Day: April 1, 2022

The National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD) together with the Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (SPS Vietnam) co-organised a conferece on April 1 to handle technical problems and promote the export of Vietnamese agricultural, forestry and fishery products to China.

Pham Hoang Duc from the NAFIQAD said some enterprises have yet to attach importance to complying with and meeting regulations of the Chinese market; and to implement strict and effective control measures.

Vuong Truong Giang from the Plant Protection Department informed that China’s food safety requirements are very high, requesting an enterprise to have a management system equivalent to the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System (HACCP).

At the conference, related technical problems in using software and declaring information online were raised by participating businesses.

Le Ba Anh, deputy head of the NAFIQAD, the issues are all related to the registration with China’s General Administration of Customs, so it is necessary to have specific reports on the situations.

According to him, Vietnamese management agencies pledged to quickly tackle problems facing exporters within their capacity and to work with relevant Chinese competent units to facilitate their registration and export. The firms were also advised to seek assistance from their Chinese importers./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Many localities nationwide released breeding fish, shrimp, and other aquatic species on April 1 to help restore fisheries resources and also to mark the 63rd traditional day of Vietnam’s fisheries sector (April 1, 1959 – 2022).

At Tran De Port in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, the Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha chapter in Soc Trang, and local authorities released over 4.3 million breeding aquatic animals, including 4 million shrimps and 300,000 crabs, into the sea.

Before that, the animals, part of which was bought by authorities while others donated by businesses and fishermen, had been examined to ensure they are healthy, fertile, and able to grow well in the nature.

At the event, Nguyen Thi Thu Nguyet, Deputy General Director of the Directorate of Fisheries, launched a movement calling on all people to take part in the protection and development of fisheries resources.

Quach Thi Thanh Binh, deputy head of the Soc Trang sub-department for fisheries, said the release is an annual activity celebrating the traditional day of the fisheries sector. It is also meant to assist with the recovery of fisheries resources, which in turn will help improve fishermen’s income and sustainably develop the fishing industry.

Also in the southern region, 40,000 breeding fish of different species were released into rivers of Can Tho city; nearly 5,000 fish, 700,000 black tiger shrimps, and 100kg of catfish and tilapia into some rivers and lakes in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province; and more than 130,000 shrimps and fish into the Dong Nai River in Dong Nai province.

In the northern region, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nam Dinh province introduced 1 million breeding individuals of some aquatic species to the Red River./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has proposed the Government continue extending the deadline for excise tax payment for domestically-manufactured and assembled cars.

The ministry reports that the fourth wave of the COVID-19 outbreaks nationwide last year has slowed the recovery of the local car market.

To comply with social distancing measures, many auto dealers temporarily suspended their businesses, and most of them fell into a “frozen state”, particularly from June to September 2021.

It is reported that automobile manufacturers had to face chip and component shortages due to the disruption of the global supply chain.

The pandemic has left an unforgettable mark on the local automobile market as sale volume plummeted.

The locally-made and assembled auto industry has suffered impact from the pandemic that requires support from the Government.

The MoF has proposed a draft decree on extending the excise tax payment for domestically-manufactured and assembled automobiles. It has sent the draft decree to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Vietnam Federation of Trade and Industry for comments before submitting it to the Government.

According to Article 44 of the Law on Tax Administration No 38/2019/QH14 and Article 8 of Decree No 126/2020/ND-CP, excise tax should be declared monthly, and payment should be made no later than the 20th day of the following month.

The time limit for paying the payable excise tax arising in June, July and September tax period is no later than November 20, 2022.

Taxpayers must pay the total tax and late payment interest into the State budget during the extension period.

During the extended period of excise tax payment, tax authorities will not charge late payment interest for the ample excise tax amount.

If the tax authority has already charged the late payment interest for the excise tax declarations that are extended according to the provisions of the draft decree, then it must adjust without charging late payment interest.

The MoF has submitted the draft decree to the Government for taking effect immediately from signing.

According to the MoF, this tax cut is expected to reduce budget revenue by 87 –130 million USD.

In another development, the MoF has proposed to extend the payment deadline for value-added tax, corporate income tax, personal income tax, land and water surface rental fees this year. This proposal is set to take effect immediately once it is approved.

The finance ministry reports that the new decree will help support businesses and people who are hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accordingly, the application period for the extension is subject to value-added tax incurred from March to August 2022, estimated at around 53.3-54.3 trillion VND.

Regarding corporate income tax, the MoF proposed the delay of the payment deadline for the first two quarters this year, which could go up to 51-52 trillion VND.

The ministry also called for a delay of the payment deadline of VAT and personal income tax for individuals and home businesses in 2022, or around 15.3 trillion VND, until December 31, 2022.

Under the Government’s Resolution No 126 on the elaboration of the Law on Tax Administration, the payment of rents for land and water surfaces is in two instalments, with 50 percent on May 31 at the latest and the remaining on October 31.

However, the deadline is now expected to be extended for another six more months after May 31, with a total delayed payment of around 3.5-3.7 trillion VND.

Due to the emergency nature of the proposal to timely provide much-needed support for businesses and people affected by the pandemic, the MoF advises the resolution to take immediate effect.

The Government has issued supporting policies in tax and fees reductions worth a combined 477.2 trillion VND due to the pandemic, of which businesses and people benefited from taxes and fees cut or waiver of 134.4 trillion VND, and delay in payment of 342.8 trillion VND./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A solo exhibition “The gioi lon trong mat tre tho” (Big World, Little Eyes) by Vietnamese young painter Xeo Chu is underway in London from March 29 – April 4 in the framework of the Vietnam Days in the UK 2022.

On display are 40 works that Xeo Chu, born 2007, painted during a decade since he started his painting career at the age of 4.

The event also introduces a series of paintings about Mu Cang Chai terraced fields – a famous landscape in the Northwest that left a deep impression on the artist.

The exhibition can be seen as a diary about the daily life of a boy and talented painter with a strong passion for art.

Xeo Chu said he hopes the exhibition will not only help viewers enjoy paintings but also know more about the beauty of Vietnam, and promote Vietnam’s culture and beauty to international friends.

Previously, Chu also organised solo exhibitions in Singapore, New York of the US, and Dubai of the United Arab Emirates.

Also within the Vietnam Days in the UK 2022, a contemporary painting exhibition themed “Que huong” (Homeland) by four Vietnamese artists Dinh Quan, Do Minh Tam, Pham Binh Chuong and Doan Van Toi, was held from March 30 to April 1./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Singapore fully reopened its borders to all vaccinated visitors on April 1 after a two-year closure over COVID-19.

Previously, only travellers from a number of places could enter the aviation hub – a key gateway for people arriving in Asia – without quarantining. Now, all vaccinated arrivals just need a negative test.

On the same day, neighbouring Malaysia also reopened all border gates. Thousands of vehicles followed each other along the 1km-long route between this country and Singapore.

Also from the first day of April, tourists to Thailand will not need to take a COVID-19 test prior to their departure.

The nation’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has lifted the requirement for tourists entering Thailand under the Test and Go, Sandbox and Alternative Quarantine schemes to take an RT-PCR test within 72 before departure. It has also reduced the staying period under the Sandbox and Alternative Quarantine schemes to five days and abolished the second RT-PCR test under the Test and Go and Sandbox schemes./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Sound friendship and cooperation at all levels between Vietnam and Germany will be the foundation for their effective energy collaboration in the future, stated Patrick Graichen, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action at the first Vietnam – Germany Energy Day in Berlin on March 31.

The event was co-organised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) in collaboration with the German ministry and the International Cooperation Agency of Germany (GIZ). It will be held annually between the two countries.

In his remarks, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An said since 2013, energy has become one of Germany’s development cooperation priorities in Vietnam. The German Government has supported Vietnam through the provision of concessional loans, technical assistance programmes and financial support. The GIZ Energy Support Programme has assisted the implementation of many engery projects, serving Vietnam’s greenhouse gas reduction and green growth strategies.

He expected that the Energy Day initiative, which revolves around the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency, will create more favourable conditions for join works between the Vietnamese and German ministries.

Vietnam hopes that the two countries will coordinate to promote available resources for the implementation of specific and effective activities and to continue to set new goals and plans for the future, An stated.

Patrick Graichen said Germany acknowledged far-reaching commitments that Vietnam made at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), notably the goals of bringing net emissions to zero by the 2050s and phasing out coal-fired power by the 2040s.

He affirmed Germany will continue to support Vietnam in its energy transformation efforts, noting that Vietnam is among his country’s important partners in the field of climate and environmental protection.

During the event, the sides presented energy transition works in their nations and the potential for renewable energy cooperation, particularly wind power and green hydrogen technology.

Deputy Minister An is leading the Vietnamese delegation to attend the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue Conference 2022./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnam Report JSC has announced the top 10 prestigious real estate companies this year.

The top 10 reputable companies in the real estate industry are evaluated and ranked based on key criteria such as financial capacity shown in the latest financial statements, media reputation and survey results in February and March this year.

Vu Dang Vinh, general director of Vietnam Report, said that after the real estate market fell to the bottom in 2012, business activities of the industry in Vietnam gradually regained stability, having seven consecutive years of growth.

During the fourth outbreak of COVID-19, the growth of the real estate business was negative; up to 26 per cent of real estate businesses had to stop operating for a definite period last year.

However, the difficulties created by the pandemic have shown the strong adaptability, creativity and persistence of many real estate businesses, all highlights for investors. Many real estate businesses have experienced two to three-digit percentage growth in revenue.

Assessing the prospect of the real estate market this year, Vinh said that according to the survey results, experts and businesses in the industry believe that the real estate industry has developed along with the growth of economic recovery.

The world real estate market is forecast to make a quick recovery, contributing to boosting the Vietnamese real estate market this year with a brighter, more positive outlook compared to last year. It will gradually return to the pre-pandemic trajectory.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Retail petrol prices fell by more than 1,000 VND per litre from 0:00 on April 1 following the latest adjustment by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance.

Accordingly, the retail price of RON95 bio-fuel dropped by 1,039 VND to a maximum of 28,153 VND (1.23 USD) per litre, while that of E5RON92 was adjusted down by 1,021 VND to no more than 27,309 VND per litre.

Meanwhile, the prices of diesel 0.05S went up 1,447 VND per litre to 25,080 VND, and that of kerosene also increased by 1,519 VND per litre.

This is the second decline following seven consecutive hikes of petrol prices in 2022, with total increases amounting to over 6,500 VND per litre.

The fall was partly thanked to Resolution No. 18/2022/UBTVQH15 which took effect from April 1 on the adjustments of the environmental protection tax on fuels, which results in a reduction of 700-2,000 VND per litre.

The two ministries also decided to use the petrol price stabilisation fund at a rate of 100-1,500 VND per litre./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency