Vietnam Morning News For August 22

Energy dilemma weighs on Vietnam
State planners say more than 50% of national power will be coal-fired by 2030, a big boost in the fossil fuel’s use that will worsen pollution and undercut climate change goals.
— Asia Times

More investment funds receive licenses as stock market thrives
A manager of TVAM said TVAM would launch the new fund – TVGF2 – a closed-end fund in early October. It will be listed on HOSE.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Gov’t urges mobilisation of idle gold
The Government Office last week sent a written document to the central bank governor, referring to the mobilization of idle gold and foreign currency sources from the people.
— Viet Nam News

Agroviet 2017 to gather 300 firms
The 17th International Agriculture Trade Fair 2017 (Agroviet 2017) will take place at Phu Tho Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City’s Ward 11 from September 21-24, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam: Export value of fruit and vegetables increases
The Vietnamese export value of vegetables and fruits is estimated at US$1.7 billion in the first half of this year, marking a year-on-year increase of 45 per cent.
— Fresh Plaza

SBV approves LienVietPostBank’s convertible bonds issuance plan
The State Bank of Việt Nam (SBV) has ratified LienVietPost Bank’s proposal of convertible bonds issuance in 2017.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam: Fruit & vegetable imports hit 655 million USD in first half
Vietnam spent almost 655 million USD on importing fruits and vegetables in the first half of this year, representing a year-on-year increase of 87 percent.
— Fresh Plaza

4,500-year-old trading network uncovered in Vietnam
Archaeologists have uncovered a vast trading network which operated in Vietnam from around 4,500 years ago up until around 3,000 years ago.
— Business Standard

PVN and SCG commit to speeding up LSP complex
Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) and Siam Cement Public Company Limited (SCG) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on speeding up the process of the Long Sơn Petrochemicals (LSP) Complex in the southern province of Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu.
— Viet Nam News

VN Index down on the back of blue chips
Việt Nam’s benchmark VN Index remained fragile on Monday, losing its positive momentum as investors remained cautious over the current market downtrend.
— Viet Nam News

Getting to the core of global inflation
Stock markets have spent the year rising on bets of a resurgence in inflation, while central bankers trying to manage the global economy have spent the same time repeatedly reassuring everyone it’s just around the corner.
— VnExpress

Foreigners to be allowed to own houses in VN for up to 99 years
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said it is necessary to create a special legal framework to attract investment in special zones.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Vietnam’s trade deficit with Thailand hits 3 billion USD
Vietnam’s trade deficit with Thailand stood at nearly 3 billion USD in the first seven months, up nearly 25 percent over the past year, as it imported more than 5.6 billion USD worth of goods from Thailand and exported only 2.6 billion USD of goods to the country, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
— VietnamPlus

Companies warned about massive layoffs of workers over 35
Le Dinh Quang from the Vietnam Labor Federation confirmed the tendency of dismissing workers over 35, though there are no official statistics.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Conference promotes Japan’s financial investment in Vietnam
Vietnam’s Finance Ministry and Daiwa Corporation of Japan co-hosted a conference in Tokyo on August 21 to promote financial investment in Vietnam with the attendance of more than 200 Japanese firms.
— VietnamPlus

Improved regulatory expertise will enhance trade: experts
Improving the ability of regulators to conform to the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) agreement of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will help APEC economies avoid trade impediments and have better access to international markets, experts said at a workshop held on Monday in HCM City.
— Bizhub

Vietnam, Mexico join efforts in geographical indication protection
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in geographical indication (GI) protection was signed between the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam (NOIP) and the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) in Hanoi on August 21.
— VietnamPlus

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