Press digest – January 27
National University-HCM City urged to become regional institution
President Truong Tan Sang has asked the Viet Nam National University - Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM City) to take a leading role in the country’s university system and become a regional educational institution.
State President Truong Tan made the statement when attending a ceremony marking the 20thanniversary of the VNU-HCM City in Ho Chi Minh City.
President Sang praised the university’s achievements and urged the VNU-HCM City to continue to enhance fundamental improvements to better the quality of human resources trained.
Quang Ninh allowed to mobilize capital for infrastructure development
The PM has made a decision on several specified policies to the northern province of Quang Ninh and the Van Don Economic Zone (EZ) to mobilize capital for socio-economic infrastructure development.
In addition, the PM agreed to add the Van Don EZ to the list of coastal EZs which will be focused on development from the State budget in the 2013-2015 period.
The EZ is also prioritized to mobilize ODA for the zone’s important infrastructure projects, access support from the central State budget up to 50% of an ODA project’s counterpart capital.
PM approves financial mechanism for grid project
The PM has approved a financial mechanism for a project to expand electricity grids in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City through loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
Under the mechanism, the Government will sign a deal with the ADB and the AIF to receive a loan of $272.70 million, which will then be re-loaned to the Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) HaNoi and the EVN HCM City under similar conditions and terms but with additional expenses.
Postal stamps on Trang An Complex issued
A set of three postal stamps and a poster have been released to mark UNESCO's recognition of Trang An Complex in northern Ninh Binh province as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site.
The stamps, launched by the Ministry of Information and Communication and Viet Nam Post Corporation in Ninh Binh Province, went on sale and will remain on issue until December 31, 2016.
India’s Republic Day celebrated in VN
A ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City on January 26 to mark the 66th Indian Republic Day (January 26, 1950 – January 26, 2015).
The event attracted the participation of Ho Chi Minh City’s leaders, Indian Consul General in HCM City, the Indian community and enterprises.
Indian Consul General Smita Pant expressed her gratitude to Vietnamese people’s friendship towards Indian people. In the coming time, social, economic and cultural connection will be organised to promote bilateral ties.
Boeing supports VN goal of direct US flights
The Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV) and Boeing signed a Memorandum of Collaboration yesterday in support of Viet Nam receiving category 1 approval by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Under the agreement, Boeing will help CAAV work through the Corrective Action Plan and assist in facilitating the appropriate training for CAVV personnel. Once the FAA Category 1 status is achieved, Vietnamese-based commercial airlines can offer direct passenger and cargo service between Viet Nam and the US.
Germany inaugurates coffee processing plant in Dong Nai
A $12 million coffee processing plant was officially launched by the German group Neumann Gruppe in the An Phuoc Industrial Zone, Long Thanh district, southern Dong Nai province.
Covering an area of 5ha, the plant is designed to process around 26 tonnes of coffee per hour or 100,000 tonnes per year by 2017 with finished coffee to be shipped worldwide.
The newly-built plant is the second of its kind invested by Neumann Gruppe in Viet Nam, after the first constructed in 1992 in southern Binh Duong province.
FDI hit $663 million in January
By January 20, foreign businesses had invested $392.18 million in 44 new projects and $271.26 million in 19 existed ones, a year-on-year increase of 67.1%.
11 sectors attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) capital in January. The processing and manufacturing industries lured much of the FDI capital into 18 projects, followed by wholesale and retail, electricity and water supply sectors.
Fifteen countries and territories invested in Viet Nam in the reviewed period. British Virgin Islands topped the list with a total investment capital of $331.32 million. Coming after were the Republic of Korea and Hong Kong.
By Ngoc Van
