Press digest – October 20

10th session of the 13th NA opens

The 10th session of the 13th National Assembly (NA) opened in the morning of October 20 in Ha Noi.

Following an opening speech delivered by NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, deputies listened to PM Nguyen Tan Dung’s report on socio-economic performances in 2015 and in the 2011-2015 period and the tasks and missions for 2016 and through 2020.

President of the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan presented a report on comments and petitions of voters nationwide.

The NA deputies also listened to a report on reviewing and evaluating the implementation of the NA Resolution on socio-economic development plan in 2015 and in the 2011-2015 phase and the socio-economic development plan for 2016.

PM: 13 out of 14 set criteria achieved

PM Nguyen Tan Dung announced that socio-economic performance has gained positive achievements in all fields at his report delivered at the National Assembly's 10th meeting.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung revealed that 13 out of the 14 set criteria have been achieved, driven by the performance in the first nine months of the year.

Border residents enjoy import tariff exemptions

The PM has issued a Decision on the management of cross-border trading activities with Viet Nam’s bordering countries.

These activities include businessmen’ trans-border trading activities, border residents’ goods trading, goods trading at border gates and markets at border gates and trade support service at border gates.

Residents in border areas will be given exemptions from import tariffs and other taxes when purchasing, selling and exchanging goods valued at the maximum of VND2 million per person in a day for four days a month.

Decree on establishing social businesses issued

The Government encourages and facilitates organizations and individuals' establishment of social businesses to address social and environmental issues for the sake of the community, according to a Decree defining some articles of the Law on Enterprises.

The social businesses will enjoy investment incentives and support as regulated. They will receive foreign non-governmental aid to address social and environmental issues.

EU pours US$21 bln in VN

As many as 23 nations in the European Union have poured US$21 billion in 1,688 projects in Viet Nam.The average investment per project reached US$12.6 million, higher than the investment from other partners.

Five nations listed among the largest investors in Viet Nam include the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg and Germany.

Among the manufacturing and processing, electricity and real estate sectors, manufacturing and processing took the lead with 573 projects, worth US$6.29 billion, accounting for 32%.

Beijing hosts VN-China trade, economic cooperation session

The ninth session of the Vietnam-China trade and economic cooperation committee took place in Beijing on October 20.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen CamTu and Vietnamese Ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi participated in the event.

The two sides briefed each other on the economic situation in their respective countries and exchanged opinions on how to propel the bilateral economic ties forward.

Finland seeks education, ICT cooperation in VN

Viet Nam is an attractive destination and promising market for businesses from Finland, especially in education and communication-information technology (ICT) fields, as heard at a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on October 20.

Regarding education, Finland has named Viet Nam as the only Asian nation in the list of receiving funds from the second phase of the North-South-South education exchange program.

Regarding technology, the two nations have built the Innovation Partnership Program (IPP) with a non-refundable aid package from Finland worth US$3 million.

Dong Nai chocolate to enter regional markets

A business in southern Dong Nai province is taking the lead in producing UTZ certificated chocolate for outbound shipments to regional nations.

The Trong Duc Cocoa Co. Ltd is closely working with its Japanese partner to prepare the first batch for shipping in early 2016. It aims to process up to40 tons of fresh cocoa pods annually and targets Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan (China) as potential export markets.

(Source; VGP/VNA)

By Thuy Dung