Weekly digest – August 17-23

State President greets newly-accredited ambassadors

State President Truong Tan Sang welcomed newly-accredited ambassadors from Chile, Turkey, Denmark, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Sri Lanka on August 20 on their submission of credentials.

Foreign ministry holds int’l conference on diplomacy

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on August 20 in Ha Noi organized a conference to review its 70-year development and set future orientations.

The event drew the attendance of 100 delegates from foreign embassies and representative offices in Viet Nam.

Deputy PM, FM Minh called on the delegates to contribute ideas so that Viet Nam can realize its set directions and deal with challenges effectively.

Gov’t reaffirms commitments to favorable investment climate

Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh on Monday reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to pursuing socialist-oriented market economy while delivering a speech at the Forbes Viet Nam’s business forum in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Government also gives priority to the development of the private sector, considering it as an element of a sustainable economy. The sector has contributed 30% to the State budget and 40% of the gross domestic product.

He stressed that the Government is consistent with and capable of maintaining macroeconomic stability and administration reform to create the most favorable conditions for investors.

Du Gia National Park - Dong Van Stone Plateau established

The PM has decided to establish the Du Gia National Park - Dong Van Stone Plateau in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang.

The park, consisting of Du Gia Nature Reserves andKhau Ca Species and Habitat Conservation Area, is located in three districts of Bac Me, Du Gia, and Yen Minh, covering an area of over 15,000 ha.

The establishment of the park aims to protect the forest eco-system, rare and endangered animals and plants, and contribute to stabilize agricultural and industrial production in the area.

New regulations on customs declaration

The Ministry of Finance has issued Circular No. 120/2015/TT-BTC on regulations on management and use of customs declaration forms for people on exit or entry.

Individual carrying more than US$5,000 or other currencies or more than VND15 million; or bills of exchange, cheques or gemstones worth more than VND300 million (or nearly US$15,000) while leaving or entering Viet Nam shall be required to declare to the customs officials.

New regulations on aircraft registration

The Government has issued a decree which stipulates registration of nationality and rights of aircraft in Viet Nam.

The newly decree, scheduled to take effect since October 1, 2015, covers the aircraft nationality/rights registration and renunciation, granting of codes for registration and abolishment of registration for international rights for aircraft of Vietnamese nationality. 

VN deeply concerns over Indonesia’s fishing boat destruction

Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Le Hai Binh voiced “deep concern” after Indonesia has sunk several Vietnamese fishing boats in a bid to stop illegal fishing in its waters.

Mr. Binh said the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a diplomatic note to Indonesia to request for humanitarian treatment for Vietnamese fishermen as the two countries set up strategic partnership relations and are members of ASEAN.

Enterprises optimistic about business trends in Q3

Up to 49% of enterprises believed that business operation will become better while 37.4% said that the business operation will be sustainable in the third quarter of 2015, according to a survey carried out by the General Statistics Office, under the Ministry of Planning and Investment. As many as 3,389 enterprises operating in the processing and manufacturing industry joined the survey.

However, in the first seven months of the year, more than 32,370 enterprises had to stop operation, a year-on-year increase of 1.2%, according to the survey.

Exports fetch early US$100 billion

As of August 15, Viet Nam’s total exports and imports valued US$98.5 billion and US$102 billion.

In the first half of August, the export value reached US$6.7 billion. Of the figure, the foreign direct investment (FDI) sector made up nearly 70%, equal to US$4.7 billion.

Meanwhile, the import turnover in the first fifteen days of August attained US$6.8 billion, of which US$4.07 billion was contributed by the FDI sector.

VN becomes EU’s third largest footwear exporter

Viet Nam became the third largest footwear exporter to the EU market after China and Italy, according to the Viet Nam Leather and Footwear Association (Lefaso).

The Association reported that last year Viet Nam earned US$4.88 billion in export revenue from the EU, a year-on-year growth of 20% and setting the record high in the 2010-2014 period.

(Source: VGP/VNA)

By Thuy Dung