Vietnam Morning News For November 16

Vietnam to face gas shortage in 2020: MoIT
Viet Nam may have to import gas from 2020 to produce electricity for the country’s socio-economic development, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).
— Bizhub

Vietnam says no to paper manufacturing projects?
Revoking the $220 million Dai Duong paper factory invested by a Taiwanese investor raises concerns that the era of paper manufacturing projects is over due to the risk of environmental pollution.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Vietnam to be among first countries to deploy 5G: Minister
Vietnam should have locally made network devices by 2020, so that for the first time the country’s mobile network is operated based on Vietnamese devices and systems, VnExpress reported.
— The Hanoi Times

Major loss-making foreign-invested firms to be inspected for tax compliance
The foreign-invested enterprises which have been running large, prolonged losses and large related-party transactions, will be inspected for tax compliance.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Vietnam’s supporting industry qualified for well-developed production
Vietnam’s supporting industry has been keeping up with the pace of global modern production industry, said experts attending the New Value Creation Exhibition 2018, which is taking place in Tokyo, Japan from November 14-16.
— VietnamPlus

Car sales in Vietnam soar 15% m/m in October
Total sale of car units of members of Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA) in the first ten months of 2018 stood at 223 326 units, up 1% year-on-year.
— The Hanoi Times

Business prerequisites still too costly
Progress on deregulation of business prerequisites was still much below the goal, requiring greater cost-cutting efforts for businesses, the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) told a conference on Wednesday in Ha Noi.
— Bizhub

Silicon Valley billionaires seek investment opportunities in Vietnam
The US investors want to know more about Vietnam’s policies and regulations with regard to new technologies and business models, especially the Cyber Security Law and investment procedures for digital currencies projects.
— The Hanoi Times

Online Friday expected to see US$64 million in sales
Online Friday 2018, which will be held on December 7, is expected to see sales of VND1.5 trillion (US$64 million) from two million orders, event organiser Viet Nam E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency (IDEA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Banking apps are the way forward
Banking apps on cell phones are helping people in rural areas manage their finances, said Pham Xuan Hoe, deputy director general of the Banking Strategy Institute at the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) at the launching ceremony of the i3 programme held in Ha Noi on Wednesday.
— Bizhub

Pharmaceutical retail market heats up with big players
According to Business Monitor International (BMI) data, revenue of the Vietnamese pharmaceutical market was US$5.2 billion last year and which is forecast to reach US$7.7 billion in 2021.
— The Hanoi Times

Vietjet CEO receives awards at Asean Business Awards
The Asean Business Awards 2018 has given the CEO of Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao the outstanding female entrepreneur of Vietnam and Asean awards.
— The Nation

Digital dictatorship in Vietnam seeks to silence dissidents
Activists fear new cyber law will allow authorities to crack down harshly on those promoting freedom of expression.
— Aljazeera

FDI firms help boost Vietnam’s trade surplus high
Vietnam’s Jan-Oct trade surplus was the highest in eight years at $7.2 billion. FDI firms dominated this performance.
— VnExpress

Quang Ninh to put into use three big transport projects in December
The northern border province of Quang Ninh will put into service three major transport projects in December this year, said Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Doc.
— Nhan Dan Online

Government stands firm on foreign cybersecurity protection
The Vietnamese government has insisted that regulations requiring foreign service providers such as Facebook and Google to establish branches or representative offices in Vietnam is justified and in line with international standards.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Half of Vietnamese businesses admit to being defrauded, often by employees
Fifty-two percent of Vietnamese companies suffered fraud in the last two years, half of them committed by employees, a survey has found.
— VnExpress

Vietnam Online Food Delivery Market to 2023: Analysis by Order Method, Cuisine and Region
The “Vietnam Online Food Delivery Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2018-2023” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.
— Globe Newswire

Vietnam seeks India’s suggestions on South China Sea’s Freedom of Navigation ahead of President’s visit
Vietnam has sought suggestions from India to keep South China Sea stable and ensure Freedom of Navigation in the region ahead of President Ram Nath Kovind’s trip to Vietnam beginning later this week.
— Economic Times

Vietnam against military alliance in the region
As India pursues its Act East Policy with vigour, Vietnam — an important country in the region — on Thursday said it welcomes any initiative that contributes to peace and stability in the region and South China Sea but was opposed to any military alliance.
— Tribune India

In Vietnam, nuns’ wheelchair ministry frees people to make a living
Nguyen Thi Rot, a 16-year-old woman paralyzed from birth, tries to smile sweetly at those who stop by her wheelchair on a Hue City sidewalk to buy lottery tickets.
— Catholic News (paywall)

Forum discusses measures to enhance Vietnam – Japan economic cooperation
A forum themed ‘Vietnam – Japan Policy Research Forum: Deepening bilateral cooperation after ten years of Vietnam – Japan Economic Partnership Agreement’ was held in Hanoi on November 15.
— Nhan Dan Online

Vingroup starts construction of VinUni – private university in Hanoi
Vietnam’s mega conglomerate Vingroup broke ground on the main campus of its higher education project, VinUni University, in Hanoi on Wednesday.
— Vietnam Insider

Vietnam Cycle 2018 introduces latest motorbike, bicycle models
The sixth Vietnam International Bicycle Exhibition (Vietnam Cycle) 2018 opened in Hanoi on November 15, introducing over 100 of the latest bicycle models and spare parts produced by Vietnam and other countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, and China.
— VietnamPlus

Prosecution begins for VND300 billion fraud at HSBC and ANZ
HSBC and ANZ have named 13 companies of being involved in a series of frauds costing the banks VND300 billion ($13 million), leading to the prosecution of dozens of defendants and eight companies. While no wrong-doings have been identified on the part of the staff of the two banks, the court issued further investigation.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Antique car rally comes to southern China and Vietnam
The 2018 Hong Kong Antique Car Yunnan-Vietnam Run will be held from Nov. 21 to Nov. 27, according to local authorities in southwest China’s Yunnan province.
— Xinhua

Global start-up contest for Vietnamese launched
VietChallenge, a global entrepreneurship competition for Vietnamese, was launched in Hanoi on November 14.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Vietnamese-Cambodian villagers forced into new homes
A total of 2,300 ethnic Vietnamese, who had been living in a floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake in Kampong Chhnang province in Cambodia, will soon be settled in their new homes with help from the government and non-government organizations.
— Menafn

HCM City aims to develop innovative urban area
More than 600 experts, scientists, intellectuals and representatives of firms from in and outside the country will debate how to enhance links among enterprises, research institutes and authorities to develop the eastern region of Ho Chi Minh City into an innovative urban area.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Feature photo World Health Organisation

This week’s Vietnam morning news feature photo acknowledges World Diabetes Day, November 14.

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.