Press digest – April 5
National Assembly has two new Vice Chairmen
Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of National Defense Do Ba Ty and Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Financial and Budgetary Affairs Phung Quoc Hien have been elected Vice Chairmen of the 13th National Assembly (NA), according to the voting results announced on April 5 morning.
The results of the election of new members of the 13th NA’s Standing Committee were also announced on April 5 morning, with seven persons voted into the committee including Ha Ngoc Chien, Tran Van Tuy, Vo Trong Viet, Nguyen Duc Hai, Le Thi Nga, Nguyen Thuy Anh and Nguyen Thanh Hai with 84,62% approval.
NA approves amended Press Law
The amended Law on Press was adopted by National Assembly (NA) deputies at the 11th session on April 5, with approximately 89.5% of votes.
It stipulates the right to freedom of the press; citizens’ right to freedom of speech on press; press organizations and activities; rights and duties of agencies, organizations and individuals involving in press activities; and State management on press.
VN prioritizes combating drugs: Deputy PM
Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam voiced his hope for continued support from the United Nations and its International Narcotics Control Board in the combat against drugs at his reception in Ha Noi on April 5 for the board’s Vice President Jagjit Pavadia.
Mr. Dam told his guest that the Vietnamese Government has given priority to drug prevention and seen positive results in this fight.
Speaking highly of Viet Nam’s achievements in this fight, Jagjit Pavadia affirmed that her board and the UN will mobilize different resources to help Vietnam through communications campaigns, policy consultancy, and in improving the legal system.
Germany-sponsored smart electricity project ratified
The PM has approved the draft loan Agreement between the Vietnamese Government and the German KfW Development Bank for the first phase of smart electricity-effectiveness in transmission project, worth €65 million.
Deputy Minister of Finance Truong Chi Trung will ink the Agreement with representatives of the KfW.
Vocational schools helped to create jobs
The PM has approved a project on job creation and social integration in Vietnamese vocational schools, which is sponsored by the Italian Government.
The project is aimed at enhancing capacity of laborers and providing trained labor forces for the market, contributing to the local socio-economic development.
Accordingly, it will supply equipment for vocational training centers in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam Provinces and promote the capacity for teachers and mangers in these schools.
Rights for persons with disabilities promoted
The PM has approved a project promoting rights for persons with disabilities, which is financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The project will be realized within the next five years in the provinces of Thai Binh, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh and Dong Nai.
With a total capital of US$21.1 million, it will be carried out by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.
FDI attraction up 125.2% in Q1
As of March 20, 473 new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects were granted with investment certificates with a total registered capital of US$2.74 billion, a year-on-year increase of 125.2%.
Meanwhile, 203 operating FDI projects were added US$1.285 billion, up 107%. These figures brought the total newly-registered and additional capital to US$4.026 billion in the first quarter of 2016, up 119.1%.
In the first quarter, US$3.5 billion in FDI were disbursed, up 14.8% against the same period last year.
Binh Dinh attracts over US$137 mln in investment in Q1
The central province of Binh Dinh granted eight investment certificates and issued new business certificates to 167 enterprises with total registered capital of over VND3.16 trillion (US$137 million) in the first quarter of this year.
So far, Binh Dinh has attracted 59 foreign-invested projects worth US$554 million.
By Thuy Dung
