Vietnam Newswire

In Vietnam, the semiconductor industry is believed to hold huge potential for making breakthroughs to help with fast and sustainable economic development, but the shortage of manpower is posing a huge challenge. SEMI SEA, a Southeast Asian association serving the manufacturing supply chains for the microelectronic, display and photovoltaic industries, estimated the global semiconductor industry's revenue in 2022 at almost 600 billion USD. The global semiconductor market will see double-digit growth rate in the coming years to reach 1 trillion USD by 2030. SEMI SEA President Linda Tan said the market in Vietnam is predicted to expand by 6.12% during 2022 - 2027, noting that together with increased investment in the semiconductor industry, Vietnam is likely to become a partner of many big countries in this field. As the semiconductor industry, the basis for manufacturing electronic products, is currently one of the fastest growing areas, its manpower demand is also surging. Minister of Information and Comm unications Nguyen Manh Hung said that each year, the country needs about 150,000 engineers for the information technology and digital sectors, but only 40 - 50% of the demand has been met. Notably, less than 20% of the semiconductor industry's annual demand for 5,000 - 10,000 engineers has been satisfied. The big manpower shortage, over 80%, is a major problem needing to be addressed as more than 50 FDI businesses have invested in this industry in Vietnam and they are in need of a large number of personnel. Experts forecast the semiconductor industry in Vietnam requires about 20,000 personnel holding the bachelor's or higher degrees in the next five years and about 50,000 engineers in the next 10 years. Assoc. Prof. and Dr. Hoang Minh Son, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, said though the semiconductor area is not a new training branch, the number of students and graduates remains very low, leading to a manpower shortage in terms of both quantity and quality. Facing that fact, the Ministry of Edu cation and Training is building an action plan to step up training to increase the quantity and quality of human resources, particularly integrated circuit (IC) designers, for the sector. Vietnam has more than 5,570 IC engineers at present, over 85% of whom are in Ho Chi Minh City, 8% in Hanoi and 7% in central Da Nang city. Every year, only about 500 - 600 students graduate from semiconductor training courses of domestic universities, according to data from the National Science and Technology Information Portal. To quickly raise the number of semiconductor engineers, Son suggested training students who are enrolling in close branches such as electronics engineering, electrical engineering, automation, and mechatronics engineering into those specialised in semiconductor engineering in order to increase the graduates for this field to 3,000 - 4,000 each year. In addition, many electronics and telecommunications graduates have experience in working for IC and semiconductor-related companies. If receiving mor e specialised training, they can become a source of high-quality manpower for the industry, he said. The Deputy Minister also considered re-training the engineers of close branches as a measure for quickly increasing new semiconductor personnel to 5,000 - 6,000 each year. In mid-October, the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology, the Vietnam National University HCM City (VNUHCM), the Vietnam National University Hanoi, the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, and Da Nang University signed a deal on cooperation in developing high-quality human resources for the semiconductor industry. This is a basis for them to boost collaboration in scientific research, technology transfer, and innovation in the field, and enhance cooperation with semiconductor businesses. Assoc. Prof. and Dr. Tran Le Quan, Rector of the VNUHCM University of Science, perceived that the country needs to form some training and internship programmes on IC, micro-electromechanical systems engineering, and electronics engi neering in which universities can coordinate with semiconductor firms to meet research and development demand. Vietnam is drafting a strategy for developing the semiconductor industry by 2030 with a vision to 2035. Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung expressed his hope that Vietnam will have the opportunity to participate more deeply in the global semiconductor supply chains by implementing national strategies and building trust during the international cooperation process to attract investment. As the country wishes to become a centre of semiconductor human resources for not only itself but also the region and the world, he emphasised the need for joint actions by the Government, associations, organisations, businesses, and especially domestic and foreign universities. The official said he hopes that with the Government's attention and common efforts by training institutions and technology companies, the manpower shortage will be addressed so that the industry can develop an d fuel the Vietnamese economy in the near future./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese coconut growers and businesses are excited to expand production to meet the domestic and foreign demand which is expected to increase in the coming time as the US officially opened its market for Vietnam's fresh coconut in August this year, and China is considering to allowing official coconut import. Bui Duong Thuat, Director of the Mekong Fruit Export Ltd.Co in Chau Thanh district, the southern province of Ben Tre, said that the US market is the second-biggest coconut importer in the world, just after China as it imports approximately 2,000 containers of fresh coconut yearly. Meanwhile, Vietnamese companies export between 110 and 120 containers of fresh coconuts to the US a year. Therefore, there remains room for Vietnamese coconut in the market. Moreover, the General Administration of Customs of China is inspecting cultivation areas to endorse a protocol authorising the official import of Vietnamese fresh coconut to the market of over 1 billion people, Thuat said, hoping that Vietnam's fresh coconut will be exported to China soon. To seize the opportunity, he said his company planned to cooperate with coconut farmers in Ben Tre province to develop a 100-ha organic material area. Vo Van Hai, the Chairman of the Luong Hoa commune Farmers' Association in Ben Tre province's Giong Trom district, said that the commune is one of the most productive coconut-growing areas in Vietnam. Currently, there are more than 716 ha of coconut farming in the commune, with 300 ha grown to get coconut water. On average, a tree yields between 140 and 150 coconuts per year, and coconut farmers can earn up to 100 million VND (4,200 USD) per hectare per year. Ben Tre is known as Vietnam's coconut capital with a coconut growing area accounting for about 40% of the country's total and 46% of the total in the Mekong Delta region. Huynh Quang Duc, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that Ben Tre has over 78,000 ha under coconut farming and produces over 800 million cocon uts a year. Regarding coconuts grown to get coconut water, the province cultivates nearly 16,000 ha with a yearly output of about 390 million coconuts. About half of the coconuts meet export requirements. Ben Tre has five enterprises that export fresh coconuts to markets, including Japan, Singapore, Taiwan (China), Australia, and Canada. About 20 companies have registered to get packaging facility codes and planting area codes that enable them to export coconut to the Chinese market. Besides, geographical indications have been granted to the province's coconut products. Therefore, the effective exploitation of the geographical indications adds an advantage for Ben Tre coconut to expand its markets./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

The United States' Department of Commerce (DOC) has issued a conclusion of its investigation into trade remedy tax evasion on a number of steel pipe products imported from Vietnam, which was launched on August 4, 2022 targeting steel pipes codes HS 7306.61 and 7306.30, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The investigation was prompted by accusations that Vietnamese steel makers imported hot rolled steel (HRS), the main raw material used to produce steel pipes, from mainland China, Taiwan (China), the Republic of Korea, and India, and then processed it into steel pipes for export to the US. Firms making the accusation believe that Vietnamese processors had done so in order to evade the respective trade remedy tax that the US is levying on the aforementioned countries. On August 3 this year, the DOC concluded that certain circular welded carbon steel pipes and circular welded non-alloy steel pipe which were imported from Vietnam did not evade anti-dumping and countervailing duties that the US is currently applying to similar products from Taiwan (China), due to the fact that these products did not use hot-rolled steel (HRS) sourced from Taiwan. Then on November 9, the DOC issued final conclusions on the remaining investigated steel pipe products saying that Vietnamese makers of those products had evaded the anti-dumping/countervailing duties imposed by the US on China, Taiwan (China), the Republic of Korea, and India. The Ministry of Industry and Trade noted that the DOC, however, allowed Vietnamese exporters to participate in the self-certification mechanism to confirm that they do not use HRS originating from China, Taiwan (China), the Republic of Korea, and India to be exempt from the measures./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

A seminar on developing human resources experts for efficient implementation of free trade agreements (FTAs) has been held in Hanoi by the Cong Thuong magazine of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT). Many participants said Vietnam is in dire need of qualified personnel to implement new generation FTAs. According to them, FTAs have contributed to promoting Vietnam's institutional and policy reform, creating motivation for innovation and improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods and businesses. However, human resources, especially FTA implementation experts, are still very limited and do not meet the requirements. Le Thi Hang, Deputy General Director of the Detech Coffee Joint Stock Company, said that with FTAs, her company has faced difficulties in finding experts to train the staff of the import-export department. Currently, our company is looking for experienced experts in FTAs to advise the staff on risk management measures, especially FTAs relating to regulations on labour, environment a nd intellectual property, she said. Nguyen Thi Lan Phuong, deputy head of the WTO and FTA Department, Multilateral Trade Policy Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), said that Vietnam has been implementing 15 FTAs. Among them are three new-generation FTAs, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Vietnam - United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA). These FTAs include not only traditional fields but also non-traditional fields such as labour, environment and intellectual property. Therefore, commitment content is relatively complex and has many high standards, requiring the human resources team to have a deep understanding of commitment content to help management agencies and businesses at the local level understand FTA commitments properly and fully implement the commitments. Phuong stressed that currently, based on the Prime Minister's direction, the MoIT is assigned to proactive ly work with relevant ministries and branches to develop training programmes as well as guide State management agencies and businesses to better take advantage of FTAs. In the coming time, the MoIT will firmly implement work towards building better human resources for Vietnam in the immediate and long term to take advantage of FTAs, she added. Statistics showed that the Government, ministries, branches, localities, associations and businesses have made great efforts to work together to improve the effectiveness of implementing these FTAs. However, the utilisation rate of these FTAs is still relatively limited. For FTAs with good results such as EVFTA, the utilisation rate is only about 26% and FTAs like CPTPP are only achieved at 5%. These are modest numbers compared to the space and opportunities these FTAs offer, according to Phuong. In the immediate future, the MoIT is currently coordinating with its Central School of Industry and Trade Training to develop a framework of training documents for FTA expe rts in efforts to build training materials for exporters and importers supporting sustainable development. In 2023, based on a survey of the needs of provinces and cities, the MoIT will also initially pilot training the first expert classes to be able to provide human resources immediately for provinces, cities and consultants to support businesses. In the long term, the MoIT will conduct a survey of businesses with import and export activities in markets, especially FTA markets. The ministry will also carry out a pilot project with a number of universities that have majors in economics and especially international trade to jointly consider and review the training content in the schools. At the recent meeting of the Steering Committee for International Economic Integration, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha also requested to strengthen consultations for the business community and industry associations during the process of implementing commitments to international economic integration and FTAs implementat ion./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

An investment promotion conference themed 'Contributing to the sustainable development of Vietnam-Japan' to boost investment cooperation between the Vietnamese northern province of Quang Ninh and Japan's Hokkaido prefecture was held in Quang Ninh on November 17. At the conference, provincial leaders granted investment registration certificates for several Japanese foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with a total investment capital of over 80 million USD. Acting Chairman of Quang Ninh provincial People's Committee Cao Tuong Huy affirmed that the combination between the province's potential and the strength and experience of Japanese investors is expected to create a solid foundation for success. The event was held on the occasion of the Hokkaido delegation attending the Hokkaido Festival 2023 in Ha Long and among activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Quang Ninh province. Currently, Japan is a strategic investor of Quang Ninh with 12 projects valued at nearly 2.4 billion USD, ranking third among foreign investors in the province. In terms of trade, Japan is the second largest importer of Quang Ninh./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Ho Chi Minh City and European partners will continue to study and implement cooperation in the fields of economy, commerce, and investment effectively. Leaders of the municipal People's Committee and Ambassadors of European Union (EU) member nations to Vietnam reached the agreement at their meeting in HCM City on November 17. Vice Chairman of the HCM City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan emphasised that the EU is one of the most important partners of the city. HCM City treasures and highly evaluated the EU member states' support to the city's construction and development process, particularly in green transition. He expressed his wish that the EU will continue to support development projects in Vietnam, particularly HCM City. It hopes to strengthen cooperation with European partners in areas in which they have strengths and the city has demand for such as green transition, digital transformation, climate change adaptation, innovation, and startup. Hoan pledged that the city will do its best to ensure a st able socio-political environment, ensure legitimate rights and interests of investors, and create favourable conditions for foreign businesses, including European enterprises, to operate stably, effectively and for the long-term in the city. For his part, Ambassador Julien Guerrier, Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, affirmed that the EU always attaches importance to its relations with Vietnam, especially in cooperation and assistance to transport infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and climate change response. The EU member states appreciated HCM City's economic potential and want to strengthen cooperation with the city across the fields of economy, commerce, and investment, he said./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

A programme entitled 'Meet Bac Ninh - Japan' was organised in the northern province of Bac Ninh on November 17, on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties. Speaking at the event, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Anh Tuan said among 39 countries and territories investing in the province, Japan has invested in 100 FDI projects, mostly in the fields of electronic component manufacturing and mechanical engineering, with combined registered capital of over 1.67 billion USD, or nearly 7% of the total. Japan has strengths in high-tech industries, especially in information and communication technology, digital technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, new materials, and more, which are the fields Bac Ninh are calling for investment to develop itself into a hub for industrial and hi-tech development, he said. Tuan expressed his wish that the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) would continue providing Japanese firms with information about the local business environment. He also suggested participating Japanese firms introduce more domestic investors to Bac Ninh province. At the event, leaders and representatives from departments and agencies introduced the province's potential, strengths and future investment directions. They also talked about the current operations of enterprises in industrial zones and those from Japan in particular, and answered questions regarding electricity supply for production, support for Japanese small firms and high-quality workforce. Leaders of the Japanese firms affirmed that with its favourable location and attractive business environment, Bac Ninh is their priority manufacturing destination. On this occasion, IOZ Company, a subsidiary of Moriga Company, donated 500 software accounts for management of drivers with alcohol concentration and 20 alcohol concentration measuring devices to Bac Ninh. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation was also signed between the provincial Peo ple's Committee and Nihon Toyo Group of Japan. An interim executive board of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Bac Ninh province made its debut, and an MoU on cooperation between the Vietnamese Association in the Kansai region and the provincial Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association was also inked./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

A thematic seminar on culture-tourism exchange and human resources development between the northern province of Quang Ninh and Japan's Hokkaido prefecture was held on November 17, as part of the Hokkaido Festival 2023 in Ha Long city. Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hanh said about 12,300 Japanese tourists arrived in Quang Ninh this year, or about 1.5% of the total foreign arrivals in the province. She wished that in the coming time, the two localities would strengthen their cooperation in popularising destinations through various media channels, exchange of delegations, especially famtrips and roadshows. She suggested considering the launch of air routes through Van Don international airport and new Chitose airport. Hanh hoped that the Hokkaido authorities will soon send Japanese lecturers and volunteers to Ha Long University, toward building a faculty of Japanese studies there. Discussions at the event focused on the current situation and solutions to enhance cooperation , develop tourism and human resources between both sides. They also shared their experience and insights about the localities they have visited, providing vivid and realistic perspectives on the land, culture, and people of both Japan and Vietnam. The same day, a seminar on green agricultural growth was also held in the province. The provincial authorities proposed the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries consider Quang Ninh a hub for cooperation in aquaculture and the processing of agro-aquatic products for export, toward becoming an exemplary collaboration between the two ministries. Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said green and ecological agriculture involve the comprehensive application of processes and technologies, efficient and economical use of input materials for agricultural production, and effective use of natural resources without causing adverse effects on the environmen t and human health. He also called for changing the mindset from agricultural production to agricultural economy, focusing on enhancing value, efficiency and diversification according to the value chain that aligns with market requirements./. Source: Vietnam News Agency