Vietnam Morning News For April 23

Reforms improve Vietnam’s credit access
Administrative reforms have contributed to improving the country’s credit access in recent years, making it rank among the top 30 economies with the best Getting Credit Index, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Dao Minh Tu said.
— The Hanoi Times

Ministries speed up streamlining of regulations
Ministries have continued accelerating administrative reforms to aid businesses in their operations.
— Bizhub

Vietnam Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2017
— US Department of State

Changes in target markets worry wooden furniture exporters
Wooden furniture manufacturers have been warned that they will face more trade barriers as export markets have applied new policies to restrict imports.
— VietnamNet Bridge

VN’s waterway logistics in deep trouble
Việt Nam’s maritime and inland waterway transport continue to suffer from the lack of sustainable inland ports and planning for container depots.
— Viet Nam News

Samsung To Expand Production Facilities In Vietnam Yet Again
South Korea’s electronics major Samsung Electronics Co. is determined to further expand production in Vietnam, co-CEO Koh Dong-jin told Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April 20, according to Reuters.
— Investvine

Vietnam equity: second to none amid global volatility
Global stock markets have been volatised through the first quarter of 2018. However, amid the fluctuations, there are always investment opportunities hidden amid the crisis and one of them is the Vietnamese stock market.
— The Nation

Vietnam: Vegetables and fruits among key export items
Following a bumper season in 2017, import/exports continued to increase sharply in the first three months of 2018.
— Fresh Plaza

Branding critical amid FTAs
National branding must accommodate international integration and sustainable export development, according to experts at the annual brand forum organised on Friday by the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).
— Bizhub

Vietnam Digest: VIISA to invest in Batch 3 startups; Adventus buys Danang land
Vietnamese accelerator VIISA will invest $15,000 each across four startups from its third batch while Singapore-based Adventus Holdings has acquired a land plot in Danang area.
— DealStreetAsia

Vietnamese potato brand to fight Chinese fakes
Vietnam’s Lam Dong Province has approved a programme to construct a Da Lat potato brand to prevent farmers from selling cheap Chinese potatoes disguised as potatoes from Da Lat.
— Fresh Plaza

Property market remains attractive to investors
The real estate market continues to be attractive to investors, but the level of competition would be much higher this year and the following years.
— Bizhub

Experts: Banking sector to enjoy another strong year
The banking sector will enjoy another strong year in 2018, experts told a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City this week.
— VietnamPlus

Viettel reaches 10m 4G subscribers in one year
Military-run telecom provider Viettel on Thursday announced that its 4G subscribers reached 10.6 million by the end of March 2018, one year after its official launch of the service.
— Bizhub

Saigon Securities Inc targets 15 percent rise in profit
Saigon Securities Incorporation (SSI) targets pre-tax profits of 1.615 trillion VND (70.8 million USD) on revenues of 3.41 trillion VND (149.56 million USD) this year, year-on-year increases of 12 percent and 15 percent.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam’s proposed property tax won’t hit the poor: minister
Authorities claim the tax only aims to combat land speculation by high income groups.
— VnExpress

Vietnam, China look for stronger trade ties
Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh has suggested China’s Guangxi consider building a cooperation agreement with Vietnam in the domains of economics, trade, industry and investment, thus further promoting partnerships among the two countries’ enterprises.
— VietnamPlus

HCM City seeks to bring down soaring land prices
HCM City authorities are demanding that district authorities strictly enforce regulations on separating land plots for sale, especially in suburban areas where the practice has led to rising prices.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam, Malaysia seek to boost livestock product import-export
Measures to promote import-export of livestock products between Vietnam and Malaysia was the focus of a seminar held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on April 21.
— VietnamPlus

CPTPP, EVFTA to benefit Vietnamese fishery sector
Việt Nam’s fishery sector will gain advantages and export opportunities once the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) take effect, heard a seminar in HCM City on April 20.
— Viet Nam News

Macau Group Builds Vietnam’s Largest Casino
Construction is currently underway for Vietnam’s so far biggest casino as part of the Hoiana Resort on an ocean stretch in Vietnam’s central province of Quang Nam, south of Da Nang.
— Investvine

Canada offers big opportunities for Vietnam’s export wood products
Export turnover of Vietnam’s wood products to Canada is forecast to rise by 12-14 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of this year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).
— The Hanoi Times

Expats confused over Vietnam’s profile picture requirement for phone users
Some have no idea about the requirement, others find it invasive while network providers can’t guarantee help in English.
— VnExpress

National, Asia-Pacific quality awards bestowed on 77 firms
A ceremony was held in Hanoi on April 22 to honour 77 enterprises which won the 2017 National Quality Awards and International Asia Pacific Quality Award (IAPQA).
— Nhan Dan Online

Feature photo Lucas Jans

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