Press digest – January 11

State President receives new Ambassadors

State President Tran Dai Quang received credentials of newly-appointed Ambassadors from New Zealand, East Timor, the Ivory Coast, Rwanda and Slovenia.

PM holds phone talks with RoK counterpart

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Wednesday held phone talks with the Republic of Korea’s Acting President and PM Hwang Kyo Ahn on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (December 22, 1992-December 22, 2017) between Viet Nam and the Northeast Asian country.

The two leaders highly valued the developments in the bilateral ties over the past 25 years, which have met expectations of, brought pragmatic interests to their people, and contributed to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The two countries should expand cooperation in culture, education, tourism, labor and people-to-people exchanges; intensify coordination at multi-lateral forums, especially the United Nations, ASEAN, and APEC to make practical contributions to the maintenance of peace, stability and development in the region and the world, PMPhuc said.

PM sets tasks for Ministry of Planning and Investment

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 11 attended a meeting to review works in 2016 and initiate tasks for 2017 for the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

PM Phuc referred to the contribution of the MPI as a chief of the general staff of the Government in the national socio-economic development. The Ministry consulted the Government the establishment of institutions, policies, strategies, plans, middle-term public investment plans and measures to enhance the economic restructuring, growth model renovation, growth quality, labor capacity and economic competitiveness.

VN joins regional financial cooperation enhancement initiative

Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam has approved Viet Nam's joining of the Initiative on enhancement of financial and regional financial cooperation to improve regional health security and respond to pandemic, which is sponsored by the World Bank Group and the Australian Government.  

UK finances sustainable rice program in Southeast Asia

The United Kingdom’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has announced 13 projects for the Southeast Asian region, worth £6.7 million, funded through the Newton Fund.

The projects, within the framework of the Sustainable Rice Program, will be realized by multi-lateral and bilateral research groups from the UK, China, Thailand, the Philippines and Viet Nam.

Business wages rise in 2016

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs investigated wages in 2,000 businesses with an average of 360 employees in 18 cities and provinces nationwide in 2016, with results indicating an increase from 2015.
Average salaries in 2016 were estimated at VND5.71 million (over US$252) per month, representing a year-on-year rise of 7.5%

VN-Philippines business forum held in HCM City

A Viet Nam-Philippines business forum took place in Ho Chi Minh City on January 11 with more than 120 businesses from both countries taking part. 

Speaking at the event, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency Bui Thi Thanh An said two-way trade between the two countries grew 11% on average from 2008-2016. 

VN’s shrimp exports to EU increase 7.5%

Viet Nam earned US$589 million from shipping shrimp to the EU in 2016, a yearly increase of 7.5%.

Viet Nam’s shrimp exports to the EU in November 2016 reached US$50.5 million, up 14% compared to the same period in 2015.

By Thuy Dung