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Vietnam launches 2011 Earth Hour campaign
Hanoi (VNA) – Thousands of Vietnamese people will turn off the lights and electric equipment for one hour, starting from 8.30 pm of March 26 in response to the 2011 Earth Hour.
The central province of Thua Thien-Hue will be host of the campaign in Vietnam this year. This is the third time Vietnam has joined the event, launched by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) with the aim of curbing global warming.
By March 7, 29 provinces and cities confirmed their participation in the event and the number is expected to increase.
WWF has set up a forum at www.beyondthehour.org in 11 languages, including Vietnamese so that enterprises, organisations and citizens around the globe are able to share their experiences in environmental protection.
The Earth Hour was first held in Sydney , Australia in 2007 with two million participated people turning off lights. In 2010, 128 countries joined the campaign.
The Vietnam Earth Hour, jointly held by the WWF in Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, was first organised in Hanoi in 2009./.
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US religious societies present wheelchairs for AO victims
Ca Mau (VNA) – The US Promised Land Protestant Community Church and the Vineyard Church present 350 wheelchairs to the Agent Orange victims in the southern province of Ca Mau from March 5-9.
The gifts, worth a total 875 million VND, are bought with contributions from US donors.
Beneficiaries are AO Victims Association living in Ca Mau city and Tran Van Thoi, Cai Nuoc, Dam Doi, Thoi Binh, U Minh and Nam Can districts./.
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Fields winner appointed math institute director
Hanoi (VNA) - Prof. Dr. Ngo Bao Chau, Fields Medal winner, has been appointed Director of the newly-established Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics.
His appointment will be announced by the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) on March 9.
The Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics is to become a prestigious maths centre in order to improve scientific capacity of maths researchers and lecturers in Vietnam .
The Hanoi-based institute is put under the management of MoET. It operates under a special mechanism approved by the Government to encourage overseas Vietnamese scientists to join the institute for the sake of Vietnam ’s mathematics development.
Last year, Chau was awarded the Field Medal, the world’s top mathematics prize, for his proof of the Fundamental Lemma in the theory of automorphic forms, by introducing new algebro-geometric methods.
The award, comparable to the Nobel prize for mathematics, is a great honour for Vietnam , making it the second nation in Asia after Japan to have citizen awarded the medal.
In 2009, his evidence proving the Langlands fundamental lemma was selected by Time Magazine as one of the 10 most outstanding scientific discoveries of 2009./.
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National Asembly leader listens to voters' concerns
Hanoi (VNA) - Inflation was paramount on voters' minds when they met Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi ’s Ba Dinh and Cau Giay districts on March 7.
They were informed about the agenda of the upcoming session of the National Assembly.
Contributions from voters fell into two main categories. The first included price hikes, curbing inflation, monitoring exchange rates, creating favourable conditions for businesses to expand, improving living conditions – and environmental protection.
The second group focused on how to improve the quality and efficiency of the National Assembly's activities.
Speaking to a big audience, Trong said that the session will be the last one of this National Assembly tenure. Its main tasks will be to review the last working term, evaluate working efficiency, analyse causes and draw lessons for making improvements.
"The National Assembly is not only the highest organ of state power, but also the highest-level representative body of the people, so deputies must be diverse enough to make a comprehensive representation," he said.
In addition to increasing the percentage of full time deputies from 29 percent to 33 percent of delegates, Trong said there is a need to enhance the role of the NA's nationalities councils and committees.
Trong said the pilot scheme to abolish the People's Councils at district and ward level will continue to be implemented, but needs to be approached in a cautious manner.
To mark International Women's Day on March 8, Trong sent females voters his best greetings./.
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Chess master Liem moves up world rankings
Hanoi (VNA) - International Grand Master Le Quang Liem has moved up 35 places from 79th to 44th in the world rankings, according to the World Chess Federation.
The HCM City-born grand master has also gone from 4th to 3rd in the world's youth rankings. His Elo rating has risen from 2,664 to 2,689. Liem, 20, successfully defended his crown at the Russian International Chess Festival-Aeroflot Open in Moscow recently.
Meanwhile, in the women's rankings, Nguyen Thi Mai Hung from Bac Giang is now in 18th place in the world youth chess players, with an Elo rating of 2,320./.
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Muay Thai boxers ready for action
HCM City (VNA) - Nine Vietnamese martial artists will compete at the World Muay Thai Championships in Ayuthaya , Thailand , from March 18.
Chief coach Giap Trung Thang said the third Asian Indoor Games gold medallist, Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat from HCM City, will be competing in the men's 57kg category, while Southeast Asian Games silver medallist Phan Thi Ngoc Linh of HCM City will take part in the women's 54kg division.
At the same event in Bangkok last March, Vienamese boxers surprised the world by winning three golds and one bronze medal. They finished third out of 45 teams./.
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Golden Kite nominations take a look back
HCM City (VNA) — Critics have tipped one of the many historical films nominated to win this year's national Golden Kite awards.
This year, 11 films, including five historical features have been nominated for the celluloid category in the prestigious awards, which are presented by the Vietnam Cinematography Association in HCM City on March 13.
While the jury began its work to sort through the entries, insiders are predicting wins for two films – Vuot Qua Ben Thuong Hai (Crossing the Shanghai Port ) and Khat Vong Thang Long (Thang Long Aspiration).
The 16 billion VND Vuot Qua Ben Thuong Hai by the Vietnam Cinematography Association's Film Studio and its Chinese partner, Zhoujiang Film Studio, was aimed at the jury rather than the public. Nonetheless, the film with its visual and sound effects, it could become popular.
Based on a screenplay by Vietnamese writers, Ha Pham Phu and Le Ngoc Minh, and Chinese author Jia Fei, the film portrays the life of Nguyen Ai Quoc, as the late President Ho Chi Minh called himself.
It recounts the president's time as a revolutionary in Hong Kong and Shanghai in 1933 and 1934, before he moved to Vladivostock , Russia .
The biopic is expected to take home the award for best movie.
Before being submitted for a Golden Kite, Vuot Qua Ben Thuong Hai was received well by audiences during its release last year in cinemas.
"It provides a deeper understanding of the spirit and revolutionary cause of the leader in Vietnam history," said Trieu Tuan, the film's director.
"My crew worked hard to bring the story to life," he added.
Many of the film's scenes were completed in China's Hengdian Film Studios in Zhejiang Province, and in Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam and Nghe An provinces.
The other Golden Kite nominee, Khat Vong Thang Long is on the life of King Ly Thai To, who moved the capital from Hoa Lu (now in the northern province of Ninh Binh province) to Thang Long (today's Hanoi ).
The producer, Ky Nguyen Sang Company, released the film to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi last year.
They spent four months doing the casting, holding auditions across the country.
More than 3,000 young actors auditioned for the leading role of King Ly Thai To. Finally, the role was given to a new face, fashion model Quach Ngoc Ngoan.
The film's director Luu Trong Ninh wanted to make a quality historical film that will appeal to young audiences.
Ninh is one of the nominees for the best director award.
Ngoan was nominated for the award of promising young talent.
The four remaining historical films for the Golden Kite top movie award all revolve around the tried and trusted theme of war and peace.
Love is also covered in the six commercial nominations, including BHD Film Company's Co Dau Dai Chien (Bride War) and Phuoc Sang Film Studio's Thien Su... 99 (The Cherub... 99).
The 2010 Golden Kites will present awards for the best works in five categories: movies, video film, short films, cartoons, scientific films, and cinematography research.
The organisers received 89 entries for the awards. The jury includes veteran directors and cameramen such as Tran Luan Kim and Bui Tuan Dung.
The award presenting ceremony will take place in HCM City on March 13./.
Two rare gibbons to be released into forests
Binh Duong (VNA) – Two rare white-cheeked gibbons have been handed over to the Cu Chi Wild Animal Relief Centre in Ho Chi Minh City to be released into forests.
The centre will send blood samples of the rare gibbons (scientifically known as Nomascus (Hylobates) to Hong Kong for testing of their species for further care.
The gibbons were found kept at Dai Hai Trade and Timber Industry Co. Ltd in Binh Duong’s Tan Uyen district. The Environment Police and Forest Rangers Department of the southern province of Binh Duong seized the animals after the owner failed to show documents proving the legal origin of the gibbons.
According to the Rangers Department, the gibbons are domestically classified as Group 1B, which is protected against any illegal capture, breeding, trading or hunting./.
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Math’s guru receives honorary doctorate
Hanoi (VNA) – The Hanoi National University (HNU) presented a Certificate of Honorary Doctor to Professor Ngo Bao Chau, who currently works at the Chicago University in the United States , in Hanoi on March 9.
Chau used to attend the HNU’s senior high school studying mathematics. During the three years here, he obtained two international gold medals.
In 2010, Chau was awarded the Field Medal, the world’s top mathematics prize, for his proof of the Fundamental Lemma in the theory of automorphic forms, by introducing new algebro-geometric methods.
Earlier in 2005, he was made a professor in Vietnam , becoming the country’s youngest professor at that time.
Before working in the US , Chau was a maths professor at the Paris-Sud XI University and published 14 scientific works in both the French and English languages.
Together with Chau, Professor Annick Suzor Weiner, the former director of the Paris-Sud XI University, was also presented with the HNU’s Honorary Doctorate.
In 2005, Professor Weiner initiated and promoted cooperation in training and research between the two universities.
She also called on French firms to provide scholarships to students and introduce post graduate training programmes for Vietnam .
Weiner was presented with the Vietnamese Government’s Friendship Medal in 2005./.
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Intellectual Women’s Association debuts
Hanoi (VNA)- Vietnamese women marked their international day on March 8 with the establishment of the Intellectual Women’s Association, in the interest of women’s advancement and gender equality.
Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan was elected as honorary President of the association.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan hailed the association as a springboard for Vietnamese women intellectuals to promote their potential and creativity.
He called on the association to play the role of an information channel, raising their opinions and recommendations on national development issues, especially those related to women and families, citing the project on sustainable development of Vietnamese families.
He also urged them to contribute to the policy-making process to boost women’s advancement and gender equality, especially intellectual women.
Prof. Dr Pham Thi Tran Chau was elected as the association’s President.
Its first Congress passed the Resolution for the first office term from 2011-2016, highlighting the role as a bridge to unite the brigade of intellectual women and increase their contributions to national socio-economic development./.
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Cambodia, Laos boost multifaceted cooperation
Phnom Penh (VNA) – Laos and Cambodia have exchanged measures to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in numerous areas, including trade, investment, security, culture and education.
The measures were mentioned during the talks between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Lao Prime Minister Thoongsing Thammavong, who paid an official visit to Cambodia on March 7-8.
The two sides pledged to urge relevant agencies to complete the border demarcation and landmark planting on schedule and promptly implement land transportation services between the two countries.
At the talks, PM Thoongsing Thammavong said the Lao government was keeping a close watch on the situation at Cambodia-Thailand common border and will make every effort to help ease the tension between the two countries.
During his stay in Cambodia , the Lao PM also met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Senate President Chea Sim and National Assembly Chairman Heng Samrin. He took the occasion to make fact-finding tour of several cultural facilities and vocational training centres in Phnom Penh./.
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ASEAN chair proposes Cambodia-Thai meeting
Hanoi (VNA) - Indonesia, the cuurent ASEAN chair, has proposed meetings between Cambodian-Thai defence ministers and border chiefs on March 24-25 in Bogor, Indonesia, said a Cambodian diplomat.
Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said on March 8 that Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa sent a letter on March 7 to propose the meetings of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) and the Joint Border Committee on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC), in Bogor.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong cabled a letter to agree with the proposed schedule, saying that the meetings must be in the presence of the ASEAN chair or representative, at least at the opening ceremonies, and Cambodia and Thailand must report on the results to the ASEAN chair when the meetings wrap up./.
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Over 8,470 workers from Libya already safely home
Hanoi (VNA) – As many as 8,476 Vietnamese guest workers escaping from political chaos in Libya had returned home by the end of March 8, said an official in charge of labour management.
Nguyen Xuan Tao, Deputy Head of the Labour Management Division under the Overseas Labour Management Department of the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, said flight VN 8686, carrying 215 workers currently in Tunisia , was due to land at Noi Bai International Airport at 8 am on March 9.
The flight will be the tenth and last of the largest ever “air bridge” launched by the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, to transport Vietnamese workers in Libya home.
Those Vietnamese workers, accompanied by the governmental inter-branch working team in Tunisia , will be welcomed at the airport by Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.
Some 50 Vietnamese workers in Turkey and Egypt are currently on other commercial flights heading home.
According to Tao, the Japanese Hamanasu ship with more than 1,000 Vietnamese workers aboard, which left the port of Benghazi in Libya on March 3, was expected to dock at Hai Phong port on March 21.
The ship was rented by Brazilian contractor Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A.
Nguyen Quoc Nam , a representative of Vietnam International Organisation for Migration (IOM), reported that two IOM-funded flights with 272 Vietnamese workers aboard will land the Noi Bai International Airport at 10.55am on March 9.
IOM has sent its regional official in Rome to the Algeria-Libya border to assist in coordinating with relevant Vietnamese offices to help 292 Vietnamese workers currently in the safe area return home as soon as possible, Nam said./.
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Diplomats urged to boost economic cooperation
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged Vietnamese ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to pay special attention to boosting economic cooperation with foreign countries.
The Prime Minister made the request while meeting with 33 newly accredited Vietnamese ambassadors and overseas head representatives in Hanoi on Mar. 8, before they left for their new tasks.
The ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad were urged to focus on expanding markets for Vietnamese products and labour, attracting investment and development assistance, promoting the nation’s tourism, as well as struggling to lift trade barriers against Vietnamese products.
They were asked to implement foreign policies of the Vietnamese Party and State and struggle to protect national sovereignty and interests and prevent activities of hostile forces, who take advantage of democracy, human rights and religion to interfere in Vietnam ’s internal affairs.
The PM required the ambassadors and head representatives to develop their role as messengers to promote the image of Vietnam to international friends and strengthen education cooperation and help Vietnamese students in foreign countries. He also asked them to protect the rights of Overseas Vietnamese and help them to integrate into local communities.
The Prime Minister took this occasion to praise efforts by the Foreign Ministry which worked closely with the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs and relevant agencies to bring Vietnamese workers in Libya home safely.
Ambassadors and overseas head representatives pledged to try their best to fulfil their tasks to contribute to boosting friendship and cooperation with other countries and constantly improve Vietnam’s position in the international arena./.
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Lao hamlet, citizens honoured for helping VN
Quang Nam (VNA) – The People’s Committee of the central province of Quang Nam has decided to decorate Ka Uong hamlet and 414 people in Sekong province of Laos for their contributions to Vietnam’s resistance war against US imperialists.
The decision was in line with the Prime Minister’s decision No. 98/2006/QD-TTg in 2006 to reward elements who had significant achievements during the resistance wars against French colonialists and US imperialists.
The Laos hamlet and citizens will be awarded for their help in transporting weapons to Quang Nam during the American war./.
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Vietnam, Laos promote sci-tech cooperation
Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) led by its Professor Chau Van Minh, paid a working visit to Laos from March 6-9, to promote scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries.
Bounnhang Volachit, Lao Politburo member and Vice State President, warmly received the delegation on March 8. He passed on his congratulations on the success of Vietnam 11 th Party Congress and announced that Laos was well advanced with preparations for 9 th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.
At the reception, Bounnhang Volachit also highly valued cooperation between VAST and the Lao National Committee of Science and Technology and expressed his hope that the two parties would further strengthen their cooperation, as well as exchange experiences on scientific research to promote the two nations’ development.
Professor Minh said that his visit was expected to foster comprehensive cooperation in the fields of science and technology between Vietnam and Laos in the future, as well as discuss a concrete cooperation plan between the two nations in the period 2011-2015.
Previously, at a meeting on March 7, the two parties exchanged views and agreed to cooperate in training and enhancing capacity on sci-tech research, climate change research, sustainable use of resources, environmental protection, territory planning, biodiversity, information technology and environmental technology.
On the occasion, Minh and Director of the Lao National Committee of Science and Technology, Bountiem Phissamay signed a memorandum of understanding on sci-tech cooperation between the two parties for the 2011-2015 period./.
BUSINESS
Forum helps strengthen female entrepreneurs’ role
Hanoi (VNA) – A forum was held in Hanoi on March 7 for women entrepreneurs to meet, exchange experiences and seek ways to overcome difficulties and reach sustainable development in the future.
The 2011 Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs’ Forum, hosted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), drew the participation of over 300 female leaders of domestic and foreign businesses.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai highly valued the important role of women entrepreneurs, saying that over the past years, especially in the period of economic crisis and recession, many woman-led businesses have overcome difficulties and recorded impressive achievements.
According to VCCI, women account for 20 percent of all the business leaders in Vietnam . The government’s 2011-2020 national strategy on gender equality sets a target of raising the rate of female entrepreneurs to 30 percent in 2015 and 35 percent in 2020.
A VCCI leader said that most businesses managed by women are of small and medium size, operating in areas that are important but vulnerable in the integration process, including trade, service, consumer goods production and farm produce processing.
In the coming time, VCCI will organise similar events for women entrepreneurs in order to help them surmount the consequences of the economic crisis, he added./.
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Blue-chip gains lift VN-Index
Hanoi (VNA) - Heavy gains by blue chips helped lift the VN-Index on March 7 to a close of 468.22 points, a gain of nearly 2 percent over previous day's level.
However, the value of trades on the HCM Stock Exchange continued to slump, dropping 26 percent to just 547 billion VND (26 million USD), on a volume of 23.6 million shares.
Advancers outnumbered decliners by 134-73, with most of the leading shares by capitalisation posting gains. Insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), Phu My Fertilisers (DPM), conglomerate Masan Group (MSN) and resort developer VinpearLand (VPL) all hit their ceiling prices, while Vietinbank (CTG) closed up 3.2 percent, PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) up 2 percent, Vietcombank (VCB) up 1.9 percent, and Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG) up 1.6 percent.
Saigon Securities Inc (SSI) continued as the most-active stock during the session. With 1.7 million shares traded, it was the code to rack up a volume in excess of a million. SSI closed up 0.9 percent to 22,500 VND.
On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index dropped by about 0.3 percent to close at 90.65 points, even as advancers edged out decliners by 145-123.
Market volume rose by over 50 percent to 37.2 million shares, worth around 465 billion VND (22.1 million USD), largely due to explosive trading in share of Kim Long Securities (KLS). KLS, with 9.5 million shares changing hands, became the most heavily traded stock nationwide but plunged by 5.6 percent to close at just 10,100 VND per share.
Concerns over troubles within Kim Long Securities Co as well as the Government's tighter monetary policies continued to impede the flow of capital into the markets, said the head of the business department at SME Securities Co, Le Van Long.
Technical indicators showed that share prices have fallen too deeply for a consolidation, Long said.
While it was possible that the markets would see some technical rallies, pushing the VN-Index into the 470-475 range, "it's hard to foresee a real recovery," he added, suggesting that investors with available capital could safely buy in if the Index fell as low as 440-450, but recommending that stocks not be allowed to exceed 50 percent of an investment portfolio.
Foreign investors concluded the day on March 7 as net sellers on both the HCM City and Hanoi markets, unloading a combined 687,500 shares, worth a net of 9.5 billion VND (441,860 USD)./.
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Workshop examines Cooperative law
Quang Nam (VNA) - A two-day workshop on ways to improve the management of trade co-operatives ended on March 7 in the central province of Quang Nam 's Tam Ky town.
The workshop aimed to highlight German experiences in improving management of co-operatives for the benefit of Vietnamese experts who are considering proposed changes to regulations on co-operatives.
The Vietnam Cooperative Alliance's deputy chairman Nguyen Xuan Hien said participants had addressed the drawbacks in Vietnam 's cooperative alliance system.
Christian Albrecht, an audit expert from Germany 's Cooperative and Raiffeisen Confederation (DGRV), said reformed co-operatives needed to be highly market-oriented while also acting as a group that represents each member's rights.
"Only by that way of operation, can fairness be achieved in a co-operative," said Albrecht.
He said lawmakers should streamline procedures and regulations to stimulate the development of co-operatives while also ensuring labour ' rights.
The workshop was jointly hosted by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance and DGRV./.
Czech businesses keen on Vietnamese energy projects
Hanoi (VNA) – Businesses from the Czech Republic are willing to help Vietnam build power stations, confirmed Senator Vitezslav Jonas.
At the Vietnamese-Czech Business Forum held in Hanoi on March 8, Senator Jonas said that the Czech Republic will invite representatives of the Vietnam Energy Institute to visit the country to observe their experiences in energy development at first hand.
The Czech businesses also want to link up with Vietnamese enterprises in the foodstuffs, garments, wood processing, electronic, household electronic appliance and health sectors.
While confirming that Vietnam ’s economic achievements have attracted the interests of a number of Czech enterprises, Senator Jonas said he believed that Vietnam , with its stable investment environment would become a good investment and trading partner for Czech enterprises.
The Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Doan Duy Khuong said that the Vietnamese government always attaches importance to comprehensive cooperation with the Czech Republic and always creates the best possible conditions to Czech enterprises to invest and do business in Vietnam .
In his opinion, Vietnam , with its flexible economic mechanism, would serve as a bridge for Czech commodities to enter ASEAN countries and the Czech republic , in the trading centre of Europe , could be a gateway for Vietnamese exports to enter the EU market.
In recent years, Vietnam-Czech trade ties have experienced a stable growth. In 2010, bilateral trade reached 205 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 24 percent./.
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Famous cars sold well to deluxe hotels
Hanoi (VNA) – More and more well-known car brands are racing to become major suppliers to big conglomerates, including hotels and deluxe resorts in Vietnam.
On March 2 and 3, two German car manufacturers, Mercedes Benz and BMW handed over eight BMW 730Li and five E250 cars to the five-star Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi and the five-star Sofitel Saigon Plaza hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
The 3.9 billion VND BMW 730Li and 1.8 billion VND E250 cars are also equipped with high-speed wireless Internet systems.
The General Director of the Sofitel Saigon Plaza, Philippe Godard, said that using deluxe cars to serve customers is included in the hotel’s comprehensive upgrading plans and that the luxurious image of the hotel pledges to bring the best products and provide the best service quality to customers.
Meanwhile, General Director of Sofitel Legend Metropole in Ha Noi Kai Speth said that the cooperation will help customers enjoy comfort from an excellent room of Metropole to a deluxe car seat.
Earlier, by the end of 2010, Caravelle Hotel in HCM City bought two E-Class cars which each cost between 2-2.5 billion VND. These are Caravelle’s first cars before a batch of Mercedes Benz joins the hotel’s transport fleet in 2011.
At present, BMW cars have been chosen for the Sheraton Saigon Hotel, Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel, Movenpick and Hilton Hanoi Hotel while Mercedes Benz cars have been used by the InterContinental Saigon, Windsor Plaza Hotel, Park Hyatt Saigon and New Horizon Hotels.
The race is predicted to become fiercer with the presence of another German brand Audi, which has a similar price to a BMW or Mercedes Benz./.
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Strategy seeks to address housing issues
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has set a target to raise the average housing area per capita to 25 square metres by 2020 and 30 metres by 2030.
This was signalled at a conference on national housing development strategy from now to 2020 and the version toward 2030, jointly held by the Ministry of Construction and the United Nations Settlement Progamme (UN-Habitat), on March 8 in Hanoi.
The strategy’s objective is that by 2020 Vietnam will basically meet housing demands which fit with the country’s economic development and conditions of each individual as well as each household.
By 2030, Vietnam will narrow the gap in housing quality between rural and urban areas, focusing on construction quality and housing conveniences.
According to Nguyen Quang, UN-Habitat Director in Vietnam, improvements in the housing supply system and diversified housing measures are necessary, creating conditions to prevent unofficial property development projects.
Speeches delivered at the conference focused on a wide range of topics, including how to gain access to policies and strategies of low-income housing, methods to set up the national housing strategy and the UN-Habitat’s report on housing documents in Vietnam.
The delegates also compared notes on the housing market and housing finance, infrastructure and urban services and housing situations in Vietnam. Based on that, they gave proposals on policies, regulations and legal frameworks in the area.
It is essential to have a housing strategy, which requires a close relationship between relevant ministries and agencies, delegates said./.
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State bank lifts refinancing rate to 12 pct
Hanoi (VNA)- The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) on March 8 raised refinancing and discount rates to 12 percent per year.
The SBV also lifted the overnight rate in inter-bank electronic payments and the rate of loans to finance short balances in clearing transactions between SBV and commercial banks to 12 percent, from 11 percent per year.
It was the first time the discount rate had been adjusted this year, up 5 percent compared with last year./.
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Southwest targets economic growth of 13 percent
Ca Mau (VNA) – The Southwestern Region Steering Committee has set an economic growth rate goal of 12-13 percent in 2011 for the southwest, in a bid to reinforce its role as one of the country’s key economic zones.
The Committee has also set targets of earning an export value of 7.5 billion USD and reducing the percentage of poor households to below 12 percent for the region.
Those targets were unveiled during the Committee’s meeting in the southernmost province of Ca Mau on March 8 to discuss tasks and works for 2011.
Chairing the meeting, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung asked the Committee to provide the Party Politburo and the Government with prompt consultancy to help them work out policies that kept abreast with the real socio-economic situation in the southwest.
He also asked local authorities in the region to better their leadership capacity, so they can promote socio-economic development in their localities more effectively.
In 2010, despite the direct effects from complicated developments in the world that pressed down on the entire country, the southwest still registered a GDP growth rate of 12.2 percent, nearly two times higher than the country’s average level.
The region harvested a food output of 21 million tonnes and earned over 6.5 billion USD in exports.
At the meeting, the Southeastern Region Steering Committee presented to the Government its recommendations on mechanisms and policies related to sustainable and simultaneous economic development in the region./.
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