Press digest – March 25
PM asks for reforming administrative procedures in customs
PM Nguyen Tan Dung held a working session with the Ministry of Finance and relevant ministries and agencies on reforming administrative procedures in customs.
Reforming administrative procedures, improving the business environment, and increasing the competitiveness of businesses, products and economy have still not progressed to the rate it should be, the PM stressed.
The PM also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary coordination in making administrative procedures in customs better.
NA Chairman welcomes IPU President, Secretary General
National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung received Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) President Saber Chowdhury and Secretary GeneralMartin Chungong.
The IPU President and Secretary General lauded Viet Nam’s preparations for the IPU-132.
Mr. Saber Chowdhury asserted that with 166 members, the IPU holds its 132nd assembly in the context where the international community experience a new development period where the role of parliaments and delegates is increasingly crucial.
The official hoped that the successful organization of the event will contribute to the joint development of the IPU and the international community.
New Qatari ambassador welcomed in HN
New Ambassador from Qatar Abdullah Sultan Al-Hamar told PM Nguyen Tan Dung that he is tasked with further developing bilateral ties while working in Viet Nam, a significant country in Qatar’s diplomatic policy.
The PM suggested facilitating investment and trade and holding an inter-governmental meeting to broaden bilateral coordination.
Viet Nam is willing to invite Qatar investors to buy stakes in equitized firms, become strategic stakeholders in major commercial banks, and vie for bids to operate airport, seaport and highway facilities in the country, he said.
Hai Phong urged to accelerate international integration
The northern city of Hai Phong needs to accelerate administrative procedure reform, improve competitiveness of the economy, and make it well ready for joining the ASEAN Community and other Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made that statement at a ceremony to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the municipal diplomatic sector's day.
Viet Nam continues to participate in cooperative mechanisms and connection at all levels, focusing on forming the ASEAN Community and completing crucial FTAs negotiations, he asserted.
Scaffold collapse in Ha Tinh’s economic zone kills at least 14
A 30m high scaffold structure collapsed at the Vung Ang economic zone in central Ha Tinh province late on March 25, killing at least 14 workers and injuring tens of others.
The accident occurred at 8pm when around 100 workers were working on the scaffold at a construction site in the Taiwanese-invested Formosa steel complex project.
More than 30 injured workers have been rushed to the Ha Tinh General Hospital and Ky Anh district’s hospital for treatment.
CPI in March increases 0.15%
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in March only increased 0.15% against the previous month and witnessed a year-on-year increase of 0.93% despite the rise in the prices of oil and electricity.
The rise in the oil and gas price only contributed to 0.04% in the CPI of March.
The CPI in this month decreased 0.1% compared to December 2014.
Trade turnover up 13.7%
As of March 15, Viet Nam’s export- import turnover reached US$59.76 billion, up 13.7% (or US$7.22 billion) compared to the same period last year.
The figure included US$29.06 billion from export, up 8.4%. Of which, the foreign-invested businesses contributed more than US$19.75 billion, up 18%.
The import turnover of US$30.69 billion, which was up 19.3% year on year, saw US$18.83 billion contributed by the foreign-invested sector (up 26.5%).
Crude oil exported to China up 62.5%
Viet Nam gained more than US$359 million from exporting 792,000 tons of crude oil in February, down 2.8% in volume and up 18.3% in value compare the the previous month.
China was the largest importer of Viet Nam’s crude oil with 300,000 tons in the first two months of 2015, a year-on-year increase of 62.5%. It was followed by Australia with nearly 248,000 tons, down 13.6%, Malaysia 231,000 tons, up 15.3% and Singapore 224,000 tons, six times higher than the same period last year.
HN in top 10 Travellers' Choice Destinations in 2015
Ha Noi, the capital of Viet Nam, has been listed among Top 10 Travellers' Choice Destinations.
The world's largest travel review site TripAdvisor has revealed the world's best travel destinations for this year in its 2015 Travellers' Choice awards.
Accordingly, Ha Noi took the fourth place in the list. The historic and cultural capital Ha Noi may be best known for its French colonial architecture, but it's also forging a contemporary path.
(Source: VGP/VNA)
By Thuy Dung
