Day: January 31, 2023

 

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has demanded enhancing the detection, reception, management, and treatment of COVID-19 cases as the pandemic remains complex around the world.

 

It made the request in a recent document sent to leaders of provincial-level health departments, hospitals and institutes under its management, and health divisions of other ministries and sectors.

 

The MoH pointed out that the COVID-19 situation remains complicated as the world with new variants continually recorded, including the immune evasive and highly transmissible XBB that has been reported in 70 countries.

 

It asked the relevant parties to review and step up the reception and treatment of COVID-19 patients; gear up sufficient personnel, medicine, and medical supplies; continue training for health workers; increase consultation within hospitals and with higher-level ones; and boost prevention measures to minimise disease spreading in hospitals, especially among vulnerable groups of patients.

 

As of January 30, Vietnam recorded 11,526,461 cases of COVID-19, including 10,612,147 recoveries and 43,186 deaths. More than 266.07 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered, according to the MoH./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued a document, calling for response to the World Wetlands Day 2023, celebrated annually on February 2.

 

World Wetlands Day aims to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands in the life of the people and its importance to the planet. This day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2,1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.

 

This year’s theme is “It’s Time for Wetlands Restoration” which highlights the urgent need to prioritise wetland restoration.

 

With high biodiversity, wetlands in Vietnam have played an important role in the agriculture-based economy as well as socio-economic activities.

 

In the document, the ministry urged communication activities to promote values and significance of wetlands, and called on people to commit to protecting and using wetlands sustainably.

 

The activities would be celebrations, competitions, exhibitions and drives in line with the theme of World Wetlands Day 2023, according to the document.

 

Decree No. 109/2003/ND-CP was the first legal document directly stipulating the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, contributing to the effective implementation of Vietnam’s commitments as a member country of the Ramsar Convention.

 

The Prime Minister approved Decision No. 1975/QD-TTg in November 2021 regarding the issuance of a national action plan on the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands for 2021-2030.

 

Vietnam expects to complete a survey of wetlands nationwide and build a database on the wetlands by 2025, and effectively control important wetlands and further promote eco-tourism by 2030.

 

World Wetlands Day 2023 to be observed in Vietnam with various activities hinh anh 3

 

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

 

To that end, the country will work to perfect relevant policies and legal documents, improve the efficiency of wetland management, diversify resources for the sustainable use and preservation of wetlands, step up the information work, enhance research studies and boost international cooperation in this regard.

 

Vietnam became a member of the Convention on Wetlands, known as the Ramsar Convention, in 1989. So far, nine wetlands in the country have been recognised as Ramsar sites – wetlands of international importance, namely Xuan Thuy National Park – important bird sanctuary, Bau Sau Wetlands and Seasonal Floodplains – habitat of Siamese crocodiles, Ba Be National Park – green jade of northeastern mountains, Tram Chim National Park, Mui Ca Mau National Park – three sides bordering the sea, Con Dao National Park – first maritime Ramsar site in Vietnam, Lang Sen Wetlands Reserve, U Minh Thuong National Park, and Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve – habitat of biggest langur community in Vietnam./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

The Vietnam Business Association in the UK (VBUK) will host and attend trade activities and fairs to promote tourism, cuisine and goods of Vietnam, and create more opportunities for businesses in the UK and the homeland to enhance business cooperation, its President Phuong Hoang has said.

 

Speaking at a Gala Dinner held in London on January 29 to review VBUK’s operation in 2022 and sketch out development orientations in 2023, Phuong said the association organised many activities, including online workshops with Vietnamese economic experts and entrepreneurs in the UK to share business knowledge and experience for the Vietnamese business community in the country.

 

The VBUK has also supported business cooperation between its member enterprises and businesses at home, he added.

 

Addressing the event, Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long spoke highly of the role of the VBUK in connect Vietnamese firms in the UK and the homeland.

 

At the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos earlier this month, Vietnam was seen as one of the three VIP markets (Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines) in the world, he said, adding that it is the second largest trade partner of the UK, so there is a large room and opportunities for the Vietnamese business community in the European nation.

 

The Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and the VBUK need to support member businesses to strengthen connection with enterprises in the homeland, and serve as bridges to bring Vietnamese goods to the UK market, the diplomat said.

 

At the event, Trade Counselor Nguyen Canh Cuong updated on the Vietnam – UK trade cooperation, and introduced 10 key exports of Vietnam for Vietnamese businesses in the UK to refer to, thus seeking business opportunities.

 

Established in 2006 as a non-profit organisation, the VBUK works to support business activities of Vietnamese businesses in the UK, and connect them with domestic businesses at the homeland which have demand to enhance import – export activities and raise capital from the UK market./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

 

Steel companies witnessed hardships in the fourth quarter of 2022 with many big players suffering losses.

 

Giant steel maker Hoa Phat Group (HPG) recorded a net loss of more than 2 trillion VND (85.3 million USD) in the fourth quarter, a new bottom after the third quarter where it recorded a loss of nearly 1.8 trillion VND.

 

In the last quarter of last year, the group’s revenue also decreased by 42% over the same period of the previous year, to 26 trillion VND. In the whole of 2022, Hoa Phat Group recorded revenue of 142 trillion VND, down 5% year-on-year. Profit after tax for the whole year reached more than 8.4 trillion VND, only one-fourth of that in 2021.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2022, Hoa Sen Group (HSG) suffered a loss of 680 billion VND, down from 887 billion VND in the third quarter of 2022. The Vietnam Steel Corporation (TVN) reduced its loss from 567 billion VND in Q3 to 410 billion VND in Q4. Nam Kim Group (NKG) and Tisco (TIS) also reduced their losses compared to the previous quarter, reaching 356 billion VND and 17 billion VND, respectively.

 

The decrease in consumption volume combined with the continuous decline in prices significantly affected the revenue of steel enterprises. According to data from the Vietnam Steel Association (VSA), total steel product consumption in 2022 reached 27.3 million tonnes, down 7.2% compared to 2021. Total exports were 6.28 million tonnes, down nearly 20%.

 

Construction steel was the only item that recorded a slight increase in output by 3% over the same period of the previous year. Meanwhile, consumption of galvanised steel decreased by 22% mainly due to the weakening of the export market, down by 38%. Sales of products of galvanised steel and steel pipes declined, causing the output of hot rolled coil (HRC) to decrease by more than 13%.

 

Although continuing to report losses, Hoa Phat is quite optimistic about the situation of the steel industry this year. The group said that “the steel industry has gone through the most difficult period and is on the way to recover” and is closely monitoring market developments to adjust production and business activities flexibly. Hoa Phat’s steel sales volume increased again in the last month of 2022 after many previous decreases.

 

According to Kallanish, Hoa Phat has restarted a blast furnace in Hai Duong and increased its bar steel capacity by 700,000 tonnes per year. This is also a signal that the situation of the construction steel market has improved. Previously, Hoa Phat closed three blast furnaces in the last two months of 2022. The company also continues to invest in Hoa Phat Dung Quat 2 Iron and Steel Production Complex.

 

According to the forecast of the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), global steel demand is estimated to decrease by 2.3% in 2022 but will increase by 1% in 2023 and reach 1,815 million tonnes. The reopening of China will help the resumption of construction activities and boost infrastructure investment, thereby helping construction steel demand recover. Increased industrial demand in the country will also help restore global supply chains. Steel selling price is also expected to increase again.

 

Rebar prices in China have recovered 19% and are trading at their highest levels since mid-August last year. Meanwhile, the prices of coal – the most important material in steelmaking, have leveled off and shown signs of falling. This will probably support the profit margin of the steel industry in the future.

 

In addition, the Government stepping up investment in infrastructure projects with the goal of ensuring economic growth in 2023 may support domestic steel demand, especially construction steel. However, the real estate industry, after a quiet year in 2022, is not expected to recover in 2023, which will partly affect the recovery of domestic steel demand./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

The southeast region is preparing necessary conditions in infrastructure, administrative procedures and human resources to welcome a new wave of foreign direct investment (FDI), as investors have flocked to the region right from the beginning of this year.

 

The region, comprising Ho Chi Minh City and five provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria–Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc, and Tay Ninh, has been attractive to investors. HCM City and Binh Duong were the leading localities in FDI attraction in 2022 with 3.94 billion USD and 3.14 billion USD, respectively.

 

Right at the beginning of 2023, Binh Duong welcomed many large firms coming to explore the local investment opportunities, including Sembcorp and CapitaLand from Singapore, Nebraska from the US, and Tokyu from Japan.

 

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI)’s Foreign Investment Department, the southeast region will continue to be the major FDI magnet of the country in 2023. This year, the country may lure about 36-38 billion USD in FDI.

 

In order to attract investors, over the recent years, the region has focused on developing the infrastructure system to strengthen regional connectivity. A 76.3-km Belt Road No.3 crossing four localities of HCM City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An will be launched in the second quarter of this year, contributing to motivating the region’s development.

 

Meanwhile, regional localities have broadened the national highway and expressway systems to boost their growth.

 

Commenting on the growth prospect of the region, Japanese Consul General in HCM City Watanabe Nobuhiro said that once the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau expressway and Belt Roads No.3 and No.4 are put into operations, the connections among regional localities will be fostered, making the region even more attractive.

 

Alongside, the localities have also expanded their industrial parks (IPs) to make more spaces for investors.

 

HCM City is working on a 668-hectare Pham Van Hai IP, while Binh Duong is turning the 1,000-hectare Vietnam-Singapore IP (VSIP) to a green IP and investing on a 1,000-hectare Cay Truong IP as well as Rach Bap IP.

 

At the same time, Dong Nai is finalising procedures to set up eight other IPs, which are expected to provide more than 7,000 hectares of industrial land for investors.

 

Ba Ria-Vung Tau is also working on a plan to set up eight more IPs with a total area of over 8,000 hectares from now to 2030.

 

Furthermore, the localities have concentrated on improving their investment environment, with the promotion of single-window mechanism at IPs, aiming to make all procedures involving businesses faster, smoother and easier.

 

In terms of human resources, the localities have formed a linkage among the State, businesses and training facilities to ensure human resources training match businesses’ demands, and create a start-up ecosystem.

 

With the careful preparations of necessary conditions, experts predicted that the region will continue to take the leading role in FDI attraction./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

 

Sharing natural similarities, the two countries have beefed up their sustainable development partnership in sustainable agriculture, water management, and climate change adaptation, said Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Kees van Baar.

 

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in the economies of Vietnam and the Netherlands and is deeply imprinted in the culture and people of the two countries, the diplomat told Dau tu (Vietnam Investment Review).

 

According to him, close cooperation between the two sides has resulted in new visions, as well as the blooming of business cooperation, with a growing number of Dutch companies doing business and investing in Vietnam.

 

Vietnam, Netherlands eye further cooperation in sustainable development hinh anh 2

 

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in the economies of Vietnam and the Netherlands and is deeply imprinted in the culture and people of the two countries. (Photo:nongnghiep.vn)

 

The Netherlands is the largest European investor in Vietnam. Dutch businesses, with their investments and their innovative and sustainable operations, actively contribute to Vietnam’s progress, he said.

 

“But even more significant, Vietnamese companies setting up businesses in the Netherlands as well,” he said.

 

Regarding the two countries’ cooperation in green trade, Kees van Baar said that both Vietnam and the Netherlands are delta countries and therefore vulnerable to rising sea levels resulting from climate change.

 

The countries also share the same ambition to become climate neutral in 2050 by reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Currently, the EU is developing and implementing new rules and regulations to support its climate ambitions, like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

 

These new mechanisms will become effective in the coming years and will modernise and strengthen the rules for imports to the EU markets regarding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, he said.

 

For companies exporting from Vietnam to the EU or being in the supply chain of an EU company, this means that there will be strong incentives to invest in ESG reporting to enjoy low tariffs and easy access to EU markets, he added.

 

Therefore, the Netherlands invests in ESG capacity building for Vietnamese companies. In the framework of the GEFE 2022 event in Ho Chi Minh City, the embassy offered workshops and will continue to do so in the context of the ‘Ready to Export’ programme, which is being implemented by the Dutch Business Association in Vietnam together with Vietrade.

 

Regarding the two countries’ hi-tech cooperation, the Ambassador said that the Netherlands is a small country in terms of area, but it is the 15th largest economy in the world.

 

The Netherlands has a rich history of entrepreneurial innovation with world-famous inventions, ranging from microscopes and telescopes to CDs and DVDs, as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

 

During his visit to the Netherlands last December, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the world-leading production and knowledge economy of the province of North Brabant and the Brainport region in and around the city of Eindhoven.

 

In response to PM Chinh’s wish to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in innovation and creativity, the Netherlands is ready to share with Vietnam the knowledge and experience of our transition from a traditional agricultural and manufacturing industry into a world-leading high-tech hotspot, the Ambassador said.

 

“We plan to organise in 2023 a mission of Dutch businesses, knowledge institutes, and other stakeholders from the Dutch innovation ecosystem to Vietnam to exchange ideas and discuss cooperation possibilities,” he said./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency