Trade – Investment

Vietnam’s cashew sector shipped over 118,000 tonnes of cashew kernels overseas in the first five months this year, worth about USD1.1 billion, recording growth in both volume and value as planned, said Nguyen Duc Thanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Cashew Association.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in May 2016 rose by 0.54% from the previous month, bringing the total index increase by 1.59% over a year earlier, reported the General Statistics Office on May 24th.

(CPV) - Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) processors, shrimp producers and inhabitants in the Mekong Delta region will benefit from “Sustainable and equitable shrimp production and value chain development” project, which was launched on May 25th in Southern Can Tho city.

(CPV) - After shifting to the model of a joint-stock company on April 1st last year, the Carrier operated 127,500 safe flights, transporting 17.4 million passengers and 221.6 thousand tonnes of cargo, consolidated revenue exceeding VND69 trillion, consolidated profit before tax reaching VND1,048.8 billion, and contributing VND 4.7 trillion to the state budget.

The Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA) reported it has proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development establish a transaction floor for pepper.

(CPV) - The Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and global corporation GE on May 23rd signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for collaboration in accelerating the development of renewable energy in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Trade Fair 2016 in Cambodia will be opened from October 6th-10th, presenting 300 stalls from over 200 enterprises from Vietnam.

The Prime Minister has approved a project to develop the national ecosystem for start-ups by 2025 in an effort to fuel a start-up boom.

The Doosan Heavy Industries Vietnam (Doosan Vina)’s Chemical Processing Equipment (CPE) factory has shipped 1,232 tonnes of hi-tech chemical processing equipment to Peru, Deputy General Director Kim Yong Soo said on May 19th.

Thailand's Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) recently celebrated the opening of its new branch in HCM city at the Kumho Asiana Plaza Building in the heart of HCM city's business district.

Experience, initiatives, and research outcomes in accounting and business administration were shared by over 200 experts from the UK, Japan and Vietnam during a conference in the central city of Da Nang on May 20th.

(CPV) - Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung on May 19th received Mr. Fukui Hiroyuki, Chief Executive Officer of Asia, Middle East & North Africa Region and Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation, in Hanoi.

From now to 2020, Vietnam needs more than VND955 trillion to invest in transport infrastructure, including some VND348 trillion mobilized from organizations and individuals, and over VND607 trillion allocated from the State budget.

(CPV) - Hanoi Customs Department has set up hotlines for its leaders to receive complaints and petitions from businesses and citizens.

On May 19th, the Quang Ninh provincial Confederation of Labour announced a decision establishing the Quang Ninh Industrial Zones (IZs) Labour Union in Ha Long city.

On May 18th, a meeting to realize Resolution 19/2016 on improving the business environment and enhancing national competitive capacity was co-organized in Hanoi by the Government Office, Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Following the guidance of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on urgently supporting people in the provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has issued Document 3438 on lending to purchase and reserve seafood in the localities.

The Ho Chi Minh city Start-up Investment Fund (HSIF) was launched on May 17th with the initial capital of VND30 billion.

On May 17th, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) launched an informational portal on the banking sector’s scientific and technological activities at www.khoahocnganhang.org.vn.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on May 17th called at Zarubezhneft - one of Russia’s leading oil and gas groups during his ongoing Russia visit from May 16th-20th.

(CPV) - The Australian Government, Meat and Livestock Australia and LiveCorp recently supported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to organise a seminar on breeding cattle for profit.

(CPV) - Hanel One-member Co Ltd and Lang Ha Tower Co Ltd on May 15th kicked off the construction of Hanoi’s largest inland container depot in Co Bi ward, Gia Lam district.

The southern province of Dong Nai generated more than USD4.7 billion from exports in the past four months, up 5 percent year-on-year, according to the provincial People’s Committee.

Nearly USD3.5 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) was pumped into industrial and economic parks nationwide in the first four months of 2016, with the number expected to increase to USD11 billion by year’s end.

(CPV) - The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on May 12th approved a USD150 million loan to the Government of Vietnam for the Third Economic Management and Competitiveness development policy operation.

(CPV) - UNDP called on Viet Nam’s civil aviation sector on May 12th 2016 to introduce new measures to meet the global goal of carbon neutral growth in aviation by 2020, including mobilizing finance for greening the industry.

(CPV) - GE Power announced that it has signed a purchase agreement to acquire the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) business of Doosan Engineering & Construction for USD250 million.

(CPV) - The State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) just coordinated with the International Finance Cooperation (IFC), Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HOSE) and Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) to hold the training program on environmental and social (E&S) reporting for market participants in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city.

The latest statistics by the Ministry of Finance showed that the state budget deficit over the past four months reached an estimated VND53.6 trillion, 21.1% of the year's estimate.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended a groundbreaking ceremony of the Hon Dau luxury resort in Do Son district, the northern port city of Hai Phong on May 7th.