Press digest – February 24

PM lauds efforts to ensure sound Tet holiday

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung chaired a meeting with standing members of the Cabinet, hailing efforts of ministries and localities to ensure a Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday of peace, jubilance, safety and responsible spending for all.

Supply of goods and services were adequate and goods made in Viet Nam dominated the market, he noted, adding that prices remained stable during Tet, which spanned from February 15-23.

The PM also stressed the need for ministries and localities to continue maintaining defense and security, firmly safeguarding the national independence and territorial sovereignty.

PM beats gong to open New Year bourse trading

PM Nguyen Tan Dung beat the gong to open the first trading session of securities of the Lunar New Year at Ha Noi Stock Exchange.

Speaking at the ceremony, the PM lauded the development in the nation’s stock market, asserting that the stock market has actively contributed to the national socio-economic development and become a crucial channel to mobilize capital for the economy.

PM Dung asked the Ministry of Finance and other relevant ministries and agencies to check and complete the institution and policy for an opener, more transparent and effective stock market in the context that Viet Nam has stepped up the negotiations and signing of new free trade agreements.

Steering council for encyclopedia compilation set up

The PM has decided to establish a Steering Council for encyclopedia compilation with Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam as Chairman.

The Steering Council aims to consult and propose guidelines and measures to the PM on compiling Viet Nam’s encyclopedia, assists the Government in directing and coordinating related works in making the encyclopedia as well as mobilizing the participation of scientists and expenditures in realizing the works.

CPI in February drops 0.05%

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in February decreased 0.05% compared to the previous month.

Thanks to the reduction in the oil and gas price, three out of the 11 groups in the calculated basket witnessed declines in the price, including transport dropped by 4.41%, housing and building material down 0.41% and telecommunications down 0.02%.

The prices of the groups of restaurants and food service and foodstuff only increased 0.53% and 0.13%, respectively.

Footwear sector takes steps into New Year

A successful 2014 and the promise of bigger export opportunities has given the domestic leather and footwear industry the confidence to set a US$14 billion export target for this year.

Last year was a successful year for the industry, with its presence in 47 global markets seeing the total leather, footwear and handbags exports rise 22.5% over 2013 to US$12.74 billion, accounting for 8.5% of the nation's total export turnover.

Leather and footwear exports last year saw a year-on-year growth in most of its markets. The US ranked first with imports of US$3.3 billion, up 26.71% over 2013. It was followed by Belgium with US$659 million, up 27.68%, and Germany with US$600 million, up 31.19%.

Tien Giang to earn US$1.6 bln from exporting in 2015

The southern province of Tien Giang earned US$245 million from exporting in the first two months of the year, accounting for 15.3% of the year’s plan and witnessing a year-on-year increase of 26.5%.

In February only, the province’s export turnover reached US$112 million, up 15.8% compared to the same period last year.

The province heads to achieve an export turnover of US$1.6 billion this year, up 14.3% against the year earlier.

HCM City firms resume operations after Tet

About 700 businesses based in industrial parks and export processing zones, or 65% of the total firms, resumed their operations, the first working day after a nine-day Lunar New Year holiday (Tet). 

Around 80-85% of employees at these companies returned to work, according to the HCM City Export Processing Zone and Industrial Park Authority (Hepza). 

The centre predicts around 23,000 job vacancies will be available in March, higher than the two previous months, mostly in the garment-footwear, plastic-packaging production, food processing, construction, information technology, machinery, and marketing sectors.

By Thuy Dung

(Source: VOV/VNA/VGP)