Press digest – July 1

Gov’t chief highlights dual missions

The economy moved on the right track in the first half of 2014 with major indexes on positive side, noted PM Nguyen Tan Dung at the Government’s regular meeting held over the past two days.

Positive signals included high GDP growth rate, stable macro-economy, controlled inflation, rising foreign currency reserve and exports, and decreasing poverty rate.

PM Dung stressed that inferior levels must be focussing on the dual missions of protecting the country’s sea and island sovereignty and realizing the socio-economic targets set for this year.

He also stressed the need to develop an independent economy while actively integrating into the global community, expanding and diversifying export/import markets and effectively exploiting free trade agreements.

China illegally maintains large fleet of ships in VN's waters

China still maintained a large fleet of ships to block and prevent the Vietnamese law enforcement vessels from approaching the illicit oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981, the Vietnamese Fisheries Surveillance Department reported on Tuesday.

Specifically, China deployed around 114-120 ships of all kinds, including five military ones, to guard the rig illegally installed in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone since early May.

Meanwhile, China dispatched some 34 fishing boats supported by two coast guard ships tried to stop Vietnamese fishing boats from fishing in the traditional grounds near the drilling rig.

Plan on coastal communication system approved

PM Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a plan on developing the coastal communication system of Viet Nam to 2020 with a direction towards 2030.

The plan is aimed to ensure the provision of information and communication services for people and vehicles at seas and on islands; facilitate the management, natural disaster prevention, search and rescue; serve maritime safety and security, protect maritime environment, national defence and security, as well as boost economic development in these regions.

HCM City promotes investment in Belgium

A delegation from Ho Chi Minh City is paying a working visit to Belgium from June 28 to July 3 to seek more investment in education, healthcare, and science.

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan have met with Belgian businesses and organization to discuss bilateral cooperation projects using official development assistance, including an on-going project to dredge the Soai Rap River.

He said the Soai Rap River project funded by Belgium’s ODA has greatly helped improve the region’s waterway transport system.

Ha Noi, Vientiane seek to boost agriculture ties

A conference discussing measures to promote forestry-agriculture links between the capital cities of Viet Nam and Laos was held in Ha Noi.

During the event, Ha Noi’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Vientiane’s Department of Agriculture and Forestry agreed to further boost their cooperation in agricultural and rural development on both scale and content in the coming time. 

Bac Ninh hopes to lure Samsung US$1 bil project

The People’s Committee of northern Bac Ninh province is considering pouring VND298 billion into infrastructure at the Yen Phong Industrial Park (IP) in an attempt to entice Samsung Display to build a US$1 billion plant there.

The Samsung Display’s project in Yen Phong IP will contribute to perfecting the Samsung Hi-Tech Complex, speeding up the development of electronics and telecoms sector and turning Bac Ninh into Samsung Group’s global production destination.

The project will help promote the good images of the investment environment and improve Bac Ninh’s competitive capacity.

VN companies listed in Asia Pacific’s top 500 retailers

Five Vietnamese companies have been listed among top 500 retailers in the Asia Pacific in 2014, according to the Retail Asia Publishing Pte and the Euromonitor (Asia) Pte Ltd.

They include Saigon Union of Trading Cooperatives, with a total retail revenue of US$1,105 million in 2013, Big C chains (under Casino Guichard Perrachon SA) with US$534 million, Nguyen Kim Trading JSC with US$490 million, Saigon Jewelry Co.Ltd with US$487 million and Mobile World JSC with US$395 million.

The five companies are mentioned, by the groups, in top ten Vietnamese retailers in 2014 together with Phu Nhuan Jewelry JSC (US$225 million), Pico JSC (US$156 million), Parkson Commercial Centre under Lion Group (US$133 million), Viet Thong A Import Export Trading Production Corp (US$102 million) and Tran Anh Digital World JSC (US$95 million)./.