Vietnam Morning News For April 2

Food association unfit to lead rice sector: experts
The Vietnam Food Association (VFA) came under heavy criticism on Friday as economic experts voiced discontent with the association’s favouritism, lax business practices and overall incompetency in the rice export sector.
— Bizhub

National industrial production index hits 11.6 percent
Vietnam’s index of industrial production (IIP) in the first quarter of this year gained the highest year-on-year growth rate of 11.6 percent in the past three years.
— VietnamPlus

Blockchain Enabled Export Portal Continues 100 Country Push & Brand Ambassador Search with Visit to Vietnam Expo: Hanoi – April 11-14
Coming off the success of their trip to the Mumbai in February, Blockchain enabled Export Portal looks forward to showcasing what ExportPortal e-Commerce platform can do for international trade at The Vietnam Expo in Hanoi, April 11-14.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Vietnam needs $48 billion for transport infrastructure development
The total capital for developing the transport infrastructure in Vietnam for 2018-2023 is estimated at roughly VND1,015 trillion (US$48 billion).
— The Hanoi Times

Solar industry shining bright
Six years after announcing it was leaving Vietnam and then unsuccessfully tried to sell all the assets and facilities at its Ho Chi Minh City-based solar equipment manufacturing project, First Solar last year suddenly declared it planned to return to the country and the city.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Cement producers post strong export growth
Vietnamese cement and clinker producers in March accelerated by 30 percent against the same period last year to roughly 2.4 million tons, the Ministry of Construction reported.
— The Hanoi Times

Hanoi’s satellite plans attract foreign investors
Hanoi’s potential real estate market has become much more attractive to foreign investors since capital city introduced plans to develop satellite urban areas and radial roads connecting the neighbouring localities.
— Nhan Dan Online

Banks tighten lending to prevent real estate bubble in Ho Chi Minh City
Banks in Ho Chi Minh City are raising the bar on real estate loans to stop a property bubble resulting from hiking land prices on the outskirts.
— Tuoi Tre

Vietnam raises over $43m from IPO of Hanoi Trade Corp
The Vietnamese government has raised over VND980 billion ($43.12 million) by selling 34.51 per cent stake in Hanoi Trade Corporation (Hapro) in its initial public offering (IPO) on Hanoi Stock Exchange on March 30.
— DealStreetAsia

Vinamilk sets 2.46 bln USD in revenue in 2018
The Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) targeted a revenue of 55.5 trillion VND (2.46 billion USD) and a post-tax profit of 10.75 trillion VND (477 million USD) this year, up 8.5 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively.
— VietnamPlus

Global trade war risk has limited impact on Viet Nam’s securities
Fears of a trade war between the US and China have rocked global stock markets in recent sessions, but experts anticipate limited effects on Viet Nam’s securities market growth as the market is on solid footing and is increasingly reliant on domestic demand.
— Bizhub

Seafood export faces numerous barriers
Despite strong outbound sales so far this year, Vietnam’s target of earning US$9-10 billion from seafood exports in 2018 may prove tough due to numerous technical barriers being set up in major markets, Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper reports.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Vietnamese carriers, airports increase service charges
Flight ticket prices in Vietnam are expected to slightly rise as local carriers and airports have applied new rates to multiple services.
— Tuoi Tre

China and Vietnam call for maritime disputes to be settled
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday China and Vietnam should settle their disputes in the South China Sea through talks and move to jointly exploit its waters.
— Business Insider

Debt firm auctions off seized high-rise in Saigon to clear $308mn bad loan
A Ho Chi Minh City-based skyscraper used by its developer as collateral for a massive loan which it eventually failed to repay has been put up for auction to clear the bad debt, the Vietnam Asset Management Company said Thursday.
— Tuoi Tre

Vietnam and Cambodia discuss border affairs
The Vietnamese side was led by Le Hoai Trung, Deputy-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the National Boundary Commission under the Foreign Ministry, while the Cambodian side was headed by Var Kim Hong, Senior Minister in charge of border affairs.
— Vietnam Breaking News

Cuba grants Vietnamese company concession at special development zone
Cuba created the zone four years ago to attract foreign capital with tax and customs breaks to boost its anemic economy.
— VnExpress

Central Da Nang city, Japan’s Hokkaido to launch direct flight
Vietnam’s central Da Nang city and Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture plan to upgrade the current charter flight service to a regular air route between the two cities to boost their investment, tourism and trade, according to a Japanese official.
— VietnamPlus

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