Vietnam Morning News For December 14

E-visa programme proves huge success
The trial use of online visas for the last 10 months has been deemed a success, with the number of visitors applying increasing month by month, the Department of Immigration said yesterday.
— Viet Nam News

Ho Chi Minh City gives Uber 10 day ultimatum to pay back taxes
The tax department of Ho Chi Minh City has given Uber an ultimatum to pay VND66.68 billion (US$2.95 million) in back taxes in the next ten days after the company has failed to comply with earlier requests.
— Tuoi Tre

Businesses ask PM for transparency, fewer rules
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc pledged the Government would continue to improve the business climate for the private sector to thrive, stressing their critical role in national growth.
— Bizhub

SBV seeking comments on amendment to gold management decree
Central bank proposing elimination of business licenses for gold jewelry and fine arts production.
— Vietnam Economic Times

Vietnam’s nascent debt markets set for bigger deals
Vietnam has already been the standout beneficiary of the Asian Development Bank’s efforts to stimulate South East Asian fixed income markets — and the country’s progress is set for another boost as bankers work on longer-term debt, project bonds and other innovations for next year.
— Financial Times

Carlsberg inches closer to increasing stake in Vietnam’s Habeco
Danish brewer Carlsberg has edged closer to reaching an agreement with the Vietnamese government to increase its stake in Habeco, one of Vietnam’s biggest brewers, which it hopes will speed up the process.
— DealStreetAsia

Vietnam’s FPT sees niche market for its self-driving tech
Vietnam’s leading information technology company FPT is accelerating its efforts to develop self-driving car technology.
— Nikkei Asian Review

More consistent foreign arbitration rules needed for investment
That content was among the discussion of experts at the launch of the ‘Judicial Manual for Commercial Mediation and Arbitration’ on Tuesday held by International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Viet Nam’s Supreme People’s Court.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Make digital world safer for kids: UNICEF
All stakeholders must join hands in creating a safe internet system that children can use effectively for their education and research purposes, a senior official said yesterday.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam leads in salary increases in ASEAN
“According to the survey, there are many factors supporting the positive growth results of Vietnam’s human resources market in 2018,” said Ms. Angie Phang, Country Manager of Jobstreet.com Vietnam.
— VietnamNet Bridge

First centralised drugs bid saves $21 million
The Government will spend VNĐ2.269 trillion (US$100 million) over the next two years on buying five active substances and 22 types of drugs for public hospitals and healthcare centres.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam stock rises 1 pct in volatile trade
Vietnam shares closed 1 percent higher in highly volatile trade on Tuesday, while most other Southeast Asian markets marked time ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting.
— Tuoi Tre

Food industry attracting Japanese interest
Japanese investors increasingly keen on Vietnam’s food industry, conference hears.
— Vietnam Economic Times

Australia launches programme to support Vietnam’s economic reform
The Australian government and the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment on December 13 jointly launched Aus4Reform – a four-year long programme to boost the productivity and competitiveness of Vietnam’s economy.
— Nhan Dan Online

Samsung woos rural Vietnamese with affordable smartphone plans
Samsung Electronics’ Vietnamese unit has forged a strategic partnership to make its smartphone lineup — including high-end models — more competitive with Chinese brands in the countryside.
— Nikkei Asian Review

IFC launches RPT governance course for VN banks
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO) on December 13 launched an online course on Related Party Transactions Governance for Vietnamese commercial banks.
— Viet Nam News

PM highlights productivity’s role in sustainable development
Productivity improvement plays an increasingly decisive role in Vietnam’s GDP growth as it contributed up to 89 percent to national GDP growth this year, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said.
— VietnamPlus

Rail giant makes move to logistics
In late November, Vietnam Railways (VNR) and China Railway launched a container block train connecting Huanggang Station in Nanchang and Yen Vien Station in Hanoi.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Feature photo ILO/Nguyễn ViệtThanh

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