Day: November 28, 2021

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang paid a working visit to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region and the port city of Marseille from November 25 to 27.

At his meetings with Christophe Mirmand, the high representative of the French State in PACA, and Michele Rubriola, permanent deputy mayor of Marseille, Thang affirmed that the region and city have strengths, especially in areas that Vietnam needs such as seaport, logistics, renewable energy, tourism, high-tech development, and agro-food processing, and training.

Meanwhile, the French officials expressed their willingness to cooperate with Vietnam in sectors that both boast potential for development.

Both sides had a desire to strengthen bilateral connectivity and cooperation between localities under different models and scales. During the meetings, the local authorities said they highly acknowledged the contributions, good integration, and certain successes of the Vietnamese community in Marseille (about 20,000 people) and PACA (40,000 people).

During his trip, the Vietnamese diplomat visited a number of local major firms, including the Marseille Fos seaport, container shipping group CMA-CGM, helicopter manufacturer Airbus Helicopters, as well as the Marseille-Aix-Provence chamber of commerce and industry.

Airbus Helicopters said that it has provided many types of helicopters to Vietnam and is ready to help Vietnam develop a dedicated aircraft fleet. Meanwhile, CMA-CGM expressed its desire to expand phase two of Cai Mep port development project and to help Vietnam develop container transport.

During these meetings, the sides involved believed that it is necessary to take advantage of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to foster cooperation and support Vietnamese goods in penetrating the European market.

Thang also spent his time meeting representatives of Vietnamese expatriates in Marseille.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Thang said the trip to Marseille gained various outcomes, particularly the unveiling of a plaque commemorating President Ho Chi Minh in the city, as part of the activities marking 110 years since the late President boarded ship Amiral Latouche Tréville to France, beginning his journey for national salvation.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi has highlighted Vietnam – Russia ties as well as the significance of the upcoming Russia visit by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc from November 29 – December 2.

In an interview recently granted to Vietnam News Agency reporters in Moscow, Khoi said Vietnam – Russia ties are close-knit, loyal and rare in the world.

He said said the visit will further deepen and lift bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a greater height in all areas in the new situation.

It manifests that Vietnam is pursuing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of ties for national benefits, as well as for the world peace and stability.

The visit also shows that Vietnam attaches importance to ties with Russia, considering the country a priority in its foreign policy and a key partner while sincerely and consistently supporting Russia in an ever-changing world.

Third, it affirms the strengthening of joint work against COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the research and production of vaccines and medicines.

More importantly, it will also boost links in all areas, especially in politics, economy, national defence-security, energy – oil and gas, education-training and people-to-people exchange, he said.

Looking back on the two decades of bilateral strategic partnership towards the 10th anniversary of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership next year, Khoi said mutual political trust and understanding have increasingly been consolidated via regular visits and exchanges at all levels.

He also underscored achievements in bilateral cooperation in defence-security, energy – oil and gas, economy, trade and investment, and education and training.

Asked about which fields could be strengthened to boost ties, Khoi said both sides agreed to further share experience in fighting epidemics, and jointly study and produce vaccines and medicines. Vietnam could become a Sputnik V vaccine production hub of Russia in Southeast Asia.

He suggested cultivating collaboration in economy-trade, national defence-security, the use of nuclear energy for peace purpose, education-training and people-to-people exchange.

The diplomat also highlighted the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia’s contributions to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic at home, including establishing a working group on vaccines, seeking the transfer of Spunik V vaccine production technology as well as Sputnik V supply to Vietnam.

Vietnam’s vaccine diplomatic policy has been a success in the world, including in Russia, he stated.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The South Australia – Vietnam Business Council (SAVBC) officially debuted in Australia on November 27, offering a new trade connectivity channel for the two countries’ businesses.

Speaking at the event, SAVBC Chairman Francis Wong, who is also representative of Becamex IDC in Australia, said the SAVBC’s establishment is expected to help private sector in South Australia state better tap opportunities and build close ties with the Vietnamese partners.

The SAVBC now groups nearly 70 members, mostly those in South Australia state operating in trade and services. It expects to have 200 members in the next 18 months.

Its members will share experience and cooperate with Vietnamese firms in fields of Australia’s strength such as agriculture, fisheries, education, digital economy, tourism, science-technology and innovation, manufacturing, energy and natural resources, and services.

As Vietnam is forecast to be a new hub of Mekong River region, ASEAN and Asia, the SAVBC will offer favourable conditions for South Australia’s enterprises to boost investment in Vietnam, towards expanding markets, improving their growth and competitiveness, Wong said.

In the immediate future, it will introduce the Vietnamese market to its members via seminars and forums, thus providing a platform for them to connect with representative Vietnamese agencies in Australia, he added.

At the event, the Vietnamese Consulate Generals in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland states in collaboration with the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia introduced Vietnamese longan, fresh coconut and dragon fruit to Australian companies. They are all imported and distributed by 4 Ways Fresh company.

In the evening the same day, the Vietnamese Entrepreneurs Association in Sydney held an year-end meeting to review its 2021 activities and debuted its new executive board for the second tenure.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Foreign direct investment (FDI) registered in Vietnam reached 26.46 billion USD as of November 20, up 0.1 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Notably, the total additional registered capital stood at over 8 billion USD, an annual rise of 26.7 percent.

During the period, 14.1 billion USD was poured into 1,577 newly-licensed projects, up 3.76 percent in value but down 31.8 percent in volume over the same period last year.

The remaining investment capital was used for capital contribution and share purchases in a total 3,466 transactions.

Foreign investors landed investments in 18 sectors, with processing and manufacturing absorbing the largest amount of capital (over 14 billion USD or 53 percent), followed by power generation and distribution (over 5.7 billion USD), real estate (2.41 billion USD), and wholesale and retail sale (1.27 billion USD).

Among 100 countries and territories having investment in Vietnam in the period, Singapore took lead with 7.6 billion USD, making up 28.7 percent of the total. The Republic of Korea (RoK) came second with more than 4.36 billion USD, and Japan was the third largest investor with 3.7 billion USD.

Localities that attracted the most FDI were Long An (3.76 billion USD), Ho Chi Minh City (nearly 3.43 billion USD), and Hai Phong city (over 2.8 billion USD).

Export turnover of the FDI sector (including crude oil) was estimated at nearly 220.2 billion USD, up 19.7 percent over the same period and accounting for 73.6 percent of Vietnam’s total. The sector’s import value (excluding crude oil), meanwhile, exceeded 195.5 billion USD, an annual increase of 29.5 percent and accounting for 65.5 percent of the country’s total.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnamese Embassy and Vietnam Trade Office in Australia have launched a programme marketing two tonnes of Vietnamese whole frozen passion fruit products in a bid to increase the share of the fruit in the market.

According to the trade office, Australia produces more than 4,700 tonnes of passion fruit per year. Notably, 91 percent of passion fruit grown in Australia is marketed as fruit. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s passion fruit exported to the country is mostly in form of frozen pulp, making the products being little known among local consumers. Persuaded by the office, Vietnam’s Uu Dam company decided to ship 2 tonnes of the whole frozen fruit to Australia.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh stated the export of the whole fruit is meaningful as Vietnam is negotiating for its fresh passion fruit to enter Australia.

According to the programme, when the batch arrives in Australia for distribution in December, local consumers buying them will have chance to win prizes of 2000 AUD sponsored by Viet Uc Group and three return air tickets from Vietjet Air.

Australia has to date allowed the import of four fresh fruits from Vietnam. Despite COVID-19, in the first ten months of 2021, Vietnam’s export of fruit and vegetables to the market increased by 27.65 percent.

Source: Vietnam News Agency