Press digest – April 22

NA Committee for Social Affairs opens its seventh meeting
 
The National Assembly (NA) Committee for Social Affairs convened its seventh meeting to prepare for the seventh plenary session of the 13th legislature slated for May.

In her opening speech, Chairwoman of the NA Committee for Social Affairs Truong Thi Mai said that during the plenum, NA deputies will hear reports on adjustments to the revised law on marriage and family, supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance, a draft report of the Standing Committee on the results of supervising the implementation of policies and laws on poverty reduction for the 2005-2012 period.

At the 7th plenary session, they will explain the implementation of policies and laws on poverty reduction for the ethnic minority people.
 
ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs’ Network set up
 
The ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs' Network (AWEN) was established at a ceremony in Ha Noi.

The AWEN, a regional network of national women entrepreneurs’ associations, create a regional forum for ASEAN women entrepreneurs to share information, knowledge and experience relating to policies, business environment, investment and socio-political issues and their impacts on business opportunities.

It looks to create a favorable environment for businesses owned by women, increase awareness and support for businesswomen in the region.

The establishment of AWEN is initiated by Viet Nam.

Appeal hearing starts for former Vinalines boss

The Court of Appeals under the Supreme People’s Court opened a hearing in Ha Noi for Duong Chi Dung, former Chairman of the Viet Nam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines), and his accomplices.

The accused were indicted at a hearing on December 16, 2013 for embezzlement and intentionally violating State regulations on economic management causing severe consequences.

The trial is scheduled to last till April 24, with a jury of three judges from the Supreme People’s Court. As many as 16 lawyers are present on the first day of the hearing to defend the nine appellants.

The Ha Noi People’s Court on December 16, 2013 sentenced Dung and former Vinalines General Director Mai Van Phuc to death for embezzlement, and an 18-year imprisonment for intentionally violating State regulations on economic management causing severe consequences.

Local businesses get wider access to global supply chain
 
Measures to help Vietnamese businesses join the global supply chain were raised for discussion at a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City.

The event was co-organised by the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

Most Vietnamese businesses still find it difficult to enter the world market due to their weak competitiveness, poor knowledge about labour management and distribution, and lack of long-term plans and competition strategy, he said.

Seafood exports to Russia increase sharply
 
The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has forecast Vietnamese bivalve mollusk exports to Russia will increase significantly in the second quarter of the year.

The market experienced exponential growth of between 163% and 966%  over the previous year.

Vietnamese businesses have outdone their opponents from Portugal, China, Spain, Tunisia, Thailand, India, and Indonesia to get the lion’s share in Russia.

In 2013, Vietnam was Russia’s second biggest frozen squid supplier after China while it was the biggest frozen octopus exporter to the market.

VN hosts int’l seminar on oceanography
 
Hundreds of scientists from around the world attended the ninth international scientific seminar of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission/Western Pacific (IOC/WESTPAC) in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa central province.

The event serves as a bridge for scientists, especially young scientists to conduct research activities and assess achievements in maritime science over the last 25 years.

It also provided an opportunity for scientists to exchange knowledge on maritime science, share the wealth of the ocean and promote comprehensive cooperation to bring benefits to the public.
 
CPI in Ha Noi lowest in 12 years
 
Ha Noi’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) in April only increased 0.12% compared to the previous month and up 6.27% against the same period last year, according to the city’s statistics office.

Over the past four months, the CPI rose 1.15% against December 2013, lowest over the recent 12 years.
 
Regional connectivity in response to climate change

The Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) hosted a seminar on building mechanisms and policies to cope with climate change in Viet Nam.

Vietnam is one of the nations most likely to be adversely affected by climate change and rising sea levels, which will have major impacts on socio-economic development.

According to climate experts, Viet Nam needs to address the problem of climate change at three levels- community based activities, proper policies and institutional capacity.

VN’s commodity exports to Mexico grow firmly
 
Mexico is one of the export markets with the most potential for Viet Nam’s export commodities. Viet Nam’s commodity export turnover to Mexico continued to grow firmly with significant results.

According to statistics by the General Department of Viet Nam Customs, the country’s export turnover to Mexico in March 2014 reached $81.7 million, a 19.3 percent rise over the previous month.

This contributed to bringing the figure for the first quarter this year to $235.7 million, a year-on-year increase of 37.2 percent. During the period, Viet Nam’s exports to Mexico fulfilled 26.1 percent of the year’s plan.

                                                                                                       By Ngoc Van