Press digest – November 7
NA fixes growth rate for 2017
The National Assembly on Monday approved the Resolution on socio-economic development plan for 2017 with the growth rate of around 6.7%.
Under the Resolution, the overall goals are to ensure macro-economic stability, create substantial changes in the three strategic breakthroughs, enhance the competitiveness and self-reliance of the economy, spur business startup among others.
Exports are expected to increase 6-7% and trade deficit is estimated at around 3.5% of the total export value while inflation will be kept at 4%.
Several draft laws discussed at 14th NA’s second session
Lawmakers discussed several draft laws at the ongoing second session of the 14th National Assembly in Ha Noi on November 7.
In the morning, deputies heard a report on the draft revised law on technology transfer delivered by Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh, and a report on verifying the draft revised law by Head of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Phan Xuan Dung.
State President holds talks with Irish counterpart
Irish President Michael D. Higgins affirmed that his country expects stronger ties with Viet Nam which has an increasingly important role in Asia-Pacific during his talks with Vietnamese counterpart Tran Dai Quang on Monday.
The two Presidents expressed their pleasure at the positive advancement of the bilateral relations over the past time. The two-way trade value rose to US$798 million in the first nine moths this year.
They agreed to further strengthen cooperation in such potential fields like trade, investment, education and training, green technologies, agriculture, healthcare and sustainable development.
VN treasures support from Ireland: top legislator
Irish-funded projects are being implemented effectively in Viet Nam, she said, hoping that the ODA will be maintained, particularly in poverty alleviation, climate change adaptation and sustainable development.
Government to pay for Formosa-polluted frozen fish
The Government is preparing a financial support plan for traders and fishermen who could not sell frozen fish due to the toxic spill from the Formosa steel plant off the coast of four Central provinces.
According to a Governmental announcement on November 4, the decision was made at a meeting with Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh in Ha Tinh province in October.
Formosa caused the environmental disaster in April. Fishermen in the region continued fishing and stored their catch in warehouse freezers, but almost every sample taken showed chemical contamination.
Cabinet issues resolution on October meeting
Ensuring the stability of foreign exchange rates and liquidity in the banking system, and electricity and medical service costs topped the agenda of the Government’s October regular meeting resolution.
US$10 billion e-commerce targeted by 2020
The Vietnamese e-commerce market is expected to surge in the next five years, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which has set an online sales target of US$ 10 billion or 5% of total retail sales.
“Vietnamese e-commerce has achieved significant progress, creating infrastructure and becoming very popular with consumers and businesses,” Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (VietNam Economic Times) quoted Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa as saying at a seminar late last month.
Third VN-China Youth Festival kicks off in Lang Son
The third Viet Nam-China Youth Festival kicked off at the Huu Nghi (Friendship) International Border Gate in Viet Nam’s northern province of Lang Son on November 7, bringing together thousands of young people from the two countries.
Addressing the ceremony, Standing Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee (HCYUCC) Nguyen Manh Dung hailed the Viet Nam-China friendship, which was nurtured by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong together with generations of revolutionaries, leaders and people of the two countries, as a shared valuable asset.
FDI forecast warily brightens
Viet Nam’s foreign direct investment picture should rebound in the remaining months of this year, though concerns remain over fulfilling the 2016 target.
The country attracted over US$17.61 billion in newly-registered and expanded foreign direct investment (FDI) capital in the year to October 20, down 8.7% on-year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).
This was the second time in 2016 that Viet Nam reported a fall in FDI attraction. In September, the country also witnessed a slight on-year drop of 4.2% in new and added FDI pledges.
Floods leave 21 dead and missing
Torrential rains and heavy floods in the central and central highland regions over recent days have left 15 dead, 6 missing and 20 injured, according to the Regional Committee for Natural Disasters Prevention and Control.
As of November 7, three deaths, one missing and 14 injuries were reported in Quang Binh, Quang Tri (2 deaths and 2 injuries), Binh Dinh (2 deaths, 2 injuries), Phu Yen (7 deaths, one missing), Dak Lak (1 death), Kon Tum (one missing), Quang Ngai (three missing, one injury), Hue (one injury).
Argentine Film Festival opens November 12 in HCM City
Movie lovers in Viet Nam will have a chance to enjoy the best in Argentine cinematography and its transnational influence at a film festival transpiring November 12-13 in Ho Chi Minh City.
The event, organized by the Embassy of Argentina in Viet Nam aims to help Vietnamese audiences learn more about the unique aspects and rich cultural heritage of South American filmmaking./.
(Source : VGP/VOV/VNA)
