Day: February 28, 2023

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WHO donates 3,000 doses of Tamiflu to Cambodia

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has provided 3,000 doses of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) to the Ministry of Health of Cambodia via the Communicable Disease Control Department (CDC).

The donated drugs will be used to respond to the spread of avian influenza (H5N1) in Prey Veng province and to possible outbreaks in other provinces, CDC said on February 28.

As of February 28, there are two confirmed human H5N1 cases in Cambodia, CDC said, pointing out that the first case is an 11-year-old girl who has passed away, and the second case is the girl’s father who was cured and discharged on the same day.

The CDC said the two cases were infected with H5N1 from poultry in their village, but there was no sign of person-to-person spread between them.

Previously, Dr. Or Vandine, Secretary of State and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, affirmed that the situation of H5N1 in Roleang village is now under control.

Since 2005, Cambodia has seen 58 cases of H5N1 infection, including 39 deaths. Among the cases, 45 were recorded in children under the age of 14.

The World Health Organisation said on February 26 that the risk to the general public from H5N1 in Cambodia remains low./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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Vietnam wants to promote transfer of energy transition technologies

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha hosted the UK Ambassador to Vietnam, Iain Frew, in Hanoi on February 28.

The Deputy PM hailed the UK’s support for Vietnam in the process of joining the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), and stressed that Vietnam’s participation in JETP could be seen as a model of cooperation between developing and developed countries.

Noting the importance of mechanisms to realise ideas and commitments made under the JETP, Ha said Vietnam is very much in need of the UK’s assistance in technology transfer, technical consultation, financial mechanisms, and investor selection for specific projects in renewable energy (particularly offshore wind energy), forest plantation, carbon capture, green hydrogen production and research of new technology.

He said specific mechanisms and “formulas” are needed to attract investment into renewable energy while ensuring affordable costs with the engagement of governments, financial organisations and corporations with experience and know-how.

The Deputy PM was of the view that similarly to the vaccine sharing mechanism during the COVID-19 pandemic, developing countries can only carry out just energy transition and realise net zero emission when developed countries actively transfer related technologies at reasonable costs.

Ambassador Frew said the UK wishes to discuss further with Vietnam’s relevant agencies possibilities in assistance to Vietnam in renewable energy, net zero emissions, and climate change response, thus contributing to further promoting bilateral cooperation on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relationship.

*Earlier the same day, Deputy PM Ha held a reception for the President for Regions and Corporate Affairs of Bechtel Corporation, Stuart E. Jones.

Ha stressed the need for global cooperation on energy and shared with the guest Vietnam’s orientation in developing offshore wind power centres and building smart grids for renewable energy. He said Vietnam has the potential to become a production, storage and transport hub for renewable energy, green hydrogen and green ammonia, provided that there are feasible technological solutions.

In addition, Vietnam also has a need for investment in modern land and railway transport networks, underground transport works, multi-purpose infrastructure and energy transition, he said, asking Bechtel to share its experience in creating opportunities and seeking capital sources and investors in those fields.

E Jones said the corporation is willing to transfer technologies in green hydrogen and carbon capture, as well as to promote inter-regional cooperation in energy transition and transmission of renewable energy in the time ahead./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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Cambodia set up safe zones for rare Mekong River dolphins

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on February 27 approved the establishment of Irrawaddy dolphin conservation and protection zones to better protect the rare dolphins.

The zones cover a 120-km-long stretch of the Mekong River in northeastern provinces of Stung Treng and Kratie.

Fishing must be prohibited from the dolphin conservation and protection zones. Vessels must not be allowed to travel at the speed of more than 30 km per hour, while aquaculture is also banned there.

The move came after three adult dolphins were killed by longline fishing hooks within a week last December. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), freshwater dolphins Irrawaddy, also known as Mekong river dolphins, live in three major river systems and two lakes in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and India.

Freshwater dolphins have been on the “red list” of threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2004.

Governor of Kratie province Var Thorn said that there are about 80 Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River’s section running through Cambodia and that the rare mammal are very attractive to local and international tourists./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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Opportunities to boost export of processed foodstuff to Asia -Pacific, African markets

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) hosted a conference with Vietnamese trade representative offices abroad on February 28 to discuss opportunities to promote the export of processed foodstuff to in Asia-Pacific and African markets.

In his opening speech, Director of the MoIT’s Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) Vu Ba Phu said the conference, which was organised in both online and face-to-face formats, focused on solutions to remove obstacles facing Vietnam’s import-export activities, towards developing the sustainable import-export of processed food products.

In the first session, representatives of the Vietnam Trade Offices in Australia, Algeria, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand briefed on the latest developments in these markets as well as recent changes in policies and regulations for processed foodstuff products.

In the second session, representatives of the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA) and Association of Food Transparency (AFT), and the Department of Industry and Trade of Phu Tho province discussed difficulties and advantages, and proposed initiatives to enhance trade promotion of processed foodstuff to foreign markets.

The event heard that there is huge room for Vietnam to boost the export of farm produce and processed foodstuff to foreign markets in the time to come thanks to abundant raw materials. Vietnam’s agricultural and processed foodstuff products are being sold in over 180 countries and territories worldwide. The export of many products has contributed billions of US dollars to the country’s annual export turnover.

The world’s leading import and consumption markets such as the US, the EU, and China have increased requirements of sustainability for products including social, environmental and economic aspects in the entire supply chain.

Phu said the Vietnamese trade offices abroad should continue to better support stakeholders to develop production and brands, diversify markets, supply chains and export products.

The departments of industry and trade should make recommendations to the MoIT and Vietnamese trade offices abroad to support enterprises and localities in implementing import-export activities effectively, contributing to the increasingly strong development of the country’s trade sector, Phu added.

Nguyen Phu Hoa, Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in Australia, proposed allocating funds for trade promotion activities, thus helping Vietnamese export enterprises directly join in trade promotion activities in the Australian market, and closely coordinate with the Vietnam Trade Office in implementing trade promotion activities in this market.

Hoa also advised businesses to regularly update regulations of Australia, and keep a close watch on and consult importers and law consulting units, and the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia to avoid problems arising in export activities to the market.

Vietnamese enterprises and localities should consider joining food fairs in Australia such as Foodservice (April 20 – May 2) in Melbourne, Fine Food (September 11-14) in Sydney, he said, adding that these are effective activities to introduce products and businesses, and seek potential partners in this market.

According to Le Phu Cuong, Trade Counsellor of Vietnam in Malaysia, the eastern state of Sabah wants to invite Vietnamese businesses to participate in Sabah International Expo (SIE) from September 22-24 in Kota Kinabalu.

Representatives of the AFT in Hanoi proposed the MoIT to provide trade promotion funding, thus facilitating its members’ attendance in more international exhibitions and fairs, to meet more partners./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency