Day: August 15, 2022

 Phu Tho province’s efforts to improve its business and investment environment have paid off evidenced by the fact that the northern midland locality has attracted many important projects which are expected to help open up more socio-economic development opportunities.

Phan Trong Tan, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said to promote socio-economic development, the Party Delegation to the provincial People’s Committee proposed 19 key projects for 2022, of which 15 are transited and four are new; and at the same time set out specific tasks and solutions for each project in the coming time to ensure their progress.

To that end, right from the beginning of this year, the committee started directing departments and localities to work out specific plans, consider and fulfil procedures related to investment, land and construction. Thanks to the engagement of the entire political system and the close coordination of departments, sectors and localities, the construction of six key projects has been launched so far.

These projects, once put into operation, are expected to become important highlights changing the look of urban areas, services and tourism, creating favourable conditions for socio-economic development, and ensuring security and defence of Phu Tho.

Regarding the 13 remaining projects, the province is exerting efforts to remove barriers related to investment procedures, site clearance and resettlement to start work on them as planned./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 The number of young Filipinos has been declining in the last 20 years, while that of the elderly has been expanding, leading to a jump of median age up to 25.3 years old.

According to the Commission of Population and Development (POPCOM) of the Philippines, the population pyramid of the country is currently constricting at the bottom, which consists of children ages zero to four, while it is increasing at the top.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the commission said the percentage of Filipino children under five years old was down to 10.2% in 2020 from 10.8% in 2015 and 12.6% in 2000.

Meanwhile, the percentage of those in the under-15 group dropped from a 37% in 2000 to 30.7% in 2020.

The median age of Filipinos went up to 25.3 years old from 23.3 years old in 2010, and is forecast to continue a trend of increase in the next 30 years.

POPCOM Executive Director Juan Perez attributed the situation to a drop in the birth rate./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

  A total of 300,000 high-skilled job opportunities in high-impact sectors such as electrical and electronics (E&E), automotive, chemicals and advanced materials, as well as life sciences and medical technology, for Malaysian youths are expected to be created by 2025.

The country’s Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said for this year alone, a total of 20,000 similar job opportunities will be created through the Academy in Factory (AiF) programme.

To ensure foreign investors continue to make Malaysia an investment destination, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to provide highly skilled and technological talents.

This is in line with the emphasis for the country’s workforce to improve skills and re-skilling or upskilling in line with the 4th Industrial Revolution which is expected to increase productivity by 30 percent in all sectors by 2030, he said when opening the Productive Youth Carnival and AiF programme on August 13.

The AiF programme is an initiative by the Malaysian Productivity Corporation (MPC) to address the shortage of workers and develop high-skilled talents among local youths towards building a future-ready workforce.

Azmin said that Malaysia is moving towards a productive developed country and thus the local workforce should be prepared with high skills that are suitable to meet the demands of the industry./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 Indonesian Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has said that Indonesians must prepare against a potential hike in fuel prices as the government looks to control its ballooning energy subsidies amid high global oil prices.

Southeast Asia’s largest economy has tripled this year’s energy subsidy budget to 502 trillion rupiah (34.2 billion USD) in order to keep some fuel prices and power tariffs unchanged and manage inflation. However, this may not be enough as nearly all of the subsidised fuel quota has already been used, according to the finance ministry.

If the government has to increase the quota for subsidised gasoline to 29 million kilolitres from 23 million kilolitres and assuming oil prices stay elevated and the rupiah weak, the subsidy bill can rise to up to 600 trillion rupiah, Lahadalia said at a recent news conference.

He also noted that it was unwise to spend 25% of the government revenues on subsidies. According to him, the government is bearing a heavy burden, adding that it’s time for agencies to find solutions to keep the country’s fiscal position healthy.

Earlier on August 10, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said she has asked state energy firm Pertamina to limit sales of subsidised fuels.

Economists have criticised the government’s decision to increase subsidies this year, saying it would take money away from projects with bigger economic impacts./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 The Association of Vietnamese Students in Germany (SiviDuc) and its Hamburg chapter organised a summer camp in the German port city on August 13 and 14, gathering hundreds of participants from across the European nation.

In his opening speech, President Trinh Hoang Long said the camp, marking the association’s 10th founding anniversary, aims to connect Vietnamese students across fields of study via practical activities.

In the time to come, SiviDuc will work to attract the participation of Vietnamese coming to Germany for vocational training in addition to the current university students and postgraduates, he added.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh lauded the organisation of the event after years of activity interruption due to the COVID-19. He expressed his hope that Vietnamese youth will join events that help strengthen the solidarity of the Vietnamese expat community in Germany and contribute to developing their home country and fostering the two nations’ strategic partnership.

According to the diplomat, at many meetings, German officials highly evaluate Vietnamese students’ learning capacity and wish to collaborate with Vietnam in bringing the group to Germany for vocational training and attracting Vietnam’s skilled workers to work in Germany, which is facing a shortage of human resources.

The summer camp featured a career seminar, an exhibition, a debate contest, an art-culture gala night, and a sport festival./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 Floods triggered by days of heavy rain have affected thousands of residents in the northern areas of Laos, according to Xinhua news agency.

The floods have hit the four provinces of Xayaboury, Huaphan, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane, with at least 10 districts affected, according to the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

In some areas, roads were flooded and water and electricity supplies cut off.

In Xayaboury province, local authorities declared a state of emergency on August 12 after the Houng River overflowed its banks, swamping riverside villages and partially submerging houses. More than 10 villages in five districts of the province were affected.

The province’s Deputy Governor Phetthixay Sounvilay was quoted by local media as saying that some 600 military personnel have been called in to assist with the relief efforts.

In Vientiane province, the Xong River in Vangvieng district overflowed its banks, inundating local communities and resorts at a tourist hotspot. Some bridges were damaged.

Local authorities in Huaphan and Luang Prabang provinces are bracing for similar situations, including preparing safe places for displaced people to take shelter.

A lot of people in the affected areas are currently in need of shelter, food and drinking water as well as boats to move around, according to media reports.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 Da Lat city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has been given the green light to build a dossier and plan serving the application to be part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network in the field of music.

The network, founded in 2004, aims to enhance cooperation among cities internationally recognised, with creativity considered a strategic factor of sustainable development. Its membership has reached 246 at present. In 2019, the capital city of Hanoi became a member of the network in the field of design.

According to Ton Thien San, Chairman of the Da Lat People’s Committee, for the membership, the city has evaluated its current conditions, potential, strength and advantages in the seven sectors of craft-folk arts, media arts, cinema, design, gastronomy, culture, and music.

Finally, music has been chosen as a field with outstanding potential and a highlight of cultural and artistic creation, forming a strong driving force for the city’s sustainable socio-economic development.

The date for the submission of the dossier is April 2023, part of the activities marking the city’s 130th founding anniversary (1893-2023). Located on Lam Vien Plateau at an altitude of 1,500m above sea level, Da Lat, a popular tourist attraction, spans 394 square km and has a population of nearly 232,000 from many ethnic groups. It is home to the cultural space of gongs in the Central Highlands, which was recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in November 2005.

The land is also associated with many famous Vietnamese musicians and singers such as Trinh Cong Son, Le Uyen Phuong, Khanh Ly, and Pham Duy./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 Passengers using the air service provided by Vietnam Airlines can access a free-of-charge news-reader app PressReader for Vietnamese and international publications starting from August 15.

According to the national flag carrier, passengers can use the app from 24 hours before the schedule departure time until 24 hours after landing.

To use the app, which provides more than 7,000 digital newspaper and magazine titles available in over 70 languages, passengers need to only use Vietnam Airlines’ app, choose the PressReader  button and verify by their booking code and flight information. The articles could be read online or downloaded for offline reading.

Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines Trinh Hong Quang said this is a trailblazing step from the national flag carrier in its efforts to digitalise services and improve passengers’ experience, while minimising paper use and reducing weight and fuel consumption, thus helping protect the environment./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency