16 percent.

The province also exported 15.3 million USD worth of wood furniture and more than 15 million USD worth of footwear, representing an increase of 6 percent and 22 percent from the same period last year.

Source: Vietnam Agency

The salient features of the economic situation in July and in the first seven months are industry production values, foreign invested capital, and domestic consumption – all showed increases.

The increase in the rate of the consumption price seems to be on the rise and the excess of imports over exports rate reached 77.7 percent.

The production value of the whole of the industry field in July increased more than that of the previous month, reaching 17 percent in seven months.

The state-owned enterprise area increased 9.7 percent in the first seven months. Of this, the central state-owned area posted a rise of 12.2 percent and the local state-owned area, 4.4 percent. The non-state-owned area increased 20.4 percent. The FDI area increased 18.9 percent.

This tendency occurred in industry in some areas and in some major industrial products.

Foreign investment capital showed increases in three areas – FDI, ODA, and FII. The newly-registered capital reached more than 2 billion USD in July, raising the figure in the first seven months to 6.37 billion USD, an increase of 54.8 percent against the same period last year. The additional registered capital reached 5 million USD, raising the figure to 1.1 billion USD in the first seven months, up 26 percent year on year.

Both new and additional registered capital in seven months achieved about 7.4 billion USD, an increase of 49.8 percent against the same period last year.

This is a positive sign to reach the yearly target of attracting more than 12 billion USD of registered capital and 4.5 billion USD of implemented capital, marking a highest-ever recorded rate.

Domestic consumption continued to rise. The total of retail commodity and service turnover reached an estimated 394 trillion VND. Of this, the tourism service rose to 44.7 percent and other services marked a higher increase of 35.7 percent against the common rate of 23.1 percent.

Export turnover reached nearly 26.8 billion USD in the first seven months, up 19.6 year-on-year. Many major commodities for export increased 20 percent against the same period last year.

Of these, the seven commodities posting over 1 billion USD are crude oil, garments and textiles, footwear, coffee, wooden products, fishery products, and electronic products (computer). Rice is enjoying a quick growth with 904 million USD in seven months and will likely reach more than 1 billion USD by the end of this year.

An excess of imports over exports in seven month went up to 5,453 million USD, a 29.8 percent increase year on year, higher than that of export turnover of 19.6 percent.

Source: Thời báo Kinh tế Việt Nam

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have supported ASEAN Economic Ministers' decision to recognise Viet Nam as a full market economy, according to a joint communique.

"We supported the decision of the ASEAN Economic Ministers to recognise Viet Nam as a full market economy, taking into consideration its rate of economic progress and integration with regional and global economies," said the joint communique issued at the end of the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-40) in Manila, the Philippines, on July 30.

"We encouraged our Dialogue Partners to make similar recognitions," the joint communique added.

Source: Vietnam Agency

It's economic news, isn't it? Shall we tell only good story?

===================
Source: Vietnam Economy News (http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/eng/?param=article&catid=01&id=935a642386e4a8)

Asked to make comments about the news that Taiwan rejected tea imports from Vietnam due to discovery of pesticide residues, Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Tea Association Tran Van Gia said that he has not received any official announcement about that from the Taiwanese side.

Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) on July 27 reported that the Food Sanitation Bureau (FSB) under the Taiwanese Department of Health (DOH) has discovered pesticide residues in a batch of green tea imported from Vietnam.

Taiwanese authorities have decided to return 21 tonnes of o long (black dragon) tea imported on July 10, which contained the higher-than-allowed level of pesticide.

CNA quoted Cheng Hui-wen, Director General of FSB as saying that the batch of green tea discovered on July 27 contained the residues of dicofol with the concentration of 0.15 ppm.

Prior to that, a batch of 21 tonnes of o long tea was discovered to contain dicofol 0.09 ppm. On June 28, FSB decided to take compulsory examination on tea imports from Vietnam.

Also on July 27, the online network in Spain language of CNA reported that a Taiwanese senator, Lai Shin-yuan, called on Taiwanese authority to prohibit importing tea of all kinds from Vietnam, and to consider the import resumption only when pesticide residues is solved.

Prior to that, Hsieh Ting-hung, Deputy Director General of FSB, said that Vietnam’s o long tea, "mainly being planted by Taiwanese farmers in Vietnam", account for 73% of the total Taiwan’s tea imports. Mr Hsieh Ting-hung said that from 2005 to May 2007, FSB regularly examined tea imports from Vietnam and did not discover any violation of food safety rules.

Mr Cheng Hui-wen said that Taiwanese authorities have informed Vietnam about the problem, and ask to tighten control over the use of pesticide in farm produce for export. The official has also threatened to take tougher measures if Taiwan discovers more imports that contain prohibited substances.

Also according to Mr Cheng, DOH announced that from 2008, all kinds of packed food, including tea, must show the origin of product on the package.

Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Tea Association on July 28 said that the association had not received any information from the Taiwanese authorities about the quality of tea imports from Vietnam.

Mr Gia said that if the association receives the official announcement from the Taiwanese side, it would check the quality of tea exports. Meanwhile, Mr Gia has also mentioned the possibility that the bad news were spread in order to force the import price down.

According to Tran Van Gia, every year Vietnam exports 500 tonnes of o long tea to Taiwan, while Taiwan needs 20,000 tonnes a year. There are 20 Taiwanese-invested tea companies in Vietnam among a total of 40 foreign-invested tea firms in the country. Taiwanese farmers also come to plant o long tea in Vietnam..

The southern province of Dong Nai attracted foreign direct investment worth 735 million USD in the first seven months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 73.7 percent.

The province approved 73 new investments in the period with a total capital of 423 million USD, and additional capital pumped into existing operations hit 313 million USD, according to Department of Planning and Investment statistics.

Dong Nai is currently home to 798 investment projects with combined registered capital of 9.7 billion USD.

“Administrative reforms have created favourable conditions in the province for foreign and local investors. Dong Nai has reduced import-export and investment licensing times to between three and five days, from the 15 days it took earlier,” said Planning and Investment Department’s director, Bo Ngoc Thu.

“The provincial People’s Committee has encouraged investment in the fields of high technology, infrastructure, culture, health and trading services,” he added.

It is expected that Dong Nai will have 32 industrial zones by 2010, with a total area of 11,800 ha.

Dong Nai’s export turnover reached 2.92 billion USD in the first seven months of this year, an increase of 30.2 percent over the same period last year, according to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment.

Local companies had a turnover of 204 million USD – an increase of 28 percent over the same period last year, while foreign-invested enterprises racked up a turnover of 2.7 billion USD – an increase of 30.3 percent.

The province is expected to see vigorous growth till the end of this year with annual export turnover forecast at more than 5 billion USD, or 10 percent of the national total.

The province’s fastest growing exports are in electronic components, foot-wear, garments, coffee and cashews.

Source: Vietnam Agency

It's economic news, isn't it? Shall we tell only good story?

===================
Source: Vietnam Economy News (http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/eng/?param=article&catid=01&id=935a642386e4a8)

Asked to make comments about the news that Taiwan rejected tea imports from Vietnam due to discovery of pesticide residues, Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Tea Association Tran Van Gia said that he has not received any official announcement about that from the Taiwanese side.

Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) on July 27 reported that the Food Sanitation Bureau (FSB) under the Taiwanese Department of Health (DOH) has discovered pesticide residues in a batch of green tea imported from Vietnam.

Taiwanese authorities have decided to return 21 tonnes of o long (black dragon) tea imported on July 10, which contained the higher-than-allowed level of pesticide.

CNA quoted Cheng Hui-wen, Director General of FSB as saying that the batch of green tea discovered on July 27 contained the residues of dicofol with the concentration of 0.15 ppm.

Prior to that, a batch of 21 tonnes of o long tea was discovered to contain dicofol 0.09 ppm. On June 28, FSB decided to take compulsory examination on tea imports from Vietnam.

Also on July 27, the online network in Spain language of CNA reported that a Taiwanese senator, Lai Shin-yuan, called on Taiwanese authority to prohibit importing tea of all kinds from Vietnam, and to consider the import resumption only when pesticide residues is solved.

Prior to that, Hsieh Ting-hung, Deputy Director General of FSB, said that Vietnam’s o long tea, "mainly being planted by Taiwanese farmers in Vietnam", account for 73% of the total Taiwan’s tea imports. Mr Hsieh Ting-hung said that from 2005 to May 2007, FSB regularly examined tea imports from Vietnam and did not discover any violation of food safety rules.

Mr Cheng Hui-wen said that Taiwanese authorities have informed Vietnam about the problem, and ask to tighten control over the use of pesticide in farm produce for export. The official has also threatened to take tougher measures if Taiwan discovers more imports that contain prohibited substances.

Also according to Mr Cheng, DOH announced that from 2008, all kinds of packed food, including tea, must show the origin of product on the package.

Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Tea Association on July 28 said that the association had not received any information from the Taiwanese authorities about the quality of tea imports from Vietnam.

Mr Gia said that if the association receives the official announcement from the Taiwanese side, it would check the quality of tea exports. Meanwhile, Mr Gia has also mentioned the possibility that the bad news were spread in order to force the import price down.

According to Tran Van Gia, every year Vietnam exports 500 tonnes of o long tea to Taiwan, while Taiwan needs 20,000 tonnes a year. There are 20 Taiwanese-invested tea companies in Vietnam among a total of 40 foreign-invested tea firms in the country. Taiwanese farmers also come to plant o long tea in Vietnam..


^^ imo i'm not sure if it's that bad of a news.

^^ imo i'm not sure if it's that bad of a news.
You're right... it's not a bad news...It's only news that most people do not want to hear!!!

^ Not really, it's one of the headline in Vietnam including the warning over Japan's stopping seafood import of Vietnam.

But anyway, a Thai article

Help thy neighbour and prosper
In a rush to cope with surging demand, Vietnam is counting on foreign investors to help it develop housing projects and infrastructure

UMESH PANDEY

Thai property entrepreneurs who have successfully tapped into the booming real estate market domestically can use their expertise and know-how to enter the Vietnamese market where demand continues to outstrip supply.


Phu My Hung is one of several fast-growing districts in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam is in the midst of a supply shortage for property projects. — BLOOMBERG NEWS

Vietnam, with a population of just over 84 million people and per-capita gross domestic product (GDP) of $724 billion, is experiencing a supply shortage for property projects and various companies across the region, especially Singaporean companies, have been actively participating to cater to the demand.

"There are two areas in Vietnam that are the hottest areas to invest: first is the stock market and second is the real estate market," Dzung Nguyen, head of the business promotion department for Ministry of Planning and Investment for Vietnam, said at a seminar organised by Bangkok Bank in Bangkok recently.

Vietnam's equity market has been among the world's best performers, rising more than 100% in 2006 and 2007 looks set to be similar, after the composite index hit its all-time high of 1170.67 points on March 12 this year.



The property market in the country has had a similar bull run and with the government's plans to invest close to $25 billion in infrastructure development over the next five years, the prospects for the real-estate market look robust.

Although foreigners are not allowed to buy land in Vietnam, they can lease it for up to 50 years and then develop their projects accordingly.

Mr Nguyen said that foreigners could invest in housing projects and buildings for sale or lease and were allowed to engage in hire-purchase of leased land.

Foreigners, he said, were also allowed to invest in upgrading land and to invest in infrastructure work on the leased land in order to lease it out with completed infrastructure. They are also allowed to offer property business services such as brokerage, trading, valuation, consultancy and management.

He acknowledged, however, that inadequate planning and domestic resources and the reluctance to open infrastructure development to private-sector participation had left Vietnam with an enormous infrastructural challenge.

"Over the next three years alone, existing government master plans for infrastructural improvements total some $25 billion. From now until 2010, the government and multilateral donors estimate a need for $3.9 billion in port investments, $5.2 billion for power generation, $1.8 billion for water supplies and sanitation, and $14 billion in road and rail projects. Looking forward to 2020, the total amount of planned infrastructure projects is close to $140 billion," he said.

The amount does not include investments of $8 billion in the new airport and $30 billion in the North-South railways.

All this, he says, offers a vast opportunity for Thai entrepreneurs and large construction companies that are looking for work.

Those investors looking to engage in property development and not as keen on infrastructure development projects also have huge potential for growth in the country, as average rental rates in the two main cities - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City - are now more expensive than those in Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila and are rising by the day.

Prices of condominium units, on the other hand, are also rising sharply and are selling like hotcakes with per-square metre prices ranging from $1,200 to in excess of $4,000 (36,000 to 120,000 baht). And new projects are mushrooming across the cities at higher prices every day, Mr Nguyen said.

"One reason for the rising price is the lack of locations available for development and this has pushed the prices higher every time a new project comes along," he said, adding that companies from Singapore and Taiwan were actively involved in developing various residential and commercial buildings across both the key cities.

As a result, he said, Vietnam had become the third most popular property-development market in the world after India and Russia in 2006 after having been ranked seventh in 2004.

Another area that Thai entrepreneurs can tap into is tourism, an industry that is considered to be the strength of Thailand.

Vietnam, he says, has 8,556 accommodation facilities, with a total of 170,550 rooms, divided into 25 five-star hotels, 65 four-star hotels, 135 three-star hotels and 1,000 other star-rated facilities with a mere 45,000 rooms in total. Hanoi has a mere eight five-star hotels and Ho Chi Minh City has 11, and with business trips increasing at a rapid pace, these facilities are not adequate to cover charges.

Tourism, according to Mr Nguyen, is expected to rise further with more than 4.2 million visitors expected this year from 3.6 million in 2006 and 3.2 million 2005.

So far this year, the investment trend for the tourism sector has seen an increase with more than $776 million invested in the sector so far in the first six months of the year. There are 17 foreign direct investment (FDI) tourist projects that have been licensed with capital of $776 million. Golf courses, luxury resorts and spas have centrally attracted the investors' attention. Fourteen golf courses are in operation and 28 more are being developed.

Among the investors, so far Asean nations have invested a great deal in Vietnamese tourism, making up 31% of the total $6 billion invested in the industry, against the 182 projects worth more than $4.3 billion invested in the form of FDI in the sector over the past 10 years.

The booming business city of Ho Chi Minh City is facing a supply shortfall of more than 4,000 rooms this year and the figure is expected surge to 14,500 standard hotel rooms and 7,000 three- to five-star rooms in 2010, when the demand for rooms is estimated to increase by 50%.

This will come from the city that will welcome 7.15 million foreign and local visitors, of whom 5.06 million need to stay in hotels. In 2010, the city must provide rooms for about 7.3 million visitors, out of the total number of 9.55 million guests coming to the city.

He said that Ho Chi Minh City currently had eight projects to build and expand four- and five-star hotels for completion prior to 2010 such as the Time Square, the Kumho Asiana Plaza, the Kim Do complex, and the Majestic Hotel, among others.

To accommodate the rising demand, the government has started to revamp the rules and regulations relating to real-estate development and has only recently changed the rule that allows old apartment buildings to be refurbished to turn them into hotel projects, something that was not allowed in the past.

But despite the positive outlook, there are various traps that foreign investors should look out for when they are looking to invest in Vietnam.

"Although we are looking for your investments, we would like to point out our drawback too," Mr Nguyen said to a packed audience in Bangkok."We do not have a clear master plan for the cities and therefore investors lose a lot of time in the processing of their plans, and another drawback is the legal system that is still not very clear on the sector."

But despite the drawbacks, there are many developers from various parts of Asia that have invested heavily in various sectors such as residential, commercial and industrial-estate developments.


http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/040807_bus07.gif

Valley venture into Vietnam
INVESTOR GROUP TO PUT $200 MILLION INTO HANOI CHIP-PACKAGING FACILITY

In a boost to Vietnam's nascent tech economy, Silicon Valley investors announced Friday they are sinking as much as $200 million into a new chip-packaging plant in Hanoi.

The newly formed Vietnam-Chipscale Advanced Packaging Services, or V-Caps, will be led by a group of semiconductor executives with valley ties. The announcement was made during the first-ever Vietnamese Strategic Ventures Network conference in Palo Alto, where hundreds of investors, tech executives and entrepreneurs gathered for two days to discuss new opportunities in the economically rising Southeast Asian nation of 84 million people.

Conference speakers agreed that, risks of investing in any developing country aside, Vietnam is increasingly seen as a new destination for tech outsourcing and even some high-end services. The government forecasts its economy will grow at 9 percent this year.

The cost of doing business in Vietnam is about half of that of China, said Sanford Garrett, one of the seed investors in V-Caps. He is president of the Garrett Group Technology in San Francisco, a financial consulting firm.

"That Vietnam is inexpensive in and of itself is not the driving force for going there," he said. "When you look at Vietnam and the culture of the people, what you find when you dig deeper is a value system that is based on loyalty, creativity, knowledge, curiosity, tenacity - all of these give Vietnam an endearing advantage over most other countries."


The 300,000-square-foot factory will be in the new Hoa Lac High Tech Park and will employ up to 1,500 workers. V-Caps will consider building two more similar facilities, as well. The company will assemble and test chip packages for semiconductor companies for an array of products, from cell phones to personal computers.

V-Caps founder Harry Rozakis, who most recently was chief executive of Milpitas- and Hong Kong-based chip-assembly company Asat, began scouting Vietnam four years ago after taking a vacation to the country.

"I said, `This place is incredible. I think it will be the next Asian giant,' " he recalled.

He will travel between the United States and Vietnam as he continues to raise funding for the company, which he launched nearly two years ago.

Eventually, Vietnamese executives will run the on-the-ground operations, Garrett said. "We believe in a strong local presence and a strong contribution to host countries," he said. "Otherwise, there is no way you can be successful."

Land of opportunity

Peter Woo

Hong Kong may have a few weaknesses - a lack of natural resources and limited space come to mind - but one thing we will never be accused of is being in a poor location.
Already a part of the surging pan-Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong also finds itself ideally positioned vis-a-vis the booming Mekong Delta economy of Vietnam, the ideal gateway for China to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Vietnam is Asean's second-most populous country, with 85 million people and a per capita gross domestic product of US$724 last year. It has an economy expected to register 8 to 10 per cent GDP growth for the foreseeable future, according to the Asian Development Bank.

To compare, the pan-Pearl River Delta has a population of 471 million. Last year's GDP increased 16.5 per cent over that of 2005, with a per capita GDP of US$2,200. This grouping encompasses eight mainland provinces - Guangdong , Sichuan , Fujian , Hunan , Jiangxi , Yunnan , Guizhou and Hainan - the Guangxi autonomous region, Hong Kong and Macau.

China and Vietnam are already deepening their own ties - mainland exports to it were US$5.6 billion in 2005, up 32 per cent from 2004. This will be amplified further when tariffs on trade between the two countries are abolished by 2010 under the China-Asean Free Trade Area Agreement.

This agreement will cover a combined population of 1.8 billion with a GDP of more than US$2 trillion.

Hong Kong offers it something that no other Asian city can, or will be able to, match - an established trading platform that will attract only more headquarters here. Nearly 3,800 overseas companies had regional operations in Hong Kong as of June 2005.

Hong Kong is a well-connected risk manager for the mainland market, and a global sourcing hub with an excellent service infrastructure and rule of law.

It has low taxes, a transparent legal system, sophisticated financial services and strong intellectual property protection.

In the meantime, Hong Kong and Vietnam have more than enough opportunities to explore. Because of Vietnam's robust economy and receptivity to foreign investment, Hong Kong companies considering potential new manufacturing bases now have more possibilities.

In late June, I led a Hong Kong delegation to Vietnam to investigate business opportunities.

We sat down with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen. I also addressed some 200 local business leaders. Their feedback was clear: Vietnam is open for business.

Reinforcing this was the electrifying energy of bustling Ho Chi Minh City. Walking the streets that already feature Hong Kong brands such as Giordano and VTech, I became convinced that this rising powerhouse will become Southeast Asia's leading business centre in five to 10 years.

Hong Kong and Vietnam have built a relationship based on mutual trust, which bodes well for realising opportunities now and post 2010.

Possibilities are bountiful. Last year, Hong Kong was Vietnam's second-largest foreign direct investment provider, injecting some US$1.1 billion into property, light-goods manufacturing such as textiles and clothing, and other areas.

Bilateral trade amounted to US$2.1 billion, but the real story is in the rate of growth - up 19.5 per cent over 2005.

In the three months following its World Trade Organisation accession in January, Vietnam's imports were up 33 per cent over the same period last year, underlining the country's appetite for goods to re-export to other markets or consume domestically.

As an emerging retail market, there is potential for Hong Kong companies to do business in Vietnam in areas such as electronics, gifts and premiums, jewellery, textile and clothing products, timepieces and toys.

There is also a large market for services by Hong Kong companies. Vietnam's torrid property market has created opportunities for related Hong Kong infrastructure companies. Industry sources predict that demand will outstrip supply in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for the foreseeable future.

Logistical services is another area ripe for Hong Kong participation. Vietnam's rapidly growing external trade climate has created this opportunity.

Surrounded by booming economies that will surge further come 2010, Hong Kong again stands to gain by location. Fostering and cultivating great business relationships certainly does not hurt either.

Peter Woo is chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Another very SAD fact!!! I don't know how you VC sympathizers proud of this "accomplishment"... Vietnam seems to buck the trend and it's going backward :(
=======================


Source: RFA (http://www.rfa.org/vietnamese/in_depth/2007/08/08/Vietnamese_education_has_been_stretched_to_thin_and_failed/)

Ông Michael Marine, Đại sứ Hoa Kỳ tại Việt Nam hôm nay tuyên bố tại trường quản trị kinh doanh do đại học Hawaii giúp thành lập tại thành phố Hồ Chí Minh rằng, nền giáo dục không phải là đổ cho đầy một cái xô mà là thắp lên một ngọn lửa.
http://www.rfa.org/vietnamese/in_depth/2007/03/15/MichaelMarine200.jpg
Ông Michael Marine, Đại sứ Hoa Kỳ mãn nhiệm tại Việt Nam. RFA file photo

Phân tích về nền giáo dục của Việt Nam, đại sứ Marine nói, điều hy vọng nhất là ngọn lửa học tập sẽ ngày càng bừng sáng để soi tỏ đến mọi nơi chốn.

Mặt khác, theo báo cáo vào năm 2006 của ngân hàng thế giới thì Việt Nam đang bị tụt hậu sau các quốc gia khác trong khu vực, chỉ có 2% dân số được học tập trong thời gian 13 năm hoặc nhiều hơn.

Việt Nam xếp hạng chót trong khu vực Châu Á nếu xét theo tỷ lệ trong độ tuổi từ 20 đến 24, với 10% học lên tới đại học. Tỷ lệ này ở Trung Quốc là 15%, Thái Lan 41% và Hàn Quốc là 89%.
Nửa triệu thí sinh rớt đại học

Cũng trong lĩnh vực giáo dục đào tạo, tin tức từ Việt Nam hôm nay cho biết, có đến nửa triệu thí sinh Việt Nam trượt kỳ thi đại học và phải tìm kiếm cơ hội ở các bậc học vấn khác.

Theo Cục công nghệ thông tin thì năm nay có 70% thí sinh dự thi đại học đạt dưới điểm trung bình. Bộ giáo dục và đào tạo mới đưa ra điểm sàn đại học khối A, B là 15 điểm, khối C là 14 và Khối D là 13.

Tổng số thí sinh trên điểm sàn khoảng 400 ngàn em, trong tổng số thí sinh dự kỳ thi tuyển năm nay là hơn 941 ngàn em.

Hà Nội xếp thứ nhất, thành phố Hồ Chí Minh đứng thứ 16. Đứng cuối bảng trong 64 tỉnh thành cả nước là Bắc Cạn, Cao Bằng, Lai Châu, Hà Giang và Lạng Sơn.

Land of opportunity

Peter Woo


Vietnam is Asean's second-most populous country, with 85 million people and a per capita gross domestic product of US$724 last year. It has an economy expected to register 8 to 10 per cent GDP growth for the foreseeable future, according to the Asian Development Bank.



I disagree with this. Vietnam's population is still behind Indonesia and the Phillipine within the SEA nations

Weak Legal Framework in Vietnam and Risk doing Business

How Vietnam Venture Proved a Costly Move
Hanoi Can Be Tough
On Foreign Investors;
One Man's Jail Ordeal

By JAMES HOOKWAY


HANOI, Vietnam -- When American businessman Hoan Nguyen came to Vietnam a decade ago with plans to build an international school, he says he was bright-eyed with hope for the country of his birth.

But by last year he was lying on a damp bench in Hanoi's B14 prison after a business dispute with his Vietnamese government partners turned into a police investigation with Mr. Nguyen as the key suspect.

Mr. Nguyen's travails highlight one of the big risks for the foreign investors who have been flocking to Vietnam, whose economy has been growing at more than 8% a year and which is widely regarded as the developing world's hottest emerging market after China and India. It also shows how Vietnamese government agencies or officials can sometimes employ tough tactics to get what they want when a deal goes wrong.

In jail for 14 months while investigators probed the case, Mr. Nguyen listened to Vietnamese state radio booming in the prison's courtyard each morning as announcers exhorted overseas Vietnamese to come home to fuel the country's rapid economic growth.

"It was so ironic. I did exactly what the government wanted and I ended up in jail," says the 58-year-old Mr. Nguyen, who was released in June and is now in Hanoi awaiting the final resolution of his case.

While in prison, Mr. Nguyen says he was given access to a lawyer only twice during his detention and alleges he was once beaten by a police officer. Food was meager. At Vietnamese New Year, he says, he was allowed a little chunk of chicken with his once-a-day portion of rice. Police officials declined to comment on Mr. Nguyen's detention.

Then, after Mr. Nguyen had spent 14 months behind bars without charges and his family paid $85,000 in what they were told was bail, Vietnamese police concluded in their initial report there wasn't sufficient evidence to prosecute him and let him go. The bail money hasn't been returned. Mr. Nguyen is still waiting for Vietnamese prosecutors to formally decide if they will charge him with any offense.

After decades of Communist rule, Vietnam's legal system is still ill-equipped to handle civil business disputes that would be routinely handled by independent regulators in other nations with well-established market economies.

So without recourse to civil courts, complainants can take their grievances directly to the police, who can detain suspects for months without filing charges against them. In other instances, the government has used its authority to seize private businesses, leaving their owners little prospect of redress in the courts.

Tony Foster, the managing partner of the Vietnam practice of U.K.-based legal firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, says one of the idiosyncrasies of Vietnamese legal code -- a hodgepodge of indigenous and imported regulations -- is that it includes some very broad definitions of crimes, which can easily be applied to a business setting.

One is the crime of "economic mismanagement" resulting in losses to the state. Mr. Foster says that a foreign business engaged in a joint venture with a state-owned agency could face criminal prosecution if it stumbles over a simple administrative step in a politically charged case.

Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet acknowledged in a recent interview that his country needs to amend its legal system to bring it more in line with international standards. But people familiar with Vietnam's legal-reform effort say it will take considerable time. The reform drive has already been under way for several years, focusing, among other things, on leveling the playing field between foreign and local businesses.

In the meantime, business disputes and regulatory violations that are treated as crimes keep piling up.

Last year, four local traders at the Vietnam branch of Dutch bank ABN Amro Holding NV were arrested after Vietnamese police accused them of conducting a series of foreign-exchange trades with an unauthorized trader at a state bank, in which the government lost $5 million. ABN Amro paid the Vietnamese government $4.5 million in November in an effort to get its staff released; the four bankers are now free to work and travel within the country. But the investigation into the actions of the ABN Amro staff hasn't yet been dropped. Previously, an ABN Amro spokeswoman has denied any wrongdoing by its traders in Vietnam.

Other foreign banks protested the police actions in a letter to the government, complaining that under Vietnamese law it is too easy to criminalize ordinary civil disputes.

A government audit this year concluded that Vietnamese banks don't adequately regulate their foreign-exchange trading.

Expatriate ethnic Vietnamese who have returned to join the country's march away from a centrally planned economy have fared worse than most other foreign investors. Many, including Mr. Nguyen, complain their legal situation is compromised because the state is reluctant to regard them as foreigners, even though they are legally citizens of other countries. For example, one of reasons the police held Mr. Nguyen in prison for more than a year, according to people closely following the case, was to investigate whether he illegally received medical insurance reserved for foreign employees of the Hanoi International School he helped set up -- overlooking that Mr. Nguyen is a U.S. citizen.

To be sure, some overseas Vietnamese appear to have flouted the country's laws in their effort to make their fortunes, damaging the reputation of other overseas Vietnamese -- or Viet Kieu -- who have returned to engage in legitimate businesses. In one well-known case, French businessman Nguyen Gia Thieu built a business with his brother selling Nokia and Samsung mobile phones. In 2003, police arrested Mr. Thieu for allegedly smuggling the phones into Vietnam to avoid import duties. He was later convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Mr. Nguyen, meanwhile, is still fighting to clear his name.

An energetic man with a thick mop of gray hair and degrees from Vanderbilt and George Mason universities in the U.S., Nguyen Dinh Hoan left Vietnam in the 1960s and didn't return for decades because of war and political upheaval there. Like many overseas Vietnamese, he reversed his name to follow Western practices, and became known as Hoan Nguyen.

In 1995, he finally returned with plans to establish an international school to cater to the families of the foreign expatriates who were then beginning to flock to the country. Mr. Nguyen formed the Hanoi International School in partnership with the Vietnamese government's Center for Education in 1996. The government provided a 20% lease on a now-valuable plot of land in booming downtown Hanoi in return for a 30% stake in the venture.

As the value of the land on which the school is built rose, tensions between Mr. Nguyen and his partners also grew. In April 2006, police arrested Mr. Nguyen as part of their investigations into the government partner's claims that he illegally received medical insurance, and into his allegedly improper hiring of a personal assistant to help him in a separate English-language teaching business, police investigators said in their report.

While Mr. Nguyen was in prison, U.S. Embassy officials in Hanoi warned Mr. Nguyen's wife in the U.S. against visiting Vietnam to try to help obtain her husband's release because they couldn't guarantee her safety here, family members say.

Ho Ngoc Dai, former director of the government's Center for Education, the school's partner, and a son-in-law of a former Communist Party chief, called Mr. Nguyen "a thief" but refused to explain why he believes Mr. Nguyen is a criminal and declined to discuss the matter further.

Mr. Nguyen maintains he did nothing wrong -- and that the salary payments to his personal assistant were split between the school and himself.

In June, after Mr. Ngyuen's release, his case ended up on the desk of Vietnam's prime minister, Nguyen Tan Dung, a former central-bank chief with a reputation for straight-shooting. He instructed the Vietnamese members of the school's board to resolve its disputes with Mr. Nguyen, failing which the government would impose its own solution, the state-run People's Police newspaper reported

New farming wealth in the Highlands area

DAK LAK



Graced by na*ture, Dak Lak, in the Central Highlands, has an abundant supply of fertile soil. In re*cent years, many farmers have grown rich by taking advantage of the natural re*source.



Currently, the province has 1,500 farming busi*nesses spanning forestry, arable and livestock sec*tors.



On average, each farm earns about VND120 mil*lion (US$7,500) per year. In the past five years, the busi*ness models used by the forestry farms have allowed for 16,000ha of eroded centralised forest to be re*covered.



Farmers in the province began to plant rubber trees in 1989. Some of them were supported financially and received 70 per cent of the initial capital for the trees. Generously, they were given 10 years to pay back the loan.



Dak Lak Rubber Com*pany masterminded the funding for the farming project. Before they be-

gan working with local farmers and diversifying their crop production, the main industry for the area was cultivating rice and coffee.



Though many people feared developing a new business, Y Horn Nie took the challenge and agreed to take 85ha of land to plant rubber trees.



Together with Nie, some households sectioned off small areas of the land and began to plant the new trees.



"At the beginning, it was very difficult for me. I knew nothing about planting and tending techniques for this type of tree. I encountered many different challenges. Sometimes I thought about selling the plantation," said Y Hom Nie.



"Despite many tricky is-sues, after thinking it through, I decided to try my best to develop the busi*ness."



The first difficulty for Nie was a lack of people able to work on his land. Residents in his village only knew ow to cultivate coffee. He had to hire people from the neighbouring Quang Ngai Province 500 kms away to work at his rubber planta*tion.



And his effort was not wasted.



In 2004, he earned more than VND1.3 billion (US$81,000) from 85ha of rubber and 4ha of coffee'. The figure increased to VND2.1 billion in 2005 and VND3.2 billion in 2006.



Y Horn Nie was not the only man to become wealthy from planting in*dustrial trees. Le Tan Luc from the Ea Hao Commune of the Ea Hl'eo District earns VND600 million each year by planting pepper plants, Nguyen Tan Huy in Ho Village of Krong Buk District earns VND800 million each year from planting durian and coffee.



In recent years, farmers in the province have in*vested more in modern technology to cultivate crops that have a high eco*nomic value.



Phan Trong Dung in Khanh Hoa Commune, uses his knowledge of biotech*nology to plant orchids, and earns in the region of VND300 million each year, while Nguyen Hong Nhat in the Krong Buk District reaps hundreds of million dong per year from plant*ing flowers which have a healthy market value.



Since the movement was launched in many districts to encourage more farmers to produce profitable crops, households have put much more effort into agricultural production and improved their lives as a result.



Each family in Quyet Tien Village of Dkiya Dis*trict can now earn from VND70 to 100 million per

vear

Korean steel giant eyes mammoth local project

HA NOI





POSCO, the world's third-largest steel maker, is considering devel*oping the most extensive steel project in Viet Nam us*ing investment capital amounting to US$4.5 billion, the Ministry of Planning and Investment revealed. An agreement signed be*tween Posco and the Viet Nam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin) in a South Korea - Viet Nam investment forum in Seoul this May prompted the project. Located in Van Phong Bay in the south central coastal province of Khanh Hoa and adjacent to Viet Nam's key tranship*ment port project, the hot-rolled steel mill marks in*creasing investment in Viet Nam by the Republic of South Korea.

The plant will have an initial annual production capacity of 4 million tonnes and will reach its full out*put of 8 million in the sec*ond phase, the ministry said. Once approved, the Ko*rean steel giant will com*plete the feasibility plan within this year and begin construction in 2009, reaching completion in 2010. In order to secure the project, Posco will form a venture with Viet Nam's largest shipbuilder, Vinashin, in which Vinashin will hold a 30 per cent stake in the mill, ac*cording to the ministry.

Earlier this month Posco started constructing a $ 1.13 billion cold-rolled steel plant, scheduled to begin production in 2009 in the southern coastal oil-rich province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. The group is also build*ing a $13.8 million steel processing facility in nearby Dong Nai Province. Viet Nam News was un*able to reach Posco's offi*cials yesterday for an inter*view.

This project affirms the Republic of South Korea's continued investment in Viet Nam which has to*talled close to $6 billion. Already one of Viet Nam's largest investors, the new deals will almost double that investment. Not the first develop*ment of its kind, last Sep*tember the government li*censed Taiwanese Tycoons Worldwide Steel to invest $1 billion in a steelworks factory in the Dung Quat Industrial Zone in the cen*tral province of Quang Ngai.

Overall, steel makers in the country had an annual production capacity of some 6 million tonnes by late last year, according to the Viet Nam Steel Asso*ciation. However, Viet Nam's partial dependence on steel ingot imports has made local-made steel products less competitive compared with imported products.

Đất nước bốn ngàn năm văn hiến, trong lịch sử cận đại đã đánh thắng hai đế quốc to, được coi là lương tri của nhân loại, hơn 30 năm thống nhất đất nước, là thành viên đầy đủ của hầu hết mọi tổ chức quốc tế và khu vực trên thế giới. Vị thế của đất nước không thể nói là thấp, thế nhưng ngày nay cái nghèo vẫn nặng trĩu trên vai... more (http://vietnamnet.vn/chinhtri/2007/08/730507/)

50 tỉ USD chuẩn bị vào Việt Nam

Theo Cục Đầu tư nước ngoài (Bộ Kế hoạch và đầu tư), hiện nay có khoảng 50 dự án với tổng số vốn trên 50 tỉ USD đang được nhà đầu tư nước ngoài triển khai bàn thảo với các địa phương trong cả nước.

Nổi bật trong số này là dự án xây dựng một số khu công nghệ kỹ thuật cao chuyên sản xuất các sản phẩm công nghệ cao trong lĩnh vực điện tử của Tập đoàn Foxconn (Hon Hai) Đài Loan với số vốn 5 tỉ USD được đặt tại hai tỉnh Bắc Ninh và Bắc Giang. Hiện tại, Foxconn đã đặt một văn phòng đại diện tại Bắc Ninh để đẩy nhanh tiến độ thực hiện dự án này.

Tiếp theo là các dự án về điện, đó là Nhà máy nhiệt điện than Vân Phong - Khánh Hoà công suất 2.640MW do Tập đoàn Sumitomo Nhật Bản đầu tư khoảng 3,5 tỉ USD. Dự án này đã được nhà đầu tư trình lên Thủ tướng Chính phủ từ đầu năm 2007. Nhà máy nhiệt điện Mông Dương 2 (Quảng Ninh) công suất 1.200MW do Tập đoàn AES (Mỹ) liên doanh với Tập đoàn than và khoáng sản Việt Nam có vốn đầu tư 1,463 tỉ USD. Dự án Nhiệt điện than miền Nam đặt tại Bình Thuận có vốn đầu tư 1,4 tỉ USD do Công ty lưới điện Vân Nam - CSG Trung Quốc làm chủ đầu tư cũng đã được Thủ tướng Chính phủ chấp thuận.

Tien Phuoc Co and Keppel Land, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Keppel Land Limited, have been given the go ahead by the Ministry of Planning and Investment to build a 106-million USD apartment complex in An Phu ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

Keppel Land has a 55 percent stake in the project, which will add around 1,500 apartment units to the city’s booming real estate market, while local partner Tien Phuoc Co holds the remaining 45 percent.

“In line with Keppel Land’s overseas strategy to tap into the demand for quality housing in Asian cities, the company is continuing to leverage its mover advantages and build on its strong presence and portfolios in Viet Nam,” said Keppel Land managing director Kevin Wong at August 21’s licensing ceremony in Ha Noi.

“With more than 20,000 apartments in the country, we are well on track to develop and deliver high-quality homes to fulfil rising home-ownership aspirations in Viet Nam resulting from the country’s rapid growth,” he added.

The first phase of the 280,000 sq.m project is slated for completion in 2008.

Keppel Land has been active in Viet Nam for more than a decade and is one of the country’s largest real estate investors. It is involved in major property development projects in the country, including the International Centre, the Sedona Suites Royal Park in Ha Noi and the Petro Viet Nam Towers in the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

Source: Vietnam Agency

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where is the Sedona Suites Park?

Vietnam has set targets of exporting 5.4 billion USD worth of products to China by 2010 and 11.1 billion USD by 2015.

The targets were set under a plan recently approved by the Minister of Trade to ratchet up bilateral trade between the two neighbours during the 2007-2015 period.

The Ministry of Trade said in order to curb the trade deficit with China, it will be necessary to place an emphasis on producing products which have competitive advantages over Chinese goods and which can replace imports from China.

According to the ministry, the Steering Committee on Border Trade will ramp up negotiations and the signing of agreements between the two countries in order to facilitate the exchange of commodities and market research.

Source: Vietnam Agency

The Republic of Korea (RoK) will provide Viet Nam with loans worth a total of 107 million USD from its development arm, the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

Three agreements to this effect were signed in Hanoi on Aug. 23 by Vietnamese Deputy Finance Minister Tran Van Ta and Cheon-sik Yang, President of the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank).

The loans include 26 million USD for a project to upgrade the Thien Tan waterworks, more than 30.8 million USD for the construction of a polyclinic in Thua Thien-Hue province and nearly 49.7 million USD to build a southern coastal road network.

The RoK government has so far provided EDCF loans worth a total of more than 300 million USD for 10 projects in Vietnam . They mainly funded infrastructure projects in the area of transportation, power, safe water supply, garbage treatment and health care.

Vietnam is among the largest receivers of preferential loans from the RoK.

(source VNA)

16:33' 23/08/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – The Institute for Industry Policy and Strategy (IPS) has submitted to the Ministry of Industry and Trade the programme on the motorbike industry’s development for 2006-2015 with a vision to 2020.


http://english.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200708/original/images1393779_motorbike.jpg


Under the programme, from now to 2010, the industry will satisfy 100% of the demand for popular vehicles in rural areas, 90% of the demand in urban areas.



Raising the localisation ratio of products is always the most important task for the motorbike industry. By 2010, it is expected that the locally made content of scooters will reach 90% of total parts, while the ratio will be over 90% for popular motorbikes.



By 2010, Vietnam plans to export $300mil worth of motorbikes and motorbike parts. In 2011-2015, Vietnam hopes to become a centre for designing, producing and assembling motorbikes. The motorbike industry is hoped to become an industry with high global competitiveness when Vietnam fully integrates into the world and will not need protection by the state with tariffs.



By 2015, Vietnam hopes to be involved in the international production line, which will allow it to make engines and motorbikes for export, including engines and products using clean technologies. Vietnam will also pay appropriate attention to the forming up of support industries which can provide parts to assembling workshops.



From 2016 to 2020, Vietnam will focus on developing engines and motorbike products using clean technologies, which will serve the domestic demand and for export, estimated to bring about the turnover of $1bil.



Also according to IPS, by 2010, the number of motorbikes rolling on the streets will reach 24mil units. The figure will be 31mil by 2015 and 33mil by 2020. From now to 2010, it is expected that 2mil new motorbikes will be put into circulation every year.



On the domestic market, scooters are the most favoured by medium and high income earners. Experts say that the market now is far from the saturated level: the demand for scooters keeps rising, and local manufacturers are competing with each other mostly in the segment of scooters.



Locally made motorbikes, like Nouvo, Excel, Attila, Classic and XO, which are priced at between VND27-35mil ($2,187), prove to be most wanted. Imports are also popular choices of customers, though they are 3-8 fold more expensive than locally made products.

47 dự án trị giá 51 tỷ USD “xếp hàng” chờ vào Việt Nam
SGGP:: Cập nhật ngày 06/09/2007 lúc 01:13'(GMT+7)
Theo tin từ Cục Đầu tư nước ngoài (Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư), có 47 dự án đầu tư trực tiếp nước ngoài với tổng vốn 51 tỷ USD đang đàm phán để vào VN. Ngoài dự án Khu công nghệ cao đặt tại Bắc Ninh, Bắc Giang của Tập đoàn Foxconn có mức vốn kỷ lục 5 tỷ USD đang được triển khai, còn có khá nhiều dự án có mức vốn tương tự như dự án tổ hợp hóa dầu Naphtha Cracking tại Phú Yên đang xin ý kiến của Thủ tướng; Dự án sản xuất thép tại Khánh Hòa với 4,5 tỷ USD của Tập đoàn Fosco; Dự án Khu đô thị Đại học Quốc tế tại TPHCM 3,5 tỷ USD của Công ty Berjaya Land Berhda Malaysia; Dự án Trung tâm thương mại Giảng Võ và khu triển lãm Mễ Trì Hà Nội vốn 2,5 tỷ USD của Tập đoàn Kumho Asiana Hàn Quốc… Trong số đó còn có 18 dự án có quy mô vốn từ 1 tỷ USD trở lên. Được biết, nếu các dự án này được Chính phủ phê duyệt trong năm nay thì tổng vốn đầu tư nước ngoài vào VN sẽ vượt xa mục tiêu đề ra là 12 tỷ USD.

The number of auto sales in the first 8 months of this year are 42557 units and on pace to reach 62335, which is the highest ever in Vietnam. Let's hope that by 2010, Vietnam will be able to consume 100,000 cars a year.:cheers:

I don't think the increase in private cars on Vietnamese roads is a good idea. It just make Vietnam more heavily dependent on petroleum and also create pollution and road congestion. Vietnam is already congested as it is with all the motorbikes and scooters. I think Vietnam should invest in cheap, decent and fast public transport. It is the way of the future.

..

The consumer price index (CPI) was reined in this month after recording an increase of 0.51 percent over August, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Last month’s CPI increased by 0.55 percent from July.

Though the prices of seven out of the 10 surveyed goods categories rose, the increases were all under 2 percent. Foodstuff and services recorded the highest increase of 1.02 percent, followed by pharmaceutical products and medical services, 0.91 percent.

The prices of transport and postal services, cultural, sports and entertainment services dropped compared with last month.

The results were attributable to synchronous implementation of inflation control measures, said experts.

However, September’s CPI saw a year-on-year increase of 8.8 percent, a record surge in recent years.

The reduction of tariffs on some imports as of early August was singled out as a positive measure.
“Milk, steel and gas businesses have committed to not increasing their prices after the recent investigation,” said Finance Minister Vu Van Ninh.

However, a number of enterprises were forced to raise their selling prices due to the pressure of raw material cost. “The State management agencies could not use administrative orders to force them to reduce their prices, as it would go against the market mechanism,” he noted.

The ministry will continue slashing taxes on some goods, he said, adding that if businesses will not reduce their costs, fines may be levied against them and profits from lower tax would be withdrawn.

The Ha Noi Socio-Economic Development Research Institute forecasts that this year’s CPI will increase by between 8.5 percent and 10 percent.

Nguyen Minh Phong, an economist at the institute, said that from now until the end of the year, reductions will be seen in the prices of commodities that are subjected to tariff reductions under the country’s commitment to the World Trade Organisation while slight rise will occur in the prices of goods supplied by monopolists such as electricity, oil and gas and pharmaceuticals.

Source: Vietnam Agency

By Ho Binh Minh
REUTERS

6:22 a.m. October 1, 2007

HANOI – Vietnam Airlines split a keenly awaited order for mid-sized passenger jets between Boeing and Airbus on Monday following a battle for market share in one of the world's fastest-growing economies after China.
The unlisted national airline said it had signed a memorandum of understanding to buy 12 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft – a deal which the U.S. planemaker valued at $1.9 billion based on catalogue prices.



AdvertisementHours later, the airline signed another draft agreement to buy 10 competing Airbus A350-900XWB passenger jets during a visit to Paris by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
The Airbus deal, signed in front of reporters at French Prime Minister Francois Fillon's office, also included 20 additional single-aisle A321 jets.

The Airbus deals are worth $3.8 billion at list prices including $2.4 billion for the crucial A350 order where the competition between Boeing and Airbus is at its fiercest.

Under the Boeing deal, the first 787 plane will be delivered in 2015, the state-run airline said in a statement.

The deal follows a 2005 Vietnam Airlines contract to buy four Boeing 787-8 airplanes for delivery in 2009 and 2010.

The 787 and 350 are competing head to head in one of the most promising parts of the aviation market, though Boeing has a five-year lead and a strong lead in sales over its rival.

The contest was seen as a direct comparison between the 787 and 350 because of the deferred delivery dates, with the 314-seat A350-900 not due to enter service until 2013.

Boeing's 787 is due to enter service next year and is virtually sold out until 2013.

The lightweight, fuel-efficient 787 has become Boeing's most successful plane launch in history.

The first flight is set for sometime between mid-November and mid-December after a three-month delay due to a shortage of bolts and problems programming the flight control software.

Boeing says it will stick to its May target date for delivery of the first plane to a Japanese airline, though some of the planemaker's suppliers say this will be a difficult target to reach because of the reduced time for test flights.

Vietnam Airlines said it aims to add 20 Boeing 787-8s to its fleet of 86 aircraft by 2015 and expand the Boeing planes to 28 by 2020 when its fleet rises to more than 110 planes.

It plans to open the first direct route linking Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, with Los Angeles in late 2008 with five flights weekly on Boeing 777-200 ERs.

Also in Paris, France's Bouygues and Alstom won a 190-million-euro ($270.5 million) contract to help build a power station in Vietnam.

(Additional reporting by Sophie Louet, Tim Hepher, Chris Reiter, Francois Murphy)



Can't wait to someday in the very near future fly directly from LAX to Hanoi or HCMC!

* GDP đầu người cả năm ước đạt 825 USD

Các số liệu ước tính của Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư cho thấy kinh tế đang trên đà cao lên: nếu quý I tăng 7,7%, quý II tăng 8%, thì quý III tăng 8,93%. Tính chung 9 tháng tăng trưởng kinh tế ước đạt 8,3%. Đây là tốc độ tăng cao nhất so với tốc độ tăng của cùng kỳ trong 10 năm qua tính từ năm 1997.

Đạt được tốc độ như trên là một cố gắng rất lớn trong điều kiện nhóm ngành nông, lâm nghiệp - thủy sản do gặp thiên tai, dịch bệnh đối với cả trồng trọt, chăn nuôi nên tốc độ tăng bị giảm sút so với cùng kỳ năm trước. Để bù cho tốc độ tăng thấp của nhóm ngành nông - lâm nghiệp - thủy sản, nhóm ngành công nghiệp, xây dựng tiếp tục tăng 2 chữ số, đặc biệt nhóm ngành dịch vụ lần đầu tiên sau hơn 10 năm tăng 8,61%, cao hơn tốc độ tăng chung. Cũng nhờ vậy, cơ cấu kinh tế có sự chuyển dịch theo hướng tích cực: tỷ trọng trong ngành nông, lâm nghiệp - thủy sản đã giảm từ 20,45% xuống còn 20,08%, của nhóm ngành công nghiệp - xây dựng đã tăng từ 41,31% lên 41,48%, của nhóm ngành dịch vụ đã tăng từ 38,25% lên 38,44%.

Tăng trưởng kinh tế cao lên do cả nguyên nhân ở đầu vào, do cả nguyên nhân ở đầu ra. Ở đầu vào, lượng vốn đầu tư, đặc biệt là đầu tư của khu vực ngoài Nhà nước và đầu tư nước ngoài tăng khá. Riêng về đầu tư đạt kỷ lục mới ở cả 3 nguồn: nguồn vốn đầu tư trực tiếp (FDI), nguồn vốn đầu tư gián tiếp (FII), nguồn vốn hỗ trợ phát triển chính thức (ODA). Ở đầu ra, ta tiêu thụ trong nước tăng cao lên đến trên 22%: xuất khẩu ước đạt 35,2 tỉ USD (tăng 19,4%), cao gấp trên 2 lần tốc độ tăng trưởng kinh tế.

Năm nay kinh tế có thể tăng 8,5%, đạt mức cao của mục tiêu (tăng từ 8,2 - 8,5%) do Quốc hội đề ra và cũng là tốc độ tăng cao nhất trong 10 năm qua. Nếu tỷ giá VND/USD không tăng cao thì GDP bình quân đầu người tính bằng USD theo tỷ giá hối đoái sẽ đạt khoảng 830 USD, lớn hơn nhiều so với mức 725 USD của năm trước, tạo khả năng để thực hiện mục tiêu sớm thoát khỏi nước đang phát triển có thu nhập thấp (vào năm 2009).

(theo Thanh Niên Online)

:cheers: :banana: :banana: :banana:

* GDP đầu người cả năm ước đạt 825 USD

Các số liệu ước tính của Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư cho thấy kinh tế đang trên đà cao lên: nếu quý I tăng 7,7%, quý II tăng 8%, thì quý III tăng 8,93%. Tính chung 9 tháng tăng trưởng kinh tế ước đạt 8,3%. Đây là tốc độ tăng cao nhất so với tốc độ tăng của cùng kỳ trong 10 năm qua tính từ năm 1997.

Đạt được tốc độ như trên là một cố gắng rất lớn trong điều kiện nhóm ngành nông, lâm nghiệp - thủy sản do gặp thiên tai, dịch bệnh đối với cả trồng trọt, chăn nuôi nên tốc độ tăng bị giảm sút so với cùng kỳ năm trước. Để bù cho tốc độ tăng thấp của nhóm ngành nông - lâm nghiệp - thủy sản, nhóm ngành công nghiệp, xây dựng tiếp tục tăng 2 chữ số, đặc biệt nhóm ngành dịch vụ lần đầu tiên sau hơn 10 năm tăng 8,61%, cao hơn tốc độ tăng chung. Cũng nhờ vậy, cơ cấu kinh tế có sự chuyển dịch theo hướng tích cực: tỷ trọng trong ngành nông, lâm nghiệp - thủy sản đã giảm từ 20,45% xuống còn 20,08%, của nhóm ngành công nghiệp - xây dựng đã tăng từ 41,31% lên 41,48%, của nhóm ngành dịch vụ đã tăng từ 38,25% lên 38,44%.

Tăng trưởng kinh tế cao lên do cả nguyên nhân ở đầu vào, do cả nguyên nhân ở đầu ra. Ở đầu vào, lượng vốn đầu tư, đặc biệt là đầu tư của khu vực ngoài Nhà nước và đầu tư nước ngoài tăng khá. Riêng về đầu tư đạt kỷ lục mới ở cả 3 nguồn: nguồn vốn đầu tư trực tiếp (FDI), nguồn vốn đầu tư gián tiếp (FII), nguồn vốn hỗ trợ phát triển chính thức (ODA). Ở đầu ra, ta tiêu thụ trong nước tăng cao lên đến trên 22%: xuất khẩu ước đạt 35,2 tỉ USD (tăng 19,4%), cao gấp trên 2 lần tốc độ tăng trưởng kinh tế.

Năm nay kinh tế có thể tăng 8,5%, đạt mức cao của mục tiêu (tăng từ 8,2 - 8,5%) do Quốc hội đề ra và cũng là tốc độ tăng cao nhất trong 10 năm qua. Nếu tỷ giá VND/USD không tăng cao thì GDP bình quân đầu người tính bằng USD theo tỷ giá hối đoái sẽ đạt khoảng 830 USD, lớn hơn nhiều so với mức 725 USD của năm trước, tạo khả năng để thực hiện mục tiêu sớm thoát khỏi nước đang phát triển có thu nhập thấp (vào năm 2009).

(theo Thanh Niên Online)

:cheers: :banana: :banana: :banana:


Wow! hope that it's true ! :cheers:

I want to see 12% per year! ^^

In the second day of his regular meeting on October 6, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked leaders of ministries, sectors and local authorities to soon apply a number of measures to control price rise and gain a GDP growth rate of 9.3% in the remaining three months of 2007 in order to maintain the year’s projected GDP growth of 8.5%.

The measures are to actively overcome the consequences and difficulties caused by natural disasters and take care of people in the flood-hit areas; speed up the realization of construction projects; continue controlling price escalation below than economic growth; and maintain security and order; and reduce and prevent traffic accidents.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was asked to closely collaborate with local authorities in tightening market management, fighting against smuggling and speculation of staple goods, and increasing export activities to narrow trade deficit.

Major socio-economic achievements in first nine months:

- Economic growth:

+ Industry and construction: increased by 10.15%

+ Service: 8.54%

+ Agro-forestry and fishery: 3.02%

+ Export: 19.4%, in which exports to the EU went up by 28.5% and the U.S.: 25%

+ Import decreased by 3.5% compared to August 2007

+ FDI increased by US$9.6 billion

+ CPI in September rose by 0.51% against August 2007

- New jobs generated for 1,182,000 laborers

- Attracting nearly 3.2 million international tourists

- Post and telecommunication network operates well; with 1,000 new post-offices, 12.1 million phone and 750,000 Internet subscribers.

(Source: www.chinhphu.vn)

Tốc độ tăng trưởng GDP trung bình của TQ sau 25 năm "đổi mới" là 9.6% / năm. Tức là sau 25 năm quy mô GDP tăng gấp gần 10 lần.

Đặc biệt thời gian gần đây càng ngày càng nhanh:
"The revised GDP growth rates from 1993 to 2004 are respectively 14.0 percent, 13.1 percent, 10.9 percent, 10.0 percent, 9.3 percent, 7.8 percent, 7.6 percent, 8.4 percent, 8.3 percent, 9.1 percent, 10.0 percent and 10.1 percent."

http://www.china.org.cn/english/government/154646.htm

I know this is about the whole ASEAN but Vietnam is part of ASEAN so here it goes... HELLO LACAILACAI!!!! its me dib

ASEAN signs blueprint for economic integration

By JASON GUTIERREZ
Agence France-Presse

SINGAPORE - Southeast Asian leaders on Tuesday signed an "economic blueprint" aimed at creating a single market of more than half a billion people by 2015 to help battle competition from giants China and India.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is fast-tracking the integration of its 10 economies to create a free market zone with a unified production base and no tariffs, moving up the timetable by five years.

The plan will make ASEAN "more dynamic and competitive" while addressing the "development divide and accelerating integration of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam," the bloc's four poorest countries, the document said.

"A free and open investment regime is key to enhancing ASEAN's competitiveness in attracting foreign direct investment as well as intra-ASEAN investment," the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint said.

The document calls for the elimination of import duties on all products, except for some sensitive items, by 2010 for the six bigger members and by 2015 for the four smaller economies.

Restrictions in trade and services in the sectors of air transport, e-commerce, healthcare and tourism would also be substantially removed by 2010 and by 2013 for the services sector.

Ramon Kabigting, a Philippine trade official who helped draft the blueprint, said it takes ASEAN a step closer to its ambitious goal of becoming a European-style single market.

He said it binds ASEAN countries into instituting economic reforms while giving smaller members enough time to adjust to liberalization.

"By 2015 we will have a zone that is a seamless production base and a single market," Kabigting told reporters. "There are measures here that are here specifically to help us."

He said that once the targets are achieved, "goods and materials as well as peoples will move freely across the borders."

Complicating the situation are disparities between the group's more developed members Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, and lower-income states Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Observers say the reforms are also imperilled by vested interests, red tape and foot-dragging in the region.

ASEAN economic ministers said that achieving the goals would not be easy, and that leaders must show political will if the region is to transform itself into a unified trading zone.

"We really have to see this in a very, very positive way," said Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu. "We cannot stop the clock -- we need to make ourselves more competitive."

Jose Concepcion, the Philippine representative to the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, said that while there may be some "hiccups in the political front," liberalization must not be stopped.

He was referring to calls for trade sanctions against ASEAN's pariah state Myanmar, which has refused calls to shift to democracy and sparked outrage with a recent deadly crackdown on pro-democracy rallies.

bang bang u shot him down..bang bang he hit the ground...bang bang u like to shot him down....


That songs is in 1950,remixed in 1963,popular in 1672 and 2002

there is a rap remixed its:bang bang i fck u down,bang bang u hit ground
bang bang i sperm in you bang bang u get pregnant xD

Vietnam car sales more than double
http://www.thanhniennews.com/images/newsimages/cars-222-08.jpg

Car sales have more than doubled this year, with Toyota Motor Corp. retaining its lead as the top seller, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association said Thursday.


Sixteen car makers sold a combined 77,067 units during the first seven months ending July, up 120 percent from the same period last year, the association said in its monthly report.

Sales last month rose nearly one-third to 8,458 units from 6,474 units in July 2007, but was lower than 9,749 units sold this June, partly reflecting a slowdown in the economy.

The country’s economic growth slowed in the first half to an estimated 6.5 percent compared with 7.91 percent in the same period of 2007.

Dealers said demand for cars in the remaining months of this year would slow after the government said it would triple registration fees to 15 percent from August 14, and following a 36 percent rise in fuel prices from July 21.

Toyota and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. have also raised their prices, citing higher raw material prices globally and soaring inflation in Vietnam.

In the first seven months, Toyota retained its lead among the 12 manufacturers backed by foreign firms, selling 14,941 cars, up 50 percent from the same period last year.

The government plans further import tax hikes to help reduce worsening road congestion, which dealers said have prompted purchases to surge before the new tax rate kicks in.

The government has already raised tariffs on imported cars to 83 percent from 70 percent previously.

Car imports in July fell to 3,000 fully assembled units from 4,500 units in June, while the total vehicles imported since the start of this year still surged 290 percent from the same period last year to 43,000 units, government figures show.

VIETNAM MOTOR SHOW THIS MONTH

Vietnam Motor Show 2008, the country’s biggest annual exhibition of automobiles, will be held in Hanoi from August 21-25.

It will be organized by the Vietnam Automobile Manufactures’ Association (VAMA) and the Asia Trade Fair and Business Promotion Joint Stock Company.

Udo Loersch, general director of Mercedes-Benz Vietnam and VAMA chairman, said the show would promote the development of the country’s young automobile industry and introduce the latest products and technologies.

The exhibition is expected to attract more than 120,000 visitors.

To mark the occasion, Mercedes-Benz Vietnam will offer discounts on the C-Class, E-Class and other imported models between August 8 and 25.

Reported by Vinh Bao

Hii! I invite you all to visit and comment my thread! thanks!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=683238

Vietnam car sales more than double
http://www.thanhniennews.com/images/newsimages/cars-222-08.jpg

Car sales have more than doubled this year, with Toyota Motor Corp. retaining its lead as the top seller, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association said Thursday.


Sixteen car makers sold a combined 77,067 units during the first seven months ending July, up 120 percent from the same period last year, the association said in its monthly report.

Sales last month rose nearly one-third to 8,458 units from 6,474 units in July 2007, but was lower than 9,749 units sold this June, partly reflecting a slowdown in the economy.

The country’s economic growth slowed in the first half to an estimated 6.5 percent compared with 7.91 percent in the same period of 2007.

Dealers said demand for cars in the remaining months of this year would slow after the government said it would triple registration fees to 15 percent from August 14, and following a 36 percent rise in fuel prices from July 21.

Toyota and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. have also raised their prices, citing higher raw material prices globally and soaring inflation in Vietnam.

In the first seven months, Toyota retained its lead among the 12 manufacturers backed by foreign firms, selling 14,941 cars, up 50 percent from the same period last year.

The government plans further import tax hikes to help reduce worsening road congestion, which dealers said have prompted purchases to surge before the new tax rate kicks in.

The government has already raised tariffs on imported cars to 83 percent from 70 percent previously.

Car imports in July fell to 3,000 fully assembled units from 4,500 units in June, while the total vehicles imported since the start of this year still surged 290 percent from the same period last year to 43,000 units, government figures show.

VIETNAM MOTOR SHOW THIS MONTH

Vietnam Motor Show 2008, the country’s biggest annual exhibition of automobiles, will be held in Hanoi from August 21-25.

It will be organized by the Vietnam Automobile Manufactures’ Association (VAMA) and the Asia Trade Fair and Business Promotion Joint Stock Company.

Udo Loersch, general director of Mercedes-Benz Vietnam and VAMA chairman, said the show would promote the development of the country’s young automobile industry and introduce the latest products and technologies.

The exhibition is expected to attract more than 120,000 visitors.

To mark the occasion, Mercedes-Benz Vietnam will offer discounts on the C-Class, E-Class and other imported models between August 8 and 25.

Reported by Vinh Bao
VN trong tương lai chắc chỉ là 1 thị trường khổng lồ tiêu thụ xe cho ngọai cuốc chứ ta chắc cũng sẽ không có thương hiệu xe . Mới nghe bác Vinaxuki tuyên bố bác không thể tự làm máy xe được một mình vì không có ai làm parts phụ bác, nghe mà nản . Bác phải làm được toàn bộ cái máy rồi mới có người mở nhà máy đầu tư làm parts cho bác chứ có ai mà điên điên đi đầu tư 1 nhà máy làm part như thế, làm ra ai mua ?

Japan business group complain over paucity of support industries

Intellasia | VNA
Aug 9, 2008 - 7:00:00 AM

http://www.intellasia.net/news/uploads/3/VietnamFactoryLine420px.jpg

The Vietnam-based Japanese Businesspeople Association (JBA) has called on Vietnam to develop supporting industries in order to keep investors in the country in the long-term.

The JBA made the call at its recent meeting with officials from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry that aimed to seek ways to prevent Japanese investors from following the electronics giant Sony which last month announced to end all its production in the country.

The Head of the JBA's Supporting Industry Department, Nobuhiko Murakami, said Sony has foreseen that their Vietnam-made products cannot compete against imports, which will enjoy tariff exemption by 2010 in line with Vietnam's commitments to the World Trade Organisation, due to a lack of local supporting industries.

Murakami warned of a similar threat to many FDI enterprises, citing as an example the case of Toyota Vietnam of which he is director general. He said Vietnamese producers can only supply a few of automobile components for Toyota Vietnam, while their peers in Thailand or Indonesia have been able to provide up to 90% of components at orders.

If Vietnamese producers fail to meet 60-70% of Toyota Vietnam's needs for components by the time the country opens its automobile market completely in 2018, it will be hard for Toyota to stay in Vietnam, the Toyota Vietnam director general said.

Koichi Takano, deputy Country Representative of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), said "Japanese businesspeople are concerned about policies and strategies supporting their long-term growth. Supporting industries are one of key issues for Japanese businesses in their long-term development", the JETRO official said.

VCCI Chair Vu Tien Loc assured the Japanese businesspeople that his chamber will assist Vietnamese businesses to formulate a strategy to develop supporting industries that is based on strategic alliances between Vietnamese and Japanese businesses.

Bad news for Vietnam.

Pretty good article about Vietnam directionless leadership. The hard core faction in the party really gets on my nerves!



Hard times fall on a once investment-rich Vietnam
Jonathan Manthorpe, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, August 11, 2008

After years as one of the most appetizing and favoured targets in Asia for foreign investment, Vietnam is suddenly facing intense economic, political and social problems.

The question is whether these troubles are merely a sharp bump along Vietnam's development road that began 20 years ago with the China-like doi moi abandoning of Marxist-Leninist economics, or if they are a ditch that will rip the wheels off the enterprise.

Some economists and organizations like the Asian Development Bank tend to take a sanguine view of what is happening.

They think the government of reformist Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has done the right things to rein in inflation that is nudging 30 per cent by restraining government spending and curbing runaway credit growth.

At the same time, says the ADB, Hanoi continues to encourage foreign investment, with pledges still at impressive levels, and is maintaining annual economic growth at a respectable seven per cent.

Vietnam's problems, say many analysts, are no more than examples of the current global problems of inflation and high energy and food prices.

Viewed from the point where politics and economics meet, however, the prospect of recovery beyond 2009 does not look so certain.

The reason for this is strongly conflicting views and interests within the Communist party.

As in China, a hard core of Communist party ideologues has always mistrusted the adoption of market economics and others insist on maintaining a semblance of socialism by pouring money into unprofitable and inefficient state-owned enterprises.

Then there are the military and police who have been ordered to divest themselves of their profitable commercial enterprises, which bring in an estimated $2 billion a year.

It is noticeable that Dung's strongest opponents are the military and security ministers. In a one-party state it is always a risky bet to make opponents of the men who control the guns.

Indeed, doubts are being loudly voiced questioning whether Dung has the support in the party to ensure he is selected for a second five-year term at the next national party congress in 2011.

It is not only Dung's reformist economic policies, characterized by Vietnam's entry into the World Trade Organization at the beginning of last year, that irritates his opponents in the party. His strong personality, liking for self-promotion and tendency to ignore the party's deeply entrenched cultural desire for consensual decision-making have irked many.

There was a glimpse of Dung's leadership problems last month when a crisis meeting of the 161-member party central committee was called.

A key agenda item was how to deal with the gathering signs of social instability that are accompanying the economic buffeting.

Inflation, which reached over 70 per cent for the dietary staple rice in June, has prompted more than 400 wildcat strikes this year. Almost all have been in foreign-owned factories, pushing business people from Vietnam's major foreign partners -- Taiwan, Japan and South Korea -- to politely but firmly ask the Hanoi government to get its house in order.
The government's standing among the country's 85 million people took another beating in July when Hanoi was forced to remove a 30-per-cent subsidy on gasoline that was fast draining the national coffers. Many people are abandoning their emblems of personal financial success, the motorcycle, and going back to the older banner of Vietnam's legendary determination, the bicycle.

Hanoi is well aware that while about $50 billion in new investment has been pledged this year -- a number the ADB has noted with approval -- only about $5 billion of it has actually been dispersed because of concerns about the mid-term economic and social conditions.

The party is all too well aware of its own problems. It has in hand a survey it commissioned that shows 80 per cent of Vietnamese no longer believe the party serves the needs of the people.
The party's problem is what to do, especially to win back the support or rural peasants, the growing middle class and intellectuals.

As in China, the Hanoi government refuses to contemplate any significant political reforms that would undermine its exclusive hold on power.

Events since last month's politburo meeting -- or more accurately the lack of them -- suggests the party will try to brazen through the current difficulties.

Sun international affairs columnist To reach Jonathan Manthorpe, go to his blog at: www.vancouversun.com/blogs

Japan business group complain over paucity of support industries

Intellasia | VNA
Aug 9, 2008 - 7:00:00 AM

http://www.intellasia.net/news/uploads/3/VietnamFactoryLine420px.jpg

The Vietnam-based Japanese Businesspeople Association (JBA) has called on Vietnam to develop supporting industries in order to keep investors in the country in the long-term.

The JBA made the call at its recent meeting with officials from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry that aimed to seek ways to prevent Japanese investors from following the electronics giant Sony which last month announced to end all its production in the country.

The Head of the JBA's Supporting Industry Department, Nobuhiko Murakami, said Sony has foreseen that their Vietnam-made products cannot compete against imports, which will enjoy tariff exemption by 2010 in line with Vietnam's commitments to the World Trade Organisation, due to a lack of local supporting industries.

Murakami warned of a similar threat to many FDI enterprises, citing as an example the case of Toyota Vietnam of which he is director general. He said Vietnamese producers can only supply a few of automobile components for Toyota Vietnam, while their peers in Thailand or Indonesia have been able to provide up to 90% of components at orders.

If Vietnamese producers fail to meet 60-70% of Toyota Vietnam's needs for components by the time the country opens its automobile market completely in 2018, it will be hard for Toyota to stay in Vietnam, the Toyota Vietnam director general said.

Koichi Takano, deputy Country Representative of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), said "Japanese businesspeople are concerned about policies and strategies supporting their long-term growth. Supporting industries are one of key issues for Japanese businesses in their long-term development", the JETRO official said.

VCCI Chair Vu Tien Loc assured the Japanese businesspeople that his chamber will assist Vietnamese businesses to formulate a strategy to develop supporting industries that is based on strategic alliances between Vietnamese and Japanese businesses.
Toyota does not give a crap about whether VN will meet 60-70% components for them. All they want to do is sell their cars in Vietnamese market. If they want to close down the assembly plant and import the CBU into VN, they will be taxed higher than those cars assembled in VN and they know this pretty well.

If Toyota wants VN to meet 60-70% of the components, they would have given Vietnamese the blue print and metallurgy formula of the parts that they want local Vietnamese suppliers to supply to them already. But fact is that they don't

Btw, foreign car must be having a wet dream if they think by 2018 by WTO agreement, car import tax will reduce to 0% ...but by 2018 I bet those luxury taxes or what not will increase to the same tax rate that VN has to lower due to WTO agreement

Toyota does not give a crap about whether VN will meet 60-70% components for them. All they want to do is sell their cars in Vietnamese market. If they want to close down the assembly plant and import the CBU into VN, they will be taxed higher than those cars assembled in VN and they know this pretty well.

If Toyota wants VN to meet 60-70% of the components, they would have given Vietnamese the blue print and metallurgy formula of the parts that they want local Vietnamese suppliers to supply to them already. But fact is that they don't

Btw, foreign car must be having a wet dream if they think by 2018 by WTO agreement, car import tax will reduce to 0% ...but by 2018 I bet those luxury taxes or what not will increase to the same tax rate that VN has to lower due to WTO agreement


First, have the courtesy to provide sources in your arguments. Anyone can make up a scenario if one does not have to corroborate the data. That is the difference between you and me, I don't like to assume. In business assume just does not work.

Second, we all know that Japanese products are very high on quality. Quality control is the key to a Japanese factory and Japan's success. Japanese firms operating in Vietnam are having problems meeting their local input needs, a recent government study reported. Because of a scarcity of high-quality inputs, Japanese firms are turning to suppliers from neighboring Malaysia and Thailand for up to 45% of their total inputs.(Source: Asia Economic Institute)

Communist Vietnam is facing a dilemma of shortage of professionals to implement the WTO commitment. Vietnam must improve to continue to grow.

Lastly, nothing further than the truth and this information speak column,
Oh...BTW, this Info from Vietnam controlled press not Nguy, so don't bother to rant...

POORLY SKILLED WORKFORCE HOLDING BACK NATION'S ECONOMIC GROWTH, SAYS SURVEY

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam's manufacturing base has the regional advantage of low labour costs, but the country could fall behind because it lacks highly skilled workers and top-flight financial services, according to a new report issued by investment consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle.

In the report, called Vietnam's Turn, the consultancy, which has an office in HCM City, predicts that multinational corporations would eventually want to move up the value chain by undertaking more complex activities in Vietnam.

Andrew Brown, managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle Vietnam, said questions remained on whether Vietnam could become a suitable location.

Jones Lang LaSalle's report also highlighted the country's need to improve in other areas, such as English proficiency, tertiary qualification levels, the rule of law, security of private real estate ownership and deregulation of commerce, especially in banking and finance.

The report noted that FDI comes to Vietnam primarily because of a low-cost manufacturing base. 68.7% of investment in Vietnam was in the industrial sector.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2007/10/749889/

Đình công ở Việt Nam sẽ tiếp tục tăng

7 Tháng 8, 2008
Quốc Phương - BBC Việt ngữ

Thị trường lao động Việt Nam trong thời gian qua đang phải đối phó với nhiều sóng gió. Một trong các sóng gió đó là làn sóng đình công công nghiệp đang gia tăng một cách rõ rệt từ mấy năm nay.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/images/2006/04/20060413122524viet_buildingnewvn203.jpg

Việt Nam thiếu các chính sách, quỹ, bảo hiểm hỗ trợ người lao động trong lạm phát

Theo số liệu chính thức được các ngành công đoàn và lao động, thương binh, xã hội đưa ra, năm 2006, trên toàn quốc đã xảy ra 387 vụ đình công.
Con số này sang năm 2007 là 541 vụ. Riêng quý đầu năm 2008, tức là ba tháng đầu tiên của năm đối chọi với lạm phát và giá cả leo thang, đã xảy ra gần 300 vụ.

Giới quan sát dự báo, nếu không có diễn biến gì khác, đến cuối năm nay con số các vụ đình công quan trọng có quy mô trung bình và lớn có thể sẽ tăng lên con số trên 1.000 vụ.

Tại cuộc trả lời phỏng vấn mới đây với BBC Việt ngữ, bà Rie Vejs Kjeldgaard, tiến sĩ, Giám đốc Tổ chức Lao động Quốc tế (ILO) tại Việt Nam xác nhận tình trạng đình công có liên quan tới bất ổn định kinh tế ở Việt Nam.
TS. Kjeldgaard nói: "Chúng tôi nhận thấy một mối quan hệ rất trực tiếp giữa lạm phát và các vụ đình công."

"Nhiều người lao động đang có mức thu nhập thấp dưới mức chi phí sinh hoạt tối thiểu. Nhiều công nhân đang phải vật lộn với giá cả tăng vọt và có thể nói lạm phát đang tác động vào nhiều người ở Việt Nam."

Tại cuộc hội thảo vừa qua về đối phó với lạm phát từ góc nhìn doanh nghiệp, Hội các nhà Quản trị Doanh nghiệp (VACD), thuộc Liên hiệp các Hội Khoa học và Kỹ thuật Việt Nam (VUSTA), nhiều doanh nghiệp cho hay buộc phải xem lại quỹ lương và điều chỉnh nhân sự của mình do lạm phát.

Lương bổng, tiền thưởng

TS. Hàn Mạnh Tiến, Chủ tịch hiệp hội này cho rằng, để xảy ra tình trạng lạm phát nặng nề hiện nay ảnh hưởng đến xã hội, doanh nghiệp và người lao động, các cơ quan Chính phủ có trách nhiệm rất lớn.

Ông nói "Nhiều doanh nghiệp hiện đang phải cắt giảm lao động và rõ ràng là điều này đang ảnh hưởng tới đời sống của nhiều lao động và sự tồn tại của các doanh nghiệp Việt Nam, nhất là các doanh nghiệp vừa và nhỏ."

Nhiều nhà nghiên cứu thấy rằng, ngoài nguyên nhân khủng hoảng kinh tế và lạm phát ra, cả giới chủ và người lao động ở Việt Nam đều đang phải chịu thiệt thòi vì nhà nước thiếu một hệ thống hỗ trợ cả hai đối tượng này, khi khủng hoảng kinh tế hoặc lạm phát xảy ra.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/images/2008/07/20080728060317vietstrike.jpg

TS. Tôn Thiện Chiếu, chuyên gia về đình công và lao động ở Viện Xã hội học tại Hà Nội cho hay: "Hiện vẫn chưa có các hệ thống chính sách, quỹ hay bảo hiểm cho người lao động cũng như hỗ trợ chính các doanh nghiệp gặp khó khăn khi khủng hoảng kinh tế và lạm phát diễn ra."

Tuy nhiên, trong bối cảnh hiện nay, ông Chiếu cũng đưa ra lời khuyên cho cả hai giới lao động và chủ, theo đó, ông cho rằng hai bên cần tăng cường sự trao đổi, thoả thuận và thông cảm lẫn nhau: "Công nhân cũng cần thông cảm với chủ vì nếu đòi hỏi quá mức, doanh nghiệp phá sản, sẽ không có cả 100.000 hay 200.000 nghìn đồng đòi hỏi đó nữa. Còn chủ doanh nghiệp cũng phải thông cảm và quan tâm đến quyền lợi của người lao động."

Tiến sĩ Rie Vejs Kjeldgaard, Giám đốc Văn phòng ILO tại Việt Nam nhận xét:
"Nhìn vào những yêu sách đình công, chúng tôi thấy chúng rất gần với các vấn đề về lương bổng và tiền thưởng. Nhà nước cũng đang quan tâm tới việc thành lập các cơ chế thoả thuận tập thể cho từng lĩnh vực."

Tổ chức Lao động Quốc tế cho rằng cần phải có thêm sự tham gia của nhiều chính sách và định chế xã hội tham gia vào giải quyết tình trạng đình công nói riêng và quyền lợi chính đáng, bền vững nói chung của người lao động trong các doanh nghiệp, tổ chức.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/vietnamese/vietnam/story/2008/08/080807_ilo_director.shtml

Poorly skilled workforce?
You should visit Philippines.
I wish we had half the skill Vietnam has... (but our wage is 50% higher than yours. sigh)

Poorly skilled workforce?
You should visit Philippines.
I wish we had half the skill Vietnam has... (but our wage is 50% higher than yours. sigh)


The point is if we are content with just providing cheap labor and tax exemptions for foreign investors to locate to Vietnam then eventually we will get to the same situation as the Philippines.

Why? Due to the FDI flowing in, tourism and foreign workers job relocation to Vietnam have become a significant change element in terms of status quo. These economic factors bring in both currencies of higher value and expectations of people use to higher living standards as compared to the local people. The differential in value between currencies is so significant it puts great pressure on the cost of living.

The more FDI pouring in will affect labor cost; workers will need living cost adjustment to survive higher cost of living and inflation. If the trickle down effect is continually stymied at the top level of the government pool it will further minimize benefits for the workers. Wise Investors and business eventually will be looking for another country for cheaper labor (such as Cambodia).

At least the Philippine has labor laws and higher apparent minimum wage than Vietnam. Very possibly the trickle down is a bit more efficient. Vietnam’s minimum wage is unacceptably low. No one can have decent living with just more than one dollar/ day

VIETNAM (Dong):
• 710,000 to 870,000 Dong (per month)
• Equal US $41.84 to $51.27
• Inflation rate @ 27%

PHILIPPINES (Peso):
• 3,900 to 11,460 Peso (per month)
• Equal US $ 87.63 to $ 257.40
• Inflation rate @ 12 %

Source: NWPC (National Wages and Productivity Commission) – 2008

Another third party looks at this question.

The Philippines Competing with China and Vietnam (Source: Business week)

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/aug2008/gb2008085_559882.htm?campaign_id=rss_topStories

In China, wages are rising more than 10 percent a year for many assembly-line workers and pay rising even faster for skilled workers. Companies remaining in China are desperately seeking methods to control costs.

Cannon and Nissan are among the many companies who have moved their operations from China to Vietnam for cheaper labor. However, a recent survey by Grant Thornton, a global consulting firm found that in Vietnam even blue-collar labor is becoming harder to find. In addition, infrastructure has not improved as quickly as China. Lengthy traffic jams slow down shipments and further drive up costs.

You know what, though.
I make visits to Vietnam fairly regularly.
The last time was only 2 months ago to Hanoi.
I find that EVERYTHING is much cheaper in Vietnam than in Phiippines.
Most notably pharmaceuticals and food items. Clothing and household items, electronics, all at leat 20 to 30% cheaper.
ANd the prices seem to be similar from a year ago (like at restaurants).
I was using dollar base to compare prices...
So I am somewhat unclear where in theeconomy this inflation is affecting the most.

You know what, though.
I make visits to Vietnam fairly regularly.
The last time was only 2 months ago to Hanoi.
…..ANd the prices seem to be similar from a year ago (like at restaurants).
I was using dollar base to compare prices...
So I am somewhat unclear where in theeconomy this inflation is affecting the most.


Hate to be blunt, but we Vietnamese overseas travel to Vietnam very often. Also all the information from Vietnam media is contrary and nothing close to what you posted.

Locals feel the pinch of rising consumer costs

Feb 23, 2008

The country’s growth rate of 8.5%(*) scored one of the noisiest economies over the world last year. On the other hand, the two digit inflation rate caused a lot of concern regarding the rising prices. Some readers share their thoughts with Viet Nam News on how strong the leap affects their lives in Vietnam.

* Tim Russell, HCM City
As long as economic growth is seen as the sole indicator of a nation’s well-being, then inflation, stress and a widening gap between rich and poor are bound to be the inevitable results. As we are seeing in Vietnam now, the rich are getting richer, the poor poorer because of inflation, and everyone else is having to work harder.

Most foreigners enjoy relatively high salaries so inflation affects us less than Vietnamese workers. Nevertheless, the breathless pace of development in the country is having a detrimental effect on everyone’s quality of life. Many historic colonial buildings are being destroyed to make way for ugly new office buildings; bars and restaurants are being forced to close down because of high rents; and the traffic in the major cities is just appalling.

Many foreigners who once came to Vietnam for a quiet, less stressful life and a lower cost of living are now leaving as the country seems intent on selling its charm, its history and its culture down the river in return for short-term economic gain.

I personally left the UK as it had become an excessively materialistic society, where celebrities and the idle rich are hailed as role models. Sadly, Vietnam is rapidly heading in the same direction.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/200802/original/images1507077_Pho.jpg

"...I find it hard to live within a VND6mil budget"...

* Tien Phong Trinh, Hanoi
I have been living in Vietnam since 2005, when I started to work as a teacher for an English language centre in Hanoi. I usually teach five days per week. My salary has not changed much from when I started working here, at around VND4mil a month.

My life initially was fairly comfortable in Hanoi. For instance, the breakdown of my monthly expenditure was VND1mil for house rent, VND2mil for food and eating out and and the rest was for shopping and recreation. I think other Vietnamese were living within these limits. However, that has begun to change rapidly and the cost of everything has risen dramatically.

Currently, my salary is more or less VND6mil but I do not know where my money goes. People are told that because Vietnam is a developing country, the speed of development might be higher than in other countries. But it also leads to higher inflation. If those in charge of the helm do not control this issue, the Vietnamese dong will lose its value.

Moreover, the prices of fuel and oil in the world are rising with every passing day which contributes to the rising cost of products, not just in Vietnam. Now, I find it hard to live within a VND6mil budget and may have to consider returning to Taiwan, although, I really love this nation because of its friendly people and beautiful landscapes.

* Judith Le, USA
The bulk of my expenditures pertain to food and since the New Year (both calendar and Lunar) I have noticed a slight increase in prices – anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 dong more per dish. Though this hasn’t completely changed my lifestyle, it does definitely make me think twice about what I order and the places I frequent. At the end of the day, I know that it’s only a couple of cents, but when living in Hanoi on a budget, that extra 10,000 can start to add up.

* Samantha Chang, Taiwan
The CPI is not an accurate measure of inflation in Vietnam. Real inflation is much higher than the 12% reported last year. My rent has increased by 90% in the last year, land prices are on the rise and all in all it looks really unsustainable. How can rent prices be higher than in the French Concession in Shanghai? It just doesn’t make any sense. Vietnam needs to do something soon if it wants to attract more investment into the manufacturing sector.

The country can’t compete with China in terms of quality, logistics and services industries. If costs continue to rise there isn’t much point being here. Companies will move back to China or look at Indonesia which already has a cheaper labour market.

In some respects it looks like people are making a quick dollar now and not giving much thought to tomorrow. I think that’s really sad. And would be a lost opportunity. Vietnam has a choice whether it wants to be the next little China or the next Philippines or Indonesia.

The Government needs to step in and be strong, whether the short term interests of powerful people are negated or not.

* Kelsey Works, USA
The rise in prices seemed sudden – I went away for a Tet holiday and when I come back the donor kebab I once paid 12,000 dong for is now 20,000. Absolutely everything has a higher price except my hourly wage! At first I tried to fight it – I would refuse to buy the donor kebab or the loaf of bread, but the next day I had no choice but to pay the higher prices if I wanted to eat.

* Jacqueline Kingfield, USA
Despite the fact that I receive a ‘higher’ salary than my Vietnamese peers, I still find the rise in prices horrific! I remember previous to Tet hearing Vietnamese friends and co-workers complaining about the inflation – things like rice or vegetables etc – and not really thinking much of it. Since Tet though, I have noticed a significant rise in prices in both goods and services!

A bowl of Pho – whether from Pho 24 or just on the street – has gone up by about 50 US cents. Higher end ‘expat’ places, such as Highlands Coffee, have just changed their entire menu, increasing the prices across the boards. The inflation is evident and I gripe about it frequently. Perhaps I can talk to my boss about a corresponding raise in salary.

(Source: Viet Nam News)

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2008/02/770075/

Note (*): Vietnam current growth rate @ 6.7%

Well to enlighten you further, 330 illegal labor strikes recorded in six months in Vietnam.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2008/06/789199/

Minh, who like most other factory employees refused to give his full name for fear of company reprisal, was one of 40,000 workers who participated in a wave of wildcat strikes late last year and early this year to protest low pay and poor working conditions.

"Everything that you use, food and drink, has become more expensive, and we find that we are struggling to live," said Minh, who earns less than $2 a day. "We are protesting to have a better quality of life."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/30/BUGF8J3DID1.DTL

Looks like I am wrong.

I guess I am somewhat numbed because here in Philippines, although theofficial inflation is around 10%, the cost of everything is going up like 20 to 30% more than Vietnam...

I think Philippine is hard hit in its lifestyle because it can't grow its own rice, the main stapple for its people and once the price for rice is high it would impact Philippine's economy strongly. Vietnam, on the other hand, even with its lower wage than the Phillipine it still enjoys a better life because it is a country that can out grow the food sources compare with the Phillipine.

^^This journalist must have read my post up there

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JH21Ae02.html

Philippines hungry for rice investment
By Prime Sarmiento

MANILA - When the price of rice nearly doubled to about 90 US cents per kilo two months ago, Liza Valino put cheaper substitutes such as bananas and sweet potatoes on the table to feed her 10-strong family. No one was satisfied.

"Rice is more filling. It doesn't matter if we have fish or vegetables ... if there's rice, we feel more satisfied," she said. In the end, Valino, a manicurist, decided to spend more on rice and less on other food items.

Rice is a staple in the Philippines, with the national daily consumption at 33,000 tonnes, accounting on average for 20% of the daily household budget. Apart from being the main source of



carbohydrates, rice creates what anthropologists refer to as "the physiological sensation of satiety". For most Filipinos, no meal is complete without rice.

The Valinos are among thousands of Filipino families that have had to cut down on their food spending to cope with rising prices. A nationwide survey conducted in July by Pulse Asia revealed two in three Filipino households are consuming less or spending less on food and one in four households is talking about cutting down on rice consumption.

As the country enters the third quarter of the year, the traditional lean season, the demand for rice has turned urgent with escalating prices of the staple turning into a highly emotional and politically charged issue.

Philippine government officials are scrambling for means to alleviate this rice hunger, mainly through expensive imports and administrative measures.

Over the past two months, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's government has imported 2 million tonnes of rice, sold subsidized rice at 25 pesos (US$0.55 cents) a kilo, cracked down on rice hoarders, issued a moratorium on agricultural land conversions and urged fast-food restaurants to offer half-portions of rice.

The measures have apparently failed to mollify a frustrated populace. Arroyo's net satisfaction rating tumbled to 21%, according to the second quarter 2008 Social Weather Survey, the lowest rating that any Philippine president has had since 1989.

Turning increasingly unpopular, however, is only one of Arroyo's worries. The Philippines is now the world's largest rice importer, and for the past 10 years it has been procuring between 1 million to 2 million tonnes each year - equivalent to 10% of its total consumption.

The government cannot afford to continuously rely on imports to satisfy a basic need of its people. As Jessica Reyes Cantos, lead convener of the advocacy group Rice Watch and Action Network (R1), notes: "We can't rely on rice imports because what will happen to us if rice exporters decide not to sell? Can we force them to sell rice to us?"

That risk is high because the global rice market is thin, with only 7% of harvested rice traded. Exporters such as Thailand, Vietnam and China also have rice-eating populations and will not hesitate to cap exports to protect their domestic consumers. Early this year, Cambodia, Egypt, India, Pakistan and Vietnam stopped exports as tight supply threatened food security.

Several factors helped to drive prices to a 20-year high of $1,000 a tonne. These include widespread diversion of paddy lands to cash crops and/or residential sites; weather that damaged rice crops in Southeast Asia; rising wheat prices, which pushed some major bread consumers to shift to rice, and higher demand from the fast-growing Chinese and Indian economies.

Philippine Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap recently vowed that the country will be self-sufficient in rice by 2010. His predecessors had made similar pronouncements yet never achieved that goal, not least because of geographical factors.

"The Philippines is fighting a battle against nature that its [rice] exporting neighbors are spared," according to the report published by the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute, in 2006. An archipelagic country with a limited land base, the Philippines can only spare 4 million hectares for rice cultivation. It is on the eastern edge of the Asian continent, making it part of the typhoon belt and rice farming a risky venture.

Compared with that, Thailand and Vietnam have clear geographical advantages. They have far more arable land, are not located in the typhoon belt and can draw on the Mekong River to sustain their rice fields.

In an online discussion held last month, World Bank economist Will Martin noted that "improvements in production technology can play a big role in reducing the problem [of rice shortage in the Philippines] and generally appear to have very high returns that can raise economic growth". Other experts say that unless the government funds and implements policies in favor of improved irrigation and scientific farming, self-sufficiency will remain a dream.

Investing in agricultural infrastructure is vital. Trinidad Domingo, president of the National Coalition of Rural Women, believes that irrigation will be a big help to rice farmers as this will allow them to plant rice even in the dry season. Rainfed agriculture can only produce a single harvest a year, she points out.

"Instead of spending a lot of money to import rice the government should use it to support Filipino farmers," Domingo says. The Philippines is expected to import 2.7 million tonnes of rice this year and R1 has estimated that for this year's rice imports the government has to spend 58.7 billion pesos.

The Philippines has 3.1 million hectares of irrigatable lands; of this only 46% is irrigated, according to the National Irrigation Administration.

"Investments for rural infrastructure development and other support services have dwindled from 0.24% of the country's gross value added agriculture (GVA) in 1995-1999 to a mere 0.07% in 2000-2005. This is particularly true for irrigation, which contributes about 25% of rice production increase. This meagre investment in the rice sub-sector has affected its production performance and weakened its competitive position in the world market vis-a-vis the other Southeast Asian countries," says a 2006 research paper prepared by Arsenio M Balisacan, director of the Philippines-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, and Leocadio S Sebastian, former executive director of the Philippines Rice Research Institute.

Fermin Adriano, a Manila-based economist who has done several studies on the Philippine farm sector, estimates that the government needs to spend at least 40 billion pesos each year on building new irrigation facilities and maintaining existing ones. Current spending on this head is less than half that amount.

Given the scarce resources, R1's Cantos proposes that the agriculture department avoids investing in large projects such as dams. "It can just repair and rehabilitate existing facilities or spend on small-scale communal irrigation systems."

Another worthwhile measure is investment in research and development (R&D). "There is strong evidence that the returns from investments in research and development in developing country agriculture are extremely high. R&D can help improve farmers' incomes, while helping hold down the price of staple foods to consumers," according to the bank's Martin.

Balisacan and Sebastian's study showed that for the past 10 years investments in agricultural research only accounted for 0.1% of the country's GVA. "This is far below the 1% level recommended for developing countries and very much lower than the 2-3% observed in many countries," the study said. The authors recommended that more funds be used to develop high quality and improved seeds, integrated crop management, crop management practices and expanded outreach work to disseminate new knowledge and technologies.

The Philippine government cannot afford to give up trying to boost rice production if it is to feed its more than 80 million population, which is expanding at 2.3% rate per year. "The government needs to take charge because rice is strategic to the life of the nation," Adriano says. Government intervention means putting money into infrastructure and research and such investments will assure farmers that they have the support they need to continue planting rice, he said.

(Inter Press Service)

Poorly skilled workforce?
You should visit Philippines.
I wish we had half the skill Vietnam has... (but our wage is 50% higher than yours. sigh)

filipinos and vetnamese are skillful...

Skillful, but poorly utilized...
Bad governance is the real culprit.
Sad but it's the truth.

^^maybe we should become communists . Is there a reason you're badmouthing Filipinos in another forum.?

^^maybe we should become communists . Is there a reason you're badmouthing Filipinos in another forum.?

so you've finally caught up with johnnyS' "great disdain" for the philippines... this guy is all praises for vietnam more than the vietnamese. and the vietnamese are just telling this guy to wake up to reality. ironically, he is more optimistic on vietnam than his country (btw, is he a filipino?). why on earth can't this guy just praise vietnam without telling something bad about our country? can't he just say vietnam's buildings are very beautiful and I like them instead of saying vietnam's buildings are very beautiful UNLIKE in the philippines where the buildings are not plastered, blah blah blah? :ohno:

^^that's his common theme. he's trying to start a flame war. in the other thread he claims he's not even a filipino, so why is he in Vietnam thread pretending to be a Filipino. What on earth is he doing in the Phils if he hates it so much. troll.

^^ mod, saigonesekid, where are you? ... take some actions to this JohnyS, like you did with vietnam forumers.

You guys are wierd.
If I point out a couple of things not working in Philippines, relative to what I see as "better" in Vietnam, that makes me disdain Philippines? That makes me a Philippines hater?
Get a life.
Here is another thing that I like more in Vietnam compared to Philippines: Food. So since I like Vietnam food better than Filipino food, that makes me a criminal against Filipinos?
What you guys don't get is that I am giving my personal views. If you disagree. Fine. Disagree. But don't make me a Philippines-hater. I am not.
My wife is a Filipina and my child is half-filipino.
And I live in Philippines.
I come to this forum from time to time, because I am interested in investing in Vietnam stocks. Is that a problem?

Here are some things I like MORE than Vietnam, in case you are dying to hear them: scuba and beaches. Do you feel better now? :ohno:

You guys are wierd.
If I point out a couple of things not working in Philippines, relative to what I see as "better" in Vietnam, that makes me disdain Philippines? That makes me a Philippines hater?
Get a life.
Here is another thing that I like more in Vietnam compared to Philippines: Food. So since I like Vietnam food better than Filipino food, that makes me a criminal against Filipinos?
What you guys don't get is that I am giving my personal views. If you disagree. Fine. Disagree. But don't make me a Philippines-hater. I am not.
My wife is a Filipina and my child is half-filipino.
And I live in Philippines.
I come to this forum from time to time, because I am interested in investing in Vietnam stocks. Is that a problem?

Here are some things I like MORE than Vietnam, in case you are dying to hear them: scuba and beaches. Do you feel better now? :ohno:

Sorry to say this but internet is a different world from reality. It is a place where people says and do things that they cannot do in real life, so to be protective against trolling most of those people raised up awareness against those type of comments. If you keep saying those things to us Vietnamese in real life then you will be meeting alot of good friends as well. But for now, I too do think you are trolling this forum :ohno: shame!.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JI12Ae01.html

Oil for Vietnam's economy: Yes
Cooperation with Venezuela: Yes
Hostile attitude towards the US: No

vietnam is actually QUITE friendly with the US

(CafeF) - Ông Ashok Sud, Tổng Giám đốc Standard Chartered Vietnam trả lời báo chí nhân dịp ngân hàng này được cấp phép thành lập ngân hàng 100% vốn nước ngoài tại Việt Nam.


Không cho vay đầu tư chứng khoán

Xin ông cho biết lý do để Standard Chartered Bank khi quyết định bước chân vào thị trường tài chính VN?

Ông Ashok Sud, Tổng Giám đốc Standard Chartered Vietnam:

Có 3 lý do để chúng tôi quyết định tiếp tục đầu tư vào VN:

Một là, bất chấp vấn đề ngắn hạn thế giới gặp phải không chỉ riêng VN, về dài hạn yếu tố nhân khẩu học của VN rất thuận lợi, hấp dẫn cho bất cứ NH nào, nhất là các NH về tiêu dùng (Dân số VN gấp 3 lần Malaysia, 50% có độ tuổi dưới 25, hơn 90% biết đọc biết viết).

Thứ hai, chúng tôi lạc quan về kỳ tích kinh tế VN đạt được những năm qua. Hai năm 2008- 2009, có thể VN không đạt mức tăng trưởng cao 8- 9% nhưng sẽ vẫn duy trì trên 7%/năm. Chúng tôi đặc biệt ấn tượng về cách thức điều hành, kiểm soát lạm phát của Chính phủ VN.

Thứ ba, mức độ ổn định chính trị và năng lực lãnh đạo chính trị ở VN là điều mà khó có quốc gia nào trong khu vực bì kịp

Những sản phẩm dịch vụ mà Standard Chareted Bank đem đến cho thị trường Việt Nam là gì?

Chúng tôi không đem đến VN những sản phẩm tối tân nhất trên thế giới vì chúng tôi không muốn đem những sản phẩm mà khách hàng của mình không hiểu rõ nó. Vì vậy, chúng tôi sẽ cân nhắc kỹ, điều chỉnh sản phẩm đưa ra phù hợp với nhu cầu của người VN.

Vào Việt Nam, Standard Chareted Bank sẽ đẩy mạnh bán buôn hay bán lẻ?

Chúng tôi ví mình như chiếc máy bay hai động cơ là bán buôn và bán lẻ. Chúng tôi sẽ đẩy mạnh chú trọng cả bán buôn và bán lẻ. Theo đánh giá mảng ngân hàng tiêu dùng có tiềm năng phát triển, chúng tôi sẽ tung ra những sản phẩm như cho vay mua nhà hay cho vay du học.

Standard Chareted Bank có thể cho biết kinh nghiệm quản trị khoản vay về chứng khoán?

Tất cả các khoản cho vay của chúng tôi không có khoản nào là cho vay để đầu tư chứng khoán. Theo quan điểm của chúng tôi, tất cả các nguồn tiền phải được kiểm tra sao cho nó không phải là thu nhập từ chứng khoán mới yên tâm cho vay được.

Thông thường các ngân hàng đến thường mang theo NĐT nước ngoài, tới Việt Nam Standard Chartered mang theo gì?

Với nhà đầu tư nước ngoài, họ biết như Standard Chartered Bank đầu tư lớn ở Việt Nam thì rõ ràng Việt Nam là điểm đến hấp dẫn. Sự hiện hiện của chúng tôi như “thỏi nam châm” để thu hút thêm đầu tư của những khách hàng mà chúng tôi có quan hệ làm ăn với họ và các đối tượng khác.

5-10 năm tới ngân hàng ngoại cũng chỉ chiếm thị phần từ 10-15%

Nhận định của ông về sự phát triển của hệ thống NH VN trong 5- 10 năm tới?

Theo nhận định của tôi, trong 5- 10 năm tới, phần lớn thị phần NH của VN vẫn nằm trong tay các NH trong nước với tỷ lệ 80- 85%. NH nước ngoài vẫn chỉ nắm thị phần khiêm tốn 10- 15%. Còn hiện tại, thị phần của NH nước ngoài tại VN vẫn chưa tới 10%.

Với thị phần như ông vừa nói, vậy Standard Chareted Bank kỳ vọng điều gì khi mở rộng hoạt động ở Việt Nam?

Theo quan sát của chúng tôi, ở các nước đang phát triển, tốc độ phát triển của ngành NH luôn tăng gấp đôi tốc độ tăng trưởng GDP. Vì vậy, nếu trong vòng 5,7 năm tới nếu coi GDP ở Việt Nam tăng ở mức độ khiêm tốn là 7,5 % tốc độ tăng trưởng của ngành ngân hàng ở 15%. Như vậy, chỉ mất chưa đến 6,7 năm là chúng ta đã tăng gấp đôi quy mô của ngành ngân hàng. Chúng tôi tin là trong sự tăng trưởng chung đó đem lại nhiều thuận lợi cho chúng tôi.

Hiện tại chưa đầy 10% dân số Việt Nam là có tài khoản ngân hàng, với tốc độ tăng về thu nhập/đầu người khoảng 1000 USD/người/năm thì tỷ lệ người có tài khoản ngân hàng sẽ tăng tối thiểu là lên 20%. đồng nghĩa, sự tham gia của chúng tôi tại thị trường VN cũng sẽ lớn hơn.

Chưa nâng tỷ lệ sở hữu tại ACB lên 20% ngay

Standard Chareted Bank hiện nắm giữ 15% cổ phần ở NH TMCP Á Châu (ACB), liệu các ông có muốn thay đổi tỷ lệ nắm giữ này?

Chúng tôi đã là đối tác chiến lược của ACB được gần 3 năm. Quan điểm của chúng tôi là cộng lực cùng phát triển. Gần đây, chúng tôi đã tăng tỷ lệ cổ phần sở hữu ở ACB từ 9% lên 15%. Nếu điều kiện thuận lợi cộng với mức giá phù hợp, sẽ khôn ngoan cho chúng tôi để tăng tỷ lệ tham gia ở NH này. Tuy nhiên, điều đó chúng tôi còn phải xem xét, chờ một thời gian nữa.

Còn việc khả năng sở hữu nhiều hơn 20% cổ phần ở NH này, về pháp lý, chưa có quy định nào nói NH nước ngoài được mua vượt 20% cổ phần NH trong nước. Vì vậy, điều đó chắc chắn chưa thể xảy ra.

Hiện nay nhiều ngân hàng Việt Nam đang gặp khó khăn trong kế hoạch tăng vốn. Đây có phải là dịp thuận lợi cho ngân hàng để ngân hàng ngoại tham gia sâu hơn nữa vào ngân hàng Việt Nam không ?

Nhu cầu lớn về tái vốn hóa không chỉ tồn tại riêng với các ngân hàng ở Việt Nam mà chung ở các nước khác trên thế giới. Thực tế sự tham gia của ngân hàng ngoại vào các ngân hàng trong nước đa số ở mức 15%.

Nhìn lại cuộc khủng hoảng tài chính năm 1998 ở Châu Á, Indonesia hayThái Lan thì cũng có việc mở rộng để đón nhận những sự tham gia của các ngân hàng nước ngoài nhiều hơn. Công thức này cũng được thời gian thử thách nhiều nhưng Việt Nam có thực hiện nó hay không thì phụ thuộc vào những người làm chính sách ở Việt Nam

Xin cảm ơn ông về cuộc trò chuyện này!


Standard Chareted Bank đã hiện diện ở 70 quốc gia với trên 170 chi nhánh.
Standard Chareted được niêm yết trên thị trường chứng khoán Luân Đôn và thị trường chứng khoán Hồng Kông, nằm trong danh sách 25 công ty đứng đầu về chỉ số FTSE 100.

Ở VN, Standard Chareted Bank đã có mặt được hơn 100 năm, hiện có hai chi nhánh ở Hà Nội và thành phố Hồ Chí Minh. Sắp tới ngân hàng con của ngân hàng này cũng sẽ đặt ở Hà Nội.

Hiện vốn đầu tư của Ngân hàng này ở Việt Nam là 100 triệu USD.

Theo nhận định của Standard Chareted Bank thì các DN VN cần số vốn từ 30- 50 tỷ USD để phát triển trong 5- 7 năm tới.

http://cafef.vn/2008091506338942CA34/he-lo-tu-standard-chartered-viet-nam.chn

:banana::):banana::):banana::):banana:

FDI in the first 9 months of this yr reached an impressive 57bil USD!, i think we even can beat china in the near future OR done we already have do so?

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=02ECO260908

GDI growth 6.52% in the first 9 months of this yr, despite of the eco problems, very impressive!!

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2008/09/805825/

Oil ref: the 4bil usd (!!) plant started construction, im wondering how many billions of USD they will contribute to the state budget after completition in 2012?
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=05ECO260908

:banana::):banana::):banana::):banana:

FDI in the first 9 months of this yr reached an impressive 57bil USD!, i think we even can beat china in the near future OR do we already have do so?

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=02ECO260908

GDI growth 6.52% in the first 9 months of this yr, despite of the eco problems, very impressive!!

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2008/09/805825/

Oil ref: the 4bil usd (!!) plant started construction, im wondering how many billions of USD they will contribute to the state budget after completition in 2012?
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=05ECO260908
Not so quick there, of those $57 billion, only $8.1 billion worth of projects have been materialized thus far, how much of those $8.1 billion are going to be spent on hiring Vietnamese employees, buying local Vietnamese materials, paying for land prices etc when they build a factory is another big ?

So, it's not like we are getting $57 billion dollars, we are just getting a few billion out of those $57 billion. Add to that the fact that when investors pledge to invest is one thing, whether they will actually carry out a project is another.

Vietnam GDP per capita in 2008 is very close to $1000. Let's see for 2008, export is about 60 billion, earning from FDI about 10 billion, tourism maybe 5 billion, oversea remittance about 5 billion . So per capita earning of foreign exchange alone is almost $1000, not to mention the rest of the domestic 'GDP'.

Not so quick there, of those $57 billion, only $8.1 billion worth of projects have been materialized thus far, how much of those $8.1 billion are going to be spent on hiring Vietnamese employees, buying local Vietnamese materials, paying for land prices etc when they build a factory is another big ?

So, it's not like we are getting $57 billion dollars, we are just getting a few billion out of those $57 billion. Add to that the fact that when investors pledge to invest is one thing, whether they will actually carry out a project is another.

thats true.

Vietnam GDP per capita in 2008 is very close to $1000. Let's see for 2008, export is about 60 billion, earning from FDI about 10 billion, tourism maybe 5 billion, oversea remittance about 5 billion . So per capita earning of foreign exchange alone is almost $1000, not to mention the rest of the domestic 'GDP'.

Wow, Vietnam annual GDP is now $1,000. Yeah, lets all moves home.
:lol::lol::lol:

yay...... oanh-tao-dan đô-la
give me 5

:sly::eek::? With the current worldwide financial crisis I wonder why members here keep posting new projects like "usual". I went through Vietnamese media and everywhere there is a fear that the real estate sector might collapse, but everyday new projects are posted. Several months ago there were reports, that Vietnamse RE corps had difficulty to raise captital to start new projects or had problems to continue the construction.

Rise in demand will outshine any drawbacks any short terms difficulties both in the industry and the macro economy, real estate booms in the past were never fuelled by real demands. That is, given that the current worldwide economy crisis will not aggravate and will recover as soon as next year.

China's JAC to construct first overseas plant in Vietnam: report (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=263434)

BEIJING, March 10 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co., Ltd. (JAC), an auto producer based in Hefei, will construct its first overseas plant to produce trucks in Vietnam in April, the China Daily reported Wednesday.

The plant, a joint venture with Vietnamese partners, will mainly produce medium- and light-duty trucks, the newspaper quoted Zuo Yan'an, chairman of the company, as saying.

Construction of the plant is part of the company's overseas development, said Zuo. The company plans to export 15 percent of its products to overseas markets by the end of China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015).

By that time the company's total output is expected to rise to 1 million vehicles, Zuo was quoted as saying.

JAC produced 322,000 automobiles last year, but with only 6 to 7 percent being exported to its main overseas markets in the Middle East, South America and Southeast Asia. The company plans to produce 400,000 autos this year, according to the newspaper. (PNA/Xinhua)

Vietnam's exports to U.S. increase in first month of 2010
HANOI, March 16 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Vietnam earned over one billion U.S. dollars from goods export to the United States in the first month of this year, up 27.23 percent year-on- year, said the information center of Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade on Tuesday.

The country's export value to the United States made up 20 percent of the country's total export value in January, said the center.

The increase in export value was seen in a majority of Vietnamese products, especially garment, wood products, footwear and rubber products.

Vietnamese garment, a key export item to the United States, experienced a year-on-year increase of 19 percent to over 468 million U.S. dollars. The figure represented 57.8 percent of the country's total garment export turnover and occupied 46.5 percent of the country's total export turnover to this market in January.

Export turnover of wood products went up 64 percent year-on-year to 114 million U.S. dollars.

However, four other products of Vietnam namely crude oil, plastic products, pottery products and chemical products saw a year-on-year decline in export turnover to the United States, said the center.

To boost more exports to this market, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry said local companies and exporters should be fully aware of internationally-standardized trade conducts. It is to help the country's exporters to avoid possible anti-dumping lawsuits filed by foreign importers, especially the United States and European Union.

In 2009, Vietnam raked in 11.2 billion U.S. dollars from exports to the United States, down 5.5 percent year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam. (PNA)
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=264640

Vietnam's crude oil export down in first two months
HANOI, March 18 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Vietnam earned US$ 796 million from crude oil export in the first two months of this year, a decline of 15.2 percent compared to the same period last year, said the General Department of Vietnam Customs on Thursday.

During this period, the country shipped 1.35 million tons of crude oil to foreign markets, down 51.6 percent year-on-year.

In February alone, Vietnam brought in US$ 310 million from exporting 544,000 tons of crude oil, said the department.

In the first two months, Vietnam's crude oil was exported to many countries, including Australia, Singapore, China and Japan.

Australia remained Vietnam's leading export market of crude oil in January-February period with export volume standing at 453,000 tons, dropping 22.2 percent over the corresponding period last year, said the department.

Singapore came second with 252,000 tons of crude oil in volume, followed by China with 154,000 tons of crude oil purchased from Vietnam to serve its domestic industry, down 30.7 percent year-on-year.

In 2009, Vietnam sold 13.4 million tons of crude oil, earning US$ 6.19 billion, said the department. (PNA/Xinhua)
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=265170

^^it's a great news that Vietnam has been exporting crude oil to other countries :cheers:

Vietnam to audit its economic stimulus packages
HANOI, March 18 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The State Audit of Vietnam said here on Thursday that it will audit the country's 8-billion U.S.- dollar economic stimulus packages.

The statement was made at a conference held here on tasks to be implemented by the state audit of Vietnam this year.

Last year, Vietnam announced the economic stimulus packages of 8 billion U.S. dollars to help a wide range of Vietnamese sectors get rid of impacts of the global economic downturn. The country's packages were implemented last year.

At the conference, Deputy State Auditor General Le Minh Khai said that it is important to assess the effective use of capital sourced from the country's economic stimulus packages and how far the packages have gone to help local sectors who are in need.

In addition, this year's auditing will also put weight on projects funded by the state budget and management and use of state capital in the state-owned economic groups, corporations and financial and banking institutions, said Khai.

Three giants, namely Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group, Vietnam Garment and Textile Group, and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, will be audited this year.

Other audits will go to the use and management of insurance funds, insurance and use of government bonds and projects funded by the official development assistance, said Khai. (PNA/Xinhua)
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=4&sid=&nid=4&rid=265184

Thủ tướng Nguyễn Tấn Dũng: Năm 2010, Việt Nam sẽ bán cổ phần MobiFone, Petrolimex và BIDV
Hầu hết các vụ bán cổ phần ra công chúng này, nhà nước sẽ vẫn nắm cổ phần đa số.



Hãng tin Reuters hôm qua (18/3) đưa tin Thủ tướng Việt Nam Nguyễn Tấn Dũng cho biết Việt Nam lên kế hoạch bán cổ phần của MobiFone, Petrolimex và ngân hàng BIDV trong năm nay.

Kế hoạch bán cổ phần các doanh nghiệp nhà nước, bao gồm ngành dệt, thép là một phần trong nỗ lực của Việt Nam hoàn thành tái cấu trúc doanh nghiệp nhà nước, bắt đầu từ năm 1992. “ Mục tiêu là đến năm 2015, sẽ hoàn thành tái cấu trúc doanh nghiệp thuộc sở hữu nhà nước (SOEs)” Ông Dũng cho biết trong đoạn thư trả lời hãng tin Reuters.

Được biết, quyết định cổ phần hoá Tổng công ty Xăng dầu Việt Nam (Petrolimex) đã phê duyệt. Theo quyết định có hiệu lực từ ngày ký này, phương thức cổ phần được xác định: Nhà nước nắm giữ tối thiểu 75% vốn điều lệ để hình thành Tập đoàn Xăng dầu đa sở hữu. Thời điểm xác định giá trị doanh nghiệp để cổ phần hoá Petrolimex là 1/1/2010.

Về phía BIDV, đầu tháng 1/2010, tại Hội nghị tổng kết năm 2009 và triển khai kế hoạch năm 2010 do Ngân hàng này tổ chức, BIDV đặt ra nghiệm vụ trọng tâm 2010 là thực hiện hiệu quả, đúng tiến độ việc cổ phần hóa BIDV và các công ty trực thuộc.

Kế hoạch cổ phần hóa Mobifone đã 2 lần lỗi hẹn (dự kiến trong năm 2007 và năm 2008). Cuối tháng 12/2009, ông Phạm Viết Muôn, Phó chủ nhiệm Văn phòng Chính phủ, Phó trưởng ban thường trực Ban Chỉ đạo đổi mới và phát triển DN, Thường trực Chính phủ vừa xem xét phương án cổ phần hoá (CPH) Công ty Thông tin di động (MobiFone). Việc CPH MobiFone đang được tái khởi động.

Năm ngoái, Tập đoàn Credit Suisse - đơn vị tư vấn cổ phần hóa cho MobiFone đã định giá sơ bộ giá trị của mạng di động này vào khoảng 2 tỷ USD.

K.Huyền
Theo Reuters,BIDV,Petrolimex, Mobifone

Lao động nước ngoài không phép tại Việt Nam sẽ bị trục xuất

VnMedia - 16/03/2010 02:00 PM


(VnMedia) - Nghị định bổ sung Nghị định 34 của Chính phủ về tuyển dụng và quản lý lao động nước ngoài tại Việt Nam nhằm siết chặt hơn việc quản lý lao động nước ngoài không phép tại Việt Nam . Theo dự thảo Nghị định mới này, những lao động làm việc tại Việt Nam từ 3 tháng trở lên mà không có giấy phép lao động hoặc chưa gia hạn giấy phép lao động thì không được cấp thị thực, không gia hạn tạm trú và buộc xuất cảnh.


Sau 6 tháng kể từ ngày Nghị định này có hiệu lực, tất cả những lao động hiện đang làm việc bất hợp pháp tại Việt Nam mà vẫn không làm thủ tục để được cấp phép lao động cũng sẽ bị buộc trục xuất. Đối với người nước ngoài là người có kinh nghiệm trong nghề nghiệp, trong điều hành sản xuất, quản lý mà không có chứng chỉ, giấy công nhận thì phải có bản xác nhận ít nhất 5 năm kinh nghiệm trong nghề nghiệp, trong điều hành sản xuất, quản lý được chủ đầu tư phía Việt Nam chấp thuận bằng văn bản. Ông Lê Quang Trung, Phó Cục trưởng Cục Việc làm, Bộ Lao động- Thương binh và Xã hội cho biết, Nghị định mới này có hiệu lực sẽ bổ sung thêm phần thiếu của Nghị định 34, giúp cơ quan chức năng có cơ sở và "quyền" để trục xuất lao động nước ngoài, thay vì "không biết cư xử thế nào" với lao động bất hợp pháp như hiện nay. Ngoài ra, Nghị định bổ sung Nghị định 34 cũng có điều khoản bắt buộc các nhà thầu, chủ đầu tư công trình phải báo cáo về tình trạng sử dụng lao động nước ngoài, sẽ thuận lợi hơn cho các địa phương rà soát lao động nước ngoài đang làm việc trên từng địa bàn. Nghị định bổ sung sẽ có hiệu lực từ ngày 1/ 7/2010.




Bộ trưởng Bộ Lao động - Thương binh và Xã hội Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân đã có công văn gửi xuống UBND các tỉnh, thành phố, nhằm tăng cường quản lý lao động nước ngoài tại Việt Nam. Theo đó, Bộ yêu cầu các cơ quan chức năng thường xuyên tổ chức kiểm tra, thanh tra và rà soát lao động nước ngoài làm việc tại các doanh nghiệp. Trong đó, tập trung vào việc kiểm tra, thanh tra thực hiện các quy định của pháp luật Việt Nam về tuyển dụng, cấp phép lao động, gia hạn giấy phép lao động, đặc biệt là các nhà thầu nước ngoài trúng thầu đang hoạt động tại địa phương có sử dụng lao động nước ngoài. Khi phát hiện các trường hợp vi phạm sẽ kiên quyết xử lý theo quy định pháp luật. Đối với các trường hợp không đủ điều kiện làm việc tại Việt Nam buộc trục xuất theo quy định pháp luật. Bên cạnh đó, các Sở Sở Lao động - Thương binh và Xã hội phải báo cáo rõ số lượng doanh nghiệp, tổ chức sử dụng lao động nước ngoài chia theo ngành nghề, khu vực; số lao động nước ngoài đang làm việc tại địa phương (số lượng, trình độ, vị trí công việc)…
Minh Hải

Thống đốc Nguyễn Văn Giàu: GDP quý 1 tăng 5,7-5,9%
“Việt Nam là một trong số ít các nước có nền kinh tế tăng trưởng và đã phục hồi lên mức 5,7-5,9% vào quý 1/2010”.



Đó là phát biểu của Thống đốc Ngân hàng Nhà nước Nguyễn Văn Giàu tại hội nghị “Tăng trưởng và giảm nghèo hậu khủng hoảng tại các nước đang phát triển châu Á”, do Chính phủ Việt Nam và Quỹ Tiền tệ Quốc tế (IMF) tổ chức ngày 22/3.

Như vậy, tốc độ tăng trưởng GDP quý 1/2010 của Việt Nam đã thấp hơn quý 4/2009 trước đó khoảng 1% (so với 6,9%). Tuy nhiên, với nền kinh tế đặc thù mang tính mùa vụ như Việt Nam, việc tốc độ tăng GDP quý 1 giảm tốc so với quý 4 năm trước không phải điều đáng ngại. Nếu so với cùng kỳ năm 2009, GDP quý 1/2010 đã cao hơn khoảng 2,6-2,8%.

Phát biểu trước lãnh đạo cấp cao của IMF, Ngân hàng Thế giới (WB),…, các đại sứ nước ngoài tại Việt Nam và chuyên gia kinh tế đến từ 16 quốc gia trên thế giới, Thống đốc Giàu nói: “Cho tới nay, Việt Nam đã đối phó với cuộc khủng hoảng toàn cầu tương đối tốt. Đầu năm 2009, hoạt động kinh tế suy giảm mạnh. Tuy nhiên, nền kinh tế đã phục hồi tích cực trong những quý sau, với sự hỗ trợ của chương trình kích cầu mạnh mẽ bao gồm việc nới lỏng chính sách tiền tệ và gói kích thích tài khóa lớn”.

Năm 2009, trong bối cảnh nhiều nền kinh tế lớn thế giới tăng trưởng âm, Việt Nam là một trong số ít các nước có tăng trưởng, đạt mức 5,32% với chỉ số giá tiêu dùng cả năm được khống chế ở mức tăng 6,88%.

Tình hình xuất khẩu những tháng cuối năm 2009 được cải thiện rõ rệt, giúp kim ngạch xuất khẩu hàng hoá năm 2009 đạt khoảng 57 tỷ USD. Thu hút đầu tư trực tiếp nước ngoài năm qua vẫn ở mức khả quan với 21,5 tỷ USD vốn đăng ký mới và tăng thêm. Tỷ lệ hộ nghèo đến cuối năm 2009 giảm xuống còn khoảng 12%, và chỉ tiêu phấn đấu cho năm 2010 là giảm xuống còn 10-11%.

Theo Anh Quân

VnEconomy

http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/business/200310/images/image002.jpg
A forum aiming to boost Vietnam’s marine economy took place in the central coastal city of Quang Ngai yesterday.

The second forum on marine economy entitled “From deep-water ports to marine economic zones” was jointly held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Investment and Planning and the People’s Committee of Quang Ngai province.

The forum was expected to help create the groundwork for Vietnam’s marine economy to develop in a sustainable and effective way with authentic brand names, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Van Duc told the participants in his opening speech.

Awareness of marine products with their origin from Vietnam should be raised and concretised by measures taken to build the brand names of domestic producers, stressed Deputy Minister Duc.

Addressing the forum, Nguyen Xuan Hue, Chairman of Quang Ngai provincial People’s Committee praised the coastal Dung Quat Economic Zone in his province and confirmed that the zone has made a great contribution to the provincial socio-economic development.

In the 2006-2009 period alone, the zone’s contributions accounted for nearly 50% of the local budget revenue and managed to join “the club of businesses with VND 1 trillion in revenues” in 2006 and “the club of businesses with VND 4 trillion in revenues” in 2009.

Over 20 reports were made at the forum, including feasible solutions and initiatives to raise brand awareness of Vietnamese marine products and develop coastal economic zones and build deep-water ports.

Deep-water ports and coastal economic zones play an important role as a motive forces boosting the development of the country’s marine economy and helping protect the nation’s sovereignty over its sea and islands areas, the participants agreed in a statement released at the end of the meeting.

To develop a system of deep-water ports and coastal economic zones, they concluded that it is vital to research and work out a long-term development plan with issues of climate change and rising sea-water levels taken into account.

Also, the State should soon issue policies on encouraging investment in the country’s marine economy and mobilising foreign resources for the projects, especially from world conglomerates, they added. (VNA)

Source: http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/business/200310/business_f.htm

Industrial sector recovers
HANOI, March 23 (PNA/VNA) -— After a sharp decline last month, the capital's industrial production in March was estimated to increase 21.6 per cent compared with February, according to director of the municipal Department of Statistics Cong Xuan Mui.

The March's surge brought the figure in the first quarter tis year to rise 12.4 per cent over the same period last year.

All economic sectors including State, private and foreign-invested experienced the recovery, of which the private sector contributed the highest increase of 23.7 per cent.

Production of most of industries including ore mining, paper production and vehicle manufacturing in State-owned firms enjoyed the surge, of which the food processing industry saw a rise of 63.6 per cent

However, textile, leather and metal production industries reported a decrease ranging from 0.8 per cent and 6.4 per cent.

In the private firms, all of industries, exclusive electric equipment and engine vehicle manufacturing with a decline of 0.3 per cent and 11.5 per cent, had production surge, of which the precision tool production industry experienced the fastest growth of 90.7 per cent. Information equipment production was followed with a rise of 56.8 per cent.

The foreign-invested sector also achieved impressive growth in all production industries, with machinery and electrical equipment manufacturing increasing by 23.2 and 25.3 per cent, respectively.

Last month, Ha Noi's industrial production value decreased 21 per cent against the previous month and 5.8 per cent compared to the same period last year, reported Ha Noi Statistic Department.

The State-owned firms saw the strongest fall of up to 23.2 per cent. Private and foreign invested firms also posted falls of 20.2 per cent and 20.4 per cent, respectively.

Together with industrial production, the capital city also reported surge in many other sectors including agro-forestry-fishery sector and construction, of which the first was expected to enjoy the highest rise of 21.6 per cent.

However, the city's exports was estimated to make an insignificant surge of only 3.8 per cent.

The department in mid this month anticipated that the capital's GDP would increase 8.7 per cent in the first quarter of this year, noting that the surge was notable if compared to a 3.1 per cent rise in the same period last year. PNA/VNA)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=265885

IMF offers 4 suggestions for Vietnam's development leap
HANOI, March 24 (PNA/Bernama) -- Vietnam should focus on macro-economic stability, structural reform, infrastructure and social welfare if the nation wants to make the leap to the next phase of development, said Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s Asia-Pacific Department Anoop Singh.

Singh made these suggestions while delivering a speech at the Hanoi National Economics University's gathering entitled 'Vietam and Asia - Climbing Up the Economic Ladder' on March 23, reported Vietnam news agency.

"Although the considerable economic achievements of Vietnam and Asia have brought about considerable poverty reduction, policy challenges remain," said Singh.

In terms of stabilizing the macro-economy, he noted a large deficit and government debt, high credit growth and inflation as well as low foreign currency reserves in some countries.

It is important to further improve policies and the financial sector's transparency, the IMF official said, noting that priority should be given to structural reform to enhance competitiveness and assistance for developing Asian nations to join the global and regional trade networks.

The development of financial markets will ensure the effectiveness of the distribution of capital resources and provide cost-saving measures to increase household income, he added.

"The investment in infrastructure fill major gaps in terms of traffic, energy and telecommunications infrastructure in Asia will help tap existing potential, increase labor productivity and fight poverty," Vietnam news agency cited Singh as saying.

The promotion of social welfare should be targeted to protect the poor and vulnerable and enhance their access to basic public services, including healthcare, he added.

According to Singh, Asia is leading the world in economic recovery and heading towards strong future development, and Vietnam has been successful in overcoming the crisis thanks to government policies to support the economy.

However, he emphasized the importance of ensuring macro-economic stability for the sustainable recovery of Vietnam's economy. (PNA/Bernama) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=4&sid=&nid=4&rid=266114

Food group buys up rice to stabilize prices
HCM CITY, March 24 (PNA/VNA) — The Viet Nam Food Association announced on Monday that it was to increase it's target of stockpiling rice from 1 million tons to 1.5 million tons. "The price will be set in accordance with the market and will satisfy the winter-spring crop guarantee of a minimum 30 per cent profit for farmers," said vice chairman of the association Pham Van Bay.

According to Bay, the completion of the winter-spring crop harvest in the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta has seen rice prices jump to between VND4,200 and VND4,500 (22 to 24 cents) per kilogram.

He said that businesses had collected around 790,000 tons of the 1 million tons required. However, a lack of storage facilities and a gloomy export market have slowed collection.

Bay, however, was still optimistic about the rice export market after seeing poor harvests in competitor countries such as Indonesia and Bangladesh.

The association has asked its members to continue to stockpile rice and launch a website with up-to-date market information and support for farmers.

As of March 18, the country had signed contracts to export 3 million tons of rice, a drop of 12 per cent against the same period last year, according to the association.

Of the signed contracts, the country has shipped nearly 1 million tons worth US$ 465 million, a reduction of 25.9 per cent in volume and 12.8 per cent in value against the same period last year.

However, things are looking up now as several importers negotiate purchases of more rice from Viet Nam and export prices show an upward trend, according to the association.

Over the past two months, rice exports were implemented mostly via government-to-government contracts.

However, rice exporters had now begun to get commercial contracts, the association said.

Several markets like Indonesia and Bangladesh were also planning to import rice from Viet Nam, it added. (PNA/VNA) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=266152

Xuất khẩu gỗ đối mặt nhiều rào cản mới
Doanh nghiệp xuất khẩu đồ gỗ Việt Nam không còn nhiều thời gian ứng phó khi các đạo luật mới của Mỹ (Lacey) và của EU (FLEGT) sắp có hiệu lực.



Mục tiêu 3 tỷ USD tổng kim ngạch xuất khẩu đồ gỗ trong năm 2010 là hoàn toàn khả thi khi 3 tháng đầu năm đã xuất được xấp xỉ 770 triệu USD, Chủ tịch Hiệp hội Gỗ Việt Nam Nguyễn Tôn Quyền nhận định.

Ông Quyền cũng lo ngại nhiều dự luật mới về buôn bán lâm sản từ các thị trường nhập khẩu lớn của Việt Nam như Mỹ và EU đang đẩy các doanh nghiệp Việt Nam vào một tình thế khó khăn mới.

Xin ông cho biết nhận định về xuất khẩu đồ gỗ trong năm nay?

Năm 2010, ngành gỗ Việt Nam đăng ký với Chính phủ mục tiêu đạt kim ngạch xuất khẩu 3 tỷ USD. Đây là cố gắng rất lớn, vì mục tiêu năm 2009 là 2,8 tỷ USD nhưng cuối cùng chỉ đạt 2,65 tỷ USD. Tuy vậy, tất cả các doanh nghiệp xuất khẩu gỗ đều tin tưởng rằng chắc chắn sẽ đạt được mục tiêu.

Ngay từ tháng 12/2009, rất nhiều doanh nghiệp ở miền Trung và miền Nam đã ký được trọn vẹn hợp đồng xuất khẩu đồ gỗ cho cả năm 2010 thậm chí nhiều doanh nghiệp còn ký được hợp đồng xuất khẩu cho năm 2011.

Năm 2009, do khủng hoảng kinh tế, sản phẩm tiêu thụ chậm nên nguồn nguyên liệu nhập vào từ năm trước hiện còn tồn khá nhiều. Bởi vậy năm nay giảm được một phần áp lực về nguyên liệu. Mặt khác, trước đây đồ gỗ chế biến từ gỗ rừng trồng Việt Nam là gỗ keo, bạch đàn ít được thị trường thế giới ưa chuộng, nhưng năm 2009 các sản phẩm từ gỗ keo, bạch đàn của Việt Nam xuất khẩu chiếm tới trên 1 triệu m3 gỗ, điều này càng tăng thêm sự kỳ vọng cho sự phát triển của ngành gỗ nước ta.

Chiến lược đề ra cho ngành gỗ là đến năm 2015 phải đạt kim ngạch xuất khẩu 5,4 tỷ USD; năm 2020 đạt 7 tỷ USD, bởi vậy năm nay tối thiểu phải đạt 3 tỷ thì mới hy vọng đạt được đúng như chiến lược.

Tháng 1/2010 xuất khẩu gỗ đạt kim ngạch 270 triệu USD, tháng 2/2010 đạt 220 triệu USD. Trong tháng 3/2/2010 kim ngạch xuất khẩu sản phẩm gỗ của Việt Nam ước tính đạt khoảng 280 triệu USD, chủ yếu xuất khẩu sang thị trường Mỹ, Nhật và EU. Thông thường những tháng đầu năm tiêu thụ gỗ thường thấp vì vụ xuất khẩu chính đối với gỗ là từ tháng 9 cho đến tháng 12 hàng năm. Ước tính trong khi quý 1 đạt khoảng 770 triệu USD, đạt gần 26% kế hoạch cả năm, càng có cơ sở để khẳng định sẽ đạt mục tiêu.

Xuất khẩu đồ gỗ của Việt Nam hiện tại có những khó khăn, trở ngại nào, thưa ông?

Doanh nghiệp xuất khẩu đồ gỗ Việt Nam không còn nhiều thời gian ứng phó khi các đạo luật mới của Mỹ (Lacey) và của EU (FLEGT) sắp có hiệu lực. Ngày 1/4/2010, đạo luật Lacey cấm buôn bán lâm sản bất hợp pháp, trong đó có gỗ và sản phẩm từ gỗ vào Hoa Kỳ, bắt buộc doanh nghiệp phải nộp tờ khai, chứng từ rõ ràng về tên, loại gỗ, quốc gia khai thác gỗ, cách thức khai thác..., tức là phải có chứng nhận FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) của Hội đồng quản lý rừng bền vững thế giới.

Đến tháng 1/2012, đạo luật FLEGT của EU cũng sẽ có hiệu lực. Đặc điểm chung của cả FLEGT và Lacey đều đòi hỏi nhà xuất khẩu phải trình bày chuỗi hành trình của lâm sản, tất cả các khâu từ khai thác cho đến thành phẩm một cách minh bạch, rõ ràng để nhà chức trách Mỹ và EU có thể truy xét nguồn gốc nguyên liệu.

Thế nhưng hiểu biết để ứng phó với các đạo luật này thì hiện nay các doanh nghiệp Việt Nam vẫn chưa sẵn sàng, bởi vì chưa có hướng dẫn cụ thể từ phía các cơ quan chức năng. Bộ tiêu chí chứng chỉ rừng đến nay Nhà nước ta đã xây dựng xong nhưng còn phải chờ các tổ chức quốc tế thẩm định để công nhận.

Đến nay, các bộ ngành có liên quan vẫn chưa có ý kiến thống nhất rằng liệu cơ quan Nhà nước hay một tổ chức phi chính phủ sẽ chịu trách nhiệm cấp chứng nhận FSC và CoC cho doanh nghiệp xuất khẩu.

Vẫn còn băn khoăn nữa là, các doanh nghiệp chế biến gỗ sẽ lấy tiền đâu mà triển khai và xin cấp chứng chỉ vì mỗi lâm trường trồng rừng nguyên liệu gỗ cần 2 triệu USD thì mới triển khai được. Trong khi các cơ quan chức năng và hầu hết các doanh nghiệp còn lúng túng về vấn đề này thì nhiều đối tác nước ngoài đã và đang chủ động hỗ trợ tháo gỡ. Hầu hết các đối tác mua đồ gỗ của Việt Nam đều đã có quan hệ làm ăn lâu năm nên họ nắm rõ chất lượng hàng, cách thức mua hàng rồi. Nhiều đối tác đã đầu tư vào Việt Nam số lượng vốn khá lớn nhằm tạo nguồn cung hàng ổn định cho họ.

Cái khó thứ 2 là hiện nay Việt Nam không biết quốc gia nào, công ty nào có thể bán gỗ cho Việt Nam với đầy đủ các giấy phép như vậy. Trước đây nhập khẩu gỗ chỉ cần quan tâm đến chứng chỉ rừng FSC nhưng giờ ngoài FSC ra còn cần nhiều chứng chỉ khác.

Vấn đề khó thứ ba là sức cạnh tranh của các doanh nghiệp gỗ Việt Nam còn kém so với các nước khác như Myanmar, Malaysia và Indonesia... Vì các nước này có đủ nguồn gỗ không cần phải nhập khẩu nguyên liệu nên đỡ tốn kém, giá thành hạ hơn.

Năm 2009, Mỹ vẫn nhập của Việt Nam 1 tỷ USD đồ gỗ; EU khoảng 700 triệu USD; Nhật Bản trên 360 triệu USD, đây vẫn là 3 thị trường hàng đầu của ngành gỗ nước ta. Riêng thị trường EU đang có sự thay đổi một chút đó là về cơ cấu sản phẩm. Trước đây EU nhập của ta 80% là đồ gỗ ngoài trời, nay chỉ còn 20- 30% thôi, sản lượng còn lại chuyển sang chủ yếu là đồ gỗ nội thất. Bởi vậy các nhà máy chế biến gỗ từ Quảng Nam, Đà Nẵng trở vào phải đầu tư thay đổi về công nghệ sản xuất, thay đổi về mẫu mã.

Theo Chu Khôi


VnEconomy

HSBC lại dự báo tăng lãi suất cơ bản VND Thứ 5, 25/03/2010, 08:24
HSBC cho rằng, Ngân hàng Nhà nước sẽ tăng lãi suất cơ bản VND thêm 1% trong vài tuần tới đây



Trong báo cáo vừa ra về tình hình lạm phát Việt Nam, Ngân hàng Hồng Kông - Thượng Hải (HSBC) cho rằng, với áp lực lạm phát hiện nay, Ngân hàng Nhà nước sẽ tăng lãi suất cơ bản VND thêm 1% trong vài tuần tới.


HSBC nhận định, mặc dù chỉ số giá tiêu dùng (CPI) tháng 3 của Việt Nam tăng 9,46% so với cùng kỳ năm 2009, thấp hơn dự báo 10% trước đó của ngân hàng này. Theo HSBC, áp lực lạm phát ở Việt Nam hiện đang còn mạnh, với tỷ lệ lạm phát được ngân hàng này dự báo sẽ lên tới mức 12% vào cuối quý 2 năm nay.


Trên cơ sở những áp lực lạm phát còn đeo đẳng, HSBC dự báo Ngân hàng Nhà nước sẽ nâng lãi suất cơ bản VND thêm 1% trong một vài tuần sắp tới, từ mức 8% hiện nay.


Báo cáo của HSBC nhận định, ở một góc độ nào đó, với việc trần lãi suất cho vay đã được tháo gỡ, thì việc điều chỉnh tăng lãi suất sắp tới, nếu có, chỉ là việc chính thức hóa hoạt động thắt chặt chính sách tiền tệ đã được thực hiện.


Được biết, trong một báo cáo phát hành cuối tháng 2/2010, HSBC đã dự báo Ngân hàng Nhà nước Việt Nam sẽ tăng lãi suất cơ bản VND trong tháng 3 thêm 1% do những áp lực lạm phát gia tăng. Tuy nhiên, thực tế lãi suất cơ bản vẫn được giữ ở mức 8%/năm áp dụng cho đến nay.


Theo VnEconomy

Lương tối thiểu sẽ tăng từ 1/5
▪ VŨ QUỲNH
22:22 (GMT+7) - Thứ Năm, 25/3/2010


Lương tối thiểu sẽ tăng từ 650.000 đồng/tháng lên 730.000 đồng/tháng



Ngày 25/3, Thủ tướng Chính phủ ban hành Nghị định số 28/2010/NĐ-CP về mức lương tối thiểu chung cho công chức, viên chức.

Theo đó từ ngày 1/5/2010, mức lương tối thiểu sẽ tăng từ 650.000 đồng/tháng lên 730.000 đồng/tháng, tức là tăng 80.000 đồng/tháng .

Mức lương tối thiểu chung nêu trên được áp dụng đối với bốn loại hình cơ quan, đơn vị, tổ chức, bao gồm: các cơ quan Nhà nước, lực lượng vũ trang, tổ chức chính trị, tổ chức chính trị - xã hội; các đơn vị sự nghiệp của Nhà nước, đơn vị sự nghiệp của tổ chức chính trị, tổ chức chính trị - xã hội, đơn vị sự nghiệp ngoài công lập được thành lập và hoạt động theo quy định của pháp luật; các công ty được thành lập, tổ chức quản lý và hoạt động theo Luật Doanh nghiệp Nhà nước và các công ty TNHH một thành viên do Nhà nước sở hữu 100% vốn điều lệ, được tổ chức quản lý và hoạt động theo Luật Doanh nghiệp.

Mức lương tối thiểu chung 730 ngàn đồng/tháng cũng sẽ được dùng làm cơ sở để tính các mức lương trong hệ thống thang bảng lương, mức phụ cấp lương và thực hiện một số chế độ khác theo quy định của pháp luật ở bốn loại hình cơ quan, đơn vị tổ chức trên.

Theo ông Phạm Minh Huân, Thứ trưởng Bộ Lao động - Thương binh và Xã hội , việc tăng lương tối thiểu cho công chức, viên chức là cần thiết, giúp phần nào cải thiện đời sống công chức, viên chức trong bối cảnh kinh tế đang khó khăn.

Tuy nhiên, theo ông Huân, quy định về lương tối thiểu của nhà nước hiện đang ở mức thấp. Trong lộ trình tăng lương tối thiểu vào năm 2011, Bộ Lao động - Thương binh và Xã hội sẽ nghiên cứu, xây dựng và đề xuất mức lương tối thiểu phù hợp hơn để trình Chính phủ xem xét.

Trước đó, Chính phủ từng ban hành nghị định tăng lương tối thiểu cho người lao động thuộc khối doanh nghiệp từ 1/1/2010.

Cũng từ ngày 1/5, mức điều chỉnh trên cũng sẽ được áp dụng cho những người nghỉ hưu, người có công với cách mạng lên 12,3%.

giá vàng trong nước hôm qua đã lao thẳng xuống dưới 26 triệu đồng \1 lượng.đang ôm một lô ,Chán wa!chắc tấm quý 3 mới khả quan hơn

Vietnamese economic planning agency proposes measures to boost exports
HANOI, March 25 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) proposed a package of measures to boost export and narrow the country's trade deficit in the following months this year, said a report on the ministry's website on Thursday.

Latest figures showed that Vietnam is expected to see trade deficit in the first three months of this year stand 3.6 billion U. S. dollars, making up 25.6 percent of the country's total export turnover, said the ministry.

The ministry said that the State Bank of Vietnam should consider more flexible monetary policies to ease credit access to local companies and to ease foreign currency supply to local exporters.

Currently, high lending interest rate of around 15 to 18 percent a year is hindering Vietnamese producers' ability to mobilize capital for production. The high interest lending rate followed the central bank's decision in early February this year to give local commercial banks more flexibility to decide lending interest rates.

In addition, the recent devaluation of Vietnamese dong against the U.S. dollar makes it harder for local exporters in ensuring foreign currency supply for their export activities.

Therefore, the ministry suggested that local companies and exporters to consider other flexible ways to mobilize capital to serve production and export activities. The possible ways include borrowing from foreign agencies and issuing sector bonds.

The ministry also said the government should consider continuing its subsidy lending interest rate of 4 percent to local companies and speeding up infrastructure projects to facilitate flow of goods.

According to Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam' s export value this year is expected to reach 60 billion U.S. dollars, up 6 percent year-on-year. The country targets to control trade deficit at no more than 20 percent of export value. (PNA/Xinhua) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=266425

Vietnam's industrial production value to go up 13.6% in Q1
HANOI, March 25 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Vietnam's industrial production value is expected to go up 13.6 percent year-on-year to 173.49 trillion Vietnamese dong (9.13 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three months of this year, said a report in the website of Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment on Thursday.

In March alone, Vietnam's industrial production value is estimated to climb 14 percent from the same period last year to 59. 69 trillion Vietnamese dong (3.14 billion U.S. dollars).

According to the report, Vietnam is forecast to record an increase of 14.1 percent year-on-year in production in manufacturing and processing industry in January-March period.

Production of electricity, gas and water is expected to jump 19. 9 percent compared to the same period of a year earlier.

The sector is targeted to grow by 12 percent this year, said the ministry. In 2009, Vietnam's industrial production value rose by 7.6 percent year-on-year to 696.6 trillion Vietnamese dong (36.66 billion U.S. dollars). (PNA/Xinhua) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=266427

Qúy I/2010, GDP Hà Nội tăng 8,7%, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh tăng 11,1%
So sánh với quý I/2009, GDP Hà Nội chỉ tăng 3,1% và thành phố Hồ Chí Minh tăng 4%.



Theo số liệu tại cuộc họp của Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư vừa diễn ra sáng nay (26/3) cho thấy, GDP quý 1/2010 cả nước đã tăng 5,83% so với cùng kỳ năm 2009. Trong đó riêng 2 thành phố Hà Nội và thành phố Hồ Chí Minh trong quý I/2010 lần lượt có mức tăng 8,7% và 11,1%.




Tại cuộc họp, thứ trưởng Bộ Kế Hoạch và Đầu tư, ông Cao Viết Sinh cho biết quý I năm nay Việt Nam đạt mức tăng trưởng khá. Trong đó công nghiệp nổi trội và thu ngân sách vượt dự toán (thu ngân sách tính đến ngày 15/3 ước đạt 90,9 nghìn tỷ đồng)



Đánh giá về chính sách tiền tệ ông Sinh cho rằng chính sách tiền tệ có những động thái tốt về tỷ giá, thu hẹp được khoẳng cách giữ thị trường tự do và chính thức. Tuy nhiên "cần phải tập trung làm đậm nét hơn những giải pháp chống lạm phát và đặc biệt lưu ý đến cung tiền và việc tăng dư nợ tín dụng" - thứ trưởng cho biết.



Theo ông Sinh việc xuất khẩu giảm 1,6% so với cùng kỳ trong khi nhập siêu tăng mạnh (nhập siêu quý 1/2010 ước đạt 3,6 tỷ USD và chiếm tới 25,6% kim ngạch xuất khẩu) tạo thành một bức tranh thương mại không tốt.



Việc lãi suất và chi phí tăng cao cũng là một điều đáng lo ngại.



Trên cơ sở đó thứ trưởng Bộ Kế Hoạch và đầu tư đề nghị các Tập đoàn và Tổng công ty tiết giảm chi phí để giảm lạm phát.

Theo báo cáo của Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư, thu ngân sách tính đến ngày 15/3 ước đạt 90,9 nghìn tỷ đồng; chi ngân sách đến cùng thời điểm ước đạt 102 nghìn tỷ đồng.
Nhập siêu quý 1/2010 ước đạt 3,6 tỷ USD và chiếm tới 25,6% kim ngạch xuất khẩu. Xuất khẩu quý 1 ước đạt 14,1 tỷ USD, giảm 1,6% so với cùng kỳ . Kim ngạch nhập khẩu cả nước 3 tháng đầu năm ước đạt 17,6 tỷ USD, tăng 38,4% so với cùng kỳ năm 2009.
Thu hút vốn FDI cả cấp mới và tăng thêm trong quý 1 đã đạt 2,14 tỷ USD, bằng 29% so với cùng kỳ năm trước. Giải ngân vốn FDI trong tháng 3/2010 là 1,4 tỷ USD trong khi thu hút vốn FDI chỉ tăng thêm khoảng 358 triệu USD.



V.Minh
Theo Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư

Sua tranh thu tang gia "chay truoc" chinh sach

Vietnamnet - 29/03/2010 05:20 AM


, Gia sua ban le gap doi gia nhap khau/ Cac doanh nghiep sua se phai dang ky gia / Thu hoi chenh lech gia sua neu tang bat hop ly Moi thang mot lan tang gia Truoc Tet, gia sua da tang, hau het cac hang sua da tang gia voi muc trung binh 7-10%.


- Trong nhung thang dau nam nay, gia sua lai tiep tuc tang va du kien se tang len nua trong thoi gian toi. Trong khi do, co che quan ly gia sua da duoc chuan bi ca nam nay van chua ra doi.
>>>
Khong dung lai o do, trong thang 3/2010, cac hang sua lai tang them tu 8-10%. Giai thich nguyen nhan tang gia, cac hang sua cho biet, gia the gioi tang khien gia sua trong nuoc kho tranh khoi mot chu ky tang gia moi.
Trong dot tang gia moi, sua bot Pediasure co gia moi len 260.000 dong/hop loai 900g (tang 15.000 dong/hop). Sua nhan hieu Dumex loai danh cho tre tu 1 den 3 tuoi len 165.000 dong/hop loai 400g (tang 13.000 dong/hop). Sua Meizi so 1 len 362.000 dong/hop loai 900g, so 2 len 344.300 dong/hop loai 900g. Sua bot nhan hieu Milax cua Dan Manh cung tang len 356.000 dong/hop loai 900g...


Truoc do, nhieu hang sua nhu: Abbott, EnfaA+, Friso,… da dong loat tang gia ban tu 15-20 nghin dong/hop loai 900g (tuong duong 7-10%).
Sua dan dau ve tang gia tren thi truong. (VNN)
Cac loai sua nuoc, sua bot va sua chua, sua tuoi, sua dac co duong… ban le tren thi truong cung tang them 8-12%. Theo phan anh cua cac cua hang, dai ly ban buon va ban le, may thang gan day, hau nhu thang nao cung co vai loai san pham sua tang gia. Dac biet, co hang chi hon 1 thang da tang gia den 2 lan voi muc tang toi 14%.
Ba Phan Hong Lien – Chuyen gia phan tich thi truong Cong ty AgroMonitor - nhan dinh: trong boi canh xu huong tang cao cua gia the gioi, gia sua trong nuoc nam 2010 cung se tang trong vong tu 12-17% so voi muc trung binh nam 2009.
Theo ba Lien, co ba nguyen nhan day gia sua tang cao, xu huong tang manh cua gia sua the gioi vao cuoi nam 2009; gia thuc an chan nuoi tang manh va thi truong duong trong nuoc cung nhu the gioi dang lam vao tinh trang mat can doi cung cau, day gia mat hang nay len muc cao ky luc trong hon 20 nam qua. Ngoai ra, trong nam 2010, ty gia VND/USD se con tiep tuc bien dong, gay tac dong tieu cuc den gia sua nhap khau.
Ong Hoang Kim Giao, Cuc truong Cuc Chan nuoi - Bo Nong nghiep va Phat trien nong thon, cho rang, gia sua nam 2010 se tang trong khoang 10%. Gia sua trong thoi gian toi se tang khi ma gia dien, than, nuoc dong loat tang gia, cac chi phi chan nuoi tang.

Chinh sach... van phai cho
Trong khi gia sua lien tiep tang thi quy dinh ve quan ly gia sua duoc Bo Tai chinh soan thao ca nam nay van chua the ra doi. Tham chi, qua cac dot thanh tra gia sua, Bo Tai chinh da xac dinh duoc tat ca cac co cau gia thanh, phan tich duoc cac diem bat hop ly trong gia sua nhung van chua co cach nao de quan ly, han che tang gia. Cach duy nhat la khuyen cao cac DN giam bot chi phi de han che tang gia da khong co hieu qua.
Cuoi nam 2009, sau nhieu lan ra soat va thua nhan cac quy dinh hien nay deu khong the quan ly noi gia sua, Bo Tai chinh da tinh den viec sua cac quy dinh ve quan ly gia de kiem soat gia sua. Theo do, Cuc Quan ly gia - Bo Tai chinh duoc giao sua doi Thong tu 104 ve quan ly gia thi truong. Tuy nhien, sau nhieu lan hua hen, den nay thong tu nay van chua duoc ban hanh. Con cac hang sua van tang gia truoc su bat luc cua co quan quan ly
Chinh sach nhieu lan hen van chua ra doi. (Anh:VNDN)
Moi day, Bo Tai chinh cho biet, thong tu moi se duoc ban hanh trong thang 3/2010. Sau khi hoan tat viec sua doi thong tu nay, nhieu san pham sua se phai giam gia. Cuc Quan ly gia cho biet them, viec quan ly gia mat hang sua tren thi truong hien do Bo Cong Thuong giam sat. Vi vay, bo phan quan ly thi truong cua bo nay co trach nhiem kiem tra viec niem yet gia va kiem tra viec ban hang theo dung gia niem yet. Trong khi cho quy dinh moi, Bo Tai chinh da thong bao cac giai phap kiem che tang gia, trong do nhan manh viec quan ly gia sua. Tuy nhien, tat ca moi bien phap deu chua to ra hieu qua, gia sua van tang, nguoi dan chiu thiet con co quan quan ly van to ra cham chap truoc viec tang gia cua loai hang hoa thiet yeu nay.

Nam Son,

France helps Vietnam reform public investment
HANOI, March 29 (PNA/Xinhua) -- France decided on Monday to provide Vietnam with 100 million euros (134.77 million U.S. dollars) in loans to help the country improve its public investment.

The loan agreement was signed here Monday by Vietnamese Deputy Finance Minister Tran Xuan Ha and the French Agency for Development (AFD).

The public investment reform program of Vietnam targets to reduce weaknesses in project preparation and the project's negative impacts on society and environment, improve the transparency in project implementation, and prevent the risks of using capital ineffectively.

With the signing of the agreement, the total official development assistance (ODA) which the AFD allocates for Vietnam since 1994 has reached nearly 1.1 billion euros (1.48 billion U.S. dollars). (PNA/Xinhua)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=267077

Vietnam holds int'l conference on compressed natural gas
HANOI, March 29 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The 2nd international conference on the development and use of compressed natural gas (CNG) was held in the Vietnamese southern Ho Chi Minh City on Monday, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

The conference was jointly organized by Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and Asia-Pacific Natural Gas Vehicle Association, drawing participation of more than 120 investors and CNG manufacturers from many countries including Japan, Thailand, Germany, Australia and Singapore.

Speaking at the conference, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien stressed the importance of the conference in the context of global climate change.

The participants at the three-day conference are expected to discuss measures to mitigate toxic emissions and protect environment in Vietnam, said Bien.

At the conference, Bien showed his belief that this event would promote the utilization of CNG in Vietnam's industrial production in the near future.

CNG can also be used as an alternative fuel in transport in Vietnam, which can reduce environmental pollution and bring high economic efficiency thanks to its low price as well, said Bien. (PNA/Xinhua)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=267076

Vietnam's seafood exports up in first quarter
HANOI, March 29 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Vietnam's seafood exports in the first three months of this year are expected to go up 3 percent year-on-year to 771 million U.S. dollars, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Monday.

The country's growth of seafood export in this period was attributed to the increasing export contracts received by local seafood processors and exporters, said the ministry.

Tra and basa fish and frozen shrimp continued to be key seafood export items of Vietnam in this period, said the ministry.

Export turnover of tra and basa fish and frozen shrimp is expected to be 312.5 million U.S. dollars, making up 40.53 percent of the country's total export turnover of seafood in the first three months this year.

The European countries have become the biggest importer of Vietnamese seafood with import turnover of 133.87 million U.S. dollars. The figure accounted for 17.36 percent of Vietnam's export value of seafood in the first quarter this year.

The United States ranked second with import turnover of 93.87 million U.S. dollars. Japan came third with 89.72 million U.S. dollars, said the ministry.

According to Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, the country's seafood sector will intensify its market expansion strategy with targeting to Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Vietnam is expected to earn more than 4.5 billion U.S. dollars from seafood export this year, up seven percent year-on-year, said the association. (PNA/Xinhua)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=267049

Công bố 120 doanh nghiệp đạt giải Thương hiệu mạnh
Chiều 29/3, cuộc họp báo công bố 120 doanh nghiệp đạt giải thưởng Thương hiệu mạnh Việt Nam, do Thời báo Kinh tế Việt Nam tổ chức với sự phối hợp của Cục Xúc tiến thương mại (Bộ Công Thương), đã diễn ra tại Khách sạn Fortuna, Hà Nội.

GS. Đào Nguyên Cát, Tổng biên tập Thời báo Kinh tế Việt Nam, Trưởng ban tổ chức của Chương trình cho biết: “Tiêu chí giải thưởng năm nay đặc biệt chú trọng đến yếu tố phát triển bền vững và nâng cao chất lượng sản phẩm - dịch vụ phục vụ người tiêu dùng Việt”.

Sau 4 vòng xét duyệt, giải Thương hiệu mạnh năm nay có 203 doanh nghiệp vào tới vòng cuối cùng. Theo Ban tổ chức, hầu hết đây là những doanh nghiệp có tốc độ phát triển ổn định, tổng doanh thu vươn từ mức 317,5 nghìn tỷ đồng năm 2008 lên 416,7 nghìn tỷ đồng năm 2009.

Như vậy, từ tỷ lệ trên 1/5 GDP theo giá thực tế của năm 2008, sang năm 2009, các doanh nghiệp tham gia vòng xét duyệt cuối cùng của giải Thương hiệu mạnh đã chiếm tới 1/4 GDP của cả nước (so với 1.658,4 nghìn tỷ đồng).

203 doanh nghiệp này đã đóng góp cho ngân sách Nhà nước hơn 60 nghìn tỷ đồng, tương đương khoảng 16% tổng thu ngân sách nhà nước năm 2009 (so với 389,3 nghìn tỷ đồng); giữ ổn định đời sống cho hàng chục nghìn cán bộ công nhân viên.

Đạt được kết quả trên trong một năm kinh tế đầy khó khăn như 2009, các doanh nghiệp đã nhận được hỗ trợ của người tiêu dùng cả nước. Khảo sát của Thời báo Kinh tế Việt Nam trong năm 2009 đối với người tiêu dùng về lý do lựa chọn sử dụng hàng Việt cho thấy, bên cạnh yếu tố giá cả, mẫu mã… thì có tới 47% trong tổng số 3.149 người tham gia bình chọn cho biết họ lựa chọn sử dụng hàng Việt vì muốn ủng hộ doanh nghiệp Việt Nam.

Ngoài việc xét chọn hồ sơ doanh nghiệp, tham khảo thông tin từ sở công thương các tỉnh, Trung tâm Thông tin tín dụng của Ngân hàng Nhà nước Việt Nam,… Ban tổ chức giải cũng lấy ý kiến bình chọn của người tiêu dùng trong cả nước, thông qua lượng độc giả đông đảo của các ấn phẩm Thời báo Kinh tế Việt Nam.

Lễ trao giải Thương hiệu mạnh Việt Nam cho 120 doanh nghiệp sẽ được tổ chức trang trọng vào sáng ngày 4/4/2010 tại Nhà hát lớn, thành phố Hà Nội.

Cũng nằm trong khuôn khổ các hoạt động của giải thưởng, cuộc biểu dương các thương hiệu mạnh sẽ được tổ chức diễu hành trên nhiều tuyến đường Hà Nội, từ 7h30 đến 9h sáng cùng ngày.

Ngoài ra, 120 doanh nghiệp đạt giải năm nay cũng được Ban tổ chức giới thiệu tham gia Chương trình Thương hiệu Quốc gia, do Cục Xúc tiến thương mại tổ chức bình xét và sẽ công bố kết quả nhân dịp Ngày Thương hiệu Quốc gia (20/4) tới.

Giải Thương hiệu mạnh khởi động từ năm 2003, nhằm hưởng ứng Chương trình Thương hiệu Quốc gia do Thủ tướng Chính phủ phê duyệt cùng trong năm này. Lế trao giải được tổ chức lần đầu tiên vào năm 2005, là hoạt động thường niên của Chương trình.

Qua 6 lần tổ chức, giải Thương hiệu mạnh đã khuyến khích cộng đồng doanh nghiệp hướng đến các giá trị tốt đẹp mang tính bền vững, và tiêu chuẩn hóa cao, ghi nhận những nỗ lực xây dựng và phát triển hình ảnh thương hiệu của doanh nghiệp trong nước, góp phần nâng cao vị thế cạnh tranh cho thương hiệu quốc gia Việt Nam trên thương trường quốc tế.

Sàn vàng đóng cửa, thị trường vàng vật chất buồn tẻ
http://vneconomy.vcmedia.vn/Images/Uploaded/Share/2010/03/30/078.jpg
Trước đây, khi Chính phủ ra quyết định đóng cửa sàn vàng, nhiều ý kiến cho rằng vốn từ sàn vàng sẽ đổ sang vàng vật chất. Tuy nhiên, cho tới thời điểm hiện nay, thực tế có vẻ không phải vậy.
Hôm nay (30/3/2010) là hạn chót cho việc ngừng hoạt động các sàn giao dịch vàng theo quyết định của Chính phủGiá vàng thế giới tăng nhẹ, trong khi giá vàng trong nước sáng nay giảm khoảng 50.000 đồng/lượng so với sáng qua. Sự lình xình của giá đang kéo dài không khí ảm đạm của thị trường vàng vật chất, bất chấp việc đã tới hạn chót đóng cửa các sàn vàng.

Hôm nay (30/3/2010) là hạn chót cho việc ngừng hoạt động các sàn giao dịch vàng theo quyết định của Chính phủ. Cho tới thời điểm hiện tại, một số sàn vàng như SBJ đã ngừng hoạt động trước Tết Nguyên đán, trong khi một số sàn khác như sàn Eximbank đóng cửa cách đây ít ngày. Sàn ACB cho biết, hoạt động của sàn sẽ chấm dứt vào lúc 16h30 chiều nay. Sáng nay, hoạt động khớp lệnh tại sàn này vẫn diễn ra bình thường.

Trước đây, khi Chính phủ ra quyết định đóng cửa sàn vàng, nhiều ý kiến cho rằng vốn từ sàn vàng sẽ đổ sang vàng vật chất. Tuy nhiên, cho tới thời điểm hiện nay, thực tế có vẻ không phải vậy. Tình trạng thiếu sóng về giá đang khiến vàng vật chất kém hấp dẫn.

Ở thời điểm hiện nay, giá vàng vẫn đang chịu tác động chủ yếu từ sự lên xuống của tỷ giá Euro/USD. Tình hình khủng hoảng nợ bớt căng thẳng tại châu Âu đã giúp đồng Euro mấy ngày gần đây lấy lại sức mạnh trước đồng bạc xanh.

Tỷ giá Euro/USD phục hồi đã kéo giá vàng tại thị trường New York phiên ngày 29/3 đi lên. Đóng cửa, giá vàng giao ngay tăng 2,3 USD/oz, tương đương mức tăng 0,2% so với giá đóng cửa phiên liền trước, đạt 1.110 USD/oz.

Hôm qua, Hy Lạp đã bán được lượng trái phiếu chính phủ trị giá 5 tỷ Euro trong đợt phát hành đầu tiên kể từ khi các nhà lãnh đạo châu Âu thống nhất về kế hoạch hỗ trợ nước này hôm 25/3. Nếu có thể huy động đủ tiền để trả nợ đáo hạn thông qua thị trường trái phiếu, Hy Lạp sẽ không cần phải cần tới gói giải cứu trên.

Mặt khác, nhu cầu mua tài sản USD để tìm kiếm sự an toàn cũng đang giảm xuống, tạo lực đẩy tỷ giá đồng tiền này đi xuống.

Tỷ giá Euro/USD sáng nay là 1 Euro tương đương hơn 1,35 USD, từ mức 1 Euro đổi được hơn 1,34 USD trong sáng qua. Đây là mức tỷ giá Euro/USD cao nhất trong vòng khoảng 1 tuần trở lại đây.

Tăng theo tỷ giá Euro, giá vàng sáng nay tiếp tục nhích lên, dao động quanh mức 1.111 USD/oz.

Giá vàng hôm qua và sáng nay còn được hỗ trợ bởi động thái gom mua của quỹ tín thác đầu tư vàng lớn nhất thế giới SPDR Gold Trust. Thông tin niêm yết trên website của SPDR Gold cho thấy, họ vừa mua thêm 5,2 tấn vàng, nâng khối lượng nắm giữ lên 1.129,8 tấn. Đây là khối lượng vàng lớn nhất trong SPDR Gold kể từ thời điểm cuối năm ngoái tới nay.

Dù được hỗ trợ bởi cả tỷ giá Euro và lực cầu, giá vàng thế giới mới chỉ tăng nhẹ. Hãng tin tài chính Bloomberg dẫn nhận định của nhà phân tích cao cấp Eugen Weinberg thuộc ngân hàng Commerzbank ở Frankfurt cho rằng, giá vàng có thể giảm vì nhu cầu đầu tư vàng đang đi xuống.

“Giới đầu cơ tài chính dường như đang trở nên dè dặt hơn. Nếu họ tiếp tục cắt giảm các hợp đồng đầu cơ vàng giá lên, thì giá vàng sẽ chịu áp lực giảm. Do vậy, ngưỡng tâm lý quan trọng 1.100 USD/oz có thể một lần nữa chịu sự thử thách trong tuần này”, ông Weinberg viết trong một báo cáo do Bloomberg thu thập được. Tuy nhiên, cũng theo chuyên gia này, nhu cầu vàng vật chất gia tăng quanh ngưỡng 1.100 USD có thể ngăn chặn giá vàng giảm sâu.

Theo giới kinh doanh kim hoàn, sức mua ảm đạm đã khiến giá vàng trong nước sáng nay không thể đi lên cùng với giá vàng thế giới. So với sáng qua, giá vàng trong nước thậm chí còn giảm 30.000-50.000 đồng/lượng, còn 26,20 triệu đồng/lượng (mua vào) và trên 26,25 triệu đồng/lượng (bán ra).

Tại thị trường Hà Nội, Phú Quý báo giá vàng SJC lúc 10h15 ở mức 26,20 triệu đồng/lượng (mua vào) và 26,27 triệu đồng/lượng (bán ra). Tại thị trường Tp.HCM, giá vàng cùng loại do SJC niêm yết trên website doanh nghiệp tương ứng lần lượt là 26,20 triệu đồng/lượng và 26,25 triệu đồng/lượng.

Hệ thống Sacombank cùng thời điểm báo giá vàng miếng SBJ ở mức 26,21 triệu đồng/lượng (mua vào) và 21,24 triệu đồng/lượng (bán ra).

Sacombank-SBJ dự báo, giá vàng vật chất trong nước sẽ tiếp tục di chuyển trong biên độ hẹp một khi giá vàng thế giới chưa thoát khỏi vùng 1090-1130 USD/oz.

Giá dầu thô đêm qua tăng khá mạnh nhờ sự lên điểm của thị trường chứng khoán Mỹ và sự đi xuống của tỷ giá USD. Kết thúc phiên giao dịch tại New York, giá dầu thô ngọt nhẹ giao tháng 4/2010 tăng 2,17 USD/thùng (2,7%), đóng cửa ở 82,17 USD/thùng. Sáng nay, giá dầu giảm về mức trên 82 USD/thùng.

Tỷ giá USD/VND liên ngân hàng do Ngân hàng Nhà nước công bố tiếp tục duy trì ở mức 18.544 VND/USD. Tại ngân hàng Vietcombank, giá mua và bán USD lần lượt là 19.070 VND/USD và 19.100 VND/USD.

Tại thị trường Hà Nội sáng nay, một số điểm giao dịch ngoại tệ mua và bán USD với giá tương ứng lần lượt là 19.280 VND/USD và 19.310 VND/USD, giảm 20 VND/USD so với sáng qua.

Many thanks Hackz2007 and thanhtung , keep posting!

^^My pleasure. Keeping the thread alive :okay:

Export revenues in foreign-invested sector rise 32.2%
HCM CITY, March 30 (PNA/VNA) -— Export revenues from the foreign-invested sector in HCM City in the first quarter of the year reached US$ 1.13 billion, an increase of 32.2 per cent from the same period last year, according to the city's Department of Industry and Trade.

It said the figures indicated a rising demand in world markets and a recovery from the financial crisis that hit last year.

The city earned $ 4.71 billion in exports, 20.5 per cent lower than the first quarter last year, meeting only 23.56 per cent of the annual target, the department said.

It said many sectors recorded high export growth, including electronic products and components, up by 66.5 per cent to $ 121.3 million, garments and textiles by 9.7 per cent to $ 800 million, footwear by 9.6 per cent to $ 48 million, and seafood by 14.1 per cent to 142.5 million.

Meanwhile, the domestic economic sector in the city experienced a slowdown in exports, reaching only $ 2.2 billion, a fall of 39.6 per cent from the same period last year.

However, the city gained a trade surplus in the first quarter, the department said. Imports were worth $ 4.31 billion, mostly from local economic sector.

But if crude oil revenues were deducted, the city would have a trade deficit of $ 974 million, accounting for 29.2 per cent of the city's total export value.

HCM City People's Committee vice chairwoman Nguyen Thi Hong said that, in addition to traditional markets, firms should find measures to boost exports to ASEAN countries, South Africa, Africa and the Middle East.

She also urged enterprises to strengthen trade promotion activities and diversify their export items, with a focus on export of high value added products and processed goods rather than raw materials.

HCM City has set a target of $ 14 billion in export revenues this year for a year-on-year increase of 1.8 per cent. The target for imports has been set at $ 20.65 billion, up 13.9 per cent over last year.

Trading firms will find it a challenge to meet these targets, experts say, since the recovery of the world economy has not been stable. (PNA/VNA) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=267180

Gold traders get reprieve
http://www.pna.gov.ph/images/untitled.bmp

HA NOI, March 30 (PNA/VNA) -— The Prime Minister has extended the deadline for shutting foreign gold trading accounts to the end of June instead of tomorrow, in a move to give dealers more time to close accounts and balance their books in line with global gold prices.

"This decision is just a temporary measure," a deputy director of a gold trading center told Viet Nam News on the condition of anonymity, adding some dealers did not want to close their accounts.

International gold trading becomes profitable when there is a discrepancy between the prices on the domestic and global markets. For example, previously it was profitable to buy gold on the domestic market then sell it on the global market. But now, they have to buy on the global market and sell on the domestic market to balance their books before they close their accounts.

"Whether it is profitable or not depends on global price movement," Tran Quoc Quynh, a senior gold expert, said. "The current prices are not favorable. If dealers are forced to close their accounts right now, they may suffer big losses."

The anonymous official assumed: "On one hand, the decision may give gold dealers more time to adjust and minimize loss. On the other hand, the central bank may have more time to consider allowing banks to import gold to help them close accounts safely."

Sharing the same idea, a Ha Noi-based trader said: "To some extent, the decision is quite supportive."

None of the dealers polled by Viet Nam News revealed the number of existing foreign accounts they managed.

In the same message from the central bank, domestic gold trading floors will still have to shut down by no later than tomorrow.

With one day left, trading floor owners are hastening to shut down and say good-bye to investors.

A central bank senior official said that there was not an exact report over the issue but the value traded on the floors was quite small in comparison to previous days.

Half of the gold trading floors have already announced their closure, including Sacombank, DongA Bank, Viet A Bank, Southern Bank and Eximbank-SJC while others are in the final stages. Tran Thanh Hai, director of the VGB gold trading floor said that only about 10 per cent of accounts had not been paid off.

"By the deadline, if investors still have not paid off their accounts, we will look at the situation on a case-by-case basis," Hai said.

Some gold floor managers reported that they had already informed or reminded investors to come and pay off their accounts but some had not.

Explaining the hesitation, an investor on the VGB floor said: "We also want to close our accounts and invest in securities or real estate. However, the value of the accounts is quite small so some of us do not want to have to complete closure procedures."

Five gold-trading floors, which have ostensibly switched to material gold and gold jewellery trading, still buy and sell the precious metal via gold accounts that require a 5-per- cent deposit

But customers told Viet Nam News that fear of renewed central bank intervention had dampened their enthusiasm for the illegal products.

Several individual investors are reported to have opened accounts abroad to trade gold. Their sponsors have advertised widely in Viet Nam and, for a minimum fee of US$ 5,000, offered to use simple procedures to open similar accounts.

State Bank governor Nguyen Van Giau warned that his institution together with other agencies would continue to seriously check for illegal trading.

Violators would be punished according to the law and investors should be very cautious, he said. (PNA/VNA) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=267179

Sẽ xả 1/3 quĩ bình ổn để giữ giá xăng dầu

Vietnamnet - 30/03/2010 06:44 AM


, - Phương án “giải khó” cho doanh nghiệp xăng dầu trong bối cảnh phải kìm giá là sẽ xả Quỹ bình ổn giá, Cục trưởng Cục Quản lý giá cho biết. TIN LIÊN QUAN Ào ào đòi xả 1.500 tỷ đồng Quỹ bình ổn giá xăng Bộ Tài chính "ra lệnh" chưa tăng giá xăng dầu
Lỗ hơn 800 đồng, giá xăng có thể sắp tăng
Trao đổi với PV.VietNamNet, ông Nguyễn Tiến Thỏa, Cục trưởng Cục Quản lý giá, Bộ Tài chính đã khẳng định: "Chúng tôi đã chốt quyết định, sẽ áp dụng biện pháp sử dụng Quỹ bình ổn giá xăng dầu, chứ không giảm thuế nhập khẩu."
Hiện Quĩ bình ổn giá xăng dầu tính đến tháng 3 là 1.500 tỷ đồng. Ước, việc xả Quĩ ở mức chiếm 1/3 số dư trên của Quĩ sẽ là vừa đẹp, ông Thỏa chia sẻ
Giá xăng có thể vẫn giữ nguyên dù được xả quĩ bình ổn (ảnh: Phạm Huyền)
Sau khi yêu cầu các doanh nghiệp đầu mối xăng dầu giãn thời gian tăng giá từ nay đến hết tháng 6, hôm 22/3, Cục Quản lý giá phát đi "lệnh" không tăng giá bán xăng… vô thời hạn


Động thái siết chặt lại việc tăng giá xăng dầu này xuất phát từ một thực tế là cần kiềm chế lạm phát, khi CPI 3 tháng đầu năm đã tăng tới 4,12%, giá than, giá điện, giá gas đều đã đồng loạt tăng. Đồng thời, Bộ Tài chính cũng muốn "trấn an" người tiêu dùng đang ôm mối lo ngại về khả năng tăng tốc vù vù của xăng dầu.
Theo công văn số 837 ngày 19/1/2010 của Bộ Tài chính, nếu giá dầu bình quân 30 ngày trên thị trường Singapore từ 75-95USD/thùng, thuế nhập khẩu xăng và dầu hỏa là 20%, thuế nhập khẩu dầu diesel và madut là 15% .
Nếu giá dầu thế giới dao động từ 60- 75USD/thùng, thuế nhập khẩu các mặt hàng trên tăng thêm 5%.
Nếu giá thế giới xuống 45-60USD/thùng thì thuế nhập khẩu tăng tiếp 5%, lên mức 30% đối tới xăng và dầu hỏa và 25% đối với dầu diesel và madut.
Như vậy, với mức 86-88USD/thùng giá bình quân 30 ngày như hiện nay, thuế nhập khẩu xăng dầu vẫn phải giữ như hiện hành.
Tuy nhiên, các doanh nghiệp xăng dầu ngay lập tức phản ứng, đồng loạt kêu lên Bộ Tài chính phải có biện pháp "đính kèm" mệnh lệnh trên, như giảm thuế hoặc xả quĩ Bình ổn. Hiện, các doanh nghiệp này đều lỗ bình quân từ 500- 800 đồng/lít xăng dầu.
Ông Thỏa xác nhận, doanh nghiệp đòi giảm 5-10% thuế nhập khẩu xăng dầu. Tuy nhiên, việc tăng, giảm thuế nhập khẩu xăng dầu hiện nay là phải theo ba- rem mới của Bộ Tài chính, ứng với từng khung giá xăng dầu thế giới sẽ "ra" mức thuế nhập khẩu cụ thể. Do đó, không thể giảm lỗ cho doanh nghiệp bằng giảm thuế được, ông Thỏa nói.
Về việc xả Quĩ bình ổn, ông Nguyễn Tiến Thỏa phân tích tiếp, lượng tiền xả ra bao nhiêu sẽ còn phụ thuộc vào thời điểm "hủy bỏ" lệnh ngừng tăng và quyết định này cũng lại tùy thuộc vào biến động giá thế giới.
Khi đó, mỗi doanh nghiệp sẽ báo cáo lên Bộ Tài chính cụ thể số lỗ phát sinh do phải giữ giá bán hiện hành, tính từ ngày 22/3 cho đến ngày gỡ bỏ lệnh neo giá. Căn cứ vào đó, Bộ Tài chính sẽ cho xả quĩ Bình ổn giá ở mức tương ứng, để bù đắp phần lỗ đó, đủ để hòa vốn cho doanh nghiệp. Do vậy, mức xả Quỹ bình ổn tại mỗi một doanh nghiệp sẽ khác nhau. Hiện nay, theo báo cáo của các doanh nghiệp, Tổng công ty Dầu Việt Nam, chiếm 25% thị phần xăng dầu đang bị lỗ nhiều nhất.
Cục Quản lý giá cũng dự kiến sẽ có 2 phương án, hoặc chỉ xả quĩ để bù lỗ và vẫn giữ giá bán lẻ hiện hành, hoặc vừa tăng giá ở mức độ nhất định, vừa xả quĩ để bù đắp một phần lỗ như Thông tư 159 qui định.
Tại thời điểm ban hành lệnh tạm ngừng tăng giá ngày 22/3, giá bình quân 30 ngày của xăng và dầu thành phẩm là trên 87USD/thùng. Đây là mức giá rất cao.
Ông Thỏa cho rằng, nếu giá xăng dầu thế giới vẫn tăng mạnh lên tới ngưỡng 90 USD/thùng (giá bình quân 30 ngày), chúng tôi sẽ cho rút lại việc "neo giá" và đồng thời, vừa cho xả quĩ, vừa cho tăng giá.
Nếu trong trường hợp giá bình quân 30 ngày của mặt hàng xăng dầu giảm dần xuống dưới 87USD/thùng thì các doanh nghiệp có thể sẽ giữ giá và Quĩ cũng sẽ được trích ra, bù lỗ cho khoảng thời gian phát sinh lỗ.
Ông Thỏa khẳng định, việc giữ giá xăng dầu này sẽ không kéo dài quá lâu, để phù hợp sức chịu đựng của doanh nghiệp và để việc bù lỗ cũng vừa khả năng của Quĩ bình ổn.
Theo Tổng công ty Xăng dầu Việt Nam, xu hướng giá xăng dầu thế giới vẫn dao động ở mức cao. Khoảng chênh lệnh giá vốn và giá bán lẻ đang ngày càng giãn ra.
Ngày 26/3, giá bình quân 30 ngày của xăng A92 là 88,17USD/thùng, đưa mức giá vốn chênh lên tới 6,1% so với giá bán lẻ hiện hành. Tương tự, giá bình quân của dầu diesel cũng tăng lên 87,80USD/thùng, khiến giá vốn cao hơn giá bán lẻ là 5,7%. 10 ngày trước, tỷ lệ chênh lệch của 2 mặt hàng trên chỉ là 5,2%- 5,3%.
Phạm Huyền,

Phục hồi kinh tế vĩ mô: 5 “vùng trũng” cần khắc phục
GDP của nước ta lâu nay tăng trưởng chủ yếu nhờ tăng vốn đầu tư chứ không phải do tăng năng suất lao động xã hội hay do ứng dụng công nghệ cao.



Kinh tế Việt Nam hiện nay có thể được mô phỏng như một người vừa ốm dậy, vẫn cần được chữa trị quyết liệt mới hy vọng được bình phục hoàn toàn.
Theo số liệu tổng hợp từ Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư, tốc độ tăng trưởng GDP quý I/2010 đã đạt 5,83% so với cùng kỳ năm trước, nghĩa là khoảng cách về đích 6,5% của cả năm 2010, như mục tiêu Quốc hội đã đề ra, không còn quá xa. Đáng mừng là trong đó, GDP của các khu vực công nghiệp - xây dựng, nông - lâm - ngư nghiệp và dịch vụ đều tăng tiến rõ rệt.

Đây được xem như một trong những tín hiệu lạc quan về triển vọng hồi phục của kinh tế đất nước sau một năm suy giảm nặng nề kể từ năm “rớt đáy” - năm 1999 (chỉ tăng 4,77%).

Đáng mừng nữa, sản xuất công nghiệp đang trên đà tăng tốc phục hồi. Cụ thể là, giá trị sản xuất công nghiệp quý I/2010 tăng trưởng 13,6% so với cùng kỳ năm trước, thay vì chỉ tăng 7,6% trong năm 2009 (mức tăng thấp nhất kể từ năm 1991).

Như vậy, sản xuất công nghiệp đang lấy lại phong độ của năm 2008 (tăng 13,9%). Sự phát triển của sản xuất công nghiệp có ý nghĩa hết sức quan trọng, nó phản ánh triển vọng phục hồi của xuất khẩu.

Thực vậy, kim ngạch xuất khẩu quý I/2010 đạt khoảng 14 tỷ USD, chỉ giảm 1,6% so với cùng kỳ năm trước, thay vì đã giảm 9,7% trong năm 2009 (mức hụt hẫng kỷ lục kể từ năm 1992 đến nay). Nghĩa là đà suy giảm xuất khẩu đã được chặn lại và đang trong xu hướng “hồi xuân”.

Hơn nữa, thế bù cho sự thu hẹp thị trường xuất khẩu, thị trường tiêu thụ trong nước đã được nuôi dưỡng với sự hấp thụ khá mạnh. Cụ thể là, tổng mức bán lẻ và doanh thu dịch vụ toàn xã hội quý I/2010 đã tăng hơn 24% (vượt cao đáng kể so với mức tăng 18,6% của năm 2009).

Tuy nhiên, bên cạnh những tín hiệu lạc quan đó, cũng cần thấy hết những thách thức hết sức nan giải mà nền kinh tế đất nước đang phải đối mặt.

Một là, xuất khẩu hàng công nghiệp chế biến, nhóm hàng xuất khẩu quan trọng nhất của nước ta, mới đạt hơn 7,3 tỷ USD, giảm sút 9,5% so với cùng kỳ năm trước (trong khi xuất khẩu hàng nông - lâm - thủy sản và khoáng sản chỉ giảm 1-1,2%).

Đáng chú ý hơn nữa là, riêng xuất khẩu của các DN có vốn đầu tư nước ngoài (FDI), chủ yếu là hàng công nghiệp chế biến, đã chiếm 6,68 tỷ USD (không kể xuất khẩu dầu thô), tăng 40,5% so với cùng kỳ năm trước.

Thực tế đó cho thấy, khả năng cạnh tranh, khả năng hồi phục sau khủng hoảng của các DN thuần Việt trong xuất khẩu hàng công nghiệp chế biến (nhóm hàng có giá trị tăng thêm cao) còn rất rất yếu; nó ảnh hưởng trực tiếp tới nguồn thu ngoại tệ của quốc gia.

Hai là, nhập siêu cao. Trong khi xuất khẩu của cả nước giảm sút 1,6% thì kim ngạch nhập khẩu tăng 37,6% với tổng giá trị lên đến trên 17 tỷ USD, khiến giá trị nhập siêu 3 tháng đầu năm nay đã vượt trên 3,5 tỷ USD. Trong đó, DN thuần Việt đã chiếm trên 3 tỷ USD, lớn gấp nhiều lần so với mức 420 triệu USD của khu vực DN FDI.

Ba là, chỉ số giá tiêu dùng (CPI) tiếp tục leo thang, báo động nguy cơ tái lạm phát ở mức cao.

Bốn là, thu hút vốn FDI chưa có tín hiệu phục hồi, quý I/2010 mới đạt 2,14 tỷ USD (cả cấp mới và bổ sung vốn), chỉ đạt gần 30% của cùng kỳ năm trước, mặc dù vốn đưa vào thực hiện triển khai các dự án đã cấp phép vẫn được duy trì ở mức đáng khích lệ, cả quý I/2010 đạt khoảng 2,5 tỷ USD.

Điều đó cho thấy, làn sóng đầu tư mới vào Việt Nam chưa tiếp tục được khơi dậy, một phần do các nền kinh tế nước ngoài chưa được hồi phục vững chắc sau khủng hoảng, nhưng rất có thể còn do môi trường đầu tư tại Việt Nam chưa đủ độ hấp lực mạnh mẽ.

Năm là, mới 3 tháng đầu năm mà đã xuất hiện tình hình khan hiếm ngoại tệ và lãi suất tín dụng dâng lên quá cao, ảnh hưởng không nhỏ tới hiệu quả sản xuất, kinh doanh, đầu tư và hoạt động ngoại thương.

Nhận thức sâu sắc những “căn bệnh” chủ yếu nêu trên để có liều thuốc chữa trị kịp thời được xem là điều hết sức cấp thiết, bởi gần đây xuất hiện không ít ý kiến nhận xét thổi phồng về tốc độ tăng trưởng của kinh tế đất nước, như Việt Nam là một trong hơn 10 quốc gia và nền kinh tế có tốc độ tăng trưởng dương trong thời gian khủng hoảng kinh tế toàn cầu.

Tuy đó là sự thật rất đáng khích lệ, nhưng cần ghi nhận rằng, từ năm 1990 đến nay, kinh tế Việt Nam chưa có năm nào bị tăng trưởng âm, ngay cả năm 1991, khi Liên Xô sụp đổ và khối SEV tan rã, GDP của kinh tế nước ta vẫn tăng 5,81% so với năm trước.

Điều đó không khó hiểu, vì GDP của nước ta lâu nay tăng trưởng chủ yếu nhờ tăng vốn đầu tư chứ không phải do tăng năng suất lao động xã hội hay do ứng dụng công nghệ cao. Vì vậy, chỉ tiêu GDP năm 2010 tăng ở mức 6,5% như Quốc hội đã dự kiến, có lẽ không phải là quá cao, bởi đã có chỉ tiêu “tổng vốn đầu tư phát triển toàn xã hội bằng khoảng 41% GDP”.

Vì vậy, vấn đề mấu chốt hiện nay để thực hiện mục tiêu “ổn định kinh tế vĩ mô” chính là khắc phục hiệu quả 5 “vùng trũng” trong bức tranh kinh tế quý I/2010 như đã nêu.

TS. Lưu Tiền Hải
Theo Vietnam Economic News

Ra mắt Tập đoàn Công nghiệp xây dựng Việt Nam
Ngày 25/3, tại Hà Nội, Tập đoàn Công nghiệp xây dựng Việt Nam chính thức ra mắt và đi vào hoạt động.



Tập đoàn Công nghiệp Xây dựng Việt Nam được thành lập theo Quyết định số 52/QĐ-TTg ngày 12/ 1/2010 của Thủ tướng Chính phủ, do Tổng công ty Sông Đà làm nòng cốt với sự tham gia của các tổng công ty: Sông Đà, Lắp máy Việt Nam (Lilama), Xây dựng và phát triển hạ tầng (Licogi), Đầu tư phát triển-Xây dựng (DIC Corp), Sông Hồng và Cơ khí xây dựng (Coma).

Tập đoàn ra đời nhằm hình thành một tổ chức kinh tế mạnh đa sở hữu, có trình độ công nghệ, quản lý hiện đại và chuyên môn hóa cao; kinh doanh đa ngành, trong đó xây dựng và tổng thầu xây dựng các công trình thủy điện, thủy lợi, giao thông, công nghiệp, cơ khí chế tạo và sản xuất vật liệu xây dựng là ngành kinh doanh mũi nhọn.

Tập đoàn được tổ chức và hoạt động theo mô hình công ty mẹ-công ty con.

Hiện Tập đoàn có vốn điều lệ khoảng 60.000 tỷ đồng, với tổng số 81.000 cán bộ kỹ sư, công nhân.

Các thành viên của Tập đoàn Xây dựng Công nghiệp Việt Nam đã xây dựng nhiều công trình lớn như Thủy điện Hòa Bình, Thủy điện Trị An, Thủy điện Sơn La, Nhà máy ximăng Bỉm Sơn, Nhà máy lọc dầu Dung Quất, Nhà máy nhiệt điện Phả Lại, các công trình hạ tầng giao thông như hầm đường bộ qua đèo Hải Vân, Đèo Ngang…/.

Theo Phan Hướng (Vietnam+)

Việt Nam tham dự Diễn đàn đầu tư COMESA
(Cập nhật lúc 11:19' 30/3/2010)



Đây là cơ hội tốt để thúc đẩy hợp tác đầu tư giữa Việt Nam và các nước châu Phi cũng như châu Á.

Tổ chức các nước thị trường chung Đông và Nam Phi (COMESA) sẽ tổ chức Diễn đàn đầu tư lần thứ 3 vào trung tuần tháng 4/2010 tại thành phố Sharm Sheikh.


http://www.baonghean.vn/images_upload/small_54598.jpg
Diễn đàn tập trung thảo luận các cơ hội đầu tư và xây dựng đối tác thực sự giữa các nước khối COMESA, châu Phi và cộng đồng kinh doanh quốc tế. Diễn đàn cũng bàn về việc tạo môi trường thuận lợi cho phát triển và tăng trưởng trong các lĩnh vực cơ sở hạ tầng, công nghệ thông tin, viễn thông, nông nghiệp, nông nghiệp chế biến, năng lượng tái tạo, dịch vụ tài chính và du lịch.

Dự kiến, Đại sứ Việt Nam tại Ai Cập Phạm Sỹ Tam sẽ tham dự Diễn đàn, theo lời mời của Bộ trưởng đầu tư Ai Cập Mahmoud Mohi El Din. Sau chuyến thăm Việt Nam vừa qua, Bộ trưởng El Din đã khẳng định, Việt Nam là cửa ngõ để các doanh nghiệp, các nhà đầu tư Ai Cập thâm nhập vào Đông Nam Á.

Bộ trưởng El Din nhấn mạnh, các cuộc gặp của ông với lãnh đạo Đảng, Nhà nước Việt Nam đã góp phần tăng cường quan hệ kinh tế thương mại, đầu tư giữa Việt Nam và Ai Cập đặc biệt trong lĩnh vực dược phẩm, sản xuất phân bón, giao thông vận tải, công nghiệp, nông nghiệp và tài chính. Bộ trưởng đầu tư Ai Cập cho rằng, sự tham dự của Việt Nam tại Diễn đàn đầu tư COMESA là cơ hội tốt để thúc đẩy hợp tác đầu tư giữa Việt Nam và các nước châu Phi, cũng như Châu Á và Châu Phi.


Theo VOV news

Năm khả quan cho xuất khẩu hồ tiêu
CHU KHÔI
09:15 (GMT+7) - Thứ Ba, 30/3/2010
http://vneconomy1.vcmedia.vn/ThumbImages/Images/Uploaded/Share/2010/03/30/hotieuchuse000_260.jpg
Việt Nam mới chỉ xây dựng được thương hiệu hồ tiêu Chư Sê mà chưa xây dựng được thương hiệu hồ tiêu của các địa phương khác, do vậy chỉ hồ tiêu Chư Sê mới bán được giá cao.


Giá tiêu trong nước đang dao động từ 40.000-49.000 đồng/kg, cao gần gấp đôi so với thời điểm đầu năm 2009



Mặc dù bị ảnh hưởng bởi thời tiết bất thuận, nhưng sản lượng hồ tiêu thu hoạch của nước ta năm 2010 giảm không đáng kể.

Trong khi thị trường hồ tiêu thế giới cung thấp hơn cầu, giá tiêu tăng vững vàng, hứa hẹn xuất khẩu hồ tiêu của Việt Nam thêm một năm khả quan.

Theo Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn, tháng 3/2010 nước ta xuất khẩu được 9 nghìn tấn hạt tiêu, kim ngạch 23 triệu USD. Lượng tiêu xuất khẩu cả quý 1/2010 đạt 23 nghìn tấn, kim ngạch gần 66 triệu USD, so với cùng kỳ năm trước giảm 14,55% về lượng, nhưng tăng 1,54% về kim ngạch. Giá tiêu xuất khẩu bình quân từ đầu năm đến nay đạt 3.111 USD/tấn, tăng 22,1% so với cùng kỳ năm trước.

Ba thị trường tiêu thụ tiêu lớn nhất của Việt Nam đều có sự tăng trưởng mạnh: thị trường Đức tăng gấp 3 lần; Ấn Độ tăng gấp 2 lần; Mỹ tăng 39,82%. Xuất khẩu hạt tiêu của Việt Nam trong năm 2009 ước đạt 128.000 tấn, kim ngạch 328 triệu USD, đạt kỷ lục cao từ trước tới nay.

Từ năm 2001 đến nay, Việt Nam luôn giữ vững được vị trí đứng đầu thế giới về sản xuất và xuất khẩu hồ tiêu. Sản lượng thu hoạch hồ tiêu của Việt Nam đã dần đi vào thế ổn định, ít tăng giảm về sản lượng trong những năm gần đây: năm 2007 đạt 91.000 tấn; năm 2008 đạt 98.500 tấn; năm 2009 đạt 105.600 tấn.

Tại Nam Trung bộ, thời điểm cuối tháng 9, đầu tháng 11/2009 do liên tục hứng chịu hai cơn bão lớn nên hàng ngàn ha tiêu đã bị ngập úng và chết, bởi vậy sản lượng tiêu của các tỉnh ở khu vực này sụt giảm đáng kể trong vụ thu hoạch vào đầu năm 2010.

Ủy ban Hồ tiêu Thế giới (IPC) dự báo sản lượng tiêu của Việt Nam sẽ vào khoảng 90.000 tấn trong năm 2010. Tuy nhiên, Hiệp hội Hồ tiêu Việt Nam vẫn lạc quan đưa ra con số dự báo nguồn cung hạt tiêu của Việt Nam trong năm nay sẽ đạt hơn 100.000 tấn.

Ảnh hưởng của thiên tai và thời tiết khắc nghiệt không chỉ làm giảm sản lượng, mà còn làm chậm lại thời gian thu hoạch. Thông thường hàng năm vụ thu hoạch tiêu ở nước ta bắt đầu từ tháng giêng, nhưng năm nay phải sang đến giữa tháng 2 mới có tiêu vụ mới để bán ra thị trường. Đây chính là nguyên nhân mặc dù giá bán và nhu cầu tiêu thụ tăng, nhưng xuất khẩu tiêu của quý 1 lại giảm tới 14,55% về sản lượng.

Tuy đã khá ổn định về diện tích và sản lượng, nhưng các chuyên gia về hồ tiêu của Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn vẫn cho rằng, ngành hồ tiêu Việt Nam vẫn còn một số vướng mắc cần khắc phục. Đó là, sản xuất hồ tiêu còn theo hướng nhỏ lẻ, chưa có quy mô, việc tìm kiếm và phát triển thị trường tiêu thụ còn thiếu tính chủ động, do đó dẫn đến giá cả không ổn định.

Việt Nam mới chỉ xây dựng được thương hiệu hồ tiêu Chư Sê mà chưa xây dựng được thương hiệu hồ tiêu của các địa phương khác, do vậy chỉ hồ tiêu Chư Sê mới bán được giá cao, còn hồ tiêu ở các địa phương khác luôn được thu mua với giá thấp hơn.

Để ngành hồ tiêu phát triển bền vững, phát huy hết tiềm năng lớn của mình, Bộ đề ra mục tiêu giữ ổn định diện tích hồ tiêu ở mức 50.000 ha, sản lượng 100.000 tấn/năm. Đồng thời phải không ngừng nâng cao chất lượng cho hồ tiêu, các địa phương phải hướng dẫn người trồng thực hiện quy trình của tiêu chuẩn chất lượng cao để tạo ra sản phẩm sạch, an toàn, làm cho giá trị hàng hóa ngày càng gia tăng.

Vai trò của thông tin thị trường đối với ngành tiêu cũng ngày càng được chú trọng, để nông dân và doanh nghiệp chủ động trong sản xuất, kinh doanh, tăng cường xúc tiến thương mại, giao thương hợp tác quốc tế, nắm bắt diễn biến của thị trường để đưa ra dự báo, khuyến cáo nông dân, doanh nghiệp.

Theo dự báo của IMF, kinh tế thế giới năm 2010 sẽ dần thoát khỏi khủng hoảng và mức tăng trưởng có thể đạt 2,5-3%. Điều này sẽ giúp cho bức tranh nhập khẩu hồ tiêu của thế giới sáng sủa hơn. Nếu đứng trên góc độ cung cầu thì thị trường hồ tiêu toàn cầu có khả năng đối mặt với tình hình khan hiếm nguồn cung. Do đó, giá hồ tiêu trong năm 2010 sẽ hồi phục với tốc độ nhanh hơn so với năm 2009 và được giữ ở mức cao. Giá xuất khẩu hồ tiêu hồi phục tất yếu có tác động tới giá tiêu trên thị trường nội địa Việt Nam.

Mặt khác, việc giá tiêu Ấn Độ cao cũng khiến Mỹ và các nước châu Âu tìm đến hồ tiêu của các quốc gia có giá xuất khẩu rẻ hơn, trong đó có Việt Nam cũng sẽ góp phần giúp giá hồ tiêu Việt Nam hồi phục nhanh hơn. Sau những tháng giảm giá vào cuối năm 2009, giá tiêu trong nước đã tăng nhanh trở lại, hiện dao động từ 40.000-49.000 đồng/kg, cao gần gấp đôi so với thời điểm đầu năm 2009.

Xuất khẩu ngành nông nghiệp: 3 tăng xen 1 giảm
http://vneconomy1.vcmedia.vn/ThumbImages/Images/Uploaded/Share/2010/03/30/coffeebagnho_260.jpg
Cà phê là mặt hàng giảm mạnh về kim ngạch xuất khẩu trong quý 1/2010
13:15 (GMT+7) - Thứ Ba, 30/3/2010


Tổng kim ngạch xuất khẩu các mặt hàng nông, lâm, thủy sản trong quý đầu năm 2010 ước đạt gần 3,65 tỷ USD



Theo thống kê xuất khẩu hàng hóa quý 1/2010 của Tổng cục Thống kê, lĩnh vực nông lâm, thủy sản vẫn duy trì đà tăng trưởng.

Tổng kim ngạch xuất khẩu các mặt hàng nông, lâm, thủy sản trong quý đầu năm 2010 ước đạt gần 3,65 tỷ USD, tăng trên 4,2% so với con số thực hiện của cùng kỳ năm 2009 (so với 3,5 tỷ USD).

Trong 11 mặt hàng nông nghiệp xuất khẩu chủ lực của Việt Nam, chỉ có 3 mặt hàng là cà phê, gạo, sắn và sản phẩm sắn giảm về kim ngạch. Như vậy, cứ một mặt hàng giảm về kim ngạch trong quý 1 thì có gần 3 mặt hàng tăng.

Với các nhóm hàng cụ thể, xuất khẩu thủy sản trong quý 1/2010 ước đạt 861 triệu USD kim ngạch, tăng 15%. Xuất khẩu lâm sản, tương ứng, đạt khoảng 766 triệu USD, tăng tới gần 26% so với cùng kỳ, trong đó, xuất khẩu gỗ và sản phẩm gỗ ước đạt 716 triệu USD, tăng 26,3%; mây tre, cói, thảm đạt 50 triệu USD, tăng 10,2% so với cùng kỳ.

Do “quy tụ” cả 3 mặt hàng giảm về kim ngạch và đều là những mặt hàng có kim ngạch xuất khẩu lớn, xuất khẩu các mặt hàng nông sản chính có sự sụt giảm đáng kể. Kim ngạch nhóm hàng này ước đạt 2,021 tỷ USD, giảm gần 5,7% so với kim ngạch xuất khẩu thực hiện quý 1/2009.

Cụ thể, cà phê là mặt hàng có tốc độ giảm kim ngạch nhiều nhất, tổng sản lượng cà phê xuất khẩu 3 tháng đầu năm 2010 ước đạt 330 nghìn tấn, tương đương khoảng 461 triệu USD kim ngạch, giảm tới 25,3% về lượng và giảm 31% về giá trị kim ngạch so với cùng kỳ.

Xuất khẩu gạo 3 tháng đầu năm ước đạt 1,233 triệu tấn, bằng 677 triệu USD kim ngạch, giảm tương ứng 30,7% về lượng và 16,8% về giá trị; xuất khẩu sắn và sản phẩm sắn ước đạt 689 nghìn tấn và bằng 180 triệu USD, giảm tương ứng 49,3% và 6,3%.

Theo lý giải của Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn tại hội nghị giao ban sản xuất cuối tuần qua, sản xuất nông nghiệp đang gặp nhiều khó khăn.

Hiện tượng El Nino tiếp tục kéo dài, gây nên khí hậu khô hạn diễn ra trên diện rộng ở miền Bắc, miền Trung, nước mặn có điều kiện xâm nhập sâu vào các cửa sông. Thêm vào đó, tình hình dịch bệnh diễn biến rất phức tạp cũng gây nhiều khó khăn cho sản xuất nông nghiệp.

Trong khi đó, thị trường quốc tế đối với hàng hóa nông sản cũng diến biến phức tạp, giá mua giảm ở một số mặt hàng nên xuất khẩu nông sản có khó khăn. Đây là những nguyên nhân chính khiến tổng kim ngạch xuất khẩu nông sản 3 tháng đầu năm giảm so với cùng kỳ năm ngoái.

Cũng theo Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn, sản xuất lâm nghiệp cũng đang phải đối mặt nhiều thách thức. Cháy rừng xảy ra ở nhiều nơi và luôn tiềm ẩn nguy cơ cao. Với lĩnh vực thủy sản, giá xăng dầu tăng trong thời gian vừa qua đã ảnh hưởng nhiều đến khai thác thủy sản…

Thương mại Việt - Trung hướng tới kim ngạch 25 tỷ USD
Y NHUNG
14:44 (GMT+7) - Thứ Tư, 31/3/2010

http://vneconomy1.vcmedia.vn/ThumbImages/Images/Uploaded/Share/2010/03/31/hainuoc_260.jpg
Ba thỏa thuận hơp tác giữa doanh nghiệp Thiểm Tây và Hà Nội trị giá 25,5 triệu USD đã được ký kết sáng 31/3.

Thứ trưởng Bộ Công Thương Nguyễn Thành Biên dự báo kim ngạch thương mại hai chiều Việt - Trung năm 2010



Năm nay, Việt Nam - Trung Quốc sẽ đưa kim ngạch thương mại hai chiều lên mức 25 tỷ USD.

Dự báo này đã được Thứ trưởng Bộ Công Thương Nguyễn Thành Biên đưa ra tại hội thảo thương mại đầu tư Thiểm Tây (Trung Quốc) - Hà Nội, tổ chức sáng 31/3.

Năm 2009, do ảnh hưởng của suy thoái kinh tế toàn cầu, kim ngạch thương mại hai chiều giữa Việt Nam và nhiều quốc gia đều sụt giảm. Nhưng riêng với Trung Quốc xuất nhập khẩu trong năm qua vẫn tăng trên 5% và đạt mức 21,35 tỷ USD. Như vậy, theo ông Biên, hai nước hoàn toàn có thể hướng tới kim ngạch 25 tỷ USD vào năm 2010.

Cơ sở cho nhận định trên của Thứ trưởng Biên là ngoài chung đường biên giới, Việt Nam - Trung Quốc đều trong thời kỳ đổi mới và đều là thành viên của các tổ chức như: WTO, APEC, ASEM và nhiều diễn đàn kinh tế khác. Thêm vào đó, hiệp định thương mại tự do Trung Quốc - ASEAN đã có hiệu lực. Việt Nam lại là thành viên của ASEAN. Đây sẽ là cơ hội thuận lợi cho thúc đẩy thương mại đầu tư giữa hai nước trong thời gian tới.

Về phía Trung Quốc, ông Triệu Lạc Tế, Bí thư Tỉnh ủy tỉnh Thiểm Tây thì cho rằng: với các tiềm năng về khoa học, công nghệ, du lịch cùng tài nguyên thiên nhiên, doanh nghiệp Thiểm Tây và Hà Nội hoàn toàn có thể đẩy mạnh hợp tác để nâng mức kim ngạch hai chiều vẫn còn ở mức khiêm tốn là 48,9 triệu USD trong năm 2009, để góp phần vào tăng kim ngạch giữa hai nước.

Ngoài ra, “Việt Nam còn có các thế mạnh về cây công nghiệp, rau quả nhiệt đới, đồ gỗ, đồ nhựa, thủy sản, dây cáp điện, giày dép…”, Thứ trưởng Biên bổ sung.

Tại hội thảo, 3 thỏa thuận hợp tác về các lĩnh vực như sản xuất ô tô, chế tạo cơ khí, xuất nhập khẩu trị giá 25,5 triệu USD đã được đại diện doanh nghiệp hai bên cùng ký kết.

Thiểm Tây nằm phía ở Tây của Trung Quốc, diện tích 205.800 km2, dân số 37 triệu người. Năm 2009, tốc độ tăng trưởng GDP của Thiểm Tây là 13,9%, cao hơn mức chung của Trung Quốc (8,9%).

Vietnam's rice exports to go down in Q1
HANOI, March 31 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Vietnam's rice exports in the first three months of this year is expected to go down 30.7 percent year-on-year to 1.23 million tons, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam on Wednesday.

The country's rice exports are estimated to earn 677 million U. S. dollars, a year-on-year decline of 16.8 percent.

In this period, Vietnam's rice was mostly exported to the Philippines, Cuba, Malaysia and Singapore, said the office.

The decrease in rice exports was attributed to the falling price of Vietnamese rice in the international market and a decline in the country's rice production, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The ministry has recently forecast that at least 100,000 hectares of rice in the country's rice bowl in southern Mekong Delta are under threat caused by the ongoing drought which may last till May this year.

Vietnam, the world second largest rice exporter, targets to export 6 million tons of rice this year, almost equal to the figure in 2009, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. (PNA/Xinhua)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=267427

Cá tra, basa Việt Nam lại gặp rào cản khi vào Mỹ Thứ 5, 01/04/2010, 09:26
Cá phải nuôi ở ao nông, sử dụng nước giếng khoan... là những quy định của Đạo luật Nông nghiệp Mỹ 2008 (Farm Bill 2008) buộc người nuôi cá VN tuân theo.





Farm Bill 2008 được Quốc hội Mỹ chính thức thông qua vào năm 2008. Tuy nhiên việc xây dựng và ban hành văn bản quy định chi tiết cho đạo luật này đến nay chưa hoàn tất và đang trong tiến trình lấy ý kiến của công chúng.


Dự kiến các quy định chi tiết mới sẽ đưa ra những tiêu chuẩn nuôi trồng khắt khe cho cá tra, cá basa bán vào Mỹ, giống như điều kiện nuôi cá tại Mỹ trong trường hợp hai loại cá này xếp vào loài cá da trơn (catfish). Nhưng theo các chuyên gia, những tiêu chuẩn này khá áp đặt vì điều kiện nuôi mỗi nước khác nhau, chưa kể khác nhau cả về con giống, thức ăn, môi trường tự nhiên…


Thời hạn áp dụng đạo luật hiện vẫn chưa được xác định, song cũng đã dấy lên mối lo cho những doanh nghiệp xuất khẩu cá da trơn Việt Nam.


Hiện tại cá tra, basa Việt Nam chủ yếu được nuôi trên khu vực sông Cửu Long. Do đó việc phải nuôi trong các ao nông và sử dụng nước giếng khoan không thể áp dụng được vì môi trường không phù hợp và chi phí quá lớn.


Theo ông Trương Đình Hòe, Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội Chế biến và Xuất khẩu Thủy sản Việt Nam, các cơ quan chức năng của Mỹ vẫn đang tranh cãi quanh việc xem xét định nghĩa tên gọi cá tra, basa Việt Nam có phải là cá da trơn hay không và áp dụng Farm Bill phải theo một lộ trình lâu dài.


"Do đó Việt Nam nên tận dụng thời gian này để thương thuyết với chính phủ Mỹ đưa ra các quy định dễ đáp ứng hơn, phù hợp với điều kiện tự nhiên và năng lực cũng như tài chính của nông dân Việt Nam", ông Hòa nói.


Ông Ngô Phước Hậu, Chủ tịch Hội đồng Quản trị Công ty Agifish An Giang phân tích, việc Mỹ xếp cá tra, basa Việt Nam là cá da trơn khá mâu thuẫn. Trước đó trong luật chống bán phá giá, phía Mỹ đã định nghĩa cá tra, basa Việt Nam là Pangasius.


Ông Hậu cho rằng, Mỹ áp dụng Farm Bill sẽ làm tăng chi phí sản xuất và giảm tính cạnh tranh cho cá Việt Nam. Tuy nhiên thời hạn của việc định nghĩa này vẫn chưa được xác định nên phía Việt Nam vẫn còn cơ hội để vận động các nhà làm luật Mỹ thay đổi.


Ông Tom Mazzetta, Chủ tịch Tập đoàn Mazzetta, nhà nhập khẩu, phân phối các sản phẩm hải sản đông lạnh cao cấp của Mỹ, khẳng định với những quy định này và điều kiện nuôi ở Việt Nam hiện nay, thì ngành nuôi cá tra Việt Nam khó đáp ứng các tiêu chuẩn của luật Farm Bill.


Do vậy Tập đoàn Mazzetta hợp tác với Công ty Proconco Việt Nam đưa ra chương trình hỗ trợ cho người nuôi cá tra Việt Nam xây dựng quy trình khép kín từ nguồn thức ăn, nông trại, chế biến đến người tiêu dùng, nhằm đảm bảo chất lượng nguồn thức ăn cho cá; hỗ trợ truy xuất nguồn gốc cá...


Đạo luật Nông nghiệp 2008 của Mỹ mang số hiệu H.R. 6124 có tên đầy đủ là “Đạo luật quy định về việc tiếp nối các chương trình nông nghiệp và các chương trình khác của Bộ Nông nghiệp Mỹ tới năm tài chính 2012, và quy định một số vấn đề khác”. Tên ngắn gọn là “Đạo luật về Thức ăn, Bảo tồn, và Năng lượng năm 2008” (Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008).


Theo Hà Mai
VNExpress

Triển khai hỗ trợ 20 triệu USD cho Tam giác phát triển

Vietnamnet - 30/03/2010 07:45 PM


, Nhóm họp tại Hà Nội hôm nay (30/3), các quan chức Việt Nam, Lào, Campuchia và Nhật Bản rà soát việc thực hiện các dự án trong gói hỗ trợ 20 triệu USD của Nhật Bản dành cho khu vực Tam giác phát triển (CVL). Năm 2007, Nhật Bản quyết định cam kết hỗ trợ 20 triệu USD cho khu vực Tam giác phát triển (CVL) của ba nước Việt Nam, Lào và Campuchia, khoản hỗ trợ nằm trong gói ngân sách 52 triệu USD thúc đẩy hợp tác kinh tế ASEAN - Nhật Bản.


Một năm sau đó, danh mục các dự án CLV sử dụng khoản hỗ trợ 20 triệu USD của Nhật Bản chính thức được thông qua, trong đó Việt Nam có 7 dự án trị giá 3,5 triệu USD, hai nước Lào và Campuchia mỗi nước được tài trợ 7,5 triệu USD, 1,5 triệu USD còn lại dành cho các hoạt động hỗ trợ khác.
Các dự án tập trung cho việc phát triển nguồn nhân lực, thúc đẩy phát triển kinh tế của người dân vùng tam giác, trong đó Nhật Bản ưu tiên viện trợ không hoàn lại các dự án nhỏ trong các lĩnh vực nông thôn và an sinh xã hội trong CVL.
CVL là tam giác phát triển nằm ở khu vực ngã ba biên giới của ba nước Việt Nam, Lào và Campuchia, bao trùm 10 tỉnh: Ratanakiri, Stung Treng, Mondulkiri ở miền Đông Campuchia, Attapu, Salavan, Xekong ở miền Nam Lào, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk và Đắk Nông ở Tây Nguyên Việt Nam.


CVL được xem là sáng kiến giữa ba nước Việt Nam, Lào, Campuchia nhằm tăng cường hợp tác phát triển kinh tế - xã hội, xóa đói giảm nghèo. Tuyên bố Vientian xây dựng Tam giác phát triển ký năm 2004 xác định phát triển CVL trong các lĩnh vực giao thông vận tải, năng lượng, thương mại, đầu tư, đào tạo.
Hiện nay, các dự án của 3 nước trong gói hỗ trợ 20 triệu USD của Nhật Bản đang trong quá trình triển khai. Tuy nhiên, các quan sát trông đợi tài trợ từ Nhật Bản cho khu vực CVL sẽ dành cho dự án quy mô lớn hơn các dự án hiện tại. Một trong những điểm có thể khiến nhà tài trợ này còn băn khoăn, đó là hạ tầng cơ sở khu vực Tam giác phát triển còn chưa hoàn thiện.
Xuân Linh ,

Vốn đầu tư toàn xã hội đạt 146,8 nghìn tỷ đồng trong quý
Thứ 5, 01/04/2010, 17:08
Thu hút đầu tư trực tiếp của nước ngoài từ đầu năm đến 22/3/2010 đạt 2,1 tỷ USD, bằng 29% so với cùng kỳ năm 2009.



Theo báo cáo của Tổng Cục Thống kê tại phiên họp Chính phủ thường kỳ tháng 3/2010, vốn đầu tư toàn xã hội thực hiện quý I/2010 theo giá thực tế ước tính đạt 146,8 nghìn tỷ đồng, tăng 26,2% so với cùng kỳ năm trước.
Trong đó bao gồm: vốn khu vực Nhà nước đạt 70,8 nghìn tỷ đồng, chiếm 48,2% tổng số vốn thực hiện và tăng 23,5%; vốn khu vực ngoài Nhà nước 28,3 nghìn tỷ đồng, chiếm 19,3% và tăng 48,4%; vốn đầu tư trực tiếp nước ngoài 47,7 nghìn tỷ đồng, chiếm 32,5% và tăng 19,6%.

Trong vốn đầu tư của khu vực Nhà nước, vốn từ ngân sách Nhà nước thực hiện quý I/2010 ước tính đạt 21,8 nghìn tỷ đồng, bằng 17,4% kế hoạch năm, gồm có:

Vốn trung ương quản lý đạt 6,7 nghìn tỷ đồng, bằng 17,9% kế hoạch năm (Bộ Xây dựng đạt 211 tỷ đồng, bằng 21,3% kế hoạch năm; Bộ Văn hóa, Thể thao và Du lịch 110,5 tỷ đồng, bằng 18,8%; Bộ Công Thương 739 tỷ đồng, bằng 18,3%; Bộ Giao thông Vận tải 1207 tỷ đồng, bằng 18,1%; Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển Nông thôn 540 tỷ đồng, bằng 16,9%; Bộ Y tế 199,8 tỷ đồng, bằng 15,9%; Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo 156,4 tỷ đồng, bằng 15,3%).

Vốn địa phương quản lý đạt 15,1 nghìn tỷ đồng, bằng 17,2% kế hoạch năm.


Một số địa phương có tiến độ thực hiện nhanh là: Ninh Bình đạt 615,7 tỷ đồng, bằng 38,2% kế hoạch năm; Hòa Bình 323,5 tỷ đồng, bằng 30,6%; Đồng Nai 403 tỷ đồng, bằng 28,2%; Bắc Ninh 327 tỷ đồng, bằng 27,1%; Hải Phòng 433,7 tỷ đồng, bằng 26,1%.

Cũng theo Tổng cục Thống kê, thu hút đầu tư trực tiếp của nước ngoài từ đầu năm đến 22/3/2010 đạt 2,1 tỷ USD, bằng 29% so với cùng kỳ năm 2009

Bao gồm: Vốn đăng ký của 139 dự án được cấp phép mới là 1,9 tỷ USD (giảm 40,9% về số dự án và giảm 40,5% về số vốn so với cùng kỳ năm trước); vốn đăng ký bổ sung của 41 lượt dự án được cấp phép từ các năm trước là 215 triệu USD.

Vốn đầu tư trực tiếp nước ngoài thực hiện quý I/2010 ước tính đạt 2,5 tỷ USD, tăng 13,6% so với cùng kỳ năm 2009.

Trong quý I/2010, cả nước có 15 tỉnh, thành phố trực thuộc Trung ương có dự án đầu tư trực tiếp nước ngoài được cấp giấy phép mới, trong đó Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu có số vốn đăng ký dẫn đầu với 902,6 triệu USD, chiếm 46,9% tổng vốn đăng ký;

Tiếp đến là thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 417,4 triệu USD, chiếm 21,7%; Quảng Ngãi 340 triệu USD, chiếm 17,7%; Bình Dương 97,8 triệu USD, chiếm 5,1%; Bắc Giang 54,1 triệu USD, chiếm 2,8%; Hải Phòng 32,3 triệu USD, chiếm 1,7%.


Trong số các quốc gia và vùng lãnh thổ đầu tư vào Việt Nam quý I/2010, Hoa Kỳ là nhà đầu tư lớn nhất với 919,2 triệu USD, chiếm 47,8% tổng vốn đăng ký cấp mới; tiếp đến là Hàn Quốc 506,5 triệu USD, chiếm 26,3%; Xin-ga-po 136,9 triệu USD, chiếm 7,1%; Xlô-va-ki-a 100 triệu USD, chiếm 5,2%; Quần đảo Virgin thuộc Anh 94,4 triệu USD, chiếm 4,9%; Đài Loan 69,6 triệu USD, chiếm 3,6%; CHND Trung Hoa 27,6 triệu USD, chiếm 1,4%...


Theo Nguyễn Tuân
InfoTV

Bộ Kế Hoạch và Đầu tư đưa ra cảnh báo CPI 2010 có thể tăng 8-9%
Đại diện Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư cho biết đây là con số mang tính cảnh báo nếu như chúng ta không có những biện pháp mạnh, quyết liệt trong việc chống lạm pháp.



Tại cuộc họp báo Chính Phủ đang tổ chức chiều tối ngày 1/4, đại diện Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư đã xác nhận tại phiên họp đột xuất của Chính Phủ cuối tháng 3 Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư cũng như các Bộ ngành khác đã có báo cáo Chính Phủ về những vấn đề liên quan đến tình hình kinh tế xã hội.



Riêng với con số CPI năm 2010 có thể tăng từ 8-9%, theo đại diện Bộ này cho biết đây là con số mang tính cảnh báo nếu như chúng ta không có những biện pháp mạnh để ngăn chặn được những tác động của giá cả thế giới, các biện pháp tài chính tiền tệ, xuất nhập khẩu...



Tuy nhiên đại diện này khẳng định Chính Phủ cũng đã có Nghị quyết với nhiều biện pháp để có thể đảm bảo CPI không quá 7% trong năm nay.



Đại diện chủ nhiệm văn phòng chính phủ, ông Nguyễn Xuân Phúc công bố một số chỉ đạo của Thủ tướng về vấn đề này.



Thủ tướng yêu cầu Bộ Công Thương chú ý rà soát, đánh giá tình hình cung - cầu các mặt hàng phục vụ sản xuất và đời sống, trước hết là các mặt hàng thiết yếu như gạo, đường, thuốc chữa bệnh, thức ăn chăn nuôi, phân bón, xi măng, thép..., để tổ chức thị trường hợp lý, ngăn chặn kịp thời các hiện tượng đầu cơ nâng giá và gian lận thương mại.

Bộ Tài chính chủ động phối hợp với các bộ, ngành và chính quyền các cấp thực hiện quyết liệt, đồng bộ các biện pháp quản lý điều hành giá, kiểm tra giám sát thị trường. Kiểm soát cơ chế hình thành giá không để giá xăng tăng liên tục trong thời gian ngắn, gây tác động tiêu cực đến tâm lý người tiêu dùng. Giữ ổn định giá điện và giá than bán cho điện đến hết năm 2010.

Các bộ, ngành, địa phương rà soát lại các dự án đầu tư sử dụng vốn ngân sách nhà nước, tập trung vốn cho các dự án quan trọng, cấp bách, có hiệu quả đang triển khai và có khả năng hoàn thành trong năm 2010. Không bố trí vốn cho các dự án đầu tư cho đến thời điểm này chưa được bố trí vốn, trừ vốn đối ứng các dự án vay nước ngoài

Thủ tướng giao Bộ Công Thương và các bộ, ngành liên quan xây dựng thị trường trọng điểm, tăng cường công tác xúc tiến thương mại tìm đầu ra cho các doanh nghiệp xuất khẩu, đồng thời có các cơ chế, chính sách khuyến khích các doanh nghiệp tăng lượng hàng hoá xuất khẩu; đảm bảo mức nhập siêu trong giới hạn kiểm soát được, phấn đấu thấp hơn năm 2009.

Sắp tới cần xem xét bổ sung các cơ chế, chính sách hấp dẫn hơn nhằm khuyến khích, thu hút mạnh hơn nữa các tổ chức, cá nhân đầu tư vào lĩnh vực công nghiệp hỗ trợ để tạo ra nhiều hàng hoá thay thế hàng nhập khẩu, góp phần giảm nhập siêu.


Dự thảo Nghị quyết nêu rõ: Ngân hàng Nhà nước nghiên cứu thực hiện lãi suất thỏa thuận với dự án có hiệu quả. Ngành ngân hàng có trách nhiệm kéo lãi suất xuống. Về an toàn hệ thống ngân hàng, cần phải có đề án riêng – ông Phúc cho biết



Nghị quyết phiên họp Chính Phủ thường kỳ tháng 3/2010 dự kiến sẽ được công bố trong vài ngày tới.



V.Minh

Ghi theo Chinhphu.vn, phiên họp thường kỳ Chính Phủ

Bộ Tài Chính kiến nghị giãn thời gian điều chỉnh giá xăng dầu lên 30 ngày
Đại diện Bộ Tài Chính cho biết nếu giá xăng giảm thì doanh nghiệp phải điều chỉnh giảm.



Thứ trưởng Bộ Tài Chính, ông Trần Văn Hiếu cho biết Bộ Tài Chính đã chính thức phát hành văn bản, nêu rõ: trong điều kiện xăng dầu như hiện nay các doanh nghiệp xăng dầu không được tăng giá và được sử dụng quỹ bình ổn giá.



Thứ trưởng Bộ Tài Chính cũng công bố Bộ này đã kiến nghị lên Chính Phủ về việc kéo dài thời gian điều chỉnh giá xăng dầu lên 30 ngày, thay vì 10 ngày như hiện nay. Tuy nhiên, hiện nay chưa có ý kiến của Chính Phủ trả lời về đề nghị này của Bộ Tài Chính.



Đại diện Bộ Tài Chính cũng cho biết thêm, nếu giá xăng giảm thì doanh nghiệp phải điều chỉnh giảm.



Ngược lại, trong điều kiện hiện nay nếu giá cả thế giới tăng đột biến, trước khi tăng giá phải báo cáo với liên bộ để có biện pháo xử lý phù hợp ngoài yếu tố giá có biện pháp tài chính khác.



Đại diện Bộ này khẳng định giá xăng dầu của Việt Nam đang ở mức thấp so với các nước trong khu vực.




Theo công bố mới nhất từ phía Petrolimex (bản tin giá cơ sở ngày 31/3), giá xăng trong nước đang thấp khoảng 1100 đồng/lít so với giá cơ sở; các mặt hàng khác cũng thấp hơn từ trên 300 đồng đến 1000 đồng/lít.




V.Minh

Ghi theo phiên họp thường kỳ Chính Phủ

30/3: Khai trương sàn giao dịch đường
Sáng 30.3, sàn giao dịch đường của công ty cổ phần giao dịch hàng hóa Sài Gòn Thương Tín (Sacom - STE) chính thức khai trương.



Trước đó, có đến hàng trăm doanh nghiệp là nhà sản xuất, mua bán đường đã tới nghe những quy định khi tham gia giao dịch trên sàn do Sacom - STE tổ chức. Tuy nhiên, sàn giao dịch đường - điều mà nhà tổ chức gọi là “sân chơi đẳng cấp” - chưa thể đáp ứng những đòi hỏi của doanh nghiệp.

Doanh nghiệp... tù mù

Cũng giống như chứng khoán, vàng, nhà đầu tư muốn giao dịch trên sàng đường, tất nhiên phải mở tài khoản tại ngân hàng Sacombank và phải ký quỹ nhằm đảo bảo giao dịch được thanh toán. Bên bán, bên mua sẽ thực hiện giao dịch theo hai dạng hợp đồng (giao ngay và tương lai - tối đa trong vòng bốn tháng) cho bốn loại sản phẩm đường: RE1, RE2, RS1, RS2. Trong mỗi loại sản phẩm cũng được xác lập các chỉ tiêu quy định chất lượng như: về độ Pol, hàm lượng đường khữ, độ tro dẫn điện, độ ẩm, độ màu đơn vị ICUMSA. Tuy nhiên, so với thực tế trên thị trường, thì hiện đang tồn tại hàng chục sản phẩm đường, đi kèm với nhiều chỉ tiêu, ứng với nhiều mức giá khác nhau chứ không chỉ dừng lại ở bốn sản phẩm như sàn quy định.

Ông Nguyễn Thành Long, tổng giám đốc công ty cổ phần đường Cần Thơ cho biết, ngay như cùng sản phẩm RS1, thì cũng được phân chia làm hai loại (hạt nhỏ, hạt lớn), giá chênh lệch 400 đồng/kg. Tương tự, đối với RE1 và RE2 cũng vậy, mức giá bán xác lập không chỉ căn cứ vào một số tiêu chuẩn quy định tại sàn, mà theo ông Long, còn dựa trên các tham số về độ óng ánh, đồng đều, sắc nét, góc cạnh…Cùng quan điểm này, bà Nguyễn Thị Bích Thủy, phụ trách nguyên liệu tập đoàn Masan Food nói, công ty thường sử dụng đường Juna đỏ (Cần Thơ), Bourbon Tây Ninh, nhưng khi so sánh với những sản phẩm và tiêu chuẩn quy định giao dịch trên sàn thì thấy không khớp. Bà Thuỷ cho biết doanh nghiệp của bà sản xuất ra thực phẩm ăn liền, như nước tương, nước mắm, mì gói, nên cần loại đường cao cấp. Nếu mua qua sàn mà chỉ bằng một số tiêu chuẩn quy định như vậy sẽ không đảm bảo.

Giá đường trên thị trường, ngoài căn cứ vào chỉ tiêu chất lượng, còn được thiết lập dựa trên thương hiệu mỗi nhà máy. Cùng một loại đường RE1, RE2, nhưng giá của nhà máy đường Bourbon sẽ khác với giá của Biên Hòa, Khánh Hòa hay Cần Thơ. Tuy nhiên, khi giao dịch qua sàn, do tính bảo mật giữa các lệnh mua bán nên nhà đầu tư sẽ không biết được mình đang mua đường của nhà máy nào. Một đại diện doanh nghiệp đưa ví dụ thực tế: “Như vậy thì quá bằng tù mù, tôi trả giá cao để mua đường RE Biên Hòa, khi khớp lệnh lại ra đường của Khánh Hòa?”

Ông Phan Vũ Hùng, giám đốc Sacom - STE giải thích, thương hiệu đường chỉ có những hộ tiêu dùng gia đình quan tâm, chứ những hộ tiêu thụ lớn như Cocacola, Vinamlik…thì họ thường quan tâm đến tính ổn định về tiêu chuẩn chất lượng. Vì thế, đường giao dịch qua sàn sẽ không có giá trị thương hiệu. Tuy nhiên, đại diện công ty đường Đăk Nông lại cho rằng, do dây chuyền công nghệ chế biến của mỗi nhà máy khác nhau, nên mặc dù cùng một tên gọi sản phẩm nhưng lại có khoảng cách rất xa về chất lượng, giá bán. Do đó, không thể đánh đồng chỉ bằng một vài loại sản phẩm quy định như vậy được.

Khác xa thực tế

Theo quy định, một doanh nghiệp muốn bán đường qua sàn đối với hợp đồng giao ngay thì phải ký quỹ toàn bộ giá trị lô hàng tại kho của sàn. Khá nhiều ý kiến cho rằng, quy định này sẽ khiến doanh nghiệp ngoài việc phải gánh thêm chi phí vận chuyển đường vào kho sàn giao dịch, còn phải chịu phí lưu kho thêm 58.000 m2/tháng hoặc 17.000/tấn đường/tháng, bốc xếp 15.000 đồng/tấn/lần. Trường hợp doanh nghiệp để đường tại kho thì vẫn bị “nhà sàn” lấy tiền phí lưu ký 5 triệu đồng/người/tháng thông qua việc cử người xuống kho để quản chấp số đường đăng ký giao dịch. “Nếu không cử người xuống giám sát lô đường thì doanh nghiệp có thể bán cho nhiều người khác” - ông Phan Vũ Hùng giải thích.

Một doanh nghiệp thương mại đặt câu hỏi rằng theo quy định thì nhà sàn bảo mật lệnh mua bán. Nếu tôi ở Long An đặt lệnh mua 15 ngàn tấn đường, khi khớp lệnh mới biết đường mình mua của một nhà máy tận Hải Phòng thì cước phí vận chuyển từ ngoài đó vào trong này ai chịu? Câu trả lời của ông Hùng là “bên mua phải chịu” làm không ít người ngỡ ngàng. Theo nhiều ý kiến, việc bảo mật các lệnh mua bán chẳng khác nào đánh đố nhà đầu tư, vì giống như trường hợp ý kiến vừa nên trên, người mua sẽ không biết được ai bán đường, đường đang nằm ở đâu, nếu ở gần thì không sao, còn ở quá xa thì vô hình chung người mua sẽ phải chịu thêm khoản phí vận chuyển không đáng có.

Một nhà đầu tư ví von rằng: “Tôi ở TP. HCM, chỉ cần bỏ công một buổi sáng, chạy khoảng 30 km lên nhà máy đường Biên Hòa là có thể thoản mái lựa chọn, thỏa thuận mua loại đường nào cũng có, đôi khi nhà máy còn chở đường giao tận kho mà không tính cước. Vậy thì mất chi phải mua qua sàn cho rác rối”.

Trong khi đó, theo Sacom - STE, nhà đầu tư sàn đường chỉ có thể lựa chọn ba điểm ký gửi hàng hóa là kho ở Bình Dương, TP HCM và Long An, khối lượng khoảng 30.000 tấn. Trong khi đó, khi sàn đường mở ra, tất nhiên các lệnh mua bán sẽ thực hiện trên phạm vi cả nước, và như thế, một nhà máy ở Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An hay tận Sóc Trăng nếu muốn giao dịch thì phải chở đường lên tận ba địa điểm này để gửi bán. Nhiều ý kiến cho rằng, phương án này không khả thi, tốn nhiều chi phí. Chưa kể, khi đưa đường lên kho sàn lưu ký hoặc để tại kho doanh nghiệp, đường sẽ bị xuống cấp hoặc giao hàng không đúng với quy cách, tiêu chuẩn mẫu chào ban đầu.

Ông Phan Vũ Hùng trả lời rằng, Sacom - STE đã mời cơ quan kiểm định độc lập làm trọng tài, mọi khiếu nại về chất lượng sẽ được đơn vị này đứng ra kiểm tra một cách công bằng.

Theo Hoàng Bảy

SGTT

Chính phủ: Sẽ hạ mặt bằng lãi suất
Để đảm bảo các mục tiêu kinh tế vĩ mô, Chính phủ sẽ quyết liệt chỉ đạo chính sách tiền tệ theo hướng có lợi nhất cho nền kinh tế.

Đó là khẳng định của Thủ tướng Nguyễn Tấn Dũng tại phiên họp thường kỳ Chính phủ, đã được Bộ trưởng - Chủ nhiệm Văn phòng Chính phủ truyền đạt lại tại buổi họp báo vào chiều 1/4.

Bộ trưởng Nguyễn Xuân Phúc cho biết, tại phiên họp trước đó của Chính phủ, diễn ra trong hai ngày 31/3 và 1/4, Thủ tướng đã kết luận, dù tăng trưởng GDP quý 1/2010 tăng cao hơn cùng kỳ, nhưng vẫn thấp hơn quý 4/2009. Hơn nữa, nền kinh tế vẫn phải đối mặt với nhiều yếu tố bất lợi như: mặt bằng lãi suất ngân hàng vẫn khá cao, tăng trưởng tín dụng chậm, đầu tư nước ngoài, xuất khẩu giảm sút, nhập siêu tăng mạnh...

Đặc biệt, giá cả trong những tháng đầu năm nay vẫn tăng khá cao so với các năm trước. Trong đó, chỉ số giá tiêu dùng (CPI) tháng 3/2010 đã tăng 0,75% so với tháng 2/2010. Nếu so với tháng 12/2009, CPI tháng 3/2010 đã tăng 4,12%.

Với thực tế đó, Thủ tướng kết luận, nhìn chung kinh tế vĩ mô hiện vẫn chưa vững chắc, lành mạnh. Điều này đòi hỏi các bộ, ngành liên quan cần nỗ lực hơn nữa để hạn chế những bất lợi có thể xảy ra.

Vay ngắn hạn sẽ theo cơ chế thỏa thuận

Liên quan tới việc các doanh nghiệp có các dự án sản xuất kinh doanh vay vốn dưới 12 tháng không được hưởng lãi suất vay thỏa thuận, Phó thống đốc Ngân hàng Nhà nước Nguyễn Đồng Tiến cho biết, trong phiên họp Chính phủ trước đó, Ngân hàng Nhà nước đã đề xuất bãi bỏ quy định này.

“Về cơ bản Chính phủ đã chấp thuận và sẽ được cụ thể hóa trong Nghị quyết phiên họp tháng 3, sẽ được ban hành trong ngày 2/4”, ông Tiến cho biết.

Tuy nhiên, Bộ trưởng Nguyễn Xuân Phúc cho hay, dù Chính phủ có thông qua kiến nghị trên thì cũng chỉ áp dụng đối với những dự án hiệu quả, không triển khai một cách tràn lan.

Ngoài ra, ông Tiến cũng cho biết, hiện lãi suất tại Việt Nam là tương đối cao, chứ không hẳn như một số phân tích đã lấy lạm phát của tháng 3 so sánh với mức lãi suất rồi kết luận là lãi suất âm. Quan điểm của Ngân hàng Nhà nước là điều hành làm sao để lãi suất thực luôn luôn dương, có nghĩa là trên mức lạm phát trung bình của một thời kỳ, chứ không phải là lạm phát của một tháng hay một quý.

Do đó, theo ông Tiến, nếu tính trung bình trong một thời kỳ thì lãi suất hiện nay vẫn là dương, song nhược điểm là ở mức hơi cao.

Hơn nữa, dù tổng mức huy động vốn trong quý 1 tăng không cao nhưng bù lại là vẫn huy động được một lượng lớn vốn trong dân thông qua tiền gửi tiết kiện tăng khá cao, đạt khoảng 9%. Bên cạnh đó, các ngân hàng thương mại còn một kênh vốn nữa là từ Ngân hàng Nhà nước.

“Hiện chúng tôi đang tích cực đưa vốn vào nền kinh tế thông qua hệ thống ngân hàng thương mại bằng các nghiệp vụ, với chủ trương là tương đối “dài hơi”, có thể lên đến 3 tháng với hy vọng là sẽ giảm được lãi suất huy động trong thời gian tới”, ông Tiến nói.

Hạ dần lãi suất, tránh điều hành giật cục

Liên quan đến việc điều hành chính sách tiền tệ, tài chính, thị trường vốn, Bộ trưởng Nguyễn Xuân phúc cho biết, Thủ tướng đã yêu cầu Ngân hàng Nhà nước cần kiểm soát tốc độ tăng trưởng tín dụng và tổng phương tiện thanh toán, phấn đấu thấp hơn năm 2009, tạo mặt bằng lãi suất phù hợp với quan hệ cung - cầu vốn thị trường, theo hướng giảm dần mặt bằng lãi suất. Bảo đảm lượng tiền trong lưu thông hợp lý, phù hợp với yêu cầu phát triển kinh tế.

Thủ tướng đề nghị việc điều hành chính sách tiền tệ theo nguyên tắc thị trường và yêu cầu phải bảo đảm phù hợp với mục tiêu phát triển, điều kiện thực tế của nền kinh tế, tránh điều hành giật cục.

Bên cạnh đó, Ngân hàng Nhà nước cần kiểm soát chặt chẽ hoạt động kinh doanh của các tổ chức tín dụng; tăng cường công tác thanh tra, giám sát; rà soát, đánh giá được thực trạng hoạt động của từng ngân hàng thương mại và của hệ thống ngân hàng để chủ động có phương án xử lý kịp thời khi cần thiết.

Thủ tướng cũng yêu cầu Bộ Tài chính tăng cường kiểm tra, giám sát hoạt động của các định chế tài chính phi ngân hàng, điều chỉnh bổ sung các quy định về quản lý rủi ro và an toàn tài chính, trước hết là đối với các công ty bảo hiểm, công ty tài chính, công ty chứng khoán, quỹ đầu tư.

Nhiều vấn đề “bình thường”

Trả lời câu hỏi của VnEconomy về việc Ngân hàng Nhà nước vừa có văn bản đề nghị các chi nhánh ngân hàng nước ngoài tại Việt Nam ngừng cung cấp thông tin về khủng hoảng tài chính, suy thoái kinh tế toàn cầu, ông Tiến cho rằng, thực chất đây là một động thái rất “bình thường”.

Lý do được ông Tiến đưa ra là bởi, vào thời kỳ đầu của suy thoái kinh tế toàn cầu, tình hình đòi hỏi Ngân hàng Nhà nước phải thu thập đầy đủ, kịp thời các thông tin về tình hình thế giới.

Tại thời điểm đó, Ngân hàng Nhà nước đã yêu cầu các tổ chức tín dụng nước ngoài có uy tín trao đổi, cung cấp thông tin với Ngân hàng Nhà nước nhằm đảm bảo tính thời sự.

Tuy nhiên, theo ông Tiến, đến nay khủng hoảng cũng gần như đã qua, nên Ngân hàng Nhà nước đã có văn bản đề nghị các tổ chức này không cung cấp những thông tin đó nữa.

Ông Tiến cũng lưu ý, việc ngừng cung cấp thông tin trên là việc bình thường, song nếu ai đó xem xét không kỹ hoặc hiểu không đúng bản chất sẽ có “cảm giác” có việc gì đó bất ổn, ảnh hưởng không tốt đến nền kinh tế.

Liên quan đến việc Thủ tướng vừa yêu cầu Tập đoàn Dầu khí Việt Nam (Petro Vietnam) báo cáo kết quả đầu tư ngoài ngành, Bộ trưởng Nguyễn Xuân Phúc cho hay, hiện Chính phủ vẫn là đơn vị chỉ đạo trực tiếp các tập đoàn kinh tế Nhà nước. Do đó, việc Thủ tướng yêu cầu Petro Vietnam báo cáo kết quả đầu tư ngoài ngành là việc cần thiết để nắm rõ tình hình hoạt động sản xuất, kinh doanh của tập đoàn này, từ đó có những biện pháp cụ thể, đồng ý hay không đồng ý... Đó là việc “bình thường” trong điều hành, quản lý các tập đoàn kinh tế của Chính phủ.

"Hoàn toàn không có gì bất thường tại Petro Vietnam thông qua yêu cầu của Thủ tướng vừa qua", Bộ trưởng Phúc khẳng định.

Liên quan đến những thông tin về Tập đoàn Công nghiệp Tàu thủy (Vinashin) được công luận quan tâm thời gian gần đây, Thứ trưởng Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông Đỗ Quý Doãn cho biết, hiện Chính phủ đang chỉ đạo Thanh tra Chính phủ tiến hành các hoạt động của tập đoàn này. Sau khi công tác thanh tra kết thúc, có kết quả, Chính phủ sẽ xem xét xử lý và công bố chính thức.

Giá thép, xi măng có thể tăng cao trong tháng 4
Dự báo trong tháng Tư, giá xi măng tăng khá cao, khoảng 5%, tương đương 50.000-70.000 đồng/tấn so với tháng Ba.



Cục Quản lý giá (Bộ Tài chính) vừa đưa ra dự báo trong tháng Tư, giá xi măng, sắt, thép xây dựng sẽ tiếp tục tăng so với tháng Ba do một số chi phí đầu vào tăng như giá điện, xăng dầu...

Hơn nữa tháng Tư cũng là mùa cao điểm của xây dựng nên lượng vật liệu xây dựng tiêu thụ lớn khiến giá cũng đẩy cao so với ba tháng của quý I.

Đối với thép, Cục Quản lý giá dự báo giá thép bán trong nước cũng sẽ tăng cao trong tháng Tư và chỉ có thể ổn định trong tháng Sáu tới. Ngoài tác động của giá xăng, dầu và than, lý do thép trong nước tăng giá còn do giá phôi thép thị trường thế giới có xu hướng tiếp tục tăng theo đà hồi phục của kinh tế thế giới. Tuy lượng tồn kho của các doanh nghiệp là khá lớn, khoảng 66.000 tấn thép thành phẩm và phôi nhưng giá thép đã tăng trong tháng Ba, giá thép tăng khá mạnh: miền Bắc tăng tới 1,2 triệu đồng/tấn, miền Nam tăng 900.000 đồng/tấn.

Đối với xi măng, dự báo trong tháng Tư, giá xi măng cũng tăng khá cao, khoảng 5%, tương đương 50.000-70.000 đồng/tấn so với tháng Ba. Dù trong quý I, giá xi măng tại các nhà máy đã hai lần tăng: tháng Một, giá xi măng tăng 5%; tháng Hai, lại tăng tiếp khoảng 4% nữa.

Theo L. Thanh
Pháp luật TP. HCM

Công ty tài chính Vinaconex – Viettel đăng ký hoạt động cung ứng các dịch vụ ngoại hối
Công ty có vốn điều lệ là 1.000 tỷ đồng được thành lập bởi hai cổ đông sáng lập chính là Tổng công ty cổ phần Vinaconex và Tổng công ty Viễn thông Quân đội (Viettel)



Thống đốc Ngân hàng Nhà nước đã ký công văn số 3047/NHNN-CNH xác nhận Công ty tài chính cổ phần Vinaconex – Viettel (VVF) đã đăng ký hoạt động cung ứng dịch vụ ngoại hối trên thị trường trong nước.

Được biết, công ty VFF chính thức ra mắt vào ngày 08/08/2009, số vốn điều lệ ban đầu là 1.000 tỷ đồng.

Công ty được thành lập bởi hai cổ đông sáng lập chính là Tổng công ty cổ phần Vinaconex và Tổng công ty Viễn thông Quân đội (Viettel). Ngoài ra, còn có các cổ đông khác là Công ty Bảo hiểm ngân hàng Đầu tư và Phát triển Việt Nam (BIC), công ty cổ phần Quản lý quỹ đầu tư chứng khoán Hà Nội, các đơn vị thành viên của Tổng CTCP Vinaconex, công ty TNHH Đầu tư tư nhân Vina (VP Capital).

Theo NHNN

Hạnh Lệ

Chính phủ họp phiên thường kỳ tháng 3-2010
* Kinh tế ba tháng đầu năm chuyển biến tích cực


* Tập trung kiểm soát lạm phát


* Tiếp tục thúc đẩy phát triển sản xuất


* Họp báo Chính phủ thường kỳ




ND - Trong ba ngày 30, 31-3 và 1-4, Chính phủ đã họp phiên thường kỳ tháng 3-2010 dưới sự chủ trì của Thủ tướng Nguyễn Tấn Dũng.


Tại phiên họp, Chính phủ đã tập trung xem xét, đánh giá tình hình kinh tế - xã hội tháng 3 và quý I-2010; Báo cáo bổ sung tình hình kinh tế - xã hội năm 2009, triển khai kế hoạch phát triển kinh tế - xã hội và ngân sách Nhà nước năm 2010; Dự thảo Nghị quyết của Chính phủ về những giải pháp bảo đảm ổn định kinh tế vĩ mô, không để lạm phát cao và bảo đảm tốc độ tăng trưởng kinh tế 6,5% trong năm 2010; Công tác cải cách hành chính tháng 3-2010; Tình hình thực hiện các cam kết quốc tế của Việt Nam trong quý I-2010; Công tác thanh tra, giải quyết khiếu nại, tố cáo và đấu tranh phòng, chống tham nhũng tháng 3-2010; Tình hình thực hiện Nghị quyết phiên họp Chính phủ tháng 2-2010; Tình hình xây dựng luật, pháp lệnh quý I-2010.


Về tình hình kinh tế - xã hội tháng 3 và quý I-2010, Nghị quyết của Chính phủ về những giải pháp ổn định kinh tế vĩ mô, các thành viên Chính phủ và các đại biểu tham dự phiên họp nhất trí với các báo cáo của Bộ Kế hoạch và Ðầu tư, Bộ Tài chính, Văn phòng Chính phủ trình bày. Tình hình kinh tế - xã hội ba tháng đầu năm đã có những chuyển biến tích cực, các hoạt động kinh tế những tháng đầu năm nhìn chung diễn biến tương đối thuận lợi. Tăng trưởng kinh tế quý I-2010 đạt mức 5,83% (tăng 1,9 lần so quý I-2009). Nhiều mặt hoạt động sản xuất kinh doanh đạt mức tăng trưởng cao hơn so cùng kỳ năm 2009, trong đó, giá trị sản xuất công nghiệp tăng 13,6%; giá trị sản xuất nông, lâm nghiệp và thủy sản tăng 5,8%; tổng mức bán lẻ hàng hóa và doanh thu dịch vụ tiêu dùng tăng 24,1%. Ðầu tư phát triển tiếp tục được đẩy mạnh, tổng vốn đầu tư toàn xã hội tăng 26,23% so cùng kỳ năm trước. Các mặt an sinh xã hội bảo đảm đời sống nhân dân tiếp tục được giải quyết tốt.


Tuy nhiên, tình hình cũng xuất hiện nhiều khó khăn, thách thức, đáng chú ý là: dịch bệnh, hạn hán nghiêm trọng đang gây khó khăn đối với sản xuất nông nghiệp và sản xuất điện tại các tỉnh miền bắc; giá cả trong những tháng đầu năm tăng khá cao so với các năm trước; xuất khẩu giảm sút, trong khi nhập khẩu tăng làm cho nhập siêu bị đẩy lên cao; việc huy động vốn cho đầu tư và sản xuất kinh doanh gặp nhiều khó khăn, nhất là vốn tín dụng với lãi suất đang tăng cao khi phải vay với lãi suất thỏa thuận; hiệu quả đầu tư và hiệu quả sản xuất kinh doanh còn thấp.


Phát biểu ý kiến kết luận vấn đề này, Thủ tướng Nguyễn Tấn Dũng nhất trí với đánh giá của hội nghị, quý I-2010, kinh tế - xã hội nước ta vẫn duy trì đà tăng trưởng của những tháng cuối năm 2009. Tăng trưởng kinh tế đạt mức 5,83% là mức cao trong bối cảnh hiện nay của kinh tế thế giới. Thị trường trong nước vẫn phát triển tốt, doanh thu bán lẻ tăng 24%, khách du lịch quốc tế tăng 36% so cùng kỳ là mức tăng đáng khích lệ. Cân đối thu, chi ngân sách duy trì tốt. Ðầu tư phát triển tăng khá. An sinh xã hội tiếp tục thực hiện tốt. Chính trị - xã hội ổn định, trật tự trị an được giữ vững.


Thủ tướng Chính phủ cũng chỉ ra những khó khăn, yếu kém trong thời gian qua, đó là: Tăng trưởng kinh tế tuy cao hơn cùng kỳ năm 2009, nhưng lại thấp hơn quý IV-2009 và là quý có mức tăng trưởng thấp nhất trong mười năm qua; Các doanh nghiệp đang đứng trước khó khăn về vốn do mặt bằng lãi suất ngân hàng đang ở mức cao; Tăng trưởng tín dụng chậm, vốn FDI đăng ký mới sụt giảm. Kinh tế vĩ mô có một số biểu hiện chưa vững chắc, chưa lành mạnh, chưa ổn định, biểu hiện là CPI ba tháng qua tăng cao, nhập siêu lớn, thâm hụt cán cân thanh toán tổng thể, thị trường tiền tệ chưa ổn định, lãi suất ngân hàng không đồng nhất, méo mó.


Về những giải pháp cần thực hiện trong thời gian tới, Thủ tướng đồng ý các giải pháp đã được đề cập trong dự thảo Nghị quyết của Chính phủ, đồng thời nhấn mạnh một số giải pháp chủ yếu: Một là, tập trung kiểm soát lạm phát, điều hành tiền tệ một cách linh hoạt. Trong khi chờ Quốc hội xem xét sửa Luật Ngân hàng, Ngân hàng Nhà nước cần điều hành lãi suất ngân hàng theo hướng cho vay theo lãi suất thỏa thuận để thúc đẩy tăng trưởng tín dụng, đồng thời phải có giải pháp để kéo mặt bằng lãi suất xuống. Hiện tại tỷ giá do ngân hàng công bố và tỷ giá thị trường tự do giữa đồng Việt Nam và USD đang gần ngang bằng, cần tiếp tục duy trì ổn định tỷ giá này. Tiếp tục điều hành giá xăng, dầu theo cơ chế thị trường nhưng phải giám sát chặt chẽ việc điều chỉnh tăng giá, sao cho không gây tâm lý đẩy giá lên theo. Ổn định giá điện, than trong năm 2010. Tăng cường giám sát giá cả, các tập đoàn kinh tế, tổng công ty lớn cần gương mẫu chấp hành kỷ luật giá, không tăng giá tùy tiện. Kiểm soát giá thép và giá xi-măng, giá thuốc chữa bệnh, giá đường, sữa... không để xảy ra "sốt" giá. Khuyến khích đầu tư xã hội, đồng thời kiểm soát chặt đầu tư công và đầu tư của DNNN. Hai là, hạn chế nhập siêu và bảo đảm cán cân thanh toán. Tập trung đẩy mạnh xuất khẩu, bên cạnh đó tìm giải pháp hữu hiệu giảm nhập khẩu những mặt hàng không cần thiết. Cải thiện tình hình thu hút vốn FDI, thúc đẩy giải ngân vốn FDI và vốn ODA. Tìm giải pháp giảm tỷ lệ găm giữ ngoại tệ tại DN và dân cư. Ba là, thúc đẩy sản xuất phát triển. Tập trung tháo gỡ khó khăn vướng mắc để đẩy mạnh sản xuất kinh doanh cả công nghiệp, nông nghiệp và dịch vụ. Bốn là, làm tốt công tác thông tin tuyên truyền, không tạo ra sự hoảng loạn, tâm lý kỳ vọng trong xã hội. Các bộ, ngành, địa phương cần chủ động thông tin đầy đủ, chính xác, kịp thời cho báo chí. Năm là, làm tốt công tác chỉ đạo, điều hành của Chính phủ, các bộ, ngành và địa phương. Hơn lúc nào hết, cần có sự phối hợp và hợp tác chặt chẽ giữa các cơ quan chức năng để cùng hoàn thành nhiệm vụ được giao.


Tại phiên họp này, Chính phủ cũng đã dành nhiều thời gian xem xét một số vấn đề theo thẩm quyền và tờ trình một số dự án luật, pháp lệnh: Báo cáo quyết toán ngân sách Nhà nước năm 2008; Chiến lược an sinh xã hội giai đoạn 2011 - 2020 và Ðề án Hệ thống an sinh xã hội với cư dân nông thôn giai đoạn 2011 - 2020; Báo cáo sơ kết thí điểm không tổ chức HÐND huyện, quận, phường; Dự thảo Nghị định quy định sửa đổi, bổ sung Nghị định số 107 hướng dẫn thi hành Luật Cư trú; Dự thảo Nghị định xử phạt vi phạm hành chính trong lĩnh vực giao thông đường bộ áp dụng thí điểm đối với một số vi phạm ở khu vực nội thành Hà Nội và TP Hồ Chí Minh; Báo cáo về việc xác định địa bàn ưu đãi thuế, ưu đãi đầu tư khi chia, tách hoặc nâng cấp đơn vị hành chính cũ; Dự thảo Nghị quyết của Ủy ban Thường vụ Quốc hội về ban hành biểu thuế suất thuế tài nguyên; Chương trình xây dựng luật, pháp lệnh năm 2011; Dự thảo Dự án Luật Bảo vệ người tiêu dùng; Dự thảo Dự án Luật Viên chức; Dự thảo Luật Ngân hàng Nhà nước Việt Nam (sửa đổi) và Luật Các tổ chức tín dụng (sửa đổi).


* Chiều 1-4, tại Hà Nội, Văn phòng Chính phủ tổ chức Họp báo Chính phủ thường kỳ dưới sự chủ trì của Bộ trưởng, Chủ nhiệm Văn phòng Chính phủ Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. Cùng dự có đại diện các bộ: Thông tin và Truyền thông, Kế hoạch và Ðầu tư, Tài chính, Công thương, Giao thông vận tải, Ngân hàng Nhà nước. Tại cuộc họp, Bộ trưởng Nguyễn Xuân Phúc đã thông báo những nội dung chính của Phiên họp Chính phủ thường kỳ tháng 3-2010, và cùng với đại diện lãnh đạo các bộ, ngành trả lời câu hỏi của các phóng viên liên quan vấn đề: chỉ số giá tiêu dùng, điều hành giá xăng, dầu hiện nay, giá thép tăng, lãi suất cho vay, xuất nhập khẩu, quy hoạch Thủ đô Hà Nội, tăng mức xử phạt đối với các hành vi vi phạm Luật Giao thông đường bộ ở Hà Nội và TP Hồ Chí Minh...

BÁO CÁO NHANH ĐẦU TƯ TRỰC TIẾP NƯỚC NGOÀI 3 THÁNG NĂM 2010


TT Chỉ tiêu Đơn vị tính 3 tháng năm 2009 3 tháng năm 2010 So cùng kỳ

1 Vốn thực hiện- triệu USD 2,200 - 2,500 - 113.6%
2 Vốn đăng ký- triệu USD 7,373 - 2,139 - 29.0%
2.1. Cấp mới- triệu USD 3,235 - 1,924 - 59.5%
2.2. Tăng thêm- triệu USD 4,138 - 215 - 5.2%
3 Số dự án -
3.1. Cấp mới- dự án 235 - 139 - 59.1%
3.2. Tăng vốn- lượt dự án 80 - 41 - 51.3%

Vietnam-South Africa Trade Promotion
Updated at: Thursday, April 01, 2010 8:51:17 AM
VEN) - The South African Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, coordinating with the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC), held a Vietnam-South Africa bilateral trade and investment promotion workshop on March 18 in Ho Chi Minh City. Do Thi Kim Lien, Honorary Consul of South Africa in Ho Chi Minh City, said at the workshop that there will be many programs, including seminars/conferences, promoting trade to South Africa, which are expected to help Vietnamese businesses to find more information about the South African market and look for opportunities to trade with this market.



Adriann du Pisan, First Secretary of South African Embassy in Vietnam, said that Vietnam and South Africa have many opportunities to cooperate with each other but still lack information about each other. Many countries choose South Africa as a gateway to penetrate into the African market, as South Africa has developed infrastructure and a dynamic, market-oriented economy, he added.
South Africa has a high demand for rice, coffee and medicinal herbs and wants to cooperate with other countries in the fields of technology transfer, skilled workforce, and investment in food and drug processing facilities. South Africa wants to export wines, gold, silver and gemstones.
Pisan said that South Africa imports coffee from Brazil and sees that Vietnamese coffee has opportunities to penetrate into the South African market because it has a price that is more reasonable than that of Brazilian coffee. He said that imports to South Africa must satisfy rather high technical and quality standards, while some imports including pharmaceuticals must satisfy as high standards as those required in the US and the EU.
South Africa buys machinery, equipment and farm produce from Germany, Japan and China. Last year, South Africa imported goods worth US$67.93 billion, more than 11 percent of which come from China, while imports from Vietnam amounted to only US$218 million.
In May 2010, a delegation of Vietnamese businesses, which are partially invested by SCIC, will go to South Africa to look for business opportunities. The businesses are expected to meet with representatives of some banks in South Africa to learn about mode of payments that can be used when they do business with partners in South Africa.
Pisan said that South Africa has a developed banking system, and that many world leading banks are present in South Africa.
Nguyen Hong Chuong, Deputy Director of Saigon Sundries Export Import Joint Stock Company, said that there is not yet a direct connection between Vietnamese and South African banks so payment between Vietnamese and South African partners remains unfavorable. Getting paid in advance is a mode of payment that a number of Vietnamese businesses choose when selling goods to South Africa, he said./.
By Hoang An

AFD's 100 Million Euro Credit for Vietnam
Updated at: Friday, April 02, 2010 3:40:01 PM
(VEN) - Vietnamese Deputy Finance Minister Tran Xuan Ha, French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Francois Girault and French Development Agency (AFD) Hanoi Director Alain Henry concluded an agreement on March 29 in Hanoi, regarding 100 million euro worth of credit from AFD for the Public Investment Reform Program in Vietnam.


This credit, together with the World Bank's US$500 million loan concluded at the end of 2009, will be funneled into the program in form of the State Budget. It is expected that the WB and the AFD will continue to finance the program in 2011.
With the credit concluded in March 29, AFD's total official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam since 1994 has amounted to almost 1.1 billion euro./.
Minh Duc

Infrastructure Construction Needs More FDI
(VEN) - "The investment promotion programs of this year focuses on infrastructure construction including urban traffic and transport system, electricity network, ports and energy…" said Nguyen Thi Bich Van, the deputy director of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment in the interview with Vietnam Economic News' reporter.



Would you please tell us about the investment promotion programs implemented by the Foreign Investment Agency in 2010?
This year, besides regular investment promotion programs, many investment promotion programs at national lever will be implemented to celebrate great events. For example, on the occasion the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Germany, a general investment promotion forum will be opened in Germany. Another investment program will be launched in Japan on the subject of attracting foreign investment in infrastructure construction and PPP (Public and Private Partnership) application to Vietnam. Vietnamese government is planning to apply PPP model to infrastructure construction. In addition, there are some small investment promotion programs with other countries and regions such as ASEAN, American Korea and Taiwan.
What regions and fields does Vietnam focus on in 2010 investment promotion program?
The main subject of investment promotion this year is infrastructure construction including urban traffic and transport system, electricity network, ports and energy… Accordingly, we will only focus on the countries with technical, technological and financial potential such as Japan, America and EU countries. In addition, the newly emerging countries in the Middle East which have strength in constructing entertainment areas and real estate will be listed. If their investment brings benefits to the country, we will consider.
Do you mean that the projects of real estate will be taken into consideration?
It can be said that currently, real estate has been attracting special attention of investors. In the first two months of 2010, the projects with the largest capital belong to this field. This means that investors still find real estate attractive. Real estate can be considered the strength of Vietnam. However, there are some projects that go against the government's policies and break overall project. Therefore, to solve the problem, the Ministry of Planning and Investment will ask local authorities to hand in reports on real estate projects already approved. Accordingly, the ministry will create favorable conditions to the projects that follow the government's policies. The projects implemented with the purpose of land occupation or capital mobilization will be corrected./.
By Nguyen Hoa

Vietnam Central Bank: Vietcombank Can Raise Capital To VND13.22 Trillion
HANOI -(Dow Jones)- The State Bank of Vietnam said Friday it has allowed Vietcombank (VCB.VH) to raise its registered capital to VND13.22 trillion ($692.4 million) from VND12.1 trillion.

The central bank didn't provide a timetable for the capital hike.

Vietcombank targets pretax profit of VND4 trillion this year. It reported pretax profit of VND5.69 trillion last year. http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/vietnam-central-bank-vietcombank-raise-capital-vnd-trillion/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxbusiness%2Flatest+(Text+-+Latest+News)&utm_content=Yahoo+Search+Results

Vietnam Central Bank: Vietcombank Can Raise Capital To VND13.22 Trillion
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/vietnam-central-bank-vietcombank-raise-capital-vnd-trillion/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxbusiness%2Flatest+(Text+-+Latest+News)&utm_content=Yahoo+Search+Results

Where were "hakz2007" born?

^^I am from the Philippines. I am a Filipino by birth and by blood. :okay:

I just want to contribute here in Vietnam Forum :cheers:

^^I am from the Philippines. I am a Filipino by birth and by blood. :okay:

I just want to contribute here in Vietnam Forum :cheers:

oke.thaks hackz2007!

I just want to contribute here in Vietnam Forum :cheers:
why do you want to contribute here in vietnam forum?can you speak and write Vietnamese ?

Vietnam High-Quality Products & Exports Fair in Cambodia
VEN) - A Vietnam high-quality products & exports fair will take place from April 3-7 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, following the permission from the Cambodian Ministry of Trade and under the coordination between the Business Support Associates (BSA), the Vietnam High-Quality Products Club, the An Giang Trade Investment Promotion Center and the Vietnam Commodities Company.



For years now, the border trade between An Giang and Cambodia has increased, with import-exports making up about 70 percent of total border trade between Vietnam and Cambodia./.
MP

Morocco – Vietnam Agreement on Investment Encouragement and Protection should be signed soon [02/04/2010]
http://www.moit.gov.vn/vsi_portlets/UserFiles/Image/3__.jpg
According to the Vietnam News Agency, on 25 Mar 2010, Ms Latifa Akherbach, Secretary of State to the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation received Vietnamese ambassador Cao Xuan Than after presenting a copy of President Nguyen Minh Triet’s credentials at her ministry’s headquarter.

At the reception, Ms Latifa Akherbach expressed her desire that Morocco and Vietnam would sign an agreement on investment encouragement and protection soon and organize the second session of the two countries’ joint committee. She also wanted to acquire, exchange experience with Vietnam in the fields of forestry, aquaculture, educational cooperation and cultural exchange in order to share the values of each nation, together promote cooperation for the development and prosperity of the two nation’s people.

Regarding the two countries’ relationship, Ms Latifa Akherbach stressed that Vietnam and Morocco have fine political ties, many similarities and a young team of human resources with great potentials. The two countries have successful coordination at multilateral forums as well as in South – South cooperation.

Ms Latifa Akherbach expressed her pleasure at the economic cooperation results that the two countries have gained after the first session of their joint committee, stressing that the Moroccan government. She stressed the Moroccan government’s special interest in the nitrogenous fertilizer project of PetroVietnam (DAP), hoping that it would be implemented in 2011.

Ambassador Cao Xuan Than made a review of Vietnam’s achievements in the past time, highlighting the successful constraint of the impacts of the global economic – financial crisis; the social security; the economic growth and the incessantly increasing prestige and position of Vietnam. He believed that the Vietnam – Morocco every-aspect relations would be enhanced and fostered in the time to come.

Vietnam Trade Office in Morocco

^^I cannot speak and write Vietnamese.

First high-quality NPK fertiliser plant inaugurated
The Huu Nghi Fertiliser Plant, a joint venture between Vietnam and China was put into operation in Thanh Hoa province yesterday.

The high-quality NPK plant, the first of its kind in the northern region, was built at a cost of more than US$8 million contributed by the Ham Rong Joint Stock Corporation, the Shanghai Research Institute of Chemical Industry and the Kunming Chemical Fertiliser Co. Ltd.

The plant equipped with computerised production lines will use environmentally friendly technology to produce 100,000 tonnes of high-quality NPK fertiliser each year. (VNA)http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/business/030410/business_df.htm

Over VND 100 billion for packaging plant in Bac Lieu
Nhan Dan – The preparation for the construction of a packaging plant was discussed by the representatives of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) and the People’s Committee of Bac Lieu province yesterday.

The plant is expected to be built in the Tra Kha Industrial Park in ward 8, Bac Lieu town with an annual design capacity of 20 million of assorted packaging products and a total investment capital of VND 100 billion.

It is invested by the Petrovietnam General Services Joint Stock Corporation and the Petrovietnam Chemical and Fertiliser Corporation.http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/business/030410/business_o.htm

First sugar trading floor opens
The Saigon Thuong Tin Commodity Exchange Company (Sacom-STE) has opened the country’s first sugar trading floor in Ho Chi Minh City.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Nguyen The Vinh, chairman of Sacom-STE, said the floor would offer a modern trading system, fair competition, and price insurance.

It would also help traders obtain update information about both global and domestic sugar prices, and provide transport and storage for its clients, he added. (VNA)http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/business/030410/business_frs.htm

VN, Myanmar boost cooperation in key domains
20:00 | 02/04/2010
VGP – Vietnamese PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and Myanmar PM Thein Sein were unanimous that the two countries should deepen their bilateral cooperation in such key fields as agriculture, finance-banking, aviation, telecommunications, petroleum, mining, construction and trade.
http://news.gov.vn/Uploaded_VGP/nguyenxuanhong/20100402/TTg.JPG
In his talks today with the Myanmar counterpart, General Thein Sein, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng confirmed this support for Myanmar’s “Seven-step roadmap of democratization” toward a free general election this year.

The Vietnamese leader stressed that Việt Nam wants to further consolidate the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Myanmar.

He suggeThe two PMs agreed to promote cooperation in such keynote fields as agriculture, industrial crop cultivation, fisheries, finance-banking, aviation, telecommunications, petroleum, mining, automobile assembling, construction, trade and investment.

The leaders pledged to turn green light for competent agencies to negotiate for new agreements on forestry, visa exemption, defense, rubber planting, mutual recognition of product quality certification, and import tax incentives.

They agreed to strengthen coordination within ASEAN, subregional and international forums.


The talks were wrapped up with a joint statement on cooperation between Việt Nam and Myanmar.



Later, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and PM Thein Sein witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreements on investment, agriculture, fisheries, banking, international roaming and telecommunications services; and opening the direct Hà Nội–Yangon air route
sted the two sides exchange more high-ranking visits and better the performance of such cooperative apparatus as the Joint Committee and the Foreign Ministry Political Consultations.

PM Dũng expressed his hope that this visit would bring the bilateral relationship to a new plane and create a new breakthrough in economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

He took the occasion to inform the Vietnamese Government’s decision to found the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Myanmar.
http://news.gov.vn/Uploaded_VGP/nguyenxuanhong/20100402/TTg1.jpg
The two PMs agreed to promote cooperation in such keynote fields as agriculture, industrial crop cultivation, fisheries, finance-banking, aviation, telecommunications, petroleum, mining, automobile assembling, construction, trade and investment.

The leaders pledged to turn green light for competent agencies to negotiate for new agreements on forestry, visa exemption, defense, rubber planting, mutual recognition of product quality certification, and import tax incentives.

They agreed to strengthen coordination within ASEAN, subregional and international forums.


The talks were wrapped up with a joint statement on cooperation between Việt Nam and Myanmar.



Later, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and PM Thein Sein witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreements on investment, agriculture, fisheries, banking, international roaming and telecommunications services; and opening the direct Hà Nội–Yangon air route
http://news.gov.vn/Uploaded_VGP/nguyenxuanhong/20100402/TTg2.JPG
The visit to Myanmar was made by Vietnamese PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng at the invitation of Myanmar PM, General Thein Sein.



Earlier, PM Dũng had a similar visit in August 2007

VN strives to lower interest rates, curb inflation
07:10 | 02/04/2010
VGP – The Vietnamese Government will take concrete measures to curb inflation, decrease interest rates and start applying the Petrol Price Stabilizing Fund, government officials answered the press during the Government’s Regular Meeting of March yesterday (April 1).

Besides, Việt Nam will also focus on maintaining its macro-economic stability and thriving for a growth pace of 6.5% this year, Minister- Chairman of the Government Office Nguyễn Xuân Phúc reported.

He further explained the strategies which the Government has adopted to fulfill the pre-set targets, such as allowing financial institutions and borrowers to negotiate for interest rates of commercial loans for effective projects, launching the the Price Stabilizing Fund or delaying tax payments to adjust petrol price, maintaining the current prices of electricity and coal sold for the power generation, and tightly controlling the prices of strategic products such as cement, sugar and steel.

The Government also appointed an inter-sectored inspection team to inspect projects that use the State budget, and to stop allocating capital to ineffective projects.

Deputy Governor Nguyễn Đồng Tiến of the State Bank of Việt Nam said that banks will soon apply negotiated interest rates for short-term loans to support effective production or business projects. This means banks will not be subjected to the current loan interest rate cap of 12% a year.

The State Bank was assigned by the Government to propose measures to slash down the loan interest rate which is still high and causes difficulties for both banks and enterprises.

“The bank is currently discussing measures to supply capital for the market in a long-term manner such as the conducting open market operations and re-financing, while controlling unsound competition and maintaining monetary trust to lower interest rates in the coming time,” Mr. Tiến stressed.

Relating to the “release” of the Petrol Price Stabilizing Fund, a legal document was issued by the Ministry of Finance to stop traders from raising petrol prices but permit them to use the fund to offset losses, Deputy Minister of Finance Trần Văn Hiếu said.

The Ministry has proposed the Prime Minister to extend the interval between price adjustments from 10 days to 30 days. It also urged major petroleum trading enterprises to slash prices if the world prices drop. And in case of the world prices suddenly surge, they should report the two ministries of Finance, and Industry and Trade, he continued.

“Prices of petroleum products in Việt Nam are not high now,” the Deputy Minister said, “the current retail prices of RON 92 in Việt Nam stands at VND 16,900 per liter, meanwhile the figure in Singapore is VND 24,158, Laos VND 16,970, Cambodia VND 19,864, Hong Kong VND 35,272 and China VND 19,072,” Mr. Hiếu said.

By Ngọc Vân

VN targets 6.5% GDP growth in 2010
VGP – Việt Nam will focus on mobilizing its internal resources, maintaining its macro-economic stability, restraining high inflation and thriving for a growth pace of 6.5% this year, stated PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng at the Government’s regular meeting of March 2010
http://news.gov.vn/Uploaded_VGP/nguyenxuanhong/20100401/HopCP.JPG
Top Government leaders preside over the Government’s March regular meeting held in Hà Nội from March 30 to April 01, 2010 - Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc
During the 3-day meeting, government leaders have fruitfully reviewed the nation’s socio-economic performance in the first quarter while drafting new development plan for the rest of the year.

The Cabinet also centered their discussions on numerous bills and legal documents.

VN’s economy saw good leap

Reports show that the nation’s GDP in Q1 of this year stood at 5.83%, increasing 1.9 times against the same period of last year.

The major sectors contributing to this leap are industry, agriculture and service with the production turnovers increased at 13.6%, 5.8% and 6.64% respectively.

In addition, State budget collection until March 15 reached 20% of the set target, investment value increased by 26.23% against the same period of last year, and social welfare were secured.

Macro-economic stability remains a top priority

The government leaders paid more attention to discussing on how to stabilize the macro-economy as the Consumer Price Index continued to witness a raise. At the same time, bank interest rate was still high, credit growth was slow and foreign investment decreased.

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng especially turned the red light on macro-economic instability which was visibly shown in the high trade gap and the imbalance of foreign currency reserves. Not to mention, the effectiveness of investment and production was still not powerful enough to counter international and domestic competition.

The PM urged his inferiors to join hands in curbing inflation, maintaining its macro-economic stability, thriving for a growth pace of 6.5% this year, preventing natural disasters and bringing stability to people’s life.
http://news.gov.vn/Uploaded_VGP/nguyenxuanhong/20100401/HopCP1.JPG[/IMG
The Government’s March regular meeting held in Hà Nội from March 30 to April 01, 2010 reviews the nation’s socio-economic performance in the first quarter while drafting new development plan for the rest of the year - Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc
Revitalizing performance for higher efficiency

The State Bank was assigned to control the growth pace of credit, and to smooth the interest rate in order to meet the demand of market. It has to regulate the monetary circulation and the credit loan in accordance with the pre-set development targets and the current economic actualities.

“The State Bank needs to avoid jumpy management,” the PM said.

The State Bank will collaborate with the Ministry of Finance to supervise all operations of credit organizations and non-banking institutions in order to secure financial safety.

The Government chief suggested the credit expansion to effective projects, agriculture, export, small and medium enterprises, and import of products which are not yet made at home.

[IMG]http://news.gov.vn/Uploaded_VGP/nguyenxuanhong/20100401/HopCP2.JPG
PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (L) discussing with Deputy PM Phạm Gia Khiêm (R) at the Government’s March regular meeting held in Hà Nội from March 30 to April 01, 2010 – Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc
Controlling the trade gap

PM Dũng also requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other related agencies to speed trade promotion, help enterprises surf for new export markets, produce more exports and products which can replace the imported ones, and attract more investors.



Particularly, the PM urged ministries to avoid the consecutive hikes of petrol price while maintaining the current electricity price for the rest of this year.



By doing so, ministries expect to be keen in managing their fields, keeping up with and analyzing the world and national situations, then putting forth timely solutions for better socio-economic performance.


By Trinh Nguyễn

VN wants to promote economic ties with Central Asia
13:32 | 03/04/2010
VGP – Vietnamese Deputy PM Hoàng Trung Hải and a delegation of the Government of Việt Nam today start official visits to two Central Asian countries, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
http://news.gov.vn/Uploaded_VGP/nguyenxuanhong/20100403/HTH.jpg
The visits aim at enhancing high-ranking contacts, seeking for chances of cooperation and investment between Việt Nam and these countries.

As planned, Deputy PM Hải will meet senior leaders of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

He will also preside over some investment conferences and have meetings with the host business communities.

Some important trade events relating to petroleum cooperation between Việt Nam and the two countries are organized on this occasion.

* Uzbekistan and Việt Nam founded the diplomatic ties on November 17, 1992. The two countries have penned some economic agreements.

Their inter-governmental committee for economic, trade, scientific and technical cooperation was established.

In December 2003, Uzbekistan launched a direct air route linking Tashkent and Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City.

* Azerbaijan and Việt Nam reached bilateral diplomatic relationship on September 23, 1992. They have maintained good cooperation in culture, education and industrial development. Thousands of Vietnamese students have been trained in Azerbaijan.

By Hoàng Nguyên

Aquaculture to get major boost from first nation festival
CAN THO, April 5 (PNA/VNA) -— Viet Nam's first aquaculture festival will take place in the city of Can Tho from April 24-27.

With 20 main events, the festival will illustrate the theme "Vietnamese Aquaculture: Potential for Development and Integration."

"This is a major socio-economic and cultural event to honor the values and contributions of this industry to the Vietnamese economy," said To Minh Gioi, vice chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee and organizer of the event.

It will be a celebration for aquafarmers, fishermen, scientists, businessmen and aquaculture enterprises, as well as a major attraction for tourists in Can Tho and the whole of the Mekong Delta. It will demonstrate the power and potential of Vietnamese aquaculture in creating an internationally recognized trademark in the future.

Gioi said that the festival would begin around the same time as the inauguration of Can Tho Bridge, the longest in Southeast Asia, over the River Hau. He also said that the festival's main events would have tremendous cultural and economic values.

"The 2010 Vietnamese Aquaculture Fair will include a display of aquaproducts, new technology and prizes for individuals and enterprises that have made outstanding contributions to the development of Vietnamese aquaculture," he said.

Festival organizers said that 200 enterprises from 25 provinces had registered for more than 350 booths to be on display during the festival.

Along with the festivities, forums will also be held with topics such as improving the quality of Vietnamese aquaculture products, integrating into international economy, and policy making to boost the development of aquaculture.

Luong Le Phuong, deputy minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that Vietnamese aquaculture still faced the challenge of increased international competition as a result of international integration.

"The festival's forums will provide meaningful solutions to increase the competitiveness of Vietnamese aquaproducts," he said.

Phuong's ministry said that aquaproducts were one of Vietnam's key products besides rice and vegetables. Vietnamese aquaculture benefits from the country's 3,000-km shoreline and currently covers 1,110,000 ha.

Annually, aquaculture is responsible for billions of dollars of the nation's exports reaching US$ 4.3 billion in 2009. That figure is expected to exceed $ 4.5 billion in 2010. Aquaculture remains Viet Nam's most promising and productive industries. (PNA/VNA) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=4&sid=&nid=4&rid=267903

Mở rộng cơ chế thỏa thuận: Dấu hỏi về biến động lãi suất
MINH ĐỨC
13:43 (GMT+7) - Thứ Hai, 5/4/2010


Lãi suất ngân hàng có biến động mạnh, thậm chí leo thang khi cơ chế trần được gỡ bỏ?



Dự kiến trong tuần này, Ngân hàng Nhà nước sẽ bắt tay xây dựng văn bản hướng dẫn việc thực hiện cho vay các khoản ngắn hạn theo lãi suất thỏa thuận, theo định hướng Chính phủ đã đưa ra tại phiên họp thường kỳ tháng 3 vừa qua.

Đầu ra được mở, cả ngắn hạn và trung dài hạn, trần lãi suất huy động cũng chờ đợi được gỡ bỏ để tạo điều kiện cho các ngân hàng cân đối trong hoạt động.

Nhưng mối quan tâm lúc này là khi có cơ chế mở đó, lãi suất trên thị trường liệu có tạo ra những biến động mạnh, thậm chí leo thang như từng diễn ra nửa đầu năm 2008?

Trả lời báo chí tuần qua về khả năng này, Thống đốc Ngân hàng Nhà nước Nguyễn Văn Giàu, cho rằng lãi suất huy động và cho vay của các ngân hàng thương mại hiện đang ở mức cao, xét theo lãi suất thực dương và khả năng hấp thụ của nền kinh tế. Ngân hàng Nhà nước đã và đang thực hiện nhiều biện pháp đồng bộ để ổn định lãi suất thị trường theo xu hướng giảm dần.

Cụ thể, nhà điều hành đã và đang tích cực hỗ trợ thanh khoản đối với ngân hàng thương mại với kỳ hạn dài hơn, khối lượng lớn hơn so với trước đây; hỗ trợ thông qua tái cấp vốn và hoán đổi ngoại tệ; chỉ đạo các ngân hàng thương mại Nhà nước giữ vai trò chủ đạo trong cung ứng vốn và điều chỉnh lãi suất giảm dần phù hợp diễn biến nền kinh tế.

Về phía ngân hàng thương mại, TS. Nguyễn Trí Hiếu, thành viên Hội đồng Quản trị độc lập của Ngân hàng An Bình (ABBank), cho rằng “việc Ngân hàng Nhà nước sẽ bỏ trần lãi suất huy động và bỏ luôn cả trần lãi suất cho vay ngắn hạn là một quyết định được thị trường tài chính chào đón và hoan nghênh”.

Ông Hiếu nhận định: với quyết định bỏ lãi suất trần cho cả cho vay ngắn hạn và huy động tiền gửi của dân chúng và doanh nghiệp, mặt bằng lãi suất được dự đoán sẽ tăng cao và có tác dụng trực tiếp đến hoạt động của các ngân hàng. Ngân hàng có thể thu hút một lượng tiến nhàn rỗi đáng kể của dân cư và doanh nghiệp vì lãi suất huy động cao, đồng thời cũng thuận lợi hơn khi cho vay vì không bị kiềm chế trên danh nghĩa bởi mức lãi suất trần.

“Trên phương diện vĩ mô, điều này giúp thị trường ngân hàng trở nên minh bạch hơn, đóng góp cho sự cạnh tranh lành mạnh trên thị trường ngân hàng”, ông Hiếu nói.

Tuy nhiên, đại diện ABBank cũng đặt vấn đề về lo ngại từ việc bỏ trần có thể đẩy mặt bằng lãi suất lên ngoài tầm kiểm soát. Và theo ông Hiếu, điều này có thể xảy ra, nhưng nếu để thị trường tự điều tiết thì sau một thời gian biến động sẽ tìm được điểm quân bình (equilibrium). Vai trò của Ngân hàng Nhà nước lúc này không còn mang tính can thiệp hành chính, mà mang tính chỉ đạo dựa vào các công cụ của chính sách tiền tệ như thị trường mở, lãi suất chiết khấu, dự trữ bắt buộc để điều tiết thị trường và hướng thị trường đến lãi suất mục tiêu.

Cũng theo đại diện này, “một điều đáng lo ngại khác là các doanh nghiệp vì thiếu vốn nên phải vay ngân hàng, nhưng thực tế nhiều doanh nghiệp thua lỗ vì phải trả lãi quá cao. Vì thế, về lâu dài Ngân hàng Nhà nước phải tìm cách đưa mặt bặng lãi suất xuống một mức hợp lý hơn, qua việc điều chính cung tiền. Lãi suất cho vay hiện nay quá cao, bất lợi cho các doanh nghiệp vay vốn từ ngân hàng. Mặt bằng lãi suất cho vay cần phải được giảm xuống dưới 10%/năm để các doanh nghiệp có khả năng trả lãi đồng thời tạo lợi nhuận cho chính mình, một tiền đề cho sự lành manh của cả nền kinh tế”.

Cùng quan điểm trên, TS. Lê Thẩm Dương, Trưởng khoa Quản trị Kinh doanh – Đại học Ngân hàng Tp.HCM, cho rằng việc mở cơ chế lãi suất thỏa thuận đối với các khoản vay ngắn hạn là “quá đúng” và lẽ ra nên triển khai sớm hơn; việc “thả” lãi suất tiền gửi trước sau rồi cũng thực hiện.

“Những điều chỉnh này là quá đúng, thậm chí đến giờ mới thực hiện là hơi trễ. Vì sao? Vì trước đó anh phải nói dối. Anh cho vay ngắn hạn nhưng chỉ cần “lách” thêm 1 ngày là thành trung hạn để theo lãi suất thỏa thuận. Thứ hai, cần thực hiện cơ chế đó để mạch máu vốn được thông suốt”, TS. Lê Thẩm Dương bình luận.

Yêu cầu mà chuyên gia này đặt ra là cần xem xét việc thực hiện những điều chỉnh trên trong bối cảnh mới. Theo ông, nếu năm 2008 là năm căng thẳng chống lạm phát, năm 2009 là năm tập trung cho tăng trưởng GDP, thì năm 2010 là năm của cân đối hai mục tiêu giữ lạm phát ở mức chấp nhận được và hỗ trợ tăng trưởng ổn định. Từ đây, chính sách tiền tệ cần xem xét để nới lỏng hơn và phối hợp đồng bộ với các giải pháp khác.

TS. Dương phân tích: “Tất nhiên khi “thả” lãi suất thì sẽ lo biến động, leo thang. Nhưng thị trường sẽ điều chỉnh. Ngân hàng Nhà nước điều tiết thông qua việc nới lỏng chính sách tiền tệ ở mức độ nhất định, tăng cung tiền, tăng hỗ trợ qua thị trường mở… Bên cạnh đó cần phối hợp chặt chẽ với việc kiềm chế giá cả các mặt hàng trọng yếu như thời gian qua; cần xem xét lại chỉ số ICOR để kiểm soát và tăng cường hiệu quả đầu tư …

Tôi tin rằng chủ trương Chính phủ vừa đưa ra sẽ thực hiện thành công. Ngân hàng Nhà nước sẽ điều tiết cùng các ngân hàng thương mại hạ mặt bằng lãi suất. Chứ lãi vay 18%/năm thì tỷ suất lợi nhuận của công ty phải khoảng 25% mới đảm bảo sinh lãi, mấy công ty nào chịu được những mức lãi suất cao như thế?”.

Tất nhiên, chuyên gia này cho rằng việc hạ lãi suất và nới lỏng chính sách tiền tệ cũng ở mức độ nhất định, cân bằng với mục tiêu chống lạm phát. Và theo ông, năm nay nếu giữ được lạm phát khoảng 9% đã là một thành công.

Exports of Lo Ren star apples increase sharply
Updated at: Monday, April 05, 2010 2:54:18 PM

There are not enough Lo Ren star apples to export and their price is increasing sharply, said Nguyen Van Ngan, chairman of the Lo Ren Vinh Kim Cooperative on April 5.



Currently, the cooperative purchases Lo Ren star apples at a GlobalGAP standard for VND45,000 per kilogram, up VND12,000 compared to last month. Despite the price hike, supplies are running short to meet export contracts.
Mr Ngan said that the Rong Do Trade and Services Company has an order for 1.5 tonnes of star apples to be shipped to the UK but the co-operative can only supply 300 kilogram.
The cooperative is planting 55.3ha of star apples meeting the GlobalGAP standard with an expected annual output of 400 tonnes. It also plans to expand its orchards to 100ha in the near future.
Since early this year, the cooperative has exported nearly 10 tonnes of star apples to the UK and Canada./.
Source VOV

US basa fish market plan unveiled
http://www.pna.gov.ph/images/untitled.bmp

AN GIANG (PNA/VNA) -— Leading US importers of premium-frozen seafood Mazzetta and Amanda will implement a cooperation program with Vietnam-based animal feed manufacturer Proconco to boost exports of basa fish to the US market.

At a meeting with the ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Foreign Affairs, the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department, and local farmers in the Mekong province of An Giang last month, the three companies unveiled the "From Farm to Table" concept that underlies the co-operation program.

The program will choose a Mekong province to be a pioneer in applying the integration concept including high quality feed, standardization of farming activity, use of approved processing factory, and establishing product brands.

The model will later be expanded across the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.

Proconco will invest in researching and developing the model to ensure the quality of fish feed. It will also support farmers with farming and processing technologies to meet the requirements of customers in North America.

Once the new model succeeds, Mazzetta would increase the imports of Vietnamese tra and basa fish from the current 600 tons to 1,000 tons per month, the company said. During the meeting, the group also made recommendations on how Vietnam could deal with the US Farm Bill.

According to the group, Farm Bill is already in place but the details of the law have not yet been determined. The details of this law will regulate the requirements tra and basa farming in Vietnam will have to meet to be able to export to the US market.

Howerver, according to industry experts, this is not a reasonable law as pangasius and catfish in the US are different species and both have different farming practices.

As long as the details of the law have not been finalized, Vietnam still has the chance to work with the US to make it fair for the Vietnamese industry.

This required Vietnam be more active and display urgency in responding to US action.

Tom Mazzetta, founder and CEO of Mazzetta, said the company shared similar concerns with Vietnam about the new trade barrier. Coming to Vietnam to talk about it was a proactive action taken by the company in this regard, he said.

He said the company had advised Vietnamese authorities to take quick action to deal with issues raised by the Farm Bill.

He added Mazzetta and Amanda will also try to persuade the US government to reconsider tax rates and trading difficulties facing the export of tra and basa fish to the US. (PNA/VNA) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=11&sid=&nid=11&rid=267904

Vietnam Fights To Recover and Attract FDI
Updated at: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 9:05:56 AM


(VEN) - According to the latest report from the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in the first three months of 2010, registered foreign investment in Vietnam totaled US$2.14 billion. This amount came from 180 projects, which includes the capital from ongoing and newly licensed projects. This figure is equal to nearly 30 percent of the amount of foreign capital that Vietnam attracted during the first quarter of 2009.



In the first quarter of 2010, Vietnam granted licenses to 139 foreign investment projects that were worth US$1.9 billion in registered capital, and allowed 41 projects to increase their capital by a total of US$215 million.
The leadership of FIA said that although the amount of capital from newly licensed foreign investment projects during the first quarter of 2010 equaled only 59.5 percent of the amount from the same period in 2009, the attraction of US$1.9 billion was a success when numerous difficulties are considered.
FIA's report shows that since the beginning of 2010, Vietnam has attracted foreign investment from 25 countries and territories. Of those, the US had the most total registered capital, accounting for US$979.8 million, or 45.8 percent of total foreign investment in Vietnam. The Republic of Korea came in second with total registered capital of US$584.8 million (27.3 percent), and the third position went to Singapore that had US$146.7 million (6.9 percent) in registered capital.
Notable newly licensed projects include the Skybridge Dragon Sea (US), which plans to build a complex of conference and exhibition halls. Other projects include a real estate trading center in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province with total investment capital of US$902.5 million, the project to build an underground petrol and oil depot at the Dung Quat Economic Zone worth US$340 million, the project of the Daewon-Binh Khanh Company Limited to do business in the real estate market in Ho Chi Minh City worth US$120 million, the property trading project of CZ Slovakia Vietnam worth US$100 million, and the project of Promenada Canany (Thailand) to build and operate a trade center building that has a total investment of US$95 million.
In the first quarter of 2010, about US$2.5 billion of foreign investment capital was disbursed, which was an increase of 13.6 percent compared with the first three months of 2009. This was an impressive accomplishment for relevant State authorities to promote the disbursement of the investment capital of licensed projects.
In the first three months of 2010, the export revenue of foreign invested companies (including oil and gas companies) was estimated to total US$8 billion, which was 29.6 percent higher than figures from the first quarter of 2009. If oil and gas are not included, foreign invested companies exported about US$6.68 billion worth of products, which was an increase of 40.5 percent compared with the revenue from the first quarter of 2009.
Regarding Vietnam's policies to attract foreign investment, Nguyen Thi Bich Van, the deputy director of the FIA, said that in the past, the Vietnamese Government has taken huge steps to boost administrative reform and improve the investment environment. The Government has promulgated the Investment Law and many documents guiding the implementation of investment procedures. Administrative procedures have been simplified to facilitate the implementation of investment projects. So, in terms of policy, Vietnam can compete with other countries in the region in attracting foreign investment. However, to attract more foreign investment, Ms. Van says that Vietnam must improve the enforcement of the laws and regulations in this field, especially at the local level./.
By Nguyen Hoa

Garment exports top estimates in Q1
HA NOI, April 6 (PNA/VNA) -— The country's exports of garments and textiles surged to higher than expected in the first quarter of the year to reach roughly US$ 2.25 billion, up 18 per cent over the same period last year, according to the Viet Nam Textile and Apparel Association.

The association had forecast that the industry would hit $ 2.16 billion in the first three months.

The association attributed the high growth to the global economic recovery, prompting orders to increase.

The association's chairman Le Quoc An expected that industry growth would continue throughout the year as many domestic apparel exporters have had large orders up to the third quarter. Some had even received orders for the year end.

An said that apparel producers and exporters were increasing production to meet the deadlines for these orders.

With Q1's results, An forecast that the industry would meet its export target of $ 10.5 billion this year, up 12 per cent over last year.

To meet the target, the apparel industry is focusing on revamping production to reduce production costs and the application of advanced technology to raise productivity and competitiveness.

However, An admitted that the industry must address the shortage of workers quickly, particularly at industrial parks and export processing zones.

To deal with the shortage, An said, the association would continue to encourage its members to relocate their factories to provinces and rural areas where they could employ more workers.

The apparel industry last year was among the country's major export earners despite the impacts of the global economic slowdown. It earned the country $ 9 billion, a decrease of 1.3 per cent over the previous year. The US last year remained the largest importer of Viet Nam's garment and textiles with an import turnover of $ 4.9 billion, making up 55 per cent of the industry's export revenue. (PNA/VNA) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=268147

Vietnam's import of pharmaceutical products goes up in 1st 2 months
HANOI, April 6 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Vietnam spent US$ 151.37 million on importing pharmaceutical products in the first two months of this year, an increase of 6.6 percent year-on-year, according to the information center of Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade on Tuesday.

In February, the country's import of pharmaceutical products went down 31 percent month-on-month to US$ 61.77 million.

Vietnam imported pharmaceutical products from a lot of markets in the first two months such as India, France, Germany and South Korea, said the center.

In this period, India was the largest supplier of pharmaceutical products to Vietnam with the value standing at US$ 24.57 million, up 30.8 percent over the same period last year.

France ranked second with US$ 25 million earned from shipping this commodity to Vietnam in the January-February period, said the center.

Last year, Vietnam paid US$ 1.1 billion on purchasing pharmaceutical products to serve its domestic demand, up 27 percent over the previous year, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam. (PNA/Xinhua)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=268298

Vietnam Lures Intel, Samsung as Asean Woos Companies From China

April 7 (Bloomberg) -- Vietnam hosts Southeast Asian leaders this week as chair of their 10-nation bloc, shining a spotlight on the political and economic stability that prompted Intel Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. to increase investments.

The communist nation drew 13.5 percent of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ foreign direct investment pool in 2008, up from 4.4 percent two years earlier, according to the 10-member group.

And its allure may be rising, judging from a December survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. Vietnam is a preferred destination for businesses looking to relocate from China, Asia’s biggest investment recipient, the report said.

“A lot of companies from a strategic standpoint are looking at how to set up a production facility within Asean,” said James Lockett, a Hanoi-based lawyer with Baker & McKenzie LLP and a board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam. “In a lot of product areas, Vietnam looks very, very attractive for people who are doing that.”

Vietnam’s economy expanded 5.2 percent last year, the most in Asean, which has signed free-trade accords with China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The deals give companies access to those countries and the Asean member states of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Asean is home to about 600 million people and its populations are among Asia’s youngest.

Asean leaders meeting April 8-9 in Hanoi will issue a statement on climate change and define a “road map” to form an economic community modeled on the European Union by 2015. In March, Asean trade ministers said they would travel to the U.S. to promote the group as an economic hub.

Obama Visit

The region’s growing economic importance was underscored when President Barack Obama became the first U.S. leader to meet formally with the bloc in November.

Santa Clara, California-based Intel, the world’s biggest chipmaker, is scheduled to open a $1 billion testing facility in Ho Chi Minh City this year that will employ about 4,000 people. Intel chose Vietnam because of its proximity to customers, reliable power and water supply and skilled workers, said Nick Jacobs, Intel’s regional spokesman.

“Vietnam is a country which is very committed to education, and that gives us confidence we will continue to attract the talent we need for long-term success,” he said.

Toyota produced 28,000 vehicles in Vietnam last year, up from 18,000 in 2007, spokesman Paul Nolasco said. The Toyota City, Japan-based company had 1,300 employees in Vietnam, more than double the number in 2005, he said.

‘Potential Growth’

“Toyota recognizes not only the potential growth of that market but the potential role the Vietnamese economy can make in broader Southeast Asia,” Nolasco said. Toyota produced more than 6 million vehicles globally in 2009.

Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s second-biggest maker of mobile phones, opened a $1 billion factory in Vietnam six months ago. Redmond, Washington- based Microsoft Corp. outsources digital animation and modeling for its computer games to Vietnam.

While Vietnam’s one-party state and its jailing of more than a dozen democracy activists since October have drawn criticism from groups like Human Rights Watch, some regard it as a model of stability. They contrast it with Thailand, where demonstrators have shut airports and blocked streets in sometimes violent political protests.

‘Political Stability’

“There is a measure of political stability” in Vietnam, Rodolfo Severino, Asean’s former secretary-general, said by phone from Singapore. “If I were an investor I would bet my money on it.”

The number of foreign companies in China with plans to relocate plants inland or outside the country because of rising costs doubled last year, according to a survey of 202 foreign manufacturers by the American chamber. The poll found 8 percent of respondents reported plans to relocate or expand outside of China compared with 28 percent considering moves to lower-cost areas in southwest or central China.

In the short term, Vietnam’s inflation rate, among the world’s highest, caused the country to fall last year in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report. Consumer prices rose 9.46 percent in March, the biggest gain in a year.

Fitch Ratings placed Vietnam’s debt rating on a negative watch last month. Vietnam “has been making positive structural changes to increase its investment attractiveness,” Prakriti Sofat, a Singapore-based economist for Barclays Capital, wrote in a report last month.

Rising Yuan

Banks such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc. predict China will allow its currency to appreciate amid pressure from U.S. lawmakers, reducing its attractiveness to exporters. The yuan will rise to 6.66 per dollar by the end of September, New York- based Goldman said in an April 1 research note.

While some CEOs in China have called for a stronger yuan, its rise would trim profit margins of exporters and push textile and furniture makers into bankruptcy, Zhang Wei, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade based in Beijing, said March 18. Vietnam’s dong has fallen 7 percent against the dollar in the past year.

Top FDI Attractors
Updated at: Thursday, April 08, 2010 8:52:10 AM
(VEN) - Of all foreign direct investment (FDI) projects and capital in Vietnam, 61 and 52.7 percent, respectively, are found in the southeastern region (including Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces). These four provinces are among the 10 biggest FDI attractors in the country.



Ba Ria-Vung Tau attracted an FDI capital of US$12 billion in 2008 and US$6.8 billion in 2009. In the first two months of this year, the province licensed two projects - the Dragon Sea international exhibition and convention center in Vung Tau and Cantavil - Long Hai Resort in Long Hai, which have a total registered capital of more than US$922 million. So far this year Ba Ria-Vung Tau has fulfilled almost 50 percent its 2010 FDI target (US$1.975 billion).
Apart from tourism and real estate construction and trade that have attracted a large number of FDI projects, the provincial industrial sector lured many investors thanks to technical infrastructure- (including seaport) related advantages. Many projects, including container, nitrogenous fertilizer and oil and gas ports, have been accelerated.
Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Planning and Investment director Le Kim Huong said that this year Ba Ria-Vung Tau is determined to improve the quality of foreign investment or increase the amount of invested capital in the province.
Many foreign businesses, including world leading groups like Timken from the US and Toyota from Japan came to Dong Nai province in the first two months of 2010 to look for business opportunities. This year Dong Nai will continue working to attract investors that are leading economic groups, which are strong in technology, finance and market approach to reach its target of attracting US$1.5 billion in FDI in 2010.
Dong Nai province people's committee chairman Vo Van Mot said that FDI and foreign indirect investment capital plays a very important role in promoting socioeconomic development in the local region. This is why the province wants to attract leading economic groups that are strong in technology, finance and market approach while encouraging investment in hi-tech industries like mechanical engineering, electronics production, information technology and telecommunications, he said. The province will also promote investment in financial and service industries and infrastructure development projects, the chairman said. Although Dong Nai wants to attract as much investment capital as possible, it will not welcome projects that harm the environment, Mot said.
In 2009, Binh Duong province attracted an additional 99 FDI projects totaling US$2 billion in registered capital while seeing 125 FDI projects increasing their capital by US$446 million. Binh Duong always ranks first among provinces and cities nationwide in terms of invested capital. To reach its target of attracting more than US$1 billion in FDI in 2010, Binh Duong has sped up the construction of infrastructure, including central wastewater treatment systems, in province-based industrial zones. When licensing a project, the province gives priority to projects that have a big scale and modern technology and are environmentally friendly. Binh Duong continually improves its investment environment and promptly solves problems that are difficulties for investors while creating favorable conditions for investors to do good business.
The top FDI attractor in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is expected to attract US$8.4 billion in FDI in 2010. In previous years, FDI in the city were concentrated on labor-intensive industries. The city now is encouraging investment in service and hi-tech industries. Continually promoting administrative reform, Ho Chi Minh City is highly attractive to foreign investors especially those operating in the fields of real estate, information technology, consultancy and industry.
This year the city will prioritize high quality workforce development for electronic, software and automation industries to satisfy investors' increasing demand for skilled labor force./.
By Mai Phuong

UPI Strives for World-class Quality
Updated at: Thursday, April 08, 2010 8:59:15 AM
(VEN) - Nowadays, most of the Vietnamese people are so familiar with the well known products of United Pharma (Vietnam) Inc (UPI) such as Decolgen, Alaxan, Enervon, Obimin and Atussin which are among a list of 47 products in its current portfolio. UPI is the subsidiary of Unilab Group, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Southeast Asia and Indo-China.



In Vietnam, UPI is known as a foreign investment enterprise with excellent business performance in the pharmaceutical field and outstanding social contributions as well. To honor this achievement, UPI has so far received six golden dragon awards granted by the Ministry of Planning & Investment's Foreign Investment Agency from 2003-2009, one of the business excellence awards given to top quality companies in the country.
After 15 years in Vietnam, UPI has established its business so well that it now has two offices, with a head office in Ho Chi Minh City and a branch office in Hanoi.
UPI is also proud to be one of few foreign enterprises to have a factory certified by WHO - GMP/GLP/GSP, ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14000 and OSHAS in Binh Chanh district, Ho Chi Minh City. This is one among its 10 pharmaceutical plants in Southeast Asia, a feat that even other multinational companies do not possess. It shows that UPI meets not only local quality standards but also global quality standards, as well. According to Mr. Benny Caleda, general director of UPI, to meet growing demands for local and overseas markets, this year UPI will start constructing a new factory in the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in Binh Duong. The capital investment, employment opportunities for local community and exports to other countries from this plant augurs well for the contribution of UPI to the growing economy of Vietnam. Furthermore, the world class quality standard of this plant will considerably propel the good image of Vietnam as a quality manufacturer for the global community.
UPI's big brands have been accepted well in the Vietnamese market. Rightly so, these are the same products that are highly trusted in other countries in the region. It is but fitting, therefore, that brands like Decolgen, Alaxan, Nutroplex, Enervon, Obimin, Atussin and Hydrite, have become market leaders in their respective categories, making UPI a top ranking pharmaceutical business in the country today.
UPI has also launched its new products to cater to "lifestyle" health problems. To help reduce the harmful effects of high cholesterol, alcohol, sugar, fat and calories in the diet of urbanites, UPI launched new product lines under the umbrella of pharmacoenomics, which to date comprise eight products that serve MD's who switched to prescribing high quality cardio-vascular and anti-diabetes products, that are at almost half-priced compared to the originators. These innovations in its business model have contributed significantly to the company constant growth in the ethical segment as evinced in 2009, increasing by more than 40 percent compared to 2008.
"We would like to improve the quality of life of people at all social classes. By using these products, people can have access to more affordable long term compliance medicines, without compromising on quality, safety and efficacy," said Mr. Benny Caleda, general director of UPI.
But there exist bigger challenges that pharmaceutical companies face in the market today. According to Mr. Benny, "At present, the presence of counterfeit medicines not only affects our sales but also seems to confuse people whose health may be at risk with these low quality false products." To prevent it, pharmaceutical manufacturers need to work together by respecting NOIP guidelines and closely monitor prevalence of fake or pseudo-copy products. On the government side, authorities should carry out stricter policies and information campaigns to make pharmacies and the general public aware of this problem.
To spread awareness of the importance of good health, UPI gives back to community through its "public medication programs" where education and product dissemination are provided free to the general public. Corporate social responsibility programs are regularly conducted with the MOH (ie "Benevolent Hands" and HIV campaign), engaging in charity clinic missions in deprived communes, building new "Happy House, Healthy Homes" for communities in need, sponsoring health worker/medical students and health facility donations for orphanages and homes for the elderly. UPI's commitment is not just limited to providing medicines but more importantly, taking an active part in improving the quality of life together with all the "health partners" concerned. This is in line with UPI's corporate philosophy that is summed up in the company vision of "United for Health, United for Life"./.
By Thu Ha

Mở rộng cơ chế thỏa thuận: Dấu hỏi về biến động lãi suất
MINH ĐỨC
13:43 (GMT+7) - Thứ Hai, 5/4/2010


Lãi suất ngân hàng có biến động mạnh, thậm chí leo thang khi cơ chế trần được gỡ bỏ?



Dự kiến trong tuần này, Ngân hàng Nhà nước sẽ bắt tay xây dựng văn bản hướng dẫn việc thực hiện cho vay các khoản ngắn hạn theo lãi suất thỏa thuận, theo định hướng Chính phủ đã đưa ra tại phiên họp thường kỳ tháng 3 vừa qua.

Đầu ra được mở, cả ngắn hạn và trung dài hạn, trần lãi suất huy động cũng chờ đợi được gỡ bỏ để tạo điều kiện cho các ngân hàng cân đối trong hoạt động.

Nhưng mối quan tâm lúc này là khi có cơ chế mở đó, lãi suất trên thị trường liệu có tạo ra những biến động mạnh, thậm chí leo thang như từng diễn ra nửa đầu năm 2008?



No Vietnamese, just English.:bash:
Pls use the language as the title shows.

HCMC Seeks Increased FDI
Updated at: Friday, April 09, 2010 9:37:21 AM
VEN) - From beginning of the year to March 15th, 68 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with registered capital of US$378 million and legal capital worth US$61.6 million were approved in Ho Chi Minh City.



Ho Chi Minh City hopes to attract US$8.4 billion in FDI this year.
Among these 68 FDI projects, nine projects worth US$11.6 million were invested in industrial sectors, 16 projects worth US$16 million were invested in commerce, 10 projects worth US$6.5 million were involved with construction, two projects worth US$20.5 million were working with transport and telecommunication, and 28 projects worth US$315.5 million were invested in real estate and consultancy. Money has been pouring into Ho Chi Minh City from investors from 18 countries and territories composing nine Korean projects capitalized at US$122.7 million, nine Singaporean projects at US$27.3 million, eight Japanese projects at US$5.5 million, eight Hong Kong projects at US$2.6 million, five Taiwanese projects at US$18.4 million, six British projects at US$89.6 million, one Slovak project at US$100 million…
In addition, 14 projects are aiming to raise US$22 million in capital. Hence, by March 15, there were 3,604 projects worth nearly US$27.8 billion running, accounting for 365 projects worth about US$1.4 billion more than the same period in 2009.
To enhance investment quality, the city is focusing on attracting FDI in value added industries including mechanics, automation, bio-technology, information technology and new materials. The Sai Gon High-tech Park (SHTP) focuses on high-tech production (microchips, information technology and communication), research and development (R&D) and high-tech services. In addition, an expert's accommodation project will be carried out by SHTP in 2010. Besides the SHTP, other industrial parks are creating favorable conditions to attract investments, especially investment in value added fields.
Nguyen Trung Tin, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee said that to facilitate investment, the city is improving its ground clearance capacity at industrial zone such as Tay Bac Industrial Zone, Thu Thiem Industrial Zone, and Hiep Phuoc Industrial Zone. A number of projects that will be ratified soon include the Tay Bac Cu Chi Urban Zone that will be managed by the Capital Group Companies and capitalized with US$2 billion and a project by the Lotte Korean Corporation capitalized at US$2 billion. With an increasing flow of investments, Ho Chi Minh City is confident that it will reach its target of US$8.4 billion in FDI.
In order to reach this target, the city is implementing several solutions including inviting bids for five essential land zones in district 1 and enhancing foreign investment promotion programs to attract investors from countries with strong financial and technological resources and multinational corporations.
In the coming time, both direct and indirect investments will play a very important role in the city's socio-economical development. The city will continue to pursue high-tech and financial projects, and service-oriented and infrastructure projects, but absolutely refuses to invest in projects that harm the environment. Administrative renovation and improving human resources and transport infrastructure are the city's primary priorities./.
By My An

Dong Nai increases durian exports to US
Updated at: Monday, April 12, 2010 3:43:19 PM


The Dong Nai provincial Biological Development Technology Company (Donatechco) has signed a contract to export 15 containers of durian fruit to the US market, said Nguyen Phu Cuong, the company’s managing director.



This is the second year that his company has exported durian to the US. It only shipped 300 tonnes to the market even though the US wanted Donatechco to sign a long-term contract and become its exclusive distributor, Cuong added.
The Dona durian was selected by Donatechco and bred from Thailand’s Mong Thon durian after a contract between the company and local farmers was agreed several years ago.
The company has so far invested more than VND30 billion to help 6,000 local households in disadvantaged and mountain areas grow the fruit. It has also held courses to train farmers in the necessary.
This year, these households are expected to harvest almost 2,000 tonnes of durian fruit.
Last year, the company exported 15 tonnes of durian to the US and received good feedback about products’ quality. In 2008, it also sold 20 tonnes of the fruit to Shenzhen in China./.
Source VOV

Import-export Value Grows
Updated at: Monday, April 12, 2010 2:50:40 PM
(VEN) - Data from the Bac Ninh Statistical Office show that in the first three months of 2010, the export revenue of financially independent companies in the province totaled US$218.8 million, 5.7 times higher compared with the first three months of 2009. The combined export revenue of foreign invested companies was US$202.31 million (92.5 percent of the total), 25.9 times higher than in the first quarter of 2009.



Samsung Electronics Vietnam that manufactures mobile phones for export to the Middle East has become a key exporter of Bac Ninh province.
Revenue from the export of advantageous products of Bac Ninh increased but accounted for just a small percentage in the total export revenue of the province. Meanwhile, revenue from mobile phone exports (manufactured by foreign invested companies) accounted for 78.8 percent of the province's total export revenue in the first quarter of 2010.
In the early months of 2010, many companies in Bac Ninh province imported a large volume of production materials, machinery and equipment. In late March 2010, 79 financially independent companies in the province were involved in import activities, 36 companies more than in late March 2009. In the first quarter of 2010, the expenditure on imports of these companies totaled an estimated US$254.2 million, 5.8 times higher compared with the same time of 2009. The import value of all economic sectors increased, and that of the foreign invested sector grew 25.9 times.
The import of most kinds of products increased in terms of both volume and value, for example, plastic imports increased eight times in volume and 9.3 times in value, paper 7.2 times in volume and 35 times in value, steel and iron 276.6 percent in volume and 371.2 percent in value, textiles and garments 317.8 percent in value, machinery and equipment 258.5 percent in value./.

Conference To Boost Vietnam-France Relations
Updated at: Monday, April 12, 2010 2:39:14 PM


(VEN) - The France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV) and the France-Vietnam Friendship Club will jointly sponsor the conference "Vietnam progresses into the future" in May in Paris.



This conference is designed for businesses, local authorities, high-ranking officials, associations, researchers and other organizations and individuals in France that are interested in Vietnam and want to help develop France-Vietnam relations.
The conference will discuss Vietnam's present and future position in the international arena, while providing information about Vietnam's economic development, advantages, stable politics, administrative procedures, potential industries, and measures to strengthen external and political relations between the two countries.
High-ranking French officials including Paul Jean-Ortiz, director of the French Foreign Ministry's Bureau for Asian and Oceania affairs, and the chairman of the France-Vietnam Friendship Team in the Parliament are expected to attend the conference./.
Thanh Thanh

GE Oil & Gas Signs MOU Agreement with Petrovietnam

http://www.ge.com/ge_images/monogram.gif

WASHINGTON, Apr 12, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- GE Oil & Gas, a world leading provider of advanced-technology equipment and services to the oil and gas industry, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam), the Government of Vietnam wholly owned company responsible for all oil and gas resources in the country and the third largest oil producer in South East Asia.

The MOU was signed today by Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thap, vice president of Petrovietnam and Mr. Marco Caccavale, North America region, general manager of GE Oil & Gas, in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, prime minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam during his visit to Washington D.C.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thap: "This agreement will accelerate our already successful cooperation with GE Oil & Gas, reinforcing our long-term partnership to benefit the efficient development of oil and gas resources in Vietnam. We are confident that GE Oil & Gas will continue to play an important role in helping Petrovietnam contribute to the national and regional economy."

Mr. Claudi Santiago, president & CEO, GE Oil & Gas said: "We are honored to sign this MOU with Petrovietnam, already a highly valued partner to GE Oil & Gas. Our agreement sets out a clear basis for continued successful cooperation in the coming years. We are dedicated to supporting the continued development of oil and gas resources in Vietnam and are capable of delivering technologically advanced projects of significant scale to meet the growing energy needs of Vietnam and the region".

The MOU outlines the principles and basis of long-term collaboration between GE Oil & Gas and Petrovietnam regarding the supply of advanced oil and gas equipment, services and spare parts to optimize the total life-cycle value of key oil and gas projects.

Specifically, the signed MOU creates a framework to improve future transactions based on standardized contractual terms, conditions and manufacturing slot reservations, and provides for potential future cooperation on new oil and gas technologies, technical support on projects and advanced skills development and training, including access to GE's world-class management practices in 'Lean' and 'Six Sigma', designed to improve productivity and workforce effectiveness.

GE Oil & Gas has a strong local presence in Vietnam in Hanoi and in Ho Chi Minh City for turbomachinery and drilling and production equipment and services support respectively. GE Oil & Gas provides advanced technology equipment and services to several high-profile projects in Vietnam, such as the BP Pipeline, Dung Quat Refinery, Phu My Refinery, Caumau Fertilizer and Vietsovpetro.

The MOU will enable GE Oil & Gas to more effectively partner on other potential large-scale projects with Petrovietnam, including Petrovietnam's Nghi Son Refinery, Long Son Refinery, Chevron Block B Off-Shore development and the Long Son Petrochem Complex.

About GE Oil & Gas

GE Oil & Gas (www.ge.com/oilandgas) is a world leader in advanced technology equipment and services for all segments of the oil and gas industry, from drilling and production, LNG, pipelines and storage to industrial power generation, refining and petrochemicals. We also provide pipeline integrity solutions, including inspection and data management. As part of our 'Innovation Now' customer focus and commitment, GE Oil & Gas leverages technological innovation from other GE businesses, such as aviation and healthcare, to continuously improve oil and gas industry performance and productivity. GE Oil & Gas employs more than 12,000 people worldwide and operates in over 100 countries.

About GE

GE (GE 18.83, +0.31, +1.69%) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, health care solutions and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

About GE in Vietnam

GE has been active in Vietnam since 1993, supplying products such as commercial aircraft engines, aircraft leasing, locomotives, turbines (gas, steam, hydro and wind), generators, gas compressors, diagnostic equipment, electrical and electronic equipment, lighting and water treatment chemicals. In addition, GE Money, a provider of consumer financing services, established an office in Hanoi in August 2006. Now with approximately 100 employees in the country, GE also contributes to local communities through organizations such as the GE Foundation, which grants scholarships to university students in Vietnam and GE Volunteers in Vietnam, which supports local social projects.

About Petrovietnam

The Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation was created in May 1995 by the prime minister as a state-owned corporation, with its acronym as Petrovietnam for international transactions; the former operation was the Vietnam Oil & Gas Company under the Vietnam Oil and Gas Company (Petrovietnam) from 1975. In August 2006, the corporation was restructured by the prime minister to become the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam). The Vietnam Oil and Gas Group has expanded its businesses in major heavy industrial fields such as exploration and production, refining, gas, petrochemical, marketing and trading, maritime and logistics and finance. For more information, please visit www.pvn.vn.

SOURCE: GE Oil & Gas

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ge-oil-gas-signs-mou-agreement-with-petrovietnam-2010-04-12?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Vietnam's export of bamboo, rattan products down in first two months
HANOI, April 12 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Vietnam earned US$ 31.5 million from exporting bamboo and rattan products in the first two months this year, a year-on-year decrease of 78 percent, according to the information center of Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade on Monday.

During this period, Vietnamese bamboo and rattan products including lacquer wares, sedge-made products and carpets were exported to 17 countries and regions across the world, said the center.

Germany was the biggest importer of Vietnamese rattan products in this period with import turnover of US$ 4.5 million, up 0.63 percent year-on-year.

The United States came second with import turnover of US$ 4.3 million, up 8.16 percent year-on-year. The followings are Japan, the Netherlands and Australia, said the center. (PNA/Xinhua)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=269381

No Vietnamese, just English.:bash:
Pls use the language as the title shows.

Can't you read Vietnamese?

I found this interesting. You guys enjoy~ :)

Robert D. Hormats
Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs
Foreign Trade University
Hanoi, Vietnam
April 12, 2010
As prepared for delivery

http://www.state.gov/img/10/37147/hormats_vietnam_200_1.jpg

Good afternoon. I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to visit and speak at the Foreign Trade University today. Thank you, Dr. Chau for the invitation to address this distinguished institution and engage in a discussion with such an impressive group of students.


You come to this school with different backgrounds and experiences. Some of you are studying economic policy, some are learning languages, and others will be entrepreneurs. As you know, education is a priority in the U.S.-Vietnam relationship and I hope some of you will have the opportunity to study in the United States as a part of your overall education. But no matter what path you’ve chosen, all of you will have a role to play in shaping the bright future of this country and the world.

This is a time of great opportunity and great promise for Vietnam. Today, Vietnam is riding the tide of economic prosperity. By any measure, the growth of this economy has been impressive. Real GDP has grown an average of 7.2 percent per year over the last decade. This growth provides an opportunity for growing numbers of people to share in the promise of better lives and greater opportunities.

VIETNAM-U.S. RELATIONS

But this is also an exciting time for the relationship and partnership between the United States and Vietnam. In 2010, we celebrate 15 years of diplomatic relations between our two nations. Together, the United States and Vietnam provide a great example of how partnerships in the 21st century can move us all forward in cooperation. The United States is committed to strengthening our partnership with Vietnam as a key pillar of our presence in this region and of our involvement in multilateral institutions in the Asia-Pacific area, like ASEAN and APEC.

We are proud to have played a role in helping to support Vietnam’s transition to a more open economy. Not only have our two countries signed an historic bilateral trade agreement, but this agreement has increased trade more than 700%, from just over $2 billion in 2001 to nearly $16 billion in 2009. The United States is now one of Vietnam’s most important export markets.

These economic ties have a real, meaningful impact that’s not only good for millions of our citizens, but also for businesses. Our strengthening economic relationship has supported and enhanced our expanding bilateral ties in a multitude of other areas as well: from cooperation in education, health, and the environment, to engagement in previously more sensitive areas, such as security and law enforcement.

We’re planning to carry this momentum forward as we continue to negotiate a new bilateral investment treaty. This is a win-win situation, which will further deepen our economic relationship and assist Vietnam’s efforts to attract more foreign investment.

Vietnam’s increasingly market-oriented approach also has lead to accession as the 150th member of the World Trade Organization. And it has advanced our cooperation in addressing economic and legal reform issues through the U.S-Vietnam Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). We’re using this forum to increase transparency, reduce barriers to trade, and strengthen intellectual property rights protection. This greater openness and legal certainty has, in turn, helped attract U.S. companies’ investment in Vietnam’s dynamic markets.

With a thriving market of 86 million, a track record of healthy trade and stable growth, it is no wonder that Vietnam has been at the center of some of our most recent economic initiatives to engage with the Asia Pacific region.

Vietnam’s leadership as the Chair of ASEAN this year is another great example. Yours is an “action-oriented” chairmanship, pursuing ASEAN integration goals by 2015, including the ASEAN Customs National Single Window Initiative. And the United States looks forward to advancing its regional cooperation with Vietnam and other ASEAN partners. Our aim is to play a re-energized role in Asia. Our commitment is strong and enduring, because it is based profoundly on our national interests.

Just last month, the United States and Vietnam, together with six other partners, completed the first round of talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) regional free trade agreement. Teams from all eight TPP countries have begun progress toward a high standard, 21st-century agreement that can serve as a potential platform for economic integration across the Asia-Pacific region.

We hope that this trade agreement would be a natural next step to strengthening the vibrant U.S.-Vietnam economic relationship. And we’ll continue to do our part. Under President Obama’s National Export Initiative, Vietnam will be one of the priority markets for promoting commercial ties. Our efforts to identify new market opportunities for U.S. companies under this initiative will further promote U.S. trade and investment. And we know that Vietnam will wish to further promote its trade with the United States.

As we look ahead, the United States wants to continue to strengthen and expand its ties with Vietnam to further enhance its continued positive role as an emerging economy and responsible trading partner. And that’s where all of you come in. As the future government and business leaders of Vietnam, you will be working on the front lines to shape your nation’s history. Vietnam is a country with a rich and deep culture. For example, I had the pleasure during my last fisit of going to the Temple of Literature—a very impressive institution. Having travelled around your country, I have been deeply impressed by the energy, talent, entrepreneurship and creativity of your people. In the years ahead, these will enable you to be a very successful participant in the global economy. The United States is ready and willing to be a strong partner in supporting your efforts to continue modernizing your economy -- and address issues of climate change, intellectual property protection, and developing new standards for labor.

While your nation has embraced the complexities of economic governance and regulation, your ability to continue your economic advancement also depends on your willingness and capacity to increase transparency and expose corrupt practices at all levels. Vietnam’s products and the way they are made should stand for quality and integrity in the eyes of the world.

And while the relationship between Vietnam and the United States has never been stronger, deeper, and more constructive, our differing views on human rights also have the potential to make progress in some areas more difficult. We say this as friends and supporters with a deep belief that further unleashing the talents of the Vietnamese people will be a source of greater prosperity and dynamism.

We are committed to continuing a frank and open dialogue and on these issues. We deeply believe in the benefits that a free media, including open areas of the internet, and functioning civil society can provide in meeting the myriad challenges that come with a modernizing economy. But we also recognize that these are decisions Vietnam has to make for itself. As a sovereign nation with a great tradition, we cannot presume to lecture Vietnam on what is in its best interests. We can only speak from beliefs that we deeply hold about our own principles.

We are also open to discussion on areas of economic reform that present challenges to investors here in Vietnam. In particular, we are concerned that the new price control regime currently under consideration as an inflationary control measure would discourage both foreign and domestic investment. More importantly, where price controls have been tried, they do not work—and cause long-term distortion that last for years and are difficult to unwind. Please look at the experiences f other countries before you on embark on that path. We encourage Vietnam to address these difficult challenges in line with the market-oriented approach of the past decade.

As Vietnam grapples with all of these challenges, we applauded it for the plans it has already set in motion to move this agenda forward in the coming years. That goes for Vietnam’s initiative to adopt a National Target Plan for climate change as well. Acknowledging the need for low-carbon economic growth will be critical to reducing the harmful impact of the climate crisis on the environment. This is an issue which grows tougher and more complicated with each uptick of the global thermostat. We are grateful that the United States and Vietnam share a commitment to study, mitigate and adapt to climate change. Vietnam’s efforts to address this serious challenge have resulted in valuable research and knowledge-sharing partnerships such as the U.S.-Vietnam Climate Change Working Group and will improve the physical and economic wellbeing of people in both countries. Faced with the challenges of developing diverse energy sources -- from biofuels and wind energy, to oil & gas and nuclear energy -- Vietnam has recognized the need to advance energy projects that will address the long-term energy demands of a thriving economy.

And Prime Minister Dung’s National Project 30 plan to simplify administrative procedures, promises to improve the business environment for domestic and foreign investors alike. So it is an exciting time in the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral economic relationship. We look forward to building on our common goals and using the strength of our relationship to frankly and openly address areas where we may face disagreement or challenges. Our goal is to work through these issues and continue to move forward toward a growing cooperative partnership. Thank you.

Source: http://www.state.gov/e/rls/rmk/2010/140077.htm

http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/news/130410/images/image006.jpg
Vietnam is an important partner of the US in its relations with the region and with ASEAN, said US Vice Secretary of State Robert D. Hormats.

The statement came during talks on April 12 between the Vice Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Hanoi.

During the function, both sides informed each other of the latest developments in bilateral relations between Vietnam and the US , agreeing that they are faring well in various areas, especially economics, trade and investment.

Deputy PM Khiem said there is a lot of potential for both countries to develop their across-the-board relations.

He also informed Vice Secretary of State Hormats of the results of the 16th ASEAN Summit which just concluded in Hanoi.

He said US co-operation with the ASEAN is highly valued and expressed the wish for its continued support for Vietnam as chair of the bloc in order to promote peace, stability and prosperity for the Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific regions.

On the same day, the US diplomat had meetings with Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc; Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien and the Foreign Minister’s Assistant Pham Quang Vinh where they discussed measures to further boost bilateral relations as the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam-US diplomatic ties is approaching. (VNA)
Source: Nhan Dan
http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/news/130410/domestic_us.htm

Vietnam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Asia-Pacific region and its tourism industry has been growing unprecedentedly over the past few years. In 2009, despite the global recession, the travel and tourism industry is estimated to have contributed 13.1% of the GDP to the Vietnamese economy. Being a source as well as destination market, the Vietnamese tourism industry has grown nearly twice as fast as GDP in recent years. The government's support has been the key driving force for this industry. The government has been spending readily on the promotional activities all around the world to boost the nation's tourism industry. The domestic tourism grew at a high rate during 2008-2009.

According to our new research report "Vietnam Tourism Industry Forecast to 2012", tourism sector of Vietnam is projected to grow at double-digit growth rate in near future, owing to a rise in private sector investment. As the country attracts tourists from all over the world, majority of private players have started investing in the country's hospitality sector. With several upcoming events in 2010, there will be an increased demand for rooms in the hospitality industry. In this regard, we have done extensive analysis of various segments of the tourism market in Vietnam.

The baseline for the optimistic future outlook projected in our report is that the there has been an increase in the number of outbound and domestic tourism. Due to the rapid economic growth, increasing disposable income and large share of young population, the tourism industry in Vietnam will show positive growth in the coming years. Increase in MICE tourism will also favor the country's tourism market over the forecast period (2010-2013).

"Vietnam Tourism Industry Forecast to 2012" incorporates an extensive research and rational analysis of the tourism industry in Vietnam. It provides segment-level analysis of the industry along with future trends that may shape up with the improvement in economic conditions. The research will help consultants, industry analysts and vendors to get in-depth knowledge of the current, past and future performance of the industry. Our report also includes industry forecast and estimates along with detailed information about the key players operating in the tourism industry of Vietnam.
Source: http://www.companiesandmarkets.com/Summary-Market-Report/vietnam-tourism-industry-forecast-to-2012-70805.asp

Lao Cai receives investors from Yunnan province
http://en.vietnamplus.vn/avatar.aspx?ID=18291&at=0&ts=300&lm=634067058028730000

Authorities of the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on April 12 held a reception for a 31-strong business delegation from Yunnan province.

The Chinese businesspeople, representing the Economic and Trade Cooperation and Development Association of Yunnan province, operate in various areas including banking and finance, real estate, manufacturing and education.

During the meeting, representatives from the Department of Planning and Investment and the Investment-Trade Promotion Centre of Lao Cai briefed Yunnan investors on local socio-economic developments, business prospects, investment policies and particularly on all issues relating to the Lao Cai border economic zone.

The provincial authorities also updated the Chinese investors on their prioritised projects for investment mobilisation in the 2009-2010 period.

A representative of the Yunnan association said the organisation is willing to support its member investors to expand business and investment in Lao Cai.

The association and Yunnan investors, he added, want to invest and do business in such areas as agriculture, banking and human resources and vocational training.

After the meeting, the delegation visited Kim Thanh trade and industrial zone, the Sapa mountain tourism site, and several other industrial parks in Lao Cai.http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Lao-Cai-receives-investors-from-Yunnan-province/20104/8052.vnplus

Luxury suit factory opens in Hai Phong
Hai Phong luxury suit plant, a branch of the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group, was officially launched in the northern port city of Hai Phong on April 10 with a total investment capital of 100 billion VND (5.26 million USD).

The first luxury suit producer in Vietnam , it covers an area of 42,508sq.m and is equipped with production lines imported from Japan , and the US , European countries, and modern German equipment.http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Luxury-suit-factory-opens-in-Hai-Phong/20104/8111.vnplus

Sounds great :)

By Tak Kumakura

April 15 (Bloomberg) -- Vietnam’s Cabinet has approved plans for a $55.9 billion high-speed rail project that would use Japan’s bullet-train technology, Nikkei English News reported, without saying how it obtained the information.

The rail line would connect the northern and southern parts of Vietnam. Construction is to start in 2012 and trains would run on part of the line in 2020, Nikkei said.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Mitsubishi Corp., Sumitomo Corp., and other Japanese companies have been urging Vietnam to adopt their technology, the report said.
Source: Bloomberg

Những dự án thép hàng tỉ đô la Mỹ trở lại
Sau hơn hai năm tạm ngưng triển khai các dự án thép có quy mô lớn hàng tỉ USD giờ đây các NĐT đang trở lại để triển khai; đồng thời thêm các NĐT mới nhảy vào.



Thêm nhà đầu tư mới nhảy vào


Mới đây, Công ty chế tạo thép Nhật Bản Kobe Steel cho biết vừa được Chính phủ cho phép triển khai dự án đầu tư nhà máy thép với tổng vốn 1 tỉ đô la Mỹ tại tỉnh Nghệ An. Nhà máy sẽ sử dụng nguồn nguyên liệu được khai thác từ quặng sắt ở mỏ Thạch Khê, Hà Tĩnh. Dự án có tổng công suất là 2,4 triệu tấn/năm.


Kobe Steel có kế hoạch bán các sản phẩm của nhà máy tại Việt Nam, xuất khẩu trở lại Nhật Bản và mở rộng ra thị trường các nước châu Á khác. Dự kiến tháng 1-2011, Kobe sẽ khởi công xây dựng nhà máy đầu tiên tại khu công nghiệp Hoàng Mai và năm 2013, nhà máy sẽ đi vào hoạt động.



Không chỉ có Kobe Steel mới đến, tập đoàn Danieli, nhà sản xuất cung cấp thiết bị lớn cho ngành thép đến từ Ý, giờ đây cũng chính thức bước chân vào ngành sản xuất thép Việt Nam với vai trò là nhà đầu tư sau khi tham gia góp vốn vào một dự án hàng trăm triệu đô la Mỹ dự kiến được xây dựng tại khu công nghiệp Phú Mỹ, tỉnh Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu.


Theo đó, Tổng công ty Thép Việt Nam (VNSteel) vừa hoàn tất việc chuyển nhượng 19,5% cổ phần của mình trong dự án thép tấm cán nóng công suất 2 triệu tấm/năm cho Industrielle Beteilingungs SA, một thành viên của tập đoàn Danieli.


Nhà máy cán thép tấm nóng đầu tiên tại Việt Nam có tổng mức đầu tư 550 triệu đô la Mỹ. Dự kiến nhà máy này sẽ được khởi công vào cuối năm nay và hoàn thành đưa vào sản xuất sau 36 tháng.


VNSteel cũng ký biên bản ghi nhớ với TATA Steel (Ấn Độ) về hợp tác xây dựng dự án nhà máy thép liên hợp quy mô 4,5 - 5 triệu tấn thép/năm, với vốn đầu tư vào khoảng 4 tỉ đô la Mỹ tại tỉnh Hà Tĩnh. Nhà đầu tư TATA vẫn cam kết theo đuổi kế hoạch đầu tư dự án này.


Trong khi đó, Tập đoàn JFE – nhà sản xuất thép lớn thứ hai Nhật Bản cũng đang nghiên cứu để phát triển dự án nhà máy thép liên hợp tại khu kinh tế Dung Quất, tỉnh Quảng Ngãi. Dự kiến nhà máy được đầu tư có tổng công suất 6 - 10 triệu tấn thép thô/năm, vốn đầu tư khoảng 5 tỉ đô la Mỹ.



Và nhà đầu tư cũ trở lại


Tương tự, sau một thời gian dài ngưng triển khai dự án do khó khăn về vốn bởi ảnh hưởng cuộc khủng hoảng kinh tế, một số nhà đầu tư đã có dự án được cấp phép giờ đây cũng đang quay trở lại để tiếp tục thực hiện.


Công ty TNHH Guang Lian Steel Việt Nam, chủ đầu tư dự án Nhà máy thép Guang Lian Dung Quất, cho biết sẽ tiến hành thực hiện công trình tại khu kinh tế Dung Quất sớm trong năm nay.


Ông Hsueh Hung Yi, Tổng giám đốc Công ty TNHH Guang Lian Steel Việt Nam đã khẳng định như trên với đoàn công tác của Bộ Công Thương gần đây.


Đây là liên doanh giữa hai doanh nghiệp Đài Loan gồm Tycoons và E-United đầu tư. Công trình có vốn đầu tư 3 tỉ đô la Mỹ này (dự kiến sẽ tăng vốn lên thành 4,5 tỉ đô la Mỹ trong thời gian tới) có công suất thiết kế giai đoạn 1 là 3 triệu tấn/năm và 5 triệu tấn/năm cho giai đoạn 2.


Không chỉ nhà đầu tư chưa triển khai dự án mà ngay cả nhà đầu tư đã có nhà máy lại tiếp tục đổ vốn vào thép ở Việt Nam. Cụ thể như tập đoàn Posco (Hàn Quốc) dự kiến triển khai một dự án sản xuất thép cao cấp, có thể dùng cho công nghiệp đóng tàu, sản xuất máy bay... tại tỉnh này.


Dự án có tổng vốn đầu tư khoảng 700 triệu đô la Mỹ và đang trong quá trình thẩm định. Nếu được thông qua, đây sẽ là dự án thứ hai của Posco tại tỉnh Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu. Tháng 10-2009, tập đoàn này đã khánh thành nhà máy thép cán nguội lớn nhất Đông Nam Á tại đây với công suất 1,2 triệu tấn/năm.


Vượt gấp đôi quy hoạch


Với những động thái trên, chứng tỏ các nhà đầu tư mới và cũ đang quay trở lại Việt Nam để thực hiện dự án thép hàng tỉ đô la Mỹ mà vốn trước đây các chuyên gia dự báo là Việt Nam đang bị quá tải các dự án thép với nguy cơ khủng hoảng thừa và ảnh hưởng đến môi trường sống.


Theo các chuyên gia, trong 3 năm qua, Việt Nam thu hút rất nhiều dự án thép với mỗi dự án lên đến hàng tỉ đô la Mỹ và khi cuộc khủng hoảng tài chính - kinh tế toàn cầu diễn ra, thì những dự án này được xem là bị tác động tức thì. Một số chủ đầu tư dự án lập tức cho ngưng triển khai dự án vì khó huy động được vốn. Điều đó được Bộ Công Thương chứng minh là hàng loạt dự án thép được cấp phép đã bị chậm triển khai đến 2-3 năm trong đó lỗi một phần do chậm khâu giải phóng mặt bằng, nhưng vấn đề then chốt dẫn đến việc ì ạch triển khai là thiếu vốn.


Theo Hiệp hội Thép Việt Nam (VSA), trong thời gian qua, ngoài các nguyên nhân thiếu vốn, thiếu mặt bằng, một nguyên nhân sâu xa khác dẫn đến việc các dự án thép lớn bị chậm tiến độ chính là các địa phương chạy theo thành tích thu hút vốn đầu tư, không thẩm tra, đánh giá đúng năng lực tài chính, kinh nghiệm chuyên môn thực sự của các chủ đầu tư trước khi cấp phép. Có trường hợp một số nhà đầu tư có được giấy phép không có khả năng thực hiện đã chuyển nhượng hoặc bán dự án lại cho nhà đầu tư khác.


Căn cứ vào tốc độ tăng nhu cầu tiêu thụ thép của nền kinh tế Việt Nam được nêu trong quy hoạch ngành thép giai đoạn 2007-2015 (có xét đến năm 2025) được Thủ tướng Chính phủ phê duyệt năm 2007, thì tới năm 2020 Việt Nam cũng mới chỉ đặt mục tiêu sản xuất 15 - 18 triệu tấn thép/năm.


Theo ông Nguyễn Tiến Nghi, Phó chủ tịch Hiệp hội Thép Việt Nam (VSA), quy hoạch phát triển ngành thép đến năm 2025 với tổng công suất 20 triệu tấn/năm, tuy nhiên tính đến thời điểm này, số lượng dự án thép được cấp phép trên cả nước đã có tổng công suất lên đến 40 triệu tấn/năm, vượt gấp đôi so với quy hoạch.


“Điều đáng lo ngại nhất là việc cấp phép dự án thép tràn lan đã vượt quá công suất trong quy hoạch ngành thép, thiếu sự nghiên cứu kỹ lưỡng kết hợp cân đối giữa sự phát triển của các ngành khác như điện, nước, cơ sở hạ tầng giao thông đường bộ, cảng biển”, ông Nghi nhận định.


Một vấn đề quan trọng nữa, theo các chuyên gia lo ngại là công nghệ sản xuất. Vấn đề thẩm định công nghệ sản xuất cần phải nghiên cứu rất kỹ để Việt Nam tránh phải gánh chịu công nghệ thiết bị lạc hậu và ô nhiễm môi trường. Điều này cần phải có các thủ tục thẩm định kỹ càng và các cơ quan quản lý ngành, các chuyên gia cần đưa ra ý kiến phản biện để tránh tình trạng cấp phép đầu tư ồ ạt, chạy theo số lượng mà không quan tâm đến chất lượng dự án, phá vỡ cân đối tổng thể về cung cấp năng lượng nguyên liệu và thị trường vốn đã được tính toán rất chi tiết trong quy hoạch phát triển ngành thép.

Theo Quốc Hùng
TBKTSG

Vietnam Attracts US Investors
Updated at: Friday, April 16, 2010 3:56:39 PM


(VEN) - In 2010, Vietnam and the US will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral relations. This important event will contribute to promoting Vietnam-US cooperation for sustainable development. US investors are becoming increasingly interested in the Southeast Asian region and pay special attention to Vietnam.



The US is the third largest trade partner and the biggest export market of Vietnam. Both sides have benefited from bilateral trade relations. In 2007, trade between Vietnam and the US totaled US$12.53 billion and that increased to more than US$14.50 billion in 2008. In 2009, of the 43 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, the US became the largest foreign investor in Vietnam with total registered investment capital of US$9.8 billion. The US takes the lead in terms of the disbursement rate of foreign investment in Vietnam, 47 percent (Chinese Taipei 39 percent, the Republic of Korea 36 percent, and Japan 28 percent). US investment in Vietnam concentrates on services, especially tourism and hotel services. Examples include the project of the Starbay Group in Hoi An and the five-star hotel project of the Good Choice Group in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Coca Cola has also stated that it will invest an additional US$200 million in Vietnam for the next three years (in the past 15 years Coca Cola has invested US$200 million in three factories in Vietnam). In the near future, negotiations on Vietnam-US Bilateral Investment Agreement will begin and if they are successful, the agreement will attract more US investors to Vietnam.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham) recently said that many US companies have a strategy called 'China plus one' or 'China and India plus one'. Many large companies of the US already have some factories in China and India and they want to have some more factories in countries that are members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Vietnam is considered to be the best choice for US investment in ASEAN. The American Chamber of Commerce in China (ACCC) carried out a survey by asking 266 US companies about their 2010 business plans in China. The survey results show that 79 percent of these companies delay or cancel their investment plans in China (in 2009 only 44 percent of the questioned companies gave this answer). US investors are becoming more interested in the Southeast Asian region. Playing the role of ASEAN president in 2010, Vietnam will become more attractive in the eyes of US investors.
Real estate, hotel and tourism are the key infrastructure areas catering to international trade and globalization. Therefore US investment in these fields is always long-term. Some US companies have investment projects in these fields in cooperation with large companies of Vietnam or other Asian countries. Many US companies are the world's leading hotel investors. Vietnam is an emerging market with big opportunities for growth. Foreign companies, especially those operating in the fields of electronic production or auto manufacturing, consider Vietnam as a potential place to build new factories when the world economy recovers.
However, Vietnam still shows some limitations that are of concern for US investors. Christopher Runckel, the chairman of the Runckel Associates, a US consulting company, said that the infrastructure in Vietnam remains poor, land prices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are expensive, the seaport systems in Vietnam are not as good as those in China or Thailand, supply lines are still limited, labor force circulation and possibilities to access advanced training also remain matters of concern.
The Vietnamese economy is recovering. A bright future with rapid economic growth is what US companies in particular and foreign investors in general are seeking in Vietnam. Vietnam is holding the presidency of ASEAN. The US highly appreciates the role of Vietnam in ASEAN and wishes that Vietnam will help the US strengthen its relations with ASEAN and resolve the pending problems to boost relations with Southeast Asian countries./.

Looking for More Quality FDI in 2010
Updated at: Monday, April 12, 2010 9:49:47 AM

It is necessary to renew and improve investment promotion activities, with a focus on partners that are transnational groups that have source technology and that respect environmentally-friendly projects
(VEN) - Due to the global financial crisis, there has been a significant decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam. It is predicted that FDI will recover this year across the world and Vietnam will be able to increase FDI in the country. However, Vietnam should be selective in its acceptance of FDI to ensure quality growth.



Foreign investors are modifying their business strategies to adapt to the post-crisis environment. This has affected ongoing projects and deals that are being negotiated. However, Vietnam will continue to attract foreign investors in the long term. While the number and the amount of registered capital in FDI projects was worth US$21.48 billion (30 percent lower than in 2008), invested capital amounted to US$10 billion (13 percent lower than in 2008). There have also been changes in investment fields. In 2008, most FDI projects were in the industrial sector, which had 912 projects worth US$35.6 billion that accounted for 58.6 percent of the total projects in the country and 53.4 percent of the total capital invested. In 2009, a majority of the investment capital was put into the service sector, particularly in real estate, hotels and food services. Vietnam gave licenses to 498 projects in the service sector with a total registered capital of US$13.2 billion in 2009, which represented 59.3 percent of all projects and 81.2 percent of the total FDI capital invested. Meanwhile, there were 325 industrial projects worth US$3 billion last year, which accounted for 38.7 percent of all the projects and 18.3 percent of the total FDI capital.
A report released at a UNCTAD meeting earlier this year shows that Vietnam is one of 15 countries that have been recognized as having an attractive investment environment and an attractive FDI destination in 2010. It is predicted that foreign investors in Vietnam will make about US$19 billion in newly registered capital and about US$3 billion in supplementary capital this year.
Nguyen Mai, the chairman of the Vietnam Foreign Investment Association, said that the service sector is increasing its percentage in the global market. In developed countries, the service sector normally accounts for more than 50 percent of the economy. In Vietnam, opening the service market for foreign investors will make it more possible to diversify and improve the quality of development in the service sector. A strong service sector will contribute to a larger economy, added value and the competitiveness of Vietnamese commodities. The growth and development of the service sector will make Vietnam more attractive and more competitive, which will help attract FDI in other economic sectors.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment said that it would direct the flow of FDI to important sectors in 2010, which will help support industry, infrastructure and human resources. Other prioritized areas include the agricultural processing sector, services with high added values, energy-efficient production sectors and industries with high exports. For this to happen, local authorities will play an important role as they have been given much more power to grant investment licenses. To receive beneficial FDI, it is necessary to renew and improve investment promotion activities, with a focus on partners that are transnational groups that have source technology and that respect environmentally-friendly projects.
Apart from selecting and improving the efficiency of investment projects, FDI in 2010 must closely follow the economic restructuring plan and be directed to specific sectors to facilitate economic restructuring and utilize this source of capital. There is a need to make an overall plan to attract FDI in order to keep up with regional and sector plans.
Now that the economic crisis is ending, many countries have begun to restructure their economies by developing technologies that are able to create a shortcut to growth with high profits. It is important to accurately monitor world FDI trends and modify strategies to attract FDI in Vietnam. For example, FDI in sensitive sectors that have taken a beating such as automobiles, chemicals and metal will not be lucrative this year.
In the meantime, high-quality FDI projects will go to countries with favorable investment environments. For this reason, Vietnam needs to create a better investment environment by intensifying administrative reforms, improving and upgrading infrastructure and reforming the education-training system to meet the need for high-quality manpower./.
My An

Workshop on Mineral Resources, Sustainable Development
Updated at: Thursday, April 22, 2010 2:07:59 PM


(VEN) - The Vietnam Union of Scientific and Technical Associations (VUSTA) in association with the Vietnam Geology Federation and the Consultancy on Development (CODE) will organize a workshop on mineral resources and sustainable development in Vietnam on May 13-14 in Hanoi.



The workshop will present the mining industry in Vietnam with potentials, advantages, disadvantages, experiences, lessons on success and failure in managing and using mineral resources in several countries. The workshop will also collect opinions, which are constructive for making an institutional framework for sustainable development in the Vietnamese mining industry.
The workshop will center on four topics: (1) potential and a legal framework for managing and using mineral resources in Vietnam, (2) mining and using minerals in the country: economic benefits and impacts on the environment and the society, (3) international experiences in mining and (4) solutions on effective and sustainable management/use of mineral resources./.
Quynh Nga

Vietnam Creativity Day 2010
Updated at: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 9:13:53 AM


(VEN) - The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Ho Chi Minh City Central Communist Youth Union and the World Bank recently announced 61 projects that made it to the final round of a contest entitled "Vietnam Creativity Day 2010: Climate Change", which aims to bolster community initiatives to cope with urgent and long-term environmental risk in Vietnam.



The final round, which will take place on May 5 in Hanoi, will be an occasion for the contestants to present their ideas. The panel of judges will choose the winners of 30 prizes worth up to VND270 million each.
Within the framework of the contest, the participants will share their knowledge of climate change and discuss possible ways to deal with it and reverse the effects. This is to broaden the understanding of the legal framework and policies to facilitate positive efforts to combat climate change and encourage sectors, particularly the private sector and related entities, to join efforts to reduce the release of greenhouse gases and the resulting adverse impacts of climate change./.
Thu Huong - Khac Hieu

Việt Nam sẽ chịu ảnh hưởng ra sao nếu đồng nhân dân tệ tăng giá?
Nếu Nhân dân tệ lên giá, viễn cảnh Trung Quốc đẩy mạnh đầu tư sang Việt Nam có thể sẽ xảy ra.



Khi thâm hụt thương mại với Trung Quốc gia tăng tại nhiều quốc gia phát triển trên thế giới, sự “tổn thương” của các nền kinh tế hàng đầu đang tạo áp lực lớn đối với chính phủ Trung Quốc, đòi Nhân dân tệ lên giá.


Với việc VND được neo khá chặt vào USD, nếu Nhân dân tệ lên giá so với USD thì tương quan giá trị giữa Nhân dân tệ và VND cũng sẽ thay đổi. Và về lý thuyết, cán cân thương mại giữa hai nước - vốn lệch về phía Việt Nam do đang nhập siêu lớn từ Trung Quốc - được kỳ vọng sẽ tái lập ở mức cân bằng hơn.


Nhìn trên góc độ tổng thể, ngoài quan hệ thương mại, tương quan nợ bằng đồng Nhân dân tệ của Việt Nam cũng có khả năng thay đổi, dù không nhiều, do chỉ chiếm tỷ trọng chưa đến 1% trong tổng nợ nước ngoài của Chính phủ, tính đến cuối tháng 6/2009 (khoảng 178 triệu USD).


Hơn thế, có những lập luận cho rằng quan hệ đầu tư giữa hai nước sẽ chịu tác động từ việc Nhân dân tệ lên giá, theo hướng Trung Quốc đẩy mạnh đầu tư sang Việt Nam.


Vừa điều chỉnh vừa cân nhắc


Theo Viện trưởng Viện Kinh tế Việt Nam Trần Đình Thiên, cả áp lực đòi Nhân dân tệ lên giá lẫn quá trình lên giá của đồng tiền này nều đang diễn ra trên thực tế.


Tuy nhiên, ông Thiên cho rằng, Chính phủ Trung Quốc đang cố gắng trì hoãn sự tăng giá Nhân dân tệ để tiếp tục đẩy mạnh xuất khẩu, nâng cao tiềm lực tài chính và tránh gây sốc cho nền kinh tế và xã hội, nên quá trình này đang diễn ra với tốc độ chậm.


Trước sức ép của các nước, Trung Quốc vẫn đang tỏ ra rất thận trọng, TS. Võ Trí Thành, Phó viện trưởng Viện Nghiên cứu và Quản lý kinh tế trung ương (CIEM) nhìn nhận.


“Việc tăng giá Nhân dân tệ có thể diễn ra vào quý 3 hoặc 4/2010, nhưng chỉ vào khoảng 4-5%, tương ứng từ 6,8 Nhân dân tệ/USD lên mức 6,5 Nhân dân tệ/USD. Thậm chí có ý kiến cho rằng không đến mức như vậy”, ông Thành nói với VnEconomy.


Giải thích cho điều này, ông Thành phân tích rằng Trung Quốc đang phải cân nhắc đến vấn đề lạm phát trong nước. Chỉ số giá tiêu dùng (CPI) của Trung Quốc trong tháng 2/2010 đã tăng 2,7% so với cùng kỳ năm trước, được cho là đang ở mức cao.


Hơn nữa, theo số liệu của Tổng cục Hải quan Trung Quốc, vào tháng 3 vừa rồi, lần đầu tiên Trung Quốc đã nhập siêu tới hơn 7,2 tỷ USD sau 6 năm liền liên tục xuất siêu. Điều này cũng được ông Thành lưu ý khi đề cập lý do chính phủ Trung Quốc thận trọng với việc lên giá Nhân dân tệ.


Lo khó cải thiện nhập siêu


Nhưng dường như, việc đồng Nhân dân tệ lên giá là điều khó tránh khỏi. Theo TS. Vũ Đình Ánh, Phó viện trưởng Viện Khoa học thị trường giá cả (Bộ Tài chính), do VND được "neo" khá kỹ vào USD, nên nếu Nhân dân tệ lên giá so với USD thì tương quan giá trị giữa Nhân dân tệ và VND cũng sẽ thay đổi.


Và về lý thuyết, khi đồng Nhân dân tệ lên giá, sản phẩm của Trung Quốc sẽ giảm sức cạnh tranh hơn vì giá bán sẽ đắt hơn tương ứng khi xuất khẩu sang Việt Nam. Nhiều chuyên gia được VnEconomy tham vấn có chung nhận định rằng, khi Nhân dân tệ lên giá, Việt Nam có điều kiện cải thiện mức nhập siêu lớn với Trung quốc, vẫn diễn ra liên tục trong nhiều năm gần đây.


Tuy nhiên, Viện trưởng Thiên lại cho rằng, việc tăng giá Nhân dân tệ không mang lại tác động tích cực một chiều cho thế giới như nhiều nước đang kỳ vọng. Ngay cả với các nền kinh tế đang nhập siêu từ Trung Quốc cũng vậy.


Bởi, phần đóng góp ‘thực” của Trung Quốc trong giá trị sản phẩm chỉ chiếm 20-30%, cùng lắm là 40-50%, do ảnh hưởng của quá trình toàn cầu hóa. Nếu đồng Nhân dân tệ lên giá, Trung Quốc sẽ được hưởng lợi từ giá nhập khẩu đầu vào rẻ hơn. Tác động tiêu cực của tỷ giá chỉ gây áp lực lên phần “thực”, có thể đang ngày càng nhỏ đi.


Đồng quan điểm, TS. Võ Trí Thành, Phó viện trưởng Viện nghiên cứu và Quản lý kinh tế trung ương (CIEM) cho rằng, nhìn vào bản chất của việc Việt Nam đang nhập siêu lớn với Trung Quốc, thì phần cạnh tranh trực tiếp là hàng tiêu dùng cuối cùng không nhiều.


Vì nguyên nhân này, ông Thành cho rằng: “Đồng Nhân dân tệ lên giá thì thương mại Trung Quốc vào Việt Nam có thu hẹp, nhưng sẽ không đáng kể”.


Đầu tư từ Trung Quốc sẽ lớn hơn


“Thu nhập bình quân đầu người của Trung Quốc hiện đã hơn 3.500 USD và ngày càng có nhiều doanh nghiệp Trung Quốc đi khai thác thị trường nước ngoài, cũng như tại Việt Nam”, Tham tán Kinh tế Thương mại Đại sứ quán Trung Quốc tại Việt Nam Hồ Tỏa Cẩm phát biểu nhân sự kiện Sino Pharm, một doanh nghiệp dược phẩm lớn của nước này, cam kết đầu tư vào Khu công nghệ cao Hòa Lạc cuối tuần trước.


Trên thực tế, đã có hơn 800 dự án của quốc gia láng giềng này “bám rễ” ở Việt Nam, tính cho đến nay, để tận dụng chi phí nhân công rẻ, tài nguyên phong phú và vị trí thuận tiện. Trong khi đó, có những nhận định cho rằng, khi Nhân dân tệ lên giá, khối tài sản của Trung Quốc sẽ lớn lên tương ứng và việc đầu tư ra nước ngoài sẽ diễn ra mạnh mẽ hơn.


“Xu hướng lan tỏa cơ cấu theo kiểu ‘đội hình đàn sếu bay’ từ Trung Quốc sang Việt Nam dưới tác động của việc đồng Nhân dân tệ lên giá là rất lớn, thậm chí, không tránh khỏi”, TS. Trần Đình Thiên, Viện trưởng Viện Kinh tế Việt Nam khẳng định như vậy.


TS. Võ Trí Thành giải thích thêm, khi đồng tiền đắt lên thì quốc gia đó có khuynh hướng đẩy đầu tư của họ ra nước ngoài, tới các thị trường rẻ hơn. “Nếu Nhân dân tệ lên giá thì có thể Trung Quốc sẽ đầu tư mạnh hơn vào Việt Nam, đứng về dài hạn mà nói”, Phó viện trưởng CIEM khẳng định.


Tuy nhiên, vị chuyên gia này cũng lưu ý rằng, khi chấp nhận đầu tư từ Trung Quốc có những lý do để lo ngại. “Vì đầu tư của Trung Quốc không phải công nghệ nguồn, có thể gây ô nhiễm môi trường...”, ông nói.


Viện trưởng Viện Kinh tế Việt Nam nhấn mạnh rằng: “Tác động của việc đồng Nhân dân tệ tăng giá đến nền kinh tế thế giới sẽ vô cùng to lớn. Với những nền kinh tế láng giềng của Trung Quốc và có thực lực yếu hơn, sự cảnh báo này càng tăng gấp bội. Nhận định này hàm ý rất rõ cho Việt Nam”.


Trung Quốc đã rất nhanh chóng vượt qua Đài Loan và Hàn Quốc để trở thành thị trường Việt Nam nhập siêu lớn nhất. Năm 2008, mức nhập siêu từ Trung Quốc đạt 11,11 tỷ USD; năm 2009 đạt 11,53 tỷ USD; 3 tháng đầu năm 2010 đạt 2,56 tỷ USD.

10 mặt hàng nhập khẩu chính đã chiếm khoảng 70% kim ngạch năm 2009: máy móc, thiết bị, dụng cụ, phụ tùng 4.155 triệu USD; vải các loại 1.566 triệu USD; máy tính, sản phẩm điện tử và linh kiện 1.464 triệu USD; xăng dầu các loại 1.290 triệu USD; sắt thép các loại 816 triệu USD; phân bón các loại 596 triệu USD; nguyên phụ liệu dệt may, da giày 407 triệu USD; hóa chất 399 triệu USD; sản phẩm từ sắt thép 387 triệu USD; linh kiện phụ tùng ô tô 314 triệu USD, theo nguồn số liệu từ Tổng cục Hải quan.


Theo Anh Quân

VnEconomy

PM lauds fisheries’ contributions to the country
With great efforts, Vietnam ’s fisheries industry has grown up and made important contributions to the cause of national construction and defence, said the government leader.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung delivered the remark at the opening ceremony of the first Vietnam Seafood Festival in the southern city of Can Tho on April 24.

The festival, entitled “ Vietnam ’s Seafood – Potential, Development and Integration”, was held by the municipal People’s Committee.

Former Party’s General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, leaders from ministries, branches and agencies, and officials from several embassies, consulates and large domestic seafood exporters attended the ceremony.

Vietnam has great potential for developing the fisheries, with numerous ponds, lakes and rivers, a long coast of over 3,200 km and sea waters of more than 1,000 sq.km, said the PM.

Over the past 20 years, under the renewal guidelines initiated by the Party, the country’s fisheries industry has made a big stride in both production and export, becoming an important economic sector of the country, lauded the PM.

The sector reportedly boasted over 4.8 million tonnes of aquatic products last year, up six times over 1986. Its seafood products have been present in 160 countries and territories across the world.

The industry’s potential remains great and it is able to expand the production, reduce production costs and prices as well as improve the products’ quality, reckoned the government leader while pointing to the important role of the Mekong Delta in the sector’s development.

On the occasion, the PM urged the fisheries sector to make more efforts to bring into full play its traditions, great achievements and advantages for fast and sustainable development.

The festival is scheduled to close on April 27.http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/PM-lauds-fisheries-contributions-to-the-country/20104/8421.vnplus

SBV urged to continue flexible monetary policy
http://en.vietnamplus.vn/avatar.aspx?ID=18559&at=0&ts=300&lm=634073944335300000

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to continue implementing flexible monetary policies in order to fulfil its set targets.

While working with the SBV leaders in Hanoi on April 20, the Government leader suggested that the SBV continue implementing negotiable interest rates and strive to reduce the mobilising interest rate to about 10 percent and the lending interest rate to 12-13 percent per year, helping encourage exports and reduce the trade deficit.

State-owned commercial banks must play a key role in capital mobilisation and lending, he added.

The PM noted that the SBV should continue supervising credit organisations in providing loans with negotiable interest rates for effective projects as well as keeping a close watch on commercial banks’ foreign currency lending for materials imports.

In addition, the state bank needs to take more initiative in providing official information, especially in finance, monetary policies and prices, to keep the public well informed, thus assisting the Government in its role in steering socio-economic development.

At the working session, PM Dung also praised the SBV’s efforts in implementing the government’s resolution on measures to ensure macroeconomic stability, prevent high inflation and maintain an economic growth rate of 6.5 percent in 2010.

In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam attained an economic growth rate of 5.8 percent while ensuring social welfare. However, inflation was high and the trade deficit increased 23 percent while the foreign currency payment balance decreased.http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/SBV-urged-to-continue-flexible-monetary-policy/20104/8320.vnplus