Press digest – April 15
Kien Giang urged to promote external relations
Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has asked the southern province of Kien Giang to boost external relations, including those with Cambodian provinces along the shared border and ASEAN member countries.
Deputy PM Minh made the statement during a meeting with Kien Giang province’s leaders on local socio-economic development, external affairs andborder demarcation.
Minh also assigned relevant agencies to study and suggest raised allowances for demarcation officers, then report to the PM for a final decision.
VN cuts import tariffs on oil products
Viet Nam cut import taxes levied on oil products from countries which it does not have free trade agreements with, effective on April 15, the Ministry of Finance said.
Import tariffs on gasoline and kerosene have been cut to 20% from 35%, diesel to 20% from 30%, fuel oil to 25% from 35%, and to 10% for jet fuel from 25% previously.
The adjustment aimed at preventing an increase in domestic oil product prices when the country tripled the environmental protection fees on petroleum products from May this year, a representative from the Finance Ministry said.
VN, France vow to remove trade barriers
Viet Nam and France have agreed on the necessity of removing trade barriers and obstacles in market approaches through bilateral dialogues, including Viet Nam lifting its ban on French beef.
The agreement was reached during the third annual high-level economic dialogue chaired by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment (MPI) Nguyen Chi Dung and Matthias Fekl, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad.
The two sides reaffirmed the significance of the annual economic dialogue in implementing the bilateral strategic partnership reached in September 2013.
VN, RoK extend MoU on labour cooperation
Viet Nam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) extended a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on supplying and receiving Vietnamese workers to the RoK under the Employment Permit System (EPS).
Under the MoU, 5,400 Vietnamese labourers are eligible to register for jobs in the RoK and a maximum of 2,900 of them will be chosen to work in the manufacturing and construction sectors in the host country.
This MoU, an extension of the previous one which ended on December 31, 2014, is part of Viet Nam’s efforts to reduce the number of Vietnamese labourers illegally residing in the RoK.
Deputy PM calls for final plans for Phu Quoc EZ
Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged the southern Kien Giang provincial authorities tofinalise the Phu Quoc special economic zone master plan soon.
The plan will then be submitted to the Politburo for approval.
Under the plan, the 58,923ha Phu Quoc special economic zone will have a two-tier administration, one at the EZ level and the other at ward and commune levels.
Quy Nhon to become center of central coastal region by 2025
The PM has approved adjustments to a master development plan for Quy Nhon city and surrounding areas in central Binh Dinh province to 2035 in a vision to 2050.
The planning is on 67,788ha, covering Quy Nhon city; Tuy Phuoc district; Canh Vinh andCanh Hien communes in Van Canh district; Cat Tienand Cat Chanh communes and a part of Cat Haicommune in Phu Cat district.
The master plan aims to develop Quy Nhon into a center of the central coastal region by 2015 with a focus on industry, port, services and tourism. By 2035, the city is expected to become a national maritime economic center developed on the basis of services, port, industry and tourism.
VN Expo 2015 opens in Ha Noi
The 25th Viet Nam Expo 2015 kicked off in Ha Noi as witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Event participants include more than 600 exhibitors from over 28 countries and territories worldwide showcasing 720 booths, 312 of which from local firms including Ha Noi Trade Corporation (Hapro) and the Vietnam Electrical Equipment Joint Stock Corporation (GELEX).
The event aims to create opportunities for businesses to partner with both domestic and international enterprises to improve export growth and attract foreign investment.
By Ngoc Van
