Press digests – March 31

VN promotes gender equality

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh received UN Under Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Vietnam highly appreciates and thanks the United Nations’ agencies, including the Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), for their support over the past time, Mr. Minh said.

Mr. Minh also said that in Viet Nam women’s participation in the political system has been improved, clearly shown in the rising number of women deputies in the National Assembly and those with high professional positions.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka congratulated VietNam on its early completion of the UN Millennium Development Goals, including ensuring gender equality and reducing poverty.

VN commits to using WB’s loans effectively

Receiving World Bank Vice President for Concessional Finance & Global Partnerships Axel Van Trosenburg on March 31,Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh said that Viet Nam commits to doing it utmost to effectively use the WB’s loans.

He hoped that the WB will provide more assistance for Viet Nam, especially in the context that Viet Nam needs huge resources to realize its master plan on economic restructuring.

Mr. Axel Van Trosenburg suggested the Vietnamese Government launch measures to use the WB’s loans effectively and improve the disbursement of the capital.

Deputy PM meets Harvard Program advisor

Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc received advisor of the Harvard’s Viet Nam Program, Professor Thomas Vallely, expressing his hope that Mr.Vallely will continue helping to consolidate Viet Nam-US cooperation, especially in education.

He hailed the contributions of Prof. Vallely as well as the staff of the Viet Nam Executive Leadership Program (VELP), which is a collaborative initiative of the Vietnamese Government, the United Nations Development Program and the Viet Nam Program at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Prof. Vallely spoke highly of Viet Nam’s efforts to preserve cultural and education values and the country’s renovation in socio-economic development over the past years.

DPM Minh says farewell to Chinese Ambassador

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception for Chinese Ambassador to Viet Nam Kong Xuanyou who came to say goodbye at the end of his tenure in Viet Nam.

The Deputy PM applauded developments in the two nations’ comprehensive strategic cooperation over the past years as well as highly valued the role and contributions of the Ambassador in the relationship.

Ambassador Kong Xuanyou confirmed that he will try his best to promote the two sides’ relations.

Retail, service sector grows 2% in Q1

Total retail sales and service revenues in March were estimated at VND233,100 billion, increased by 2% from the previous month and 10.1% against the same period last year.

The increase contributed to the figure in the first quarter to VND701,400 billion, a year-on-year increase of 10.2%.

Can Tho’s economy grows by 8.32% in Q1

The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho enjoyed an economic growth rate of 8.32% in the first quarter of 2014, relatively high compared to other centrally run cities.

Over the period, industrial production rose by 8.35% with a total value of nearly VND16.5trillion (US$784.2 million), up 7.9% from a year earlier.

Can Tho’s retail sales and service revenue amounted to over VND16.1 trillion (US$767.6 million), representing an annual increase of 14.5%.

Industrial production up 4.7% in March

Viet Nam’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in March increased by 4.7% against the same month last year.

In the first three months of 2014, the IIP has recorded a year-on-year rise of 5.2%, higher than the rate of 5% in the corresponding period of 2013. 

Several industries have seen high growth in the reviewed period, such as textile (20.2%), leather and leather products (19.4%) and ready-made clothes (14%).

Binh Duong’s exports surge in first quarter

The southern province of Binh Duong, the magnet for both Vietnamese and foreign investors, earned nearly US$3.2 billion from its exports in the first quarter of 2014, up 12.7% from the same period last year.

In March alone, export turnover is estimated to surpass US$1 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 15%.

By Thuy Dung