Day: September 3, 2021

Vietnamese agricultural products have been introduced at the 10th Chili Pepper Festival, one of the most awaited culinary fests in a year that is taking place in Italian central city of Rieti from September 1-5.

The event drew about 150,000 Italian and foreign visitors, with more than 90 booths introducing 450 varieties of chili peppers from all over the world.

Addressing the opening of the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Thi Bich Hue said that with tropical weather and diverse ecosystems, Vietnam is rich in spices, including many very special and popular flavours such as cinnamon, anise, pepper, cardamom, cashew and chili.

She said that Vietnam always considers farm produce as one of priorities in export activities. She noted that thank to the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) which became effective from August 2020, the import tax rate for agricultural products has been cut to zero percent from 10 percent in the past.

Vietnam is one of the leading exporters of a number of spices like cashew and peppercorn, which account for 80 percent and 90 percent of the world export volume, respectively, she noted, adding that Vietnamese products are becoming better in quality thanks to improved technology in all stages from production to harvesting, processing and packaging.

The ambassador held that the demand for spices is rising in the world, making them not only export products but also means of spreading cultural and traditional values.

The Vietnamese booth at the event introduced to visitors Vietnamese chili and chili products and many other products such as peppercorn, tea and coffee.

This is the third time that Vietnam has joined the festival, which has helped form partnership among 20 embassies of countries owning this special spice.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Ha Kim Ngoc has highly appreciated and expressed his hope that the Vietnam Spark Plan would help set forth breakthrough initiatives for Vietnam to overcome challenges and maintain strong development momentum

He made the statement at the first meeting of Vietnam Spark Board on September 2. The Vietnam Spark Plan was launched by the Boston Global Forum aimed to bring together leaders, strategists, academics, experts in health, technology, and economics to discuss and propose solutions to help Vietnam in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, recover and develop the economy as well as seeking new opportunities for the country when the pandemic ends.

Participants at the meeting were former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, Chairman of the Boston Global Forum, former Acting US Secretary of Commerce Cameron Kerry, Co-Chair of the United Nations Centennial Initiative, Professor Thomas E. Patterson from Harvard University and many other professors and strategists from Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The Vietnamese Ambassador said that this event has special meaning as it took place at the proposal of a prestigious organisation in Boston, where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked in the days when he was searching for a way to save the country.

He emphasised that President Ho Chi Minh had foreseen the future of the Vietnam – US relations and they are following that vision.

The recent successful visit to Vietnam by US Vice President Kamala Harris is a new step in the relationship between the two countries, he said.

The pandemic situation in Vietnam is complicated, causing seriously economic and social impacts, the ambassador said, adding that the Vietnamese government has been taking many measures to fight the pandemic and seek vaccine sources at the earliest time, Ngoc said.

Addressing the meeting, former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis expressed his interest and desire to help improve the pandemic situation in Vietnam, saying that the anti-pandemic effort and economic development are interrelated and are of great significance in helping the country overcome the COVID-19.

Professor John Quelch – former Vice President of Harvard Business School and Dean of the University of Miami Business School – said that Vietnam should coordinate with member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to build a regional health strategy for vaccine autonomy, care for small businesses and pay attention to people’s mental health.

Other participants also contributed many ideas on developing health and information infrastructure, remote psychological counseling and enhancing the role of women.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, former Editor of VietNamNet Newspaper and Director of the Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation, said after the first meeting, the Vietnam Spark Plan would continue to have discussions and was expected to submit a report of the plan to Vietnam by the end of this November.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnamese Consulate in New York, the United States, in collaboration with the administration of Jersey city in the state of New Jersey held a ceremony on September 2 (local time) to raise the Vietnamese flag at the City Hall, marking the 76th National Day of Vietnam.

Addressing the event, Consul Dinh Phuong Mai said the flag raising ceremony is of special significance as it was the first time that the administration of Jersey City has coordinated with the Vietnamese Consulate in New York to host the event on the occasion of Vietnam’s National Day.

The event will mark the start of new exchanges between Jersey City Hall and the Vietnamese Consulate in New York in the near future, she said, hoping such the flag raising ceremony will be held annually locally.

“I think it is an opportunity to promote images of the country and people of Vietnam, and at the same time to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and forge closer ties with the local Vietnamese community towards the homeland,” said the Consul.

At the ceremony, City Council President Joyce Waterman presented Consul Mai with a statement signed by Mayor Steven Fulop stating that on September 2, 2021, Jersey City has honoured Vietnam’s National Day, demonstrating the close friendship between the United States and Vietnam.

Waterman said Jersey welcomes people of different nationalities and cultures, including Vietnam, to come and live in the city to promote mutual understanding and develop altogether.

She stressed the flag raising ceremony in Jersey City is to honour the freedom of cultures.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A series of activities have been held by Vietnamese embassies in many countries worldwide to mark Vietnam’s 76th National Day (September 2).

Addressing a meeting held at the Vietnamese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, on September 2, Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi noted under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam over the past 76 years, the Vietnamese people have won glorious achievements in the cause of national defence, construction and development, helping elevate the nation’s prestige and position regionally and globally.

In 2020, Vietnam was one of the few countries achieving positive economic growth. In the first half of 2021, its GDP expanded by 5.64 percent, or 1.82 percent higher than the same period in 2020.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the ambassador said, the embassy considers vaccine diplomacy to be a primary task. It has actively worked with Russian ministries and sectors to promote the negotiation and import of vaccines and drugs for COVID-19 treatment, as well as the transfer of vaccine production technology.

Despite living far from the homeland, the Vietnamese community in Russia has also raised 140,000 USD to purchase vaccines, drugs and other medical supplies to send them back to Vietnam.

On the occasion of the event, staff of the Vietnamese Embassy, representatives of the Vietnamese community and Vietnamese students in Russia offered flowers at President Ho Chi Minh’s statue in Moscow.

Meanwhile, in Egypt, a ceremony to celebrate the National Day was held in Cairo by the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt.

Speaking at the function, Ambassador Tran Thanh Cong emphasised that Vietnam is always proud to have Egypt as a reliable and traditional friend in the history of the struggle for national independence, unification and development.

He said the two countries’ relations are developing well and there are numerous opportunities for extensive and effective bilateral cooperation in various fields such as politics-diplomacy, economy-trade, culture, and education.

Despite the COVID-19 impact, two-way trade between Vietnam and Egypt reached 515 million USD in 2020, up 5 percent compared to 2019.

Ambassador Cong said there is room for cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of industry, agriculture, and logistics. He expressed his belief that bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and Egypt will soon reach 1 billion USD in the coming time.

Vietnam’s 76th National Day was also celebrated by Vietnamese diplomatic missions in Hungary, Switzerland, Israel, Mongolia and Mexico.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Ministry of Planning and Investment has said that it is coordinating with relevant ministries, agencies and localities to build a national economic restructuring plan for the 2021-2025 period, with an aim to creating a breakthrough change in the growth model towards higher productivity, quality and competitiveness.

The objectives of the plan include improving the efficiency of resources, the self-reliance and adapting capacity of the economy, heading to the formation of a science-technology and innovation-based economy, ensuring fast and sustainable growth.

It also aims to enhance the internal strength of the economy and domestic businesses, forming suitable economic structure and upgrading the value chains of sectors, while drastically implement digital transformation and the building of digital economy, digital government and digital society.

Specific goals set by the plan for the 2021-2025 period include 6.5 percent rise in labour productivity each year; 3.7 percent of State budget over-expenditure each year averagely; less than 60 percent of annual public and Government debts hitting ceiling rate; keeping the safe public debt level at about 55 percent of the GDP and Government debt ceiling at less than 50 percent of the GDP.

The ratio of social investment is expected to reach 32-34 percent of the GDP, while public investment management institution is raised to international standards. Meanwhile, bed debts are subjected to be kept at under 3 percent.

In 2025, the scale of stock market capitalisation is expected to reach about 120 percent of the GDP, while the outstanding balance of the bond market is hoped to stand at 55 percent of the GDP.

Vietnam targets the acceleration of 10-15 positions in the quality of land administration index in the Global Competitiveness Index by the World Economic Forum in 2025 compared to that in 2019.

The country hopes to have about 1.5 million businesses in 2025, including 60,000-70,000 medium and large-scaled firms.

In 2025, at least 10-25 national products are expected to have trademark in the international market, contributing to improving the position of the country in the global value chain.

Meanwhile, digital economy is hoped to account for 20 percent of the GDP.

In 2025, the State-owned enterprises are expected to be restructured, basically settling ineffective firms and improve State-owned businesses’ efficiency.

In the draft plan, the ministry also gave five major solution groups to complete the goals.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh has seen a rapid speed of development in its urban areas in recent years.

The early approval of the province’s urban development programme to 2030 is a prerequisite to focus all investment resources and soon build Quang Ninh into a centrally-run city by 2030.

Quang Ninh has a fairly developed urban system, but there is a difference in terms of the development speed and scale of each area. Fast-growing and large-scale urban centres develop along main traffic routes, concentrated in coastal areas, associating with the development of tourist, service, industrial, and port areas.

To become a centrally run city by 2030, Quang Ninh province set strategic goals many years ago.

Nguyen Tuong Van, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the province’s target is to develop an urban area system towards a sustainable direction and to build and develop a green economy based on science, technology, and human resources.

One of Quang Ninh’s breakthrough strategies in the process of accelerating urban planning is investing in infrastructure systems. Up to now, many important infrastructure works have been completed, contributing to the synchronous connection of transport infrastructure in the province and the region. It also helps promote the socio-economic development of the whole region.

During its development process, Quang Ninh always determines that planning must be the first and foremost step. The province has spent a lot of resources and at the same time called for strategic investors to participate in the implementation of key projects, creating a stronger driving force for socio-economic development.

Regarding the planning work, it was determined that the planning must be relevant to the socio-economic development strategy of the country, the region, and that of sectors and fields.

It was necessary to make a breakthrough based on potential and advantages of the province, ensuring modernity, synchronisation and meeting the international standards.

Since its first planning, the province has invited leading consulting firms such as McKinsey Group, BCG (the United States), Nikken Sekkei and Nippon Koie (Japan) to get involved in. These plannings have closely followed the development space of the province, assuring the connectivity to promote the strengths of each locality in the province and the Red River Delta, and the northern key economic region.

To realise the goal of developing Quang Ninh into a civilised and modern city, the province has identified three strategic breakthroughs in the urban development programme to 2030. They were developing high quality human resources in association with increasing population scale and quality; speeding up the development of synchronised and modern strategic infrastructure, and promoting local cultural identities while shortening the income gap.

In addition, the province is also finalising the medium-term public investment plan for the 2021-2025 period. Accordingly, priority will be given to allocating state budget capital as a motivation to maximise the exploitation of resources, especially from the private sector. It will also focus on perfecting the synchronous and modern infrastructure system, contributing to promoting socio-economic development in a fast and sustainable manner.

Quang Ninh is viewed as a strategic destination in northern Vietnam and an important link in the northern economic growth triangle of Hanoi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh.

Over the past five years, Quang Ninh has experienced high and sustainable growth, with an average annual growth rate of 10.7 percent. The average GRDP per capita is estimated at 6,700 USD in 2020, two times higher than the national average.

It topped the PCI rankings for the third year in a row in 2019, according to the PCI 2019 report compiled by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In addition to the PCI, Quang Ninh also led the country in the PAR Index for three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019. The province has also been among the best performers in the SIPAS for many years and rose to the top in 2019.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hundreds of online trade promotion events have been organised effectively, helping settle stagnant situation in the field and overcome difficulties brought about by the COVID-19, which has broke out in the global scale, disrupting supply chains and affecting export activities.

In the current context, online trade promotion is considered the key to help businesses overcome the COVID-19 crisis and complete the ecosystem of trade promotion using digital technology.

According to Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam has been among first countries to accelerate trade promotion on digital platforms as well as online trade exchange activities in an effective manner.

The efforts have assisted businesses to considerably remove obstacles in markets because traditional trade promotion activities are unable to be organised amid COVID-10, he said.

Phu held that speeding up digital transformation in trade promotion, along with the combination of direct and online activities has helped Vietnamese firms connect both domestic and foreign customers in a safe manner, thus ensuring businesses’ operations and contributing to increasing import-export activities of the country as well as the growth of the industry and trade sector in particular.

Online trade promotion – key to overcome COVID-19 crisis hinh anh 2

Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Trade Promotion Agency (Photo: VNA)

Right from the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has promptly applied IT applications and social networks to set up regular connection channels among domestic exporters, trade associations, trade promotion agencies, Vietnamese trade offices and representative offices abroad, and foreign importers and partners.

Thanks to the regular and continuous information connectivity, a huge amount of information on import-export goods from domestic firms has been provided to foreign partners.

The Vietrade has become the pioneer in applying online and hybrid trade promotion models in Vietnam. The agency has shared its experience to other agencies and businesses across the country.

Hundreds of online trade promotion events have been held, generating certain outcomes. This has proved that the renovated method is suitable to the current real situation amid complicated developments of the pandemic, and can replace traditional trade promotion method, helping Vietnam catch up with the global economic trend, according to Phu.

The Vietrade director underlined that online and hybrid trade promotion models are an optimal solution enabling businesses to approach markets, and a key for them to overcome the “COVID storm”. The activities will become an indispensable part of the trade promotion ecosystem using new technology, which will be a great help for enterprises, he added.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conducted an scheduled inspection of COVID-19 prevention and control tasks in five wards, communes, and townships of Ho Chi Minh City, and southern Long An and Tien Giang provinces where the pandemic is developing complicatedly, via an online system.

At a working session with leaders of the five localoties, the PM asked them to continue implementing social distancing and quarantine measures more strictly and effectively, ensuring social security and making sure every citizen could get access to healthcare, while speeding up testing to promptly detect COVID-19 patients.

He also asked to increasing mobile healthcare centres following the Ministry of Health’s guidance as well as organising vaccinations for people safely and effectively.

PM Chinh stressed that the leaders of the local authorities must bear the responsibility on the efficiency of pandemic prevention and control activities in their locality, and report to higher agencies their problems for timely solutions.

After his reecent field trips to loalities in HCM City, southern Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces and the capital city of Hanoi, PM Chinh who is also head of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, has directed the formation of a command centre for COVID-19 prevention and control connecting with 2,594 wards, communes, and townships in 19 cities and provinces applying social distancing measures to keep a close watch on their implementation of pandemic fight directions.

Source: Vietnam News Agency