Press digest – December 28

Gov’t convenes December meeting

PM Nguyen Tan Dung on Monday presided over a videoconference to review socio-economic performance in 2015 and discuss ways to realize socio-economic development tasks for 2016.

Cabinet members and leaders of all provinces and cities join the event.

PM asked for highest efforts to realise 2016 socio-economic targets

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged ministries, sectors and localities to do their best in order to fulfill socio-economic targets set for 2016. 

Chairing a teleconference between the Government and representatives from 63 localities nationwide in Ha Noi December 28, PM Dung stressed the need to thoroughly analyse the 2015 socio-economic performance results as foundations for figuring out appropriate measures to realise the 2016 socio-economic objectives, which will be set by the upcoming National Party Congress and the National Assembly.

During the meeting, participants discussed a draft Government report on key solutions in directing and managing the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and State budget estimates in 2016.

Key driving forces of economic growth in 2015

Sound foreign direct investment and strong industrial production sector are among key driving forces of economic growth in 2015.

Viet Nam attracted around US$ 22.76 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) this year, an increase of 12.5% from the previous year, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported.

As of mid-December, the country granted licenses to 2,013 FDI projects with total registered capital of US$15.58 billion, up 26.8% in quantity but down 0.4% in value in comparison with 2014.

Gov’t figures out Top 9 key tasks for 2016

Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on December 28 presented a Government’s draft Resolution on key tasks and measures guiding the realization of the Plan for socio-economic development and state budget estimate in 2016.

The draft Resolution points out nine groups of tasks and solutions.

Export revenues lower than expected amid oil price fall

Export revenues fell short of expectation due to sharp drop of oil prices, said Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang at the Government’s video conference on Monday.

Viet Nam set the export growth of 10% this year based on the assumption that oil price would be US$100 per barrel. However, the oil price began dipping since the second quarter, down to around US$35-36 per barrel currently.

It was estimated that Viet Nam lost over US$3 billion from falling oil prices, said Mr. Hoang.

Inbound tourism rebounds for 6th consecutive month

Viet Nam welcomed as many as 760,800 foreigners in December, representing a month-on-month surge of 2.6% and year-on-year growth of 15%, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

This was the sixth consecutive month the number of foreign visitors to Viet Nam rebounded after 13 straight months of declines.

In 2015, the total number of foreign guests was estimated at 7.9 million, down 0.2% against last year, marking the first decline since 2009. 

The number of passengers travelling by air rose 0.8%; by road down 6.5%; and by sea up 27.5%.

Anti-corruption steering committee calls for stronger effort next year

The Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption (CSCAC) held its ninth meeting in Ha Noi on December 28, highlighting a must for stronger and more fruitful anti-corruption activities.

Participants at the meeting noted that the corruption prevention and combat have made progress and reaped important outcomes in 2015.

Anti-corruption communications have been renovated. A number of the Party and State’s related documents were issued such as the Politburo’s Directive 50 CT/TW on enhancing the Party leadership over the detection and settlement of corruption cases, the Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the law on organisation of criminal investigation agencies.

National education channel launched on New Year Day

The national education channel-VTV7 will officially go on air on the first day of 2016, Viet Nam National Television’s Deputy General Director Pham Viet Tien said on December 28.

VTV7, which is operated by Ministry of Education and Training, Viet Nam National Television and Advanced International Joint Stock Company (AIC), aims to give the audience an insight into educational affairs in the country.

Running 18 hours every day, the channel is a valuable educating source for students as it provides a wide range of programmes, including Wake Up with VTV7, VTV7 English, Discovery, My Books and Education Talkshow, among others.

Russia-VN relations under review

On December 28, Russian Ambassador Konstantin Vnukov hosted a press conference in Hanoi reviewing Viet Nam–Russia relation during the year in observance of the 65th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

This year,  political dialogues have been intensified, demonstrated by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedew’s visit to Vietnam and President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to attend the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow. 
Bilateral free trade agreement among Eurasian members, including Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Viet Nam signed on May 29, 2015, marks a step forward expanding bilateral economic and investment ties. 

VN becomes attractive destination for Russian tourists

Viet Nam has emerged as one of the attractive destinations for Russian holiday-makers.

According to the Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR), the number of Russian tourists to Vietnam rose 3.8% in November, compared to the previous month.

Together with Viet Nam, Thailand and India also recorded substantial surge in number of Russian holiday-makers./.