Gov. Murphy needs to listen to more moderate voices in N.J. | Opinion

Published by
NJ.com

By Matthew Hale Phil Murphy is like a nice watch. You can count on him to perform the basic functions regularly and accurately. He ran as a progressive. He has governed as a progressive. He will always support the New Jersey Education Association, or NJEA. He will always focus on those less fortunate. He trusts that government will get things right. He hasn’t pretended to be anything else. Phil Murphy won and that is really all that matters. But it was close. It is easy to say “Red Wave” or as Patrick Murray did “Polling is Broken.” True enough. But because it was so close Governor Murphy can’… Continue reading “Gov. Murphy needs to listen to more moderate voices in N.J. | Opinion”

Anaqua and ASU Co., Ltd. Announce Strategic Partnership

Long-term partnership to provide Anaqua intellectual property management systems migration and support for clients in Japan

TOKYO, Dec. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Anaqua, the leading provider of innovation and intellectual property management solutions, and ASU Co., Ltd. (ASU), one of the foremost companies in Japan providing support for IP management systems in Japan, today have announced a strategic partnership. Through this collaboration, the two companies will work together to support customers in their migration to Anaqua’s IP management platform, AQX. The companies’ shared goal is to accelerate customers’ innovation lifecycles, enhance their intellectual property operations and augment their strategic portfolio management capabilities.

This partnership will provide a pathway for companies onto Anaqua’s globally recognized and highly secure cloud intellectual property management solution, AQX. Anaqua is ISO 27001 certified, the leading international standard for measuring information security management systems, and has completed a Type 1 SOC 2 examination. Dedicated to upholding the highest security standards, Anaqua already provides its trusted AQX platform for many Japanese companies to manage their valuable IP assets. ASU’s extensive experience in the Japanese IP industry and their ability to support companies before, during, and after their migration to AQX will give continuity of service and deep technical expertise for new and future AQX customers.

ASU will work in partnership with Anaqua to support customers’ internal IP operations, AQX software implementations and provide ongoing post go-live support for AQX users.

“We are delighted to partner with ASU to offer a smooth migration for Japanese companies who need to move to a secure, efficient, and strategic platform,” said Karen Taylor, General Manager of Asia Pacific at Anaqua. “This is a long-term partnership and we plan to develop and deepen our collaboration together over time. Anaqua and ASU have a shared commitment to ensuring our customers’ success and continued growth. We are looking forward to our collaboration with customers and with each other.”

About Anaqua
Anaqua, Inc. is a premium provider of integrated intellectual property (IP) management technology solutions and services. Anaqua’s AQX platform combines best practice workflows with big data analytics and tech-enabled services to create an intelligent environment designed to inform IP strategy, enable IP decision-making, and streamline IP operations. Today, nearly half of the top 100 U.S. patent filers and global brands, as well as a growing number of law firms worldwide use Anaqua’s solutions. Over one million IP executives, attorneys, paralegals, administrators, and innovators use the platform for their IP management needs. The company’s global operations are headquartered in Boston, with offices across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. For additional information, please visit anaqua.com, or on LinkedIn.

About ASU
Founded in 1998, ASU Co., Ltd. is a FUJITSU partner and ATMS product sales company. ASU sells, builds, and supports FUJITSU’s IP package ATMS products to companies and patent offices in the Tokyo-Osaka area, and has about 150 companies and about 400 patent offices as customers. ASU also invested in China (Baoding City) since 2000 to develop its IP business. Please see asu.co.jp for company details.

Company Contact:
Amanda Hollis
Associate Director, Communications
Anaqua
617-375-2626
ahollis@Anaqua.com

PDF available at: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/c18bff74-7111-49aa-bf6e-2448d81a535a

Nasdaq Survey Uncovers Portfolio Managers’ Top Data Infrastructure Challenges

Quantitative managers cite inadequate manpower as source of dissatisfaction; fundamental managers cite inability to quickly onboard and deploy data

Processes managers are already or are considering outsourcing…

Portfolio managers have outsourced or are planning to outsource in the next 12 months: data deployment, analytics, sourcing, evaluation, QA and accessibility.

NEW YORK, Dec. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nasdaq, Inc. (Nasdaq: NDAQ) today released results from a survey of portfolio managers across the U.S., revealing the top challenges they face in operating a scalable and efficient data infrastructure. Only 46% of respondents report being very or completely satisfied with their organization’s data infrastructure, and only 2% state that nothing limits their implementation of new datasets. The survey also explored different issues encountered by different types of portfolio managers – quantitative, fundamental and quantamental.

Over half of the surveyed quantitative managers (55%) state that lack of talent limits their implementation of new datasets, compared to only 33% of quantamental and 31% of fundamental managers.

Of quantitative managers dissatisfied with their organization’s data infrastructure, 87% cite inadequate manpower (compared to 67% of fundamental managers) and 60% cite an inability to quickly test new datasets (33% for fundamental).

Of dissatisfied fundamental managers, 60% cite an inability to quickly onboard or deploy new data (33% for quantitative), 53% cite difficultly finding or accessing data within their organization (27% for quantitative), 47% cite compliance (27% for quantitative) and 40% cite outdated technology (33% for quantitative).

Across data onboarding, quality assurance (QA), testing and deployment, quantamental managers note higher satisfaction with the time it takes them to complete these tasks than fundamental and quantitative managers.

“One of the key challenges modern portfolio managers face is getting value from data at scale. It can be hard to onboard new datasets quickly and reliably which can delay deployment of new investment strategies,” said Bill Dague, Head of Alternative Data and Nasdaq Data Link. “Building and maintaining a full data stack is expensive and time-consuming, especially for smaller organizations, but it has become table stakes. That’s why we’re seeing a lot of interest from our clients in outsourcing this critical, but undifferentiated function.”

The Future of Data Management Outsourcing

Over half (55%) of portfolio managers surveyed currently outsource functions related to data implementation or infrastructure, and 38% of managers not currently outsourcing plan to do so in the next 12 months. Sixty-one percent of those satisfied with their organization’s data infrastructure currently outsource at least some functions, while 64% of those who are dissatisfied don’t outsource at all.

The top groups leading in the plans to outsource data management tasks over the next year include those taking more than a month to onboard/integrate new datasets (71%), portfolio managers under age 40 (70%), and CDO-led organizations (61%).

Portfolio managers have outsourced or are planning to outsource in the next 12 months the processes of data deployment (49%), analytics (40%), sourcing (40%), evaluation (37%), QA (37%) and accessibility (33%).

Processes managers are already or are considering outsourcing…

For Portfolio Managers Making Decisions on Data, People Remain Essential

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/58688b95-6c75-477e-9e29-e50576388dcb

The portfolio managers surveyed state they are most likely to rely on colleagues or coworkers to source new data products (26%) and keep up with data/investing trends (67%), underscoring the importance of word-of-mouth as technology providers aim to build credibility among asset manager prospects.

Smaller hedge funds are more reliant on peer-to-peer sources when finding new data products (42% cite colleagues, 18% cite consultants, 16% cite social media), while larger hedge funds are more reliant on one-to-many sources (21% cite news websites, 19% cite colleagues, 16% cite conferences, 15% cite newsletters). More portfolio managers over age 40 find new data products through news websites (24%, versus 10% of those under 40), while more portfolio managers under 40 find new data products through online search (13%, versus 4% of those over 40).

Over half of respondents report using social media (55%), conferences (55%), industry peers (55%), news articles (53%), webinars (52%) and consultants (51%) to keep up with relevant data and investing trends, implying the need for technology providers to consider a holistic marketing approach.

Full report will be available to download here.

Methodology

Nasdaq’s survey of 200 portfolio managers was conducted online by Wakefield Research between October 8 and October 22, 2021. For further details on survey methodology, please contact a media representative. Findings from narrow respondent segments may be viewed as directional due to sample size.

About Nasdaq
Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software, and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

Media Contact
Emily Pan
emily.pan@nasdaq.com
+1 (646) 637-3964

WillScot Mobile Mini Acquires Regional Storage and Modular Services Assets in Northeast United States

PHOENIX, Dec. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. (“WillScot Mobile Mini” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: WSC), a North American leader in modular space and portable storage solutions, today announced that it closed the acquisition of the rental assets of Hecht Trailers in New Jersey. The transaction was funded with cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit agreement. This acquisition adds over 2,000 storage units and over 200 modular units in the Company’s existing markets in the northeast United States.

Brad Soultz, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “I am excited to welcome new employees of Hecht Trailers to our team at WillScot Mobile Mini. Hecht Trailers’ rental operations expand our presence and capabilities in the greater northeast region. Consistent with our M&A strategy, we look forward to providing our ‘Ready to Work’ value proposition to new customers and applying our commercial and organizational best practices, while leveraging our scalable technology platform. Thank you to both our new and existing team members who are now working together to integrate our operations.”

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “shall,” “outlook” and variations of these words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. Certain of these forward-looking statements include statements relating value creation, the Company’s share price, and the Company’s future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside our control, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties described in the periodic reports we file with the SEC from time to time (including our Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2020), which are available through the SEC’s EDGAR system at www.sec.gov and on our website. Any forward-looking statement speaks only at the date which it is made, and WillScot Mobile Mini disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

About WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.

WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings trades on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol “WSC.” Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the Company is a leading business services provider specializing in innovative flexible workspace and portable storage solutions. WillScot Mobile Mini services diverse end markets across all sectors of the economy from a network of over 275 branch locations and additional drop lots throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.

Contact Information

Investor Inquiries:
Nick Girardi
nick.girardi@willscotmobilemini.com

Media Inquiries:
Scott Junk
scott.junk@willscotmobilemini.com

Helsinn Achieves Carbon Neutrality

Helsinn Achieves Carbon Neutrality

Lugano, Switzerland, December 6, 2021 – Helsinn Group (“Helsinn”), a fully integrated, global biopharma company with a diversified pipeline of innovative oncology assets and strong track-record of commercial execution, today announces that it has achieved carbon neutrality for the first time.

Since 2012, Helsinn has been committed to becoming more sustainable. Our environmental performance has improved steadily through several activities: a strong focus on energy conservation measures, the substitution of fossil fuels with renewables and, from 2019 in our chemical plant, the elimination of heating oil and replacement with energy from biomass km0 have considerably reduced its Scope 1 carbon footprint.

In 2020, Helsinn started to measure its total carbon footprint – Scope 1, 2 and 3* – across the value chain according to GHG protocol and to ISO 14064.

After many efforts targeted at reducing the footprint during the past years, Helsinn decided to become Carbon Neutral through the investment in high-quality, Gold Standard carbon offsets.

Achieving carbon neutrality status through the purchase of Gold Standard certificates, follows a rigorous and continued focus on the Group’s environmental performance, addresses 100% of Scope 1, 2 and 3 and represents a key milestone in Helsinn’s sustainability journey.

The Gold Standard certificates purchased by Helsinn support two high quality and high impact projects currently being conducted in Ethiopia and Madagascar with the aim of providing access to safe drinking water to rural communities. Both projects contribute directly to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action) as certified by Gold Standard.

Further details on our environmental performance can be found in the Group’s annual Sustainability Report, Quality of Life 5 (“QoL”). The recently published QoL report outlines the progress Helsinn has made in improving its sustainability performance across global operations in 2020, in six distinct areas:

  • Quality of Life for Our Patients
  • Quality of Life for Our People
  • Quality of Life in Our Communities
  • Quality of Life in Our Environment
  • Acting Responsibly
    • Economic Value Creation

and is now available here.

Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO, commented: “Despite the global challenges last year, we remained focused on our sustainability journey, improving the way we measure our impacts, our priorities and the changing expectations of our stakeholders. Today, Helsinn is proud to announce that we have reached the goal of carbon neutrality in our value chain, which represents an extremely important milestone for the Group.’’

Giorgio CalderariHelsinn Group General Manager, added: “Reaching carbon neutrality is an impressive achievement for Helsinn and demonstrates our commitment to sustainability. Helsinn continues to make significant headway in ensuring our ESG targets are being met and we continue to look for ways to improve on previous ESG performance.”

* The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard classifies a company’s GHG emissions into three ‘scopes’:
Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy. Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions (not included in scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both upstream and downstream emissions.

About the Helsinn Group

Helsinn is a fully integrated, global biopharma company headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland. It is focused on improving the lives of cancer patients all over the world with a leading position in cancer supportive care and innovative pipeline of cancer therapeutics.

Helsinn is third-generation family-owned company, that since 1976 has been focused on improving the lives of patients, guided by core values of respect, integrity and quality. It operates a unique licensing business model with integrated drug development and manufacturing capabilities. Helsinn has a commercial presence in 190 countries either directly, with operating subsidiaries in the U.S. and China, or via its network of long-standing trusted partners.

Helsinn Group plays an active and central role in promoting social transformation in favor of people and the environment. Corporate social responsibility is at the heart of everything we do, which is reinforced in the company’s strategic plan by a commitment to sustainable growth.

To learn more about Helsinn Group please visit www.helsinn.com

For more information:
Helsinn Group Media Contact:
Paola Bonvicini
Group Head of Communication
Lugano, Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0) 91 985 21 21
Email: Info-hhc@helsinn.com
Email: sustainability@helsinn.com
For more information, please visit www.helsinn.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn

Wood Mackenzie Appoints Elena Belletti as Head of Carbon Research

Joins from United Nations to lead growing carbon team

Elena Belletti, Head of Carbon Research, Wood Mackenzie, a Verisk business

Elena Belletti, Head of Carbon Research, Wood Mackenzie, a Verisk business

LONDON/HOUSTON/SINGAPORE, Dec. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wood Mackenzie, a Verisk business (Nasdaq:VRSK), has appointed Elena Belletti as Head of Carbon Research within the company’s Energy Transition Practice.

Based in Madrid, Elena joins from the United Nations (UN) Headquarters, where she had worked since 2015, most recently as an economist in the office for financing sustainable development. At the UN, Elena was the focal point on taxation and climate, advising senior government officials from low-income countries on the development of policies that generate revenues while protecting the environment. She also focused on carbon pricing and on the role of taxation in attaining environmentally-related sustainable development goals (SDGs). Prior to the UN, she was an economist for Palantir Economic Solutions and an advisor at Eni.

Head of Carbon is a newly expanded role at Wood Mackenzie, a trusted source of commercial intelligence for the world’s natural resources sector. Elena will lead a team of five, responding to clients’ demands for tools and intelligence to help them through the energy transition. This includes the assessment and mitigation of their carbon emissions and an understanding of the fast-changing landscape around carbon mechanisms.

Jonny Sultoon, Head of Markets & Transitions, Energy Transition at Wood Mackenzie said: “Carbon and wider greenhouse gas emissions are a strategic focus for a growing number of clients in all industries. Elena’s appointment is particularly timely post-COP26, as governments have renewed or announced pledges to reduce both carbon and methane emissions to mitigate climate change, and industry and government will have to work collaboratively to align with these national commitments. Elena brings a cross-cutting understanding of the issues and governmental dynamics as well as stakeholder management experience. She is ideally suited to lead our carbon team.”

Elena Belletti added: “It is an exciting time to join Wood Mackenzie’s growing Energy Transition Practice. There is increasing demand from clients for data and support on all aspects of carbon, from emissions, price markets and mechanisms and voluntary markets to nature-based solutions, mechanical carbon removal and more. I look forward to working with such a talented team as we help clients achieve a fair energy transition.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact Wood Mackenzie’s media relations team:

The Big Partnership
+44 7711 281915
woodmac@bigpartnership.co.uk

Note to editors:
Read Elena Belletti’s thoughts on Carbon markets’ COP26 breakthrough in the latest edition of The Edge – weekly insight from Wood Mackenzie’s Chairman and Chief Analyst Simon Flowers on the natural resources industry’s biggest stories.

About Wood Mackenzie
Wood Mackenzie, a Verisk Analytics business, is a trusted source of commercial intelligence for the world’s natural resources sector. We empower clients to make better strategic decisions, providing objective analysis and advice on assets, companies and markets. For more information, visit: www.woodmac.com or follow us on Twitter @WoodMackenzie
WOOD MACKENZIE is a trademark of Wood Mackenzie Limited and is the subject of trademark registrations and/or applications in the European Community, the USA and other countries around the world.

About Verisk
Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK) provides predictive analytics and decision support solutions to customers in the insurance, energy and specialized markets, and financial services industries. More than 70 percent of the FORTUNE 100 relies on the company’s advanced technologies to manage risks, make better decisions and improve operating efficiency. The company’s analytic solutions address insurance underwriting and claims, fraud, regulatory compliance, natural resources, catastrophes, economic forecasting, geopolitical risks, as well as environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the company continues to make the world better, safer and stronger, and fosters an inclusive and diverse culture where all team members feel they belong. With more than 100 offices in nearly 35 countries, Verisk consistently earns certification by Great Place to Work. For more: Verisk.comLinkedInTwitterFacebook and YouTube.

Attachment

For further information, please contact Wood Mackenzie’s media relations team:

The Big Partnership
+44 7711 281915
woodmac@bigpartnership.co.uk

Junshi Biosciences Announces FDA Expanded Emergency Use Authorization for Etesevimab and Bamlanivimab Administered Together to Include Individuals under the Age of 12

First and only neutralizing antibody therapy for this age group

SHANGHAI, China, Dec. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180), a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies, announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) has expanded the emergency use authorization (“EUA”) for etesevimab (JS016/LY-CoV016) and bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555) administered together (the “Therapy”) to include certain high-risk pediatric patients from birth to under 12 years old for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 as well as post-exposure prophylaxis, according to Eli Lilly and Company (“Lilly”), the company’s global partner. The Therapy has been the first and only authorized neutralizing antibody therapy for emergency use in COVID-19 individuals under the age of 12 and offers treatment and prevention options to high-risk individuals of any age.

In February 2021, the Therapy was granted EUA for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients aged 12 and older who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization by the FDA. In September 2021, the Therapy was granted EUA for post-exposure prophylaxis in high-risk individuals 12 years of age and older who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or are not expected to mount an adequate immune response to complete vaccination and have been exposed to someone infected with SARS-CoV-2 or who are at high risk of exposure in an institutional setting, including a nursing home or prison.

The expanded EUA is based on safety and efficacy data of pediatric and infant patients in BLAZE-1 (NCT04427501), a phase II/III clinical trial studying the Therapy for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 and who are at high risk for severe disease progression. The median time to complete symptom resolution as recorded in a trial-specific daily symptom diary was 7 days for subjects treated with etesevimab (1,400 mg) and bamlanivimab (700 mg) and 5 days for subjects treated with weight-based dosing of etesevimab and bamlanivimab. No pediatric subject died or required hospitalization due to COVID-19.

Pseudovirus and authentic virus studies demonstrate that the Therapy retains neutralization activity against the Delta (B.1.617.2/AY.3) variant, the currently predominant variant of concern worldwide.

According to the statistics from Lilly, over 700,000 patients have been treated with the Therapy or bamlanivimab, potentially preventing more than 35,000 hospitalizations and at least 14,000 deaths during the worst of the pandemic.

About Etesevimab (JS016/LY-CoV016)
Etesevimab is a recombinant fully human monoclonal neutralizing antibody, which specifically binds to the SARS-CoV-2 surface spike protein receptor binding domain with high affinity and can block the binding of the virus to the ACE2 host cell surface receptor. Point mutations were introduced into the native human IgG1 antibody to mitigate effector function. Lilly licensed etesevimab from the Company after it was jointly developed by the Company and the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Science. The Company leads development in Greater China (including mainland China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and the Taiwan region), while Lilly leads development in the rest of the world. The Therapy has obtained EUA in more than 15 countries and regions worldwide. The Company has completed a Phase Ib/II international multi-center clinical study (NCT04780321) of etesevimab for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. Results from a Phase 2/3 study sponsored by Lilly in people recently diagnosed with COVID-19 in the ambulatory setting (BLAZE-1, NCT04427501) were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

About Junshi Biosciences
Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R & D pipeline comprising 45 drug candidates, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Junshi Biosciences was the first Chinese pharmaceutical company that obtained marketing approval for anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in China. Its first-in-human anti-BTLA antibody for solid tumors was the first in the world to be approved for clinical trials by the FDA and NMPA and its anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody was the first in China to be approved for clinical trials by the NMPA. In early 2020, Junshi Biosciences joined forces with the Institute of Microbiology of Chinese Academy of Science and Eli Lilly to co-develop JS016 (etesevimab), China’s first neutralizing fully human monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2. JS016 administered with bamlanivimab has been granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) in 15 countries and regions worldwide. The JS016 program is a part of our continuous innovation for disease control and prevention of the global pandemic. Junshi Biosciences has over 2,500 employees in the United States (San Francisco and Maryland) and China (Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing and Guangzhou). For more information, please visit: http://junshipharma.com.

Junshi Biosciences Contact Information
IR Team:
Junshi Biosciences
info@junshipharma.com
+ 86 021-2250 0300

Solebury Trout
Bob Ai
bai@soleburytrout.com
+ 1 646-389-6658

PR Team:
Junshi Biosciences
Zhi Li
zhi_li@junshipharma.com
+ 86 021-6105 8800

Vietnam Economic Forum: vocational training needed to adapt to new normal

Developing a skilled workforce should be considered an important pillar to help the country adapt to the new normal and the national economy quickly recover from the recession and grow intensively and sustainably, heard a session of the Vietnam Economic Forum 2021 on December 5.

Truong Anh Dung, head of the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said although Vietnam is in the golden population period, there still remains various limitations regarding workforce quality.

Among 55 million labourers, only 24.5 percent own degrees and certificates, he further explained, noting that Vietnam would miss out on opportunities brought by the golden population if the country takes no actions to speed up investment in developing skilled human resources.

Dung suggested pushing ahead with vocational training and extending the duration of the policy on providing vocational training for the unemployed using the unemployment insurance fund for another one or two years, among other solutions.

For the middle-and long terms, it is necessary to develop an open, flexible, effective and integrated vocational training system, and pay more heed to job and training forecasting, he said.

Source: Vietnam News Agency