Vietnam Morning News For November 23

Convenience stores aid growth of Vietnam’s retail industry
The country is attractive to retailers, with a market of more than 93 million people, relatively young population and an estimated GDP of 220 billion USD.
— VietnamNet Bridge

VN to build upscale coffee brand
Viet Nam has set up a project to promote high-quality Vietnamese coffee backed by about VND170 billion (US$7.5 million).
— Bizhub

Asian investors compete to build up stakes in Vinamilk
The race to build up stakes in Vinamilk, Vietnam’s largest listed company, is likely to see Hong Kong’s diversified group Jardine Matheson square off against Singapore-listed Fraser and Neave (F&N).
— DealStreetAsia

Vietnam welcomes enterprises to join in local infrastructure development
Vietnam always welcomes potential and experienced enterprises to participate in investment projects on infrastructure development in the country, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has affirmed.
— Nhan Dan Online

Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports see strong growth
The total value of fruit and vegetable exports reached US$3.010 billion as of November 15, 2017, according to the latest statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
— Nhan Dan Online

DHL eCommerce launches ServicePoints
DHL eCommerce, a division of the world’s leading logistics company, the Deutsche Post DHL Group, has launched a nationwide network of ServicePoints, enhancing its already successful and rapidly growing domestic delivery network, which was launched in July.
— Vietnam Economic Times

Vietnam will miss state enterprise divestment target this year
Vietnam’s State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) will hold its final divestment of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) for 2017 next month with the auction of shares in five large ‘blue chip’ companies listed on local bourses.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Vietnam looking for telecom investment in Nigeria
Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue has confirmed the country is eager to explore telecoms-related investment in Nigeria via its state-owned operator, Viettel, ITWeb reported.
— telecompaper

Mobile World raises $50 million in first bond issuance
The notes, due in 2022, will bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.55 percent yearly.
— VietnamNet Bridge

TPP Revived as CPTPP: What it means for Vietnam
The original Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) signed in February 2016, included the US along with Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.
— Vietnam Briefing

Premier Departs on Business Mission to China and Vietnam
Premier Kathleen Wynne will begin her third business mission to China on Friday in Beijing.
— Ontario

Vietnam-linked firm acquires Nasdaq-listed Stanley Furniture for $16.1m
Churchill Downs, a company linked to Ho Chi Minh City-based Vietnam Trade Alliance, is acquiring Nasdaq-listed Stanley Furniture in a cash-and-note transaction.
— DealStreetAsia

Is bitcoin trading prohibited in Vietnam?
Phan Vu Hoang from Deloitte Vietnam said at a workshop on blockchain and electronic taxation that state agencies do not understand bitcoin transactions.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Taiwanese firms eye investment in Binh Duong
Several Taiwanese firms (China) plan to explore investment opportunities in the southern province of Binh Duong, according to a Taiwanese official.
— VietnamPlus

Sakura Color Products Vietnam launches factory in Binh Duong
Sakura Color Products Vietnam inaugurated its factory producing crayons and pens in the southern province of Binh Duong on November 22.
— VietnamPlus

Saigon beer introduced at Asian Food Market in Israel
Saigon beer from Vietnam has impressed Israeli visitors at the first Asian Food Market held in Tel Aviv city in mid-November.
— VietnamPlus

VTG exhibition attracts over 400 businesses
The 17th Vietnam Int’l Textile & Garment Industry Exhibition 2017 (VTG 2017) officially opened at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City on November 22, attracting the participation of over 400 enterprises from 17 countries and territories around the world.
— Nhan Dan Online

VN’s internet: Most influential individuals, enterprises announced
The Viet Nam Internet Association (VIA) has announced the list of the most influential people and businesses contributing to the internet’s development in Viet Nam at Internet Day 2017 and the anniversary ceremony held to mark 20 years of the internet in Viet Nam.
— Bizhub

Vietnam plans to build 654 kilometres of expressway by 2021
The National Assembly of Vietnam has approved plans to build a number of sections of the north-south expressway with a cumulative length of 654 kilometres by the end of 2021.
— Nhan Dan Online

VN-Index extends gains despite VIC, VNM slump
VinGroup and Vinamilk declined, however the VN-Index still increased 0.75 per cent to 925.16 points during Wednesday’s morning trade thanks to the united growth of most VN30 stocks.
— Bizhub

Differences in rates at large banks
In contrast to Vietcombank’s move to cut deposit interest rate a week ago, two other large State-owned commercial banks — Vietinbank and BIDV — this week announced they were raising the rate.
— Bizhub

Changing lifestyles boost smaller, greener homes
Changes in consumer lifestyles as well as modern technology anticipating the fourth industrial revolution are changing the real estate market and creating new trends.
— VietnamPlus

Feature photo ILO in Asia and the Pacific
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Vietnam morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Vietnam news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies, not politics.