Day: December 6, 2021

More than 20 tonnes of canned lychee from Vietnam has hit the shelves of supermarkets in France for the first time, according to the trade office of Vietnam in the European country.

This is also the first time canned fruit from Vietnam has been sold at a retail chain in France.

The lychee was imported by Tang Frères, the largest retail system, importer, and wholesale distributor of Asian food in France.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang said this is a significant success opening up a new development direction for Vietnamese fruit in France and the EU.

He noted although Vietnam has many businesses strong at producing canned fruit, only a modest volume of such product has been imported into France. Given this, the country still has much room for boosting the export of this product, and businesses should fully capitalise on opportunities, thus helping reduce pressure on the sale of fresh fruit in harvest seasons and prove Vietnamese firms’ capacity of ensuring stable fruit supply.

Vu Anh Son, who is in charge of the trade office in France, said via the French partner, Vietnamese goods can access local consumers, professional clients such as restaurants, stores, and small supermarkets in remote areas, as well as hypermarkets in the country.

The EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has proved highly useful for Vietnam in expanding markets for its exports. Many partners who are foreign distribution networks are also planning to increase the presence of Vietnamese goods in their systems, according to the official.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi has launched a plan to foster the development of key industrial products (KIP) in 2022, expecting 30-35 products to earn the recognition next year.

The city is also working to ensure 100 percent of the firms manufacturing KIPs will benefit from its support policies, and such firms will push their production value up by 10-12 percent against 2021 and contribute 35-40 percent of the city’s total industrial production and 15 percent of total exports.

To this end, the city is taking six measures, namely improving the business environment for KIP firms, supporting KIP firms in technological development, developing human resource, selecting and honouring KIP, promoting trade and investment, and formulating supportive policies.

Previously, Hanoi honoured 26 products as KIP in 2020 and 46 products this year. So far, the city has recognised 163 products from 107 firms after four years, from 2018 to 2021. For the 2021-2025 period, the municipal authority aims to have 150-180 products recognised as KIP.

The city hopes that KIP recognition would add value to brand names, allowing them to fare better amid the pandemic, and create favourable conditions for development.

Meanwhile, Hanoi’s index of industrial production in November went up 4.8 percent month-on-month and 7.1 percent compared to the same period last year.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai told Director General of Samsung Vietnam Complex Choi Joo-ho that the Vietnamese Government backs Samsung’s long-term business strategy in Vietnam during his reception for the business executive in Hanoi on December 6.

Informing the guest that he is to visit the Republic of Korea within the framework of the bilateral dialogue mechanism on economic cooperation at deputy prime ministerial level, Khai said that during the visit, he and his RoK counterpart will evaluate outcomes of the economic partnership between the two countries since their previous dialogue in 2019.

Samsung is a big investor in Vietnam, so the Vietnamese Government wants to listen to its opinions in order to discuss with the RoK side how to create more favourable conditions for the firm to operate effectively, the Deputy PM said.

Choi Joo-ho told the host that currently, Samsung has operated six production factories, one research centre and one sales entity in Vietnam.

Apart from mobile phone and household appliance production, Samsung also manufactures main parts of televisions and telephones, he said, adding that the firm is employing 110,000 employees in Vietnam. According to Choi, so far, Samsung has disbursed 100 percent of its registered capital of 17.7 billion USD in Vietnam.

He said that during the fourth wave of COVID-19 in Vietnam, the firm has received great support from Vietnamese localities, adding that its factories in the north resumed production in August and those in the south have operated stably since November.

Last year, Samsung’s revenue reached 56.7 billion USD and the figure is expected to rise 15 percent this year, he said.

The executive thanked the Vietnamese Government for assisting the firm over the years, expressing hope that Vietnam will continue to maintain safe and flexible adaptation to and effective control of the pandemic to ensure that production is not interrupted.

Choi gave some proposals regarding the global minimum corporate tax in line with the regulations of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Deputy PM Khai pledged that Vietnam will work to access more vaccine sources to enable businesses to operate safely in the new normal situation, while urging enterprises, including Samsung, to continue to coordinate with local government to effectively control the pandemic for long-term operations.

He lauded Samsung’s investment in a 220-million-USD research and development centre in Vietnam, which is scheduled to complete in 2022, affirming that the Vietnamese Government supports the firm’s long-term business strategy in Vietnam. He asked Samsung to report its difficulties to Vietnamese authorised agency for timely solutions.

Stressing Vietnam’s determination to deliver on its commitments to businesses, Deputy PM Khai said that Vietnam wants to listen to feedback from the business community in response to changes in policies.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has sent a proposal on measures needed to be taken for the resumption of regular international flights to the Government’s Office, according to Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan said.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, the Deputy Minister said the proposal was submitted following meetings between the MoT and domestic carriers namely Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and concerning ministries.

He said all airlines and airport operators asked for resuming regular international passengers flights. The airlines also suggested lifting quarantine rules for fully vaccinated travellers or those having recovered from the COVID-19, who have negative virus test results taken within 72 hours prior to their travel, Tuan said.

International airports have got themselves ready to welcome back regular international flights, with 100 percent of employees vaccinated against the virus and issuance of COVID-19 hygiene guidelines, he added.

The deputy minister further noted that the Ministry of Health has been drafting a guideline on relaxing quarantine rules for arrivals, which is expected soon to be released, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been accelerating talks with foreign counterparts on the mutual recognition of “vaccine passport.”

The Ministry of Public Security has also been developing an integrated mobile app for immigration reviews, health declaration and vaccination certification, the deputy minister said.

For the part of airlines, in a letter sent to the Prime Minister proposing the resumption of international air routes, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines Dang Ngoc Hoa pointed out multiple risks Vietnam is likely to face if international flights will not be reopened anytime soon.

Vietnam may lose its competitive edges in the eyes of not only tourists but also investors, Hoa said. Aviation and tourism firms in Vietnam are struggling, he noted, adding that they are on the brink of bankruptcy and losing competitive advantages to regional rivals, making post-pandemic recovery even harder.

Vietjet Air Deputy Director-General Nguyen Van Son said it is critical for Vietnam to early resume international flights, particularly from/to countries with high vaccination rate.

Data shows that the aviation sector served 13.4 million passengers in the first 10 months of this year, just equal to 22.5 percent of the pre-pandemic level (2019).

The number of air travellers only totalled 2.1 million between May and mid-November when the country was hit by the fourth COVID-19 wave, equivalent to 5.8 percent of 2019’s figure. The foreign arrivals only accounted for 1 percent of the pre-pandemic level.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam has regarded people as the centre, subject and driving force and target of development, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told a plenary session of the third annual high-level forum on the fourth industrial revolution in Hanoi on December 6.

He said amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has flexibly adopted many policies to ensure social security, helping to stablise people’s lives.

Over the past two years, under the leadership of the Party and the State, as well as with the consensus of businesses and people, and international support, Vietnam has basically brought the pandemic under control, the PM noted.

Thanks to joint efforts, the macro economy has remained stable, inflation has been controlled, major economic balances have been ensured, while foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased and the production and supply chains have been resumed, thereby helping to strengthening the confidence of people, businesses and investors, he said.

For the socio-economic recovery programme, the PM stated that Vietnam has been closely, flexibly and effectively combining fiscal, monetary, trade and investment policies, among others.

The country will also work to maintain macro-economic stability, curb inflation, and ensure major economic balances, while focusing on social security and people, corporate development and strategic infrastructure, including infrastructure for digital transformation, PM Chinh said.

Regarding the pandemic combat, the PM affirmed that the public’s health is a top priority, adding that apart from the phased vaccine rollout, Vietnam will take solutions to ensure safety at industrial parks, gradually open schools, resume international flights, and restore tourism and international trade.

In infrastructure development, priorities will be given to transport, power and telecom infrastructure, especially in remote, border and island areas, according to the government leader.

The PM also reiterated Vietnam’s foreign policy of multilateralisation and diversification, adding that the country develop relations with its partners in a more practical and effective manner in the spirit that Vietnam is a friend of all nations and it will make positive contributions to building and maintaining peace, security, safety and stability in the region and the world at large.

People is the target of development: Prime Minister hinh anh 2

The forum, held both in online and in-person forms, saw the participation of foreign ambassadors in Vietnam, Vietnamese ambassadors in foreign countries, representatives from international organisations, experts, scholars and business people at home and abroad.

Prior to the plenary session, there were 10 thematic seminars from November 9-18, bringing together nearly 8,000 delegates.

They discussed smart production, smart city development, green and new energy, new business models, e-government building towards digital government, digital infrastructure, digital technology and digital workforce.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Binh Duong province has attracted over 2 billion USD of foreign direct investment (FDI) so far this year thanks to various measures taken by local authorities.

As of November 15, this southern industrial hub attracted more than 2 billion USD to 64 new FDI projects, 24 existing ones, and 161 others in the form of share purchase and capital contribution, according to the provincial People’s Committee.

That raised the total number of FDI projects here to 4,011 with the combined capital of 37 billion USD from 65 countries and territories, giving Binh Duong the second position, after nearby Ho Chi Minh City, in terms of FDI attraction.

Most of the investment was poured into industrial production, trade, and services.

At a recent online conference held by the provincial People’s Committee to promote Italian investment, Andrea Geuin, Director of Bonfiglioli Southeast Asia, said the firm’s factory, manufacturing automation equipment in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park of Binh Duong, has recorded good production and business results over the past years.

He spoke highly of the local investment climate, the administration’s support, the uniformly developed infrastructure, and the skilled workforce, noting that his company will expand its factory and coordinate with universities to implement its projects, especially high-tech ones.

Facing travel restrictions among countries to curb COVID-19 transmission, this year, the Binh Duong People’s Committee has organised about 20 virtual investment promotion conferences with many countries and territories, including Thailand, Taiwan (China), Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Italy, and European countries.

At those events, local officials introduced the province’s potential, advantages, and policies while grasping information about investors’ demand and the fields they are interested in. Authorities also fielded businesses’ questions about administrative procedures, development directions, and cooperation chances.

Standing Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee Mai Hung Dung said amid the COVID-19 pandemic, holding online investment promotion events is one of the measures helping Binh Duong connect with major enterprises and stimulate the FDI inflow.

In the time ahead, the province will push ahead with completing socio-economic infrastructure, expanding industrial parks, training human resources, building housing for workers, and ensuring sufficient and timely labourer supply for businesses.

It will also step up administrative reforms, develop high-quality services to meet enterprises’ demand, and enhance political security and social order and safety to make investors feel secure while operating in Binh Duong, Dung noted.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The General Department of Taxation (GDT) has announced the list of top 1,000 corporate income taxpayers (V1000) in Vietnam in 2020.

According to the GDT’s statistics, enterprises in the list contributed over 145.93 trillion VND (6.31 billion USD) to the State budget, accounting for 62.4 percent of the total State revenue from corporate income taxes and equivalent to 103.74 percent of that paid by those in the 2019 V1000 list.

It has been the fifth consecutive year the GDT has announced the list. During 2016-2020, 423 firms were named in the list. In the manufacturing and processing sector, 180 enterprises accounted for 32.91 percent of the total tax contribution. It was followed by those in finance-banking and insurance with 30.6 percent, information and communications 10.71 percent, real estate 6.6 percent; wholesale and retail, and repair of automobiles, motorbikes and motorised vehicles 5.68 percent.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City took the lead with 109 and 134 taxpayers, respectively. Their tax contributions accounted for 43.26 percent and 29.81 percent of the total. It was followed by the provinces of Dong Nai, Vinh Phuc and Binh Duong.

Among 423 firms named in the list for five years, 267 are non-State enterprises with tax payment making up 60.2 percent. State-owned enterprises came second with 71 whose State budget contribution accounted for 25.64 percent, and 77 foreign enterprises’ tax payment made up 13.32 percent.

Source: Vietnam News Agency