Trade – Investment

(CPV) - In spite of sharp reduction in Vietnam-Singapore bilateral trade value in the first half of 2016, Singapore is still the largest trade partner of Vietnam in ASEAN.

The value of Merger And Acquisition (M&A) deals surpassed USD3 billion in the first half of 2016, up 28% over a year earlier.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed a decision establishing the Managing Board for the Ba Den mountain national park tourist area in the southern province of Tay Ninh.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in July 2016 rose by 0.13% from the previous month and increased by 2.39% over a year earlier, reported the General Statistics Office (GSO) on July 24th.

Scrutiny of business and investment laws is needed to adjust or remove incompatible regulations to serve the long-term development of enterprises, heard a workshop in Hanoi on July 22nd.

There would be more auctions of shares from oil and gas companies in the second half of 2016 under the directives of the Government on equitisation of State-owned enterprises.

A total of VND5.81 trillion (USD261.5 million) worth of Government bonds issued by the State Treasury of Vietnam was sold through an auction recently held by the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX).

The central coastal province of Binh Dinh has decided to end investment attraction for the petrochemical oil refinery project in Nhon Hoi Economic Zone due to its unfeasibility.

The Bank of India (BOI) opened its 61st overseas branch in Ho Chi Minh city on July 22nd, becoming the first Indian bank to operate in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Farmer’s Union (VNFU) and the Japanese Institute of East Asian Studies (TOA) signed an agreement on cooperation in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development in Hanoi on July 22nd.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a special mechanism for completion of Hanoi’s Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway project in an effort to overcome numerous delays and cost overruns.

(CPV) - After accelerating strongly last year, Vietnam’s economic activity moderated in the first half of 2016, with GDP expanding by 5.5% compared to 6.3% growth in the same period last year.

The southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau has issued guidelines to attract investment in industries that use advanced technologies, produce high added value, and are environmentally friendly.

The Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association held its fifth national congress on July 16th in the city of Quy Nhon in the south central coastal province of Binh Dinh.

A number of Singaporean firms have expressed their keen interest in investing in high technology in the central city of Da Nang – one of Vietnam’s most vibrant localities.

Ho Chi Minh (HCM) city estimates it will need about USD44 billion to invest in infrastructure with the aim of creating the foundation for the city’s development in the 2015-2030 period.

Industry insiders discussed the impacts of Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) on the Vietnamese wood sector during a workshop in Hanoi on July 14th.

(CPV) - The Party Committee of the Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem) on July 13th organized a conference to study, thoroughly grasp, disseminate and implement the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress and Resolution of the second Central Business Bloc Party Congress.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on July 11th issued a decision suspending the import of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) from Senegal.

A seminar on the draft Law on Supporting Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) from the view of the business community took place in Hanoi on July 11th.

(CPV) - More than 10 tonnes of Luc Ngan litchi were exported to Australia from June 23rd to 29th, said the Vietnamese Commercial Affairs office in Australia.

The Ministries of Transport and Finance have proposed plans reducing BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) fees at 29 highway toll stations, with discounts from 10-20% on the basis of the value of the operating projects lower than the estimate.

The Vietnam Steel Corporation (VNSteel) has achieved stable growth in the first six months of this year, completing 53-68 percent of the corporation’s yearly targets.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception for Chairman of the Thai Charoen Corporation (TCC) Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi in Hanoi on July 8th.

The Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) has mobilised VND212 trillion (USD9.46 billion) in Government bonds for the State budget in the first half of this year, said Nguyen Thanh Long, the exchange chairman.

(CPV) - Export turnover of Binh Duong in the first half of the year was estimated to reach over USD10.69 billion, a year-on-year rise of 16.5%, accounting for 12.5% of nation’s total, reported the provincial Department of Planning and Investment.

On July 5th, the Thua-Thien Hue People’s Committee, in association with the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), organized a seminar to introduce investment potential to develop tourism between the province and potential partners.

The volume of rice exported abroad in June 2016 was estimated to reach 359,000 tonnes, valued at USD163 million; bringing the volume in the first half of the year to 2.69 million tones, worth USD1.21 million, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

(CPV) - The Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) on July 4th announced decisions on its key personnel.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc showed his backing of Hai Duong province’s scheme to build large-scale safe vegetable production models with the application of high technology, during his working session with local authorities on July 2nd.