Press digest – September 29

Gov’t convenes September regular meeting

PM Nguyen Tan Dung on September 29 requested that the Cabinet discuss and figure out specific measures to improve the investment and business environment; raise labour productivity; and speed up the economic restructuring.

Under the PM's chair, the Government held a two-day regular meeting to assess the socio-economic performance in the first nine months and seek measures to realise the full plan in the rest of the year.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment reported that in the January-September period, the domestic economy rebounded in all sectors of which GDP growth rate was estimated at 5.62%.

PM Dung proposed the Cabinet discuss and propose specific measures to extricate business difficulties; promote production; and spur growth in all fields.

President welcomes Hungary’s Chief Prosecutor

President Truong Tan Sang has praised experience sharing and programmes to improve the quality of staff between the procuracy sectors of Viet Nam and Hungary.

The President made the statement during his September 29 meeting with Hungarian Chief Prosecutor Peter Polt in HaNoi.

Viet Nam, with its role in Southeast Asia, is ready to help Hungary penetrate the ASEAN market, said the State leader.

Agreeing on the President’s proposal on assistance for VietNam in training, the Hungary Chief Prosecutor said Hungary was ready to share its experience to help Viet Nam.

Bad debts debated at central bank governor’s Q&A session

Governor of the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) Nguyen Van Binh on September 29 attended a Q&A session at the ongoing 31st meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee, during which he focused on clarifying issues relating to bad debts and credit growth.

In his report delivered at the session, the Governor highlighted great eforts by the Government and the banking system to deal with bad debts.

He said July reported the lowest monthly increase of 0.79% in bad debt growth, a remarkable decrease compared to June’s 21.5%.

Bad debts had by the end of July totalled at VND 162.2 trillion (US$ 7.62 billion), accounting for 4.11% of the total outstanding debt.

So far this year, about VND 105 trillion (US$ 4.935 billion) worth of bad debts have been handled.

Natural resources minister queried about land issue

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang focused on the handling of citizens’ land-related complaints at a Q&A session in Ha Noi on September 29 as part of the ongoing 31st meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee.

He also answered questions on the use of rice growing land and a plan on crop transformation on rice growing land as well as measures to address wasteful land use, the granting of land use right certificates, and State management responsibility for natural resources and mineral exploitation in combination with environmental protection.

The minister pinpointed the causes behind the delay in granting land use right certificates, which included officials’ lack of responsibility. In the coming time, the ministry will increase guidance, supervision and inspection of this issue, he said.

Climate change projects gets budget for 2015

The PM has agreed to allocate VND 3 trillion of ODA through the Support Program to Respond to Climate Change in Viet Nam (SP-RCC) to implement projects in response to climate change in 2015.

The package of credit will support 16 projects involving coastal and protective afforestation and sea dyke reinforcement.

Government bonds to be transacted online

The Internet site for online transactions of Government bonds will be put into use soon, marking a big change on the Vietnamese bond market, the Saigon Times Daily has reported.

Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan, vice chairperson and deputy CEO of the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), was quoted as saying that the northern bourse will operate the site with many products and information for investors. This online transaction channel is being test-run.

Purchasing power picks up slightly in September

Viet Nam's total retail sales and service revenues valued VND 244.5 trillion in September, representing a month-on-month increase of 0.7% and a year-on-year surge of 9.1%, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

In the ninth month, retail sale was VND 186 trillion, up 0.9% against last month and 10.4% against the same period last year.

Revenues made by lodging activities, restaurant and tourism services was estimated at VND 31.3 trillion, down 0.9% against the previous month and up 9.5% against the same period last year.

VN wins IAEA awards in plant mutation breeding

Viet Nam won three out of 23 awards presented by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for its achievements in releasing mutant plant varieties and contributions to increased food security and sustainable development.

The outstanding achievement award was granted to the Viet Nam Agricultural Genetics Institute, which has worked with IAEA and domestic research institutions to create a number of flood-proof and high-yield rice varieties since the 80s.

The Institute of Agricultural Science for Southern Viet Nam and the Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Ho Chi Minh City secured an achievement award in mutation breeding.

Australia to open door for Vietnamese litchi

The Australian Government is finalizing   procedures for the import of Vietnamese litchi, according to the Vietnamese Commercial Affair Office in Australia.

The Office reported that Australia is one of the countries which apply the hardest quarantine regulations in the world. So far, Australia has yet allowed any fruit imports from Viet Nam.

As scheduled, Vietnamese litchi would get official licence to the Australian market in 2015.

VN place third in ASEAN futsal contest

Viet Nam won the bronze medal at the ASEAN Football Federation Futsal Championships in Malaysia on September 27.

Viet Nam, who lost to Australia in the semi-final round, beat Indonesia, 3-1, following a penalty shoot-out in the game for third place. The official match ended with a score of 2-2.

Life-long learning week launched nationwide

A life-long learning week was launched in localities across the country on September 29 launched to raise public awareness of building a learning society.

The Departments of Education and Training have opened vocational training courses for rural workers and helped learners sharpen their social skills and get updated on modern technology, in a joint effort to reduce poverty.

Seminar tackles climate change impact

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) co-hosted a seminar in Ha Noi on September 29, discussing measures to reduce greenhouse gases in agriculture.

Speaking at the seminar, MARD Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh underscored the point that agriculture, and in particular rice production, not only contributes to global warming, but is detrimentally affected by it.

"Agriculture accounts for 43.1% of total national greenhouse gas emissions, of which rice production makes up 57.3%,” Doanh said.

Doan also announced that a project to enhance Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) will be implemented in Vietnam at a cost of US$770,000. To finance the cost, US$700,000 will come from the UN One Plan and the remainder from the governmental corresponding capital

Ha Long Bay among 12 greatest coastlines in the world

Ha Long Bay of Vietnam has been selected as one of the 12 greatest coastlines in the world by US travel website WhenOnEarth.

According to WhenOnEarth, Ha Long Bay features many tropical plants and animals, floating fishing villages, and unique formations of eroded limestone, including a multitude of small islands and huge caves.

The UNESCO-recognised world heritage site is considered a popular coastal destination in northeastern Viet Nam.

The 12 greatest coastlines include Lofoten Archipelago in Norway, Na Pali beach in Hawaii, Cape Town in South Africa, Algarve in Portugal, and Great Ocean in Australia./.

(Source: VGP/VNA/VOV)