Vietnam Morning News For August 22

Vietnam’s steel exports reach US$2.53 billion in seven months
Vietnam’s steel exports rose 40.4% year on year to 3.41 million tonnes in the first seven months of the year, raking in US$2.53 billion, up 56.3%.
— Nhan Dan Online

Local paper firms face losing out to foreign businesses
A capital shortage for local paper manufacturers could make them lose out to foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises in their own country, according to experts.
— Vietnam Plus

Vietnam’s road development programme
Vietnam is pushing ahead with its road and highway development programme. One crucial project is for the construction of the Ho Chi Minh (HCM) Road project. When complete the route will connect Cao Bang with Ca Mau, with some US$903 million required to finish the work.
— World Highways

Vietnam, cracking down on dissent, opens trial of 12 people charged with subversion
A court in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday began the trial of 12 people, including two American citizens, on subversion charges as government authorities intensify a crackdown on dissent.
— South China Morning Post

Thailand’s B.Grimm Power speeds up expansion with Vietnam solar projects
Thailand’s B.Grimm Power PCL’s recent investments in two solar energy projects in Vietnam underline the company’s commitment to accelerate its overseas expansion through ventures with local partners and to increase its output in renewable energy.
— MarketsInsider

Vietnam renewable energy week gets underway
The Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance (VSEA) and the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) held a ceremony on August 21 to open the Vietnam Renewable Energy Week 2018.
— Nhan Dan Online

VN should carefully consider ODA loans: ministry
Việt Nam has been advised to carefully consider whether to borrow from Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans in the future.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam targets emerging securities market status
Vietnam should upgrade its stock market from frontier to emerging level soon, says Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue.
— VnExpress

Vietnam earns rights to broadcast 2018 Asian Games
Vietnam has finally earned the rights to broadcast the 2018 Asian Games starting on Wednesday.
— Xinhua

VN strives to avoid MFN tariffs
The Department of Trade Defence under the Ministry of Industry and Trade will begin releasing Viet Nam’s export data to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on a monthly basis to help local businesses avoid Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariffs.
— Bizhub

Vietnam banks struggle with credit growth limits
According to economists, some banks could struggle with liquidity in a certain period under the current credit growth limit, especially in a peak period by the end of the fourth quarter.
— The Hanoi Times

German ASEAN Power to add 58 MWp of solar in Vietnam
German ASEAN Power, a solar project developer focused on the Southeast Asia region, on Tuesday announced plans to build two solar parks in Vietnam totalling 58 MWp.
— Renewables Now

Huobi OTC marks foray into Vietnam with zero transaction fees
Huobi OTC (https://otc.huobi.com/vi-vi) marked its foray into the Vietnamese market by supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions denominated in Vietnamese Dong (VND). OTC, which stands for “over-the-counter”, will help onboard new users who are looking to invest in digital assets by offering a P2P fiat-to-coin marketplace.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Hung Yen longan farmers see bumper crop at good prices
Vietnam’s northern province of Hung Yen is famous for its longans, with a total growing area covering 4,300 hectares, of which 3,800 hectares are now being harvested.
— Nhan Dan Online

Mekong Delta urged to apply hi-tech in fish farming
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyễn Xuân Cường has urged the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces, especially An Giang Province, to apply advanced technologies in production of tra fish (catfish).
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam detains Lao drug smuggler
The border guard force of Vietnam’s central Nghe An province arrested a Lao man on Tuesday when he was transporting 3,000 pills of synthetic drug.
— Xinhua

Global Internet domain names come to Vietnam
The availability of a series of new foreign domain names in the Vietnamese market is offering more choices to local companies and opening up new opportunities for domain name registrars.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Workshop talks ASEAN entrepreneurs in revolution 4.0
Opportunities and challenges facing ASEAN enterprises in the fourth industrial revolution (4.0) were the main discussion at a workshop hosted by the Foreign Ministry in Hanoi on August 21.
— Nhan Dan Online

Chinese investments flowing in Vietnam’s thermal power plants
Chinese investors have continuously planned to pour more in Vietnam’s coal-fired thermo power projects given their investments now account for some 50 percent of total foreign capital in the industry.
— The Hanoi Times

Deputy PM worries about thin cap of enterprises
The Government pays a lot of attention to the health of market participants and the thin capitalisation status of enterprises, said Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue at the Vietnam Economic Forum (ViEF) 2018 held in Hanoi on August 21.
— Nhan Dan Online

Vietnamese firms conspicuously absent as auto parts industry thrives
Vietnam enjoys a trade surplus in the auto parts industry, but domestic firms play no role in this success.
— VnExpress

Garment-textile sector regains confidence of foreign investors
Vietnam has been considered an attractive destination for investors who are keen on the garment and textile sector, thanks to benefits brought about by the bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) that the country has signed and is about to sign.
— Vietnam Plus

PAN to sell over 14.86 million shares to Japan’s Sojitz
Vietnam’s agriculture company PAN Group has sought shareholder approval to offer 14.86 million shares to Sojitz Group.
— VnExpress

Mobifone profit decreases by 26% in first 6 months
TV pay service provider Audio Visual Global (AVG) has paid back VND8.51 trillion (US$365.9 million) to Mobifone after a notorious deal was cancelled earlier this year.
— The Hanoi Times

Moon cake makers start sales early this year
With around a month to go for the Mid-Autumn festival, moon cake producers have unveiled many traditional and new varieties.
— Bizhub

Japan Taisho Group increases holding in Vietnam DHG Pharmaceutical to 32%
DHG`s largest shareholder is State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) with 56.6 million shares or 43.31% of the medicine maker`s charter capital.
— The Hanoi Times

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