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UK helps train government spokespersons
Hanoi (VNA) – A training course for government spokespersons opened in Ha Long city, the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh on Nov. 10 by the British Embassy in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Communications (MOIC).
The three-day course, designed for 30 officials across ministries and government agencies in the north, is expected to help sharpen skills and knowledge for government information officers, according to the British Embassy.
A similar course will be held in Ho Chi Minh City from Nov. 15-17 for government information officers in the south.
The course is conducted by Steve Hoselitz, who is a British media trainer with a lifetime's experience in publicity and journalism as a PR consultant, writer and newspaper editor. He has trained both journalists and non journalists on projects for UNESCO, the United Nations, and the EU.
Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Hubert Cooreman, a former spokesman for the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Financial Times correspondent in Hanoi Ben Bland are expected to attend the course to talk about communicating in a crisis and share view on interactions between media and government spokespeople.
This project is part of a series of cooperation activities on media and information between the governments of the UK and Vietnam and a strong signal of the new Strategic Partnership.
The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Information and Communications in October 2010 with the view to strengthen bilateral cooperation in this area.-Enditem
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FAO continues aiding VN’s rural development
Hanoi (VNA) – The UN’s Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Vietnam Yuriko Shoji has affirmed that the FAO will continue to assist Vietnam in building and developing rural areas.
At the International Support Group (ISG) meeting in Hanoi on Nov. 10, the official said FAO will regulate international assistance to help Vietnam implement its new goals for agricultural and rural development.
She referred to FAO’s support for Vietnam ’s implementation of many pilot projects in land management, forestry, environmental initiatives, adaptation to climate change, food security and nutrition as “valuable experiences for the country to realise its new rural development goals”.
Providing the fact that up to 70 percent of Vietnam ’s population lives in rural areas, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said the national rural development target programme for the 2011-2020 period aims to promote multifaceted development in rural areas.
The programme also aims to help rural people raise their income by 1.5 times higher than the current rate by 2015 and 2.5 times by 2020, and will engage various ministries and sectors, the Minister said.
It looks to reduce the number of poverty-stricken households to below 8 percent in 2015 and 3 percent in 2020.
In addition, the programme sets an annual growth rate of 3.5-4 percent for the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector in the 2015-2020 period.
The workforce in agriculture will account for 30 percent of the country’s total workforce and the number of trained labourers in rural areas will reach 50 percent, according to the programme.
To reach these goals, the Vietnamese Government is focusing on planning in rural areas, restructuring communal economies, developing rural infrastructure, training human resources and investing in areas with extreme disadvantages.
According to Dr. Dang Kim Son, Head of the Institute on Agriculture and Rural Policy and Strategy, giving more power to villages and hamlets and increasing contributions by the people, businesses and organisations inside and outside the country are important solutions to aid the implementation of the new rural development programme.
The annual ISG meeting is a policy dialogue forum for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other ministries and sectors, the donor community, international and non-governmental organisations, researchers and local and foreign investors.
At this meeting, the participants discussed proposals for a cooperative framework and international assistance for the national rural development target programme as well as coordination and cooperation mechanisms for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and One-UN in implementing the programme.-Enditem
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Vietnamese images promoted in Morocco
Hanoi (VNA) – A seminar which aimed to promote Vietnam ’s tourism potential was held in Casablanca city, Morocco in early November, attracting representatives of travel agents, tourism service suppliers and aviation companies.
At the seminar, jointly held by the Vietnamese Embassy, travel tourism agency Privilege Group and Morocco ’s Diplomatic magazine, Ambassador Cao Xuan Than affirmed that Vietnam is an ideal, safe and reliable destination for foreign tourists.
The Vietnamese government always creates favourable conditions and supports tourism enterprises to ensure safety and security for foreign visitors, he said, adding that the embassy in Morocco will act as a bridge to provide information and facilitate visa processing for Moroccan tourists.
On the occasion, he also asked airlines which offer flight services to Vietnam , such as AirFrance and Qatar Airways, to pay more attention to promoting sale promotion campaigns and offer preferential airfare conditions for Moroccan companies conducting tours to Vietnam .
Head of the Moroccan Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ministry’s Department of Asia and Oceania Badre Eddine Allali hailed the Vietnamese Embassy’s initiative of organising the seminar to promote the images of Vietnamese people and land to Morocco, a country of 30 million people, which welcomes 8-9 million foreign tourists, bringing in 7 billion USD a year.
Chairman of Casablanca travel agents’ association Ahmed Berkhmis said Vietnam will become a favourite destination for Moroccan visitors.
He also asked the Vietnamese embassy in Morocco to support local tourism enterprises in information exchange and seeking partners from Vietnam .
Vietnam is still an unusually strange destination to Morocco . Every, only 200 Moroccans come to Vietnam to seek business opportunities or visit. This is a limited number in comparison with the number of Moroccan visitors to other Southeast Asian countries every year.
Statistics show that about 4,000 Moroccan tourists visit Thailand every year, and the figure to Malaysia and Indonesia is double that.-Enditem
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VN, Canada see potential in marine navigation
Hanoi (VNA)- A Canadian minister has pointed out great potential for cooperation between a G8 economy like his country and Vietnam , a dynamic developing economy, especially in marine navigation and cargo handling.
Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Gateway Corridor Initiative of Canada, made the statement at a meeting with relevant businesses from Vietnam and Canada in Hanoi on November 10.
The Canadian minister said his first-ever Vietnam visit aimed to promote the Asia-Pacific Gateway Corridor initiative (APGCI) in an effort to fully tap Canada’s strategic position in the waterway between North America and rapidly-growing economies in Asia, including Vietnam.
The Asia-Pacific gateway and corridor is a hardware network consisting of seaports, key traffic systems of roads and railways and airports throughout Western Canada and Southern United States . So far, the initiative has received commitments of some 3.5 billion Canadian dollars made by the federal government, states, cities and provinces in Western Canada .
Day said that the utilisation of APGCI seaports and marine navigation systems to transport cargoes from Asia to North America will help enterprises save not only costs but also time, not counting stimuli offered by the Federal and local governments of Canada .
During his stay from November 10-11, Day will hold separate working sessions with Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc and Minister of Home Affairs Tran Van Tuan.
He will also visit Ho Chi Minh City to launch an APGCI promotion campaign.
He took this opportunity to announce a donation of relief aid of 50,000 Canadian dollars for some 6,000 families in flood-hit Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces in central Vietnam.--Enditem
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Vietnam helps build school, medical clinic
Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) held a ground-breaking ceremony on Nov. 9 to build a primary school and a medical clinic in Kadia commune, Khoun Touk district of Cambodia’s Kompong Thom province.
Covering five hectares of land, the school and the clinic are being built at a cost of 96,000 USD and are funded by the VRG’s Tan Bien, Ba Ria, Phuoc Hoa and Chu Xe companies. Of the funding, 26,000 USD will be used to build a 4km road section connecting the school with another province and construction is expected to be completed in five months.
Addressing the ceremony, VRG General Director Tran Ngoc Thuan said the project is also a symbol of friendship and solidarity between the Vietnamese and Cambodian people, he said.
VRG will build more schools with the assistance of Vietnamese rubber businesses in Kompong Thom province, he added.
Mayor of Kompong Thom province Chhon Chuol thanked the VRG for its valuable practical gift for Kadia commune and Khoun Touk district.
He also highlighted the work of VRG affiliates which have generated more jobs for locals and contributed to local social activities.-Enditem
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Germany assists German language teaching in Vietnam
Hanoi (VNA) – The German Embassy in Hanoi on Nov. 10 recognised the Lomonosov primary school in Hanoi as a member of the “Schools: Partners for the Future” (PASCH) network.
The recognition is one of the activities to mark the 35 th anniversary of the Vietnam-Germany diplomatic ties.
The school has become an official partner of the German Government to receive direct assistance in teaching facilities and funding for teaching the German language.
The PASCH network will create more opportunities for Vietnamese students to get access to Europe in general and Germany in particular, said the German embassy’s representative.
Through the network, students studying German will be allowed to sit for international exams at the Goethe Institute in Hanoi at various levels based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (GER).
PASCH is an initiative of former German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Not only will there be a cooperative relationship between the two schools of two different nations but also a worldwide network of schools where German is taught as a foreign language and relationships are maintained with a German school.
The initiative has been carried out at more than 1,500 schools across the world and in Vietnam , seven schools in Hanoi and two in HCM City are members of the network.-Enditem
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Italian ambassador awarded Friendship Order
Hanoi (VNA)- The Vietnamese Government has honoured Italian Ambassador Andrea Perugini with the Friendship Order for his active contribution to boosting bilateral relations and multifaceted cooperation.
At the award handing ceremony in Hanoi on Nov. 10, the Italian diplomat expressed thanks for this great honour, saying it represented the Vietnamese Government and people’s friendship with Italian people.
Perugini pledged further contributions to promoting friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.--Enditem
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Forum encourages transparent business competition
Hanoi (VNA) – A forum to introduce a handbook on competition policy and laws in ASEAN for business was held in Hanoi on Nov. 10.
The ASEAN Competition Policy and Law Handbook for businesses was compiled by the ASEAN Experts Group on Competition (AEGC), including leaders and senior officials of agencies specializing in competition management in ASEAN member countries, with Vietnam’s leadership. It was made public in an event on the sidelines of the 42 nd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM 42) in Da Nang city on Aug. 22-28.
The handbook aims to provide sufficient information related to competition policies and laws in ASEAN member countries to all people who have concerns. It will help raise public awareness and competitive activity and promote a just and transparent competitive environment for regional businesses.
Addressing the seminar, Bach Van Mung, Head of the Competition Management Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, emphasized the importance of competition policies and laws in the economic development process of every country, especially in the increasing international economic integration process.
“The handbook’s production is the first step in raising public awareness of competition in regional countries as the target of building an ASEAN economic community with high competitiveness by 2015 is approaching,” Mung said.
The Head of the ASEAN Secretariat’s Competition and Consumers Protection Division, Thitapha Wattanapruttipaisan, shared her idea that the handbook would not only create a foundation for building the ASEAN economic community, but also promote trade and investment relations between ASEAN and its partners.
Together with forum to introduce the handbook in Vietnam , a number of similar forum were also organized in Thailand , Singapore , the Philippines , Indonesia and Malaysia .
According to the Competition Management Department, only four ASEAN members – Indonesia , Singapore , Thailand and Vietnam –
have issued and executed Competition Laws and set up an agency in charge of competition.
Recently, Malaysia made public competition law that is expected to take effect in 2012, while other ASEAN members are drafting their own laws.-Enditem
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US spraying AO on VN defines “day of infamy”
London (VNA) – Len Aldis, Secretary of the Britain-Vietnam Friendship Society, has described the day the US began spraying Agent Orange/dioxin on Vietnam as “A day of infamy”.
In his recent open letter to all employees of Monsato, one of companies to produce herbicide Agent Orange (AO), Len said August 10 , 1961, when the first use of the noxious chemicals began, is a day of infamy.
“So too friends, will August 10, 1961 [be remembered], for on that day began the spraying of 80 million litres of Agent Orange – manufactured by your company along with others. The spraying was to continue for ten years,” he wrote, calling on the employees to consider the loss of life over the decade and the millions born years after the war ended in 1975, many crippled in mind and body due to Agent Orange.
“Today in Vietnam there are over three million victims suffering from the effects of Agent Orange, and the company you work for, Monsanto, is one of those responsible,” he continued.
Shamefully, Monsanto’s public relations office to this very day continues to deny any responsibility for the illnesses and deformities that Agent Orange has caused to the people of Vietnam , he said.
In the letter, he wrote, “Friends, next year, 2011, will see the 50th anniversary of the spraying of Agent Orange on Vietnam . Remember the date August 10. It will be a day when millions in Vietnam and its friends in many countries around the world will commemorate as a day of infamy.”
Len Aldis, 80, is a close friend of the Vietnamese people and a special friend for AO/dioxin victims.
He visited Vietnam in 1989 for the first time and then returned to the Southeast Asian nation every year to meet and help AO/dioxin victims.
He donated 50,000 GBP (about 75,000 USD) via Vietnam Red Cross and raised funds for humanitarian activities.
Last year, he launched a website to collect signatures of those who support justice for Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims in order to send to US President Barack Obama and parliamentarians. The petition has to date collected more than 3,380 signatures.
He is usually invited to talk to students about the issue at universities in the UK . He also raised the issues at meetings with the public in Sweden , Denmark , Germany and France.-Enditem
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Prime Minister Dung to visit Cambodia
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will pay an official visit to Cambodia on November 15 at the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen.
On the occasion, PM Dung and his delegation will attend a series of summit meetings to be held in Cambodia on November 16, announced the Foreign Ministry on November 10.-Enditem
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VN encourages private investment in agriculture
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam offers preferential and favourable conditions for private investors in agriculture, affirmed Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat.
Minister Phat made the statement at a round-table talk on Public Private Partnerships (PPP) entitled “Creating new opportunities for private investment in agriculture” held in Hanoi on Nov. 11.
The Vietnamese Government has issued a list of 28 fields that will enjoy preferential treatment, he said, adding that the list includes cultivation and breeding, seafood, forestry, salt development, agricultural mechanisation as well as infrastructure and human resource development.
Many policies have been carried out to encourage investment in rural agriculture, including exemption or reduction in land use fees by 70 percent, helping small businesses in human resource training and exempting them from import taxes on materials used to produce varieties of cattle.
Dang Xuan Quang from the Ministry of Planning and Investment said that the Prime Minister has approved a PPP model submitted by his ministry. The new investment model will help mobilise domestic and foreign private sources in various fields, including agriculture, Quang said.
Vietnam is known as an agricultural nation with its agro-forestry and fisheries acreage of 24.7 million ha, making up 74.5 percent of the country’s natural land.
Agriculture has brought the major income to rural families in Vietnam . Up to 68 percent out of 70 percent of rural people live mainly on agro-forestry and fisheries production.
Vietnam ’s agriculture recorded an annual average growth of five percent in production value and around 4 percent in GDP during the 1998-2008 period.-Enditem
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Seminar helps businesses access US market
Da Nang (VNA) – An international seminar entitled “Access to US Market – Experiences and Law” was held in the central city of Da Nang on November 10.
Representatives from over 100 businesses operating in such areas as farm produce, seafood, garment, footwear, woodwork, legal consultancy and intellectual property attended the seminar, which was co-organised by the Trade Promotion Department (TPD) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the US-based law firm Duane Morris LLP.
At the seminar, US law experts provided Vietnamese businesses with useful information on US import-export trade regulations; tax, tax rate and fee policies; and models and experiences in doing business in the country.
The participants paid attention to information on opportunities and risks when they invest in the US real estate market, regulations on food import-export and customer protection as well as special business cultures and consumption habits of the US people.
According to TPD, the seminar offered a chance for Vietnamese businesses to access the US legal system, especially Tax and Anti-dumping Laws, in order to minimise their risks while penetrating this market.-Enditem
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Climate change campaign launched
Hanoi (VNA) – The British Council in Hanoi launched a campaign on Nov. 10, aiming to raise community awareness of the dangers of climate change and environmental pollution that the world is facing.
Within the framework of the month-long campaign “I am Green”, the British Council will implement competitions and activities nationwide, including the “How Green Is Your City?” photo competition, a Green Tip Box competition, and Wildlife Conservation competition.
The council will also organise environmental talks and screenings of environmental movies in Hanoi and a fashion show and games in Ho Chi Minh City .
British Council’s Country Director Robin Rickard said climate change is a problem that affects all the people and the global environment and climate security is the biggest challenge of the 21 st century.
“We hope ‘I Am Green’ campaign will drive the climate change agenda forward among the local young generation at a national level and help them work towards sustainable thinking and eventually contribute to a sustainable future,” he said.
Vietnam is said to be one of 16 most at risk countries in South Asia when sea levels rise during the next 30 years.
As a result, the government has approved a national target programme to cope with climate change in order to actively respond to natural disasters and limit losses caused by climate change.-Enditem
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Conference highlights safety of garment inputs
HCM City (VNA) – The safety of products and restricted substances in the garment and apparel industry were the main topics of an international conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Nov. 11.
The conference was jointly held by the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (LEFASO) and the Apparel and Footwear International Restricted Substances List Management Working Group (AFIRM).
Delegates focused discussions on the standards and regulations on the safety of products of the US and Europe , ways of using the Restricted Substances List (RSL), and the prospect of inspection of products via index on lead content, chemicals and brand names.
The 2010 list of restricted substances in the apparel and garment industry in line with AAFA’s standards was announced at the conference. In addition, AAFA experts also delivered speeches on US barriers to garment exports to this market.
The US is regarded as Vietnam ’s largest garment importer, but it also has the most strict laws and regulations on the safety of products, distribution networks, verification of products and protection of consumer interests.
The experts recommended Vietnamese garment producers thoroughly grasp and fully abide by laws of 19 of the largest of the 50 US states if they want to distribute products widely to the whole country.-Enditem
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Vietnam attends East Asia forum on families
Hanoi (VNA) – The 4 th East Asian Ministerial Forum on Families (EAMFF) took place in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia from Nov. 8-10 with the participation of over 100 delegates from 14 regional countries.
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai led a Vietnamese delegation to the forum.
In opening remarks, Malaysian Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Shahrizat Abdul affirmed that EAMFF represented active contributions to strengthening the family institution in the region in particular and the world in general, laying foundations for addressing several global challenges such as eliminating poverty and improving public health.
The main goal of the forum was to help regional countries share experiences in solving family issues and assisting families that are facing a high risk of breakdown, the minister said.
During its three days of discussions, the forum assessed the real situation and threats of family breakdown and the collapse of traditional family values. The participants agreed that governments should take measures to cope with the fact that connections between family members are becoming looser.
Family is a natural and basic unit of the society which plays an important role in building a strong, harmonious and adaptable society, they said, adding that happy families are the goal of all nations.
In its joint statement, the EAMFF pledged to share experiences in implementing intervention programmes that meet demands of families facing difficulties and high risk of breakdown, as well as strengthening networks and coordination among member countries to raise the capacity of addressing family-related issues.
The EAMFF is an important channel for East Asian countries to share experiences on family issues and put forth ideas for closer cooperation in the region. -Enditem
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Expo spotlights water industry technologies
HCM City (VNA) - More than 200 leading businesses from 20 countries and territories are participating in the Vietnam Water and Wastewater Industry Show 2010, which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on Nov. 10.
On display is a wide range of the latest products and advanced technologies used in water supply, drainage, environmental sanitation, water filtering and industrial wastewater treatment.
Companies from the Netherlands , the Republic of Korea , Taiwan and Singapore also brought technological solutions and environmentally-friendly inventions to the three-day expo.
Vietnam ’s Deputy Minister of Construction Cao Dai Quan said the show is a valuable chance for local water supply and drainage firms to get access to the world’s latest technologies and boost cooperation with foreign partners to improve people’s living conditions.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, there will be a seminar focusing on water supply, management and supervision, ways to prevent the waste of water, wastewater treatment, and the quality and safety of water.-Enditem
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Expo spotlights water industry technologies
HCM City (VNA) - More than 200 leading businesses from 20 countries and territories are participating in the Vietnam Water and Wastewater Industry Show 2010, which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on Nov. 10.
On display is a wide range of the latest products and advanced technologies used in water supply, drainage, environmental sanitation, water filtering and industrial wastewater treatment.
Companies from the Netherlands , the Republic of Korea , Taiwan and Singapore also brought technological solutions and environmentally-friendly inventions to the three-day expo.
Vietnam ’s Deputy Minister of Construction Cao Dai Quan said the show is a valuable chance for local water supply and drainage firms to get access to the world’s latest technologies and boost cooperation with foreign partners to improve people’s living conditions.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, there will be a seminar focusing on water supply, management and supervision, ways to prevent the waste of water, wastewater treatment, and the quality and safety of water.-Enditem
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Vietnam, UK boost cooperation in auditing
Hanoi (VNA) – State Audit of Vietnam (SAV) and the UK ’s National Auditing Office (UK NAO) on November 10 co-organised a conference to draw up a plan of action for the development strategy for SAV by 2020.
The event is aimed at introducing international donors to the plan of action to develop the SAV while revealing demand for donations and other major issues regarding donations, said SAV’s Chief Auditor Vuong Dinh Hue.
Apart from domestic assistance, the SAV wishes to receive technical support from major auditing agencies across the world as well as from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, said Chief Auditor Hue.
Addressing the conference, Bill Burnett, an audit specialist in the UK public sector, put stress on the need for SAV to conduct after-action reviews and learn skills as well as sharing experiences of foreign countries during the implementation of the strategy.
Burnett also underlined the significance of considering SAV’s involvement in deciding terms to be set in projects at the same time as it was receiving donations.
In order to deal with shortcomings SAV has set up and ratified a development strategy by 2020.
The plan of action has mapped out a concrete programme to achieve success in the implementation of the strategy with priority given to the next five years. It also points out what SAV needs to do in the 2016-2020 period.-Enditem
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Vietnamese, Lao businesses meet in Vientiane
Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnamese and Lao businesses gathered in Vientiane on November 10 to exchange information on investment environments and strengthen mutual understanding, thus fostering the two countries’ trade relations.
Speaking at the exchange, Lao Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Thongmi Phomvisay applauded Vietnamese enterprises’ good business results in Laos , which have helped develop the country’s infrastructure and improved local living standards.
He expressed his belief that in the future, Vietnamese and Lao businesses will further strengthen the exchange of experiences and information, especially in human resource development.
To date, the Lao government has licensed more than 223 Vietnamese projects with a total investment capital of over 2.4 billion USD, ranking third among countries and territories investing in Laos.-Enditem
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State leader to attend APEC forum in Japan
Hanoi (VNA) – State President Nguyen Minh Triet on November 11 will leave Hanoi to attend the 18 th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting to be held in Yokohama city, Japan from November 11-15.
The attendance is being made at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan , said the Foreign Ministry in its press release on November 8.
He will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh, Vice Chairman of the Presidential Office Giang Son, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu, Secretary to President Vu Quy and Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vu Tien Loc.-Enditem
Prime Minister leaves for G20 Summit
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left Hanoi on Nov. 10 for the G20 Summit in Seoul , the Republic of Korea (RoK).
Prime Minister Dung attends the G20 Summit in the capacity as ASEAN Chairman at the invitation of the G20 Summit President, RoK President Lee Myung-Bak.-Enditem
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Indian beauty crowned Miss Earth Talent 2010
HCM City (VNA)- Nicole Faria, a 20-year-old girl from India has been crowned Miss Earth Talent 2010 after beating 17 other candidates worldwide at the talent competition.
At the talent show on Nov.9 in Ho Chi Minh City, Miss India performed a graceful belly dance that combines Oriental and Middle Eastern style.
Vietnam’s representative, Miss World Vietnam, Luu Thi Diem Huong, was voted among top five contestants with her performance of folk dances that are inspired by traditional dances in the northern, central and southern region of the country. She also won the Miss Vietnam Airlines title.
The event raised 100 million VND, which will be transferred to the HCM City Red Cross, to support flood victims in the central region.
Since Nov.4, 90 beauties have joined charity works and cultural exchanges in Ho Chi Minh City. After this contest, they will continue their journey to the central city of Phan Thiet and the final night will take place in the central coastal city of Nha Trang on December 4.-Enditem
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Forest stewards group receives certification
HCM City (VNA) — The Quang Tri Smallholder Forest Certification Group has been awarded the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification making it the first group of small forest owners in Vietnam to receive the internationally recognised standard for environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management.
Spanning 118 forest households living across five villages in two districts of Gio Linh and Vinh Linh, the Quang Tri group collectively achieved certification for 317ha of acacia.
Since then, the smallholders have signed a contract with the Global Forest&Trade Network (GFTN) in Vietnam, which offered a price 25 percent higher than the local market price for uncertified timber.
In addition, FSC timber is accepted with lower diameters, and wood that was previously sold as cheap industrial chipwood.
Combined with direct sales from the farmer to the factory, without intermediate traders, certification leads to an estimated 50 percent higher income compared to uncertified timber.
"The FSC certificate is a credible trademark linking us to customers, both national and international," said Hoang Duc Doanh, director of the provincial Department of Forestry Protection.
"As one of the poorest provinces, responsible forest management is a new way to stimulate the Quang Tri economy and therefore the livelihood of local communities," she said.
The certification process is a part of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)'s Linking Trade Demand and Sustainable Forest Management project, which aims to provide market linkages between production forests in Vietnam and the growing number of international companies with responsible purchasing policies, through credible third-party certification of responsible forest management under FSC.
In exchange for these benefits, farmers gradually improve forest management.
Biodiversity areas for strict protection are delineated and the use of native tree species is encouraged among the farmers in order to avoid large scale, even-aged monocultures that damage the environment but also put the plantations at risk of pests and diseases.
The majority of Vietnam's 2.5 million ha of plantation forests are managed by forest smallholders, most of them poor rural households.
Since the late 90s, the demand for FSC-certified wood from Vietnamese furniture exporting companies has increased dramatically and is almost entirely met by expensive imports from overseas.
However, the model demonstrated by the Quang Tri farmers shows that group certification is an effective solution for both the country's forests communities and the country's burgeoning furniture industry.
Viet Nam's forest strategy aims to certify 30 percent of the country's 4.48 million ha of production forests in the next decade.
As a result, there is a significant potential for the government, GFTN-Vietnam and the private sector to expand this pilot approach to a larger area, including WWF priority landscapes where the approach is highly suitable for the management of biodiversity corridors.
"We are so proud to have the Quang Tri Group awarded FSC. After two and a half years, we have successfully piloted a group scheme for responsible smallholder acacia management in the province," said Sebastian Schrader, project manager and GFTN-Laos manager. — Enditem
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Gold decision to set market pace
Hanoi (VNA) — The impact on a lacklustre securities market of the central bank's decision to allow the importation of more gold and its sale of US dollars should be known almost immediately the stock exchanges open on Nov. 10.
Vietnam's stock market continued to decline on Nov. 9 as the prices of gold and the US dollar danced higher together to a rhythm that showed no sign of faltering.
The domestic price of gold set a record 38.8 million VND (1,825 USD) per tael on Nov. 9 morning after the precious metal soared above 1,400 USD an ounce on the world market. A tael is the equivalent to 1.2 troy ounces.
A single US dollar bought up to 21,250 VND on the street.
In HCM City, the VN-Index lost 1.69 percent over Nov.8 to close at 449.4.
Both market volume and value rose and 41 million shares worth 1.1 trillion VND (52.4 million USD) were exchanged – an increase of 28.6 percent in volume and 38.2 percent in value.
The number of declines were almost ten times higher than advances.
Among major shares, only software giant FPT Corp (FPT) posted a modest increase of 0.7 percent.
Insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) declined 3.9 per cent, Phu My Fertiliser (DPM) fell 3.66 percent, industrial conglomerate Hoa Phat Group (HPG) decreased 1.5 percent, and Eximbank (EIB) declined 1.4 percent.
Sacombank (STB) was the most active stock on the southern bourse with 1.94 million shares traded, but it closed down 1.9 percent to 15,500 VND (0.74 USD).
Ca Mau Frozen Seafood Processing Import Export Corp (CMX) listed almost 11.5 million shares on the HCM City bourse on Nov. 9. CMX then closed its first trading day unchanged at 15,000 VND (0.71 USD) with 97,540 shares traded.
In Hanoi, the HNX-Index fell another 2.64 percent to close Nov. 9's session at 106.83. Trading volume rose to more than 26.1 million shares worth 493.6 billion VND (21.3 million USD) – rises of about 16 percent in both volume and value.
Losers largely outnumbered gainers 288-25, with PetroVietnam Construction (PVX) again being the most heavily-traded share nation-wide, with 2.89 million shares changing hands. PVX fell 3.3 percent to close at 20,900 VND (1 USD).
Property developer Sacomreal (SCR) listed 966.9 million shares for the first time on the northern bourse and it closed unchanged at an average of 27,300 VND (1.30 USD) per share on volume of almost 967,000 shares.
Foreign investors continued to be net buyers on both exchanges, picking up 2.5 million shares worth a combined 94 billion VND (4.5 million USD). —Enditem
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Lord Buddha’s saris welcomed in Vietnam
Hanoi (VNA) – A procession of three precious saris, taken from Kushinagar relic site in India , arrived in the Noi Bai International Airport , Hanoi , on Nov. 9.
Earlier, after solemn ceremonies at the Indian site, the three saris were handed over by Indian Buddhist representatives to Dao Trong Cuong, General Director of the Than Chau Ngoc Viet Gemstones and Jewellery Company, that is sculpting the world’s biggest jade statue of Great Buddha Shakyamuni.
The three saris, which are 10m long each and made from precious silk, are from the recumbent statue of Gautama Buddha at Kushinagar relic site, one of the main four Buddhist pilgrimage sites where the Lord Buddha attained Nirvana.
They then will be put on the under-work jade statue of the Lord Buddha, which is expected to be the world’s biggest ever of its kind with a weight of 16 tonnes, and measurements of 3m high and 2m wide once it is completed in 2011.
The statue is made from a 35-tonne block of jade bought by the Than Chau Ngoc Viet Company at a rare gemstones fair in Myanmar .
The world’s current biggest Buddha statue is 2.5m high and weighs 3.9 tonnes.-Enditem
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Lawmakers applaud administrative reform
Hanoi (VNA) -- Project 30, introduced in 2007 to simplify administrative procedures, has been a breakthrough, Deputy Tran Du Lich of HCM City told the National Assembly Nov. 9.
It has been a major step toward the target of publicising administrative procedures and has given the public the tools to supervise State administrative agencies, he said.
The deputy was among a majority of parliamentarians who agreed that it has been correct to assign the National Assembly the task of overseeing the reform of administrative procedures for land, housing, tax and customs.
Their opinions were part of an appraisal of Government's achievements in administrative reform as it has affected ordinary people and enterprises during the past ten years, especially since the launch of Project 30.
Their debate, which assessed a Standing Committee report, was televised nationally.
The report says that for the first time Vietnam has a National Database for Administrative Procedures in State Management for the centre; provinces, districts and communes.
The Government has continuously asked the assembly to revise and promulgate numerous laws and decrees and to implement specific solutions to accelerate administrative reform, it says.
It also shows that most ministries, sectors and localities have met their requirement to simplify 30 percent of administrative procedures.
Among 5,421 procedures reviewed, 480 were reduced to 192 with 4,416 revised and amended.
In addition, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has required that the simplification process reduce administrative costs for individuals and enterprises by a yearly 30 percent.
Deputy Huynh Nghia, Da Nang, said the database and the introduction of online services was the most noticeable success.
More than 5,700 administrative procedures are now available to the public online.
"It's calculated that administrative procedure simplification saves us about 7,900 billion VND (395 million USD) each year," the deputy said.
"The figure is very impressive and is the result of the State's attempts to simplify administrative procedures."
Deputy Nguyen Van Quynh, northern Quang Ninh province, and Pham Manh Hung, northern Thai Nguyen province, together with Deputy Huynh Van Tiep, Can Tho, the Mekong Delta, said the achievements in administrative-procedure reform were reflected in socio-economic development and the improved investment environment.
Some deputies hailed the World Bank and International Finance Corporation's report Doing Business 2011 as a vivid example of how administrative reform has progressed.
The report, published on Nov. 4, lists Vietnam among the world's 10 most improved economies.
Despite the success, many deputies complained that numerous administrative procedures are overtapped, take too long and lack transparency. .
Deputy Nguyen Ngoc Minh, central Ninh Thuan province and Deputy Cao Si Kiem, northern Thai Binh province, said the bureaucratic practices of administrative staff remain a barrier to business.
Deputies Tran Thi Loc, northern Bac Kan province, and Huynh Nghia, Da Nang, said people are the most important to the success of the administrative reform and should be given more attention.
Both complained the administrative staff can not live from their salaries and this is among the reasons for their seeking ways to make money illegally.
Deputy Mai Thi Anh Tuyet, southern An Giang province, said salaries and training for administrative staff should be included in administrative reform.
The application of information technology was the key to successful State management, advised deputy Le Doan Hop, northern Hung Yen province.
"It's the fastest way to implement administrative procedures and most effective way to minimise negatives," he said.-Enditem
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Hanoi theatres fail to attract sponsors
Hanoi (VNA) -- Theatres in Hanoi have been finding it difficult to get sponsorship or support themselves through ticket sales without funding from the State – unlike their southern counterparts.
The Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry has said theatres in the north would no longer be part-subsidised by the State from the end of this year, but few have succeeded in finding alternative funding.
Theatres have been criticised for failing to attract large audiences because of poor-quality scripts and inadequate facilities.
According to Le Tien Tho, deputy minister of culture, sports and tourism, theatre owners are inexperienced at attracting audiences or promoting themselves – which is another reason for their failure to find private funding.
Theatres have found it harder than cinemas to cooperate with private or other sectors to do business," he said.
Tho added that even successful private theatres in HCM City, such as IDECAF and Phu Nhuan Drama Theatre, have only succeeded in finding short-term investment – from the artistes themselves.
"They will need long-term investment to stay open," he said.
Tho also said that even though the majority of Vietnam's most popular theatrical artists live in Hanoi, their shows still struggle to attract local audiences.
Some theatres in the capital have succeeded to some extent in going private, such as the Kim Ma Cheo Theatre, Hanoi Cheo Theatre and Thang Long Puppetry Theatre.
The Hanoi Cheo Theatre, on Nguyen Dinh Chieu street, one of the first small stages to open in Hanoi, is popular with both local residents and foreign tourists.
Tuoi Tre Theatre, which stages performances at Thanh Nien Cinema, almost always succeeds in attracting an audience of 150 for each show.
The Thang Long Puppetry Theatre and the Central Puppetry Theatre also manage to attract decent-sized audiences.
Meanwhile, the Hanoi Cai Luong (Reformed Opera) Theatre has attracted enough sponsorship to stage free performances. Before each show, company representatives are urged to sponsor the theatre.
The Central Pop Music Theatre used a 3,800sq.m plot close to Hoan Kiem Lake to set up a so called "Space for Vietnamese Culture". It hosts musical events and exhibitions. It is also home to the Luc Thuy Restaurant and a souvenir shop.
Artistes can rent out space to put on shows, said Tran Binh, director of the theatre.
The ministry has hailed the work of the Youth and the Central Pop Music theatre as models in finding alternative fundings.
Meanwhile, in HCM City, successful venues include the Small Stage 5B, on Vo Van Tan street, which is run by the local artists' association; Sai Gon Drama, which is run by Phuoc Sang Entertainment; IDECAF, run by Anh Duong Company; and Phu Nhuan Drama Stage, owned by Van Tuan Company.-Enditem
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I Am Giant return to HCM City
HCM City (VNA) -- UK-based band I Am Giant will return to Vietnam for two performances in HCM City starting on Nov. 10 after rocking Hanoi and Da Nang City with two live shows called Tiger Translate in May.
At the Hard Rock Cafe on Nov. 10, they will perform their popular hits including City Limits, which was on the A rotate of New Zealand's The Rock Network (radio) for an impressive four months after its debut, and Neon Sunrise.
Formed in 2008, I Am Giant comprises two New Zealanders Shelton Woolright (drums, formerly with Blindspott), Paul Matthews (bass, formerly with Stylus and Tadpole), and two Londoners – Max O'Donnell (guitar) and Ed Martin (vocals).
Influenced by Muse, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Oceansize, A Perfect Circle and Rage Against the Machine, the band's music centres on alternative, Indie, and melodic rock.-Enditem
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Ba Na communal house to be rebuilt
Kon Tum (VNA) -- The Ba Na communal house in the Central Highlands city of Kon Tum is to be rebuilt.
The house, or Kon Klor, is the largest of its kind in the entire the Central Highlands and was destroyed in a fire earlier this year.
The house will be rebuilt on its original site with bamboo walls and a thatched roof.
It will be 16m long; 6.5m wide and 22m high.
The new house will be built completely of timber instead of a previous concrete pillars and floor.-Enditem
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Dung Quat refinery plans 4.9 million tonnes in 2011
Hanoi (VNA) – The Dung Quat Oil Refinery plans to produce 4.9 million tonnes of petroleum products in 2011.
The Binh Son Petrochemical Company, which manages the refinery, has reached sale deals for 4.7 million cu. m of its petrol and oil for 2011 with Petrolimex, PV Oil, PETEC, and Vinapco.
It is also working with other potential trading partners for sales of all products the Dung Quat refinery produced.
By Nov. 9, 2010, the refinery had produced and sold 6.2 million tonnes of petroleum products worth 59.4 trillion VND.
With the staff of over 1,000 officials, engineers and workers, Vietnam’s first oil refinery is producing non-lead petrol, LPG, Propylene, Jet A1/KO, DO, FO and sulphur.
It plans to put two crude oil tanks with a combined capacity of 130,000 cu. m into use by late 2011.
The two new tanks worth 40 million USD will increase the Dung Quat refinery’s tanks to eight, with a combined storage capacity of 520,000 cu. m of crude oil, sufficient for the plant to operate continuously in 14-16 days.
In addition, the Dung Quat refinery is working on a project to increase its yearly capacity from 6.5 million tonnes to 10 million tonnes.
With the current 6.5 million tonne capacity, the 3 billion USD Dung Quat refinery can meet up to 30 percent of the needs for petroleum products in the country.
The plant is expected to satisfy higher petroleum needs and form the country’s first oil refinery consortium once it runs with the expanded capacity.
The Dung Quat Oil Refinery started its operation in February 2009.-Enditem
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Asia open source software conference to be held in HCM City
HCM City (VNA) – The Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Asia conference 2010 (FOSSASIA) will be held in Ho Chi Minh City from Nov. 12-14 with a focus on lightweight computing and women in IT.
The event is expected to draw the participation of 500 experts, and programmers from Vietnam as well as the UK , Germany , France , the US . Greece and India .
FOSSASIA is one of the top FOSS events for developers, enterprises, officials and general users in Asia and the world.
This will be the second time that FOSSASIA is held in Vietnam . In 2009, FOSSASIA was also held in HCM City , drawing 1,500 participants from 14 countries and territories.-Enditem
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Treasures from Vietnam’s last dynasty displayed in RoK
Hanoi (VNA) – More than 160 antiques dated from the Nguyen Dynasty in the 19th century are on display at the National Palace Museum of the Republic of Korea as from Nov. 8.
The event is a joint effort between the RoK’s National Palace Museum , and Vietnam ’s Hue Royal Antiquities Museum , Hue Monuments Conservation Centre and the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Tran Trong Toan said the display will help boost the understanding between the two countries.
The RoK National Palace Museum ’s Director, Chang Jong-soo, stressed the significance of cultural exchange to study the cultural values and similarity between the two countries.
He said the event offers Korean people rare chance to understand more about old royal families’ life in Vietnam .
Talking with a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Seoul , Phung Phu, Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, said the two sides have spent five years on preparations for the display.
With cultural values in architecture, festivals, art performances, traditional trades, and gastronomy, the Hue ancient city was recognised by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site.
The exhibition lasts until Feb. 16, 2011 and then will move to Gyeongju imperial city for another display from Feb. 28-May 15, 2011.-Enditem
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VN’s festival in waiting list for intangible cultural heritage
New York (VNA) – Vietnam ’s Saint Giong Festival has been put among 47 nominations for recognition as the world intangible cultural heritages by the UNESCO.
The list was announced by the UNESCO on Nov. 9.
At present, 166 heritages of 77 countries have been recognised as world intangible cultural heritages. Vietnam has a number of heritages in this list, including the Hue royal court music, the Gong space of Tay Nguyen (Central Highlanders) and the Bac Ninh love duet singing.
Saint Giong festival is a unique traditional event in Vietnam, held annually from the 6th-12th of the fourth lunar month in many places in Vietnam to commemorate the legendary national hero who grew from a 3-year-old child into a giant overnight to help drive out invaders from the country.
The 9th of the fourth lunar month is the major day for the biggest Saint Giong festival at Phu Dong village in Gia Lam district of Hanoi where this national hero was born.
The festival is a chance for visitors to watch the performance of traditional rituals and artistic activities which have been handed down from generations to generations.-Enditem
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Dak Lak approves 3 million USD elephant project
Hanoi (VNA) -- The Dak Lak People's Committee has approved a 60 billion VND (3 million USD) project to protect elephants in Vietnam's central highlands.
Some forest will be set aside for wild elephants and habitats created for domesticated elephants, explained senior park ranger Y Rit Bya.
A veterinary clinic will be established to provide medical care and help with breeding, he said.
Elephants are mostly distributed in the Buon Don, Ea Sup and Ea H'Leo districts on about 160,000 ha which would be needed as a sanctuary for the species, a survey by Tay Nguyen University shows.
But human encroachment is diminishing the effectiveness of the sanctuary.
Park rangers have identified a wild elephant which killed a teenager in Dong Nai province's Dinh Quan district on Nov. 7.
The rangers said the elephant had heavily damaged crops when it rampaged through the fields of the Vinh Cuu district's Phu Ly Commune last year.
But the animal, which has now re-appeared many kilometres away, has not been homicidal.
Phu Ly commune Do Xuan Tinh resident said that he had encountered the animal once while returning from the forest in the late evening.
"I stiffened with fear," he said.
"But the beast approached me gradually and tickled me with his trunk. He then gave way to me."
The ranger's say the teenager's death was the first to an elephant in 10 years.-Enditem
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State Bank attributes gold price hike speculation
Hanoi (VNA) -- State Bank of Vietnam Governor Nguyen Van Giau attributed the record gold price to speculators, the steadily increasing global price and people's expectations.
It was possible speculators were trying to manipulate the price, he told reporters in Hanoi on Nov. 9.
The governor also announced a start to the selling of the US dollar on Nov. 9 afternoon to commercial banks that had requested it and soon after, the currency had fallen to 21,200 VND.
The decision to infuse dollars into the market as announced on Nov. 5 had not started earlier because banks had not sought the currency, he said.
The US dollar was at 21,500 VND at Nov. 9 noon, up 550 VND against Nov. 8 or 850 VND against Nov. 6.
The currency had tumbled to 20,200 VND and the gold price to below 35 million VND per tael when the infusion plan was announced on Nov. 5.
The previous record price for the dollar was 21,050 VND.
The price of gold has dropped from its record high after the State Bank of Vietnam announced on its web site Nov. 9 that it would allow the precious metal to be imported for a third time this year.
The announcement triggered an immediate fall to 36.4-37.42 million VND (1,765 USD) at gold shops from northern to southern Vietnam after the price had earlier hit a record 38.8 million VND per tael (1,825 USD).
The amount of gold the central bank will allow to be imported has not been disclosed.
But it allowed about 10 tonnes in August and October.
Such Hanoi and HCM City gold shops as the Sai Gon Jewellery Co; the Sacombank Jewellery Co; Bao Tin Minh Chau; Agribank Jewellery Co and Phu Nhuaân Jewellery Co had changed their prices at least ten times during the morning and early afternoon.
The previous record price for gold was set on Nov. 8 - 35.85 million VND per tael.
The record high was set after the global gold price hit new record high of 1,410.60 USD an ounce overnight. One tael equals 1.2 troy ounces.
Nov. 9's fluctuations in the gold and dollar markets mimicked those of last November when the price for domestic gold suddenly went from 27 million VND to 29.3 million VND per tael and the dollar from 17,880 VND to 18,500 VND within a morning.
The price fell to 25 million VND per tael after the central bank allowed gold to be imported.-Enditem
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Manufacturing, exports set to surpass targets
HCM City (VNA) -- This year's industrial production and export targets are likely to be surpassed, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Industrial production reached 645.7 trillion VND (33.9 billion USD) in the first 10 months of the year, up 13.7 percent over the same period last year. The growth target for the whole year is 13.5 percent.
The targeted export value of 70 billion USD for this year is also likely to be met, the ministry said in a regular online meeting held on Nov. 8.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Danh Vinh asked companies and relevant agencies to focus on production, invest in basic construction and boost exports in the remaining months of the year.
He also asked the industrial and trade sectors to closely monitor the demand and supply of goods, secure enough supply and stabilise prices. The power sector should make sure that there is sufficient electricity supply for production until the end of the year, he said.
The ministry's Market Management Department, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance's Price Management Department, will strengthen their oversight and strictly penalise activities of speculation and hoarding of goods, trade fraud, as well as violations relating to pricing, quality and food safety and hygiene during the remaining months of this year and early 2011.
Vinh also called for stronger trade promotion programmes in the domestic market that also takes further the campaign for Vietnamese people to give priority to using Vietnamese goods. More locally produced goods should reach rural and remote areas.
Many participants at the meeting raised their concern over the increase in prices of essential goods including rice, foodstuff, petrol and fertiliser products. With demand for these goods higher towards the year-end, low income people could suffer, they noted.
The price increase will also have an adverse impact on efforts to keep the consumer price index to a single digit this year.
Nguyen Xuan Chien of the ministry's Domestic Market Department said the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival falls in January next year so enterprises must prepare goods earlier to meet the rising demand.
The increase in prices for the coming festival is not because of a shortage of goods, but because enterprises are buying more goods for exports and for reserves in cases of floods, not to mention the depreciation of the dong against the US dollar, Chien said.
Other participants at the meeting said many rice exporters have begun buying more rice to meet export contracts, and the recent floods and storms have obstructed transport of food to many regions. These have significantly increased food prices in several areas, including the central region and the Mekong Delta, they said.
Several foreign-invested enterprises were focusing on importing goods and selling them in the local market for profit instead of making goods for the local market as well as export, said the head of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Phan Van Chinh.
He said that in the first 10 months of 2010, the value of goods imported by foreign-invested enterprises increased by 40 percent while imports by local enterprises rose just 20 percent.
Chinh said the high import figures would affect trade deficit and worsen the threat of higher inflation facing the country's economy.
He asked relevant agencies to place the import and sale of imported goods by foreign-invested enterprises under stricter management.-Enditem
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Conference debates sexual attitudes
Hanoi (VNA) -- Sexuality, a sensitive topic in Vietnamese society, was for the first time the theme of a national conference which ended in Hanoi on Nov. 9.
The two-day national symposium titled "Negotiating sexualities in moving spaces" marked crucial progress in the research of sexuality in Vietnam, said Dr Le Bach Duong, director of the Institute for Social Development Studies.
"The conference recognised recent research conducted by scientists and social activists in Vietnam affirming the importance of sexuality, a sensitive and controversial topic in our society," he said.
Although sexuality is increasingly discussed in seminars and conferences across the country, it remains a secondary topic that doesn't receive the attention it warrants.
However, this was put right at the conference with discussions focusing on the diversity of sexuality, sexuality of minority groups, sexual violence, sex on the internet, and the right to choose one's sexuality.
The conference, coorganised by the Institute for Social Development Studies and the Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population, aimed to create a forum for researchers, teachers and campaigners to share their concerns and network with each other.
The event, which drew more than 120 participants from across the country, was also expected to encourage open and straightforward narrative throughout society about sexuality and sexual health, promote gender equality and improve the lives of Vietnamese people.
Dr Khuat Thu Hong, deputy director of the Institute for Social Development Studies, said changes have been noticed over the last two decades, starting in 1990 when sexuality first became an academic topic in Viet Nam.
"Sexuality used to be discussed only in terms of health or family planning but is now considered from a perspective of happiness," she said.
Research on sexuality in Vietnam, which used to be seen as legal only if conducted to tackle so-called "social evils", provides an indispensable insight into basic human rights, said Hong.
Heterosexuality used to be regarded as the only form of sexuality, but now research in the area is concentrated on proving that homosexuality and other types of sexuality are paralleling spaces and have a right to exist, she said.-Enditem
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