Vietnam Morning News For September 14

Capital shortage slows Vietnam infrastructure projects
Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City announced on Wednesday a further delay to the start of Metro Line 2 until 2020, taking it seven years behind schedule, because more time is needed to formulate and process the project.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Banks’capital adequacy in danger of plunging
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s statistics show that the average capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of the banking sector has been consistently falling since the beginning of this year.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam’s apparel exports predicted to hit $30.5 billion
Giang noted that in the first eight months of 2017, the sector enjoyed growth of 9.9 percent year on year to 19.8 billion USD in exports.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Australia drops anti dumping case
After a year of thorough investigation of the anti-dumping and anti-subsidisation case on Vietnamese galvanised steel, the Australian Anti-Dumping Commission (ADC) has closed the subject. No further anti-dumping subsidies will be imposed.
— Viet Nam News

Mavin to invest $80 million in Nghe An
The group’s chairman, David John Whitehead, announced the plan at an investment conference in HCM City last week.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Support agencies key to SME growth
Agencies that support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need to keep up with business trends and formulate measures to promote SME development, Đặng Huy Đông, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, said at the 45th Meeting of the APEC Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises Working Group (SMEWG) now taking place in HCM City.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam’s largest smart vending machine operator Dropfoods plans to raise US$9 mil through Initial Coin Offering (ICO)
Dropfoods, the largest smart vending machine operator in Vietnam, has announced the launch of an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) scheduled for September 21, 2017 to raise US$9 million with the issuance of its own Dropcoins tokens.
— BlockchainNews

VASEP plays down concern over slump in shrimp exports to U.S.
A VASEP report shows Vietnam had fetched US$1.9 billion from shrimp exports in the year to July, an 18.5% rise against the same period last year. Among the key buyers, the U.S. was no longer the largest consumer as seen in 2016.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Code-sharing between JAL, Vietjet could lift off this fiscal year
Japan Airlines will begin code-sharing with Vietnamese budget carrier Vietjet Air as early as the current fiscal year ending in March, the head of the Japanese carrier told The Nikkei on Wednesday.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Vietnam scrutinizes why so many women are being fired from industrial zones
Women aged over 35 accounted for 80 percent of factory workers who were fired or quit last year.
— VnExpress

HCM CIty Real Estate Association back illegal project by Saigon River
In June, the authorities in HCM City issued a VND1bn (USD44,000) fine and ordered a halt to the construction of the Holm Residence or Thao Dien Sapphire project for various violations to no avail.
— VietnamNet Bridge

FDI inflow into HCM City shoot up
HCM City has attracted US$3.23 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first eight months of 2017, reported the municipal Department of Planning and Investment.
— Bizhub

Positive trend forecast for banking sector in H2
The positive performance trend would continue for the banking industry in the second half thanks to high credit growth and supporting policies on settling non-performing loans (NPLs).
— VietnamNet Bridge

Korean biotech products reach Vietnamese market
Biotech products from the Republic of Korea (ROK) are being introduced at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, organised by the Chuncheon Bioindustry Foundation (CBF) in collaboration with Lien Hoa Group.
— Nhan Dan Online

Vietnam-China bridge inaugurated to boost trade ties
A four-lane bridge was inaugurated on Wednesday in Vietnam’s northern Quang Ninh province, expected to strengthen trade and economic ties with China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
— Xinhua

Digital economy vital for MSME growth
The challenge for MSMEs is to improve their capabilities and incorporate new strategies, skills and technologies to fully take advantage of the opportunities, participants at the workshop, organised by the US State Department, said.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Vietnamobile rolls out 3G nationwide
Vietnamobile announced on September 12 that its services cover Vietnam’s 63 cities and provinces with 3G speeds that in some areas are on par with the speed of LTE.
— Vietnam Economic Times

Should Vietnam’s special economic zones include ‘red-light districts’?
A deputy chairman of Vietnam’s lawmaking National Assembly said the country’s upcoming special administrative and economic zones should be allowed to host businesses illegal elsewhere nationwide, including the ‘red-light districits’.
— Tuoi Tre

Overseas diplomatic staff may get a long overdue pay bump
The National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) yesterday discussed the Government’s draft decree on managing and using State funds for external affairs.
— Viet Nam News

HCMC says no to apartments smaller than 25sq.m
The municipal People’s Committee has issued Document 5657/UBND-DT stipulating the minimum areas of apartment units, with a minimum of 45 square meters for commercial condos and 25 square meters for social homes.
— VietnamNet Bridge

‘Water taxi’ among award-winning solutions to solve Hanoi’s traffic nightmare
While local media and the public were unhappy that the prize-winning entry of a contest seeking solutions to Hanoi’s traffic congestion was undisclosed, they may be surprised to find out what that solution is.
— Tuoi Tre

Việt Nam to compete in Switzerland’s Innovation Challenge
Nearly 500 CEOs, business owners, investors and economic experts participated in the final pitch at the Swiss Innovation Challenge Việt Nam event with 21 teams competing yesterday in HCM City.
— Viet Nam News

Feature photo ADB Photo/Tran Viet Tuan
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