Vietnam Morning News For February 22

Petrol price decreases for first time in 2018
The retail price of petrol RON95 decreased VND400 per litre from 3pm on Wednesday, according to an announcement by the ministries of industry and trade and finance.
— Bizhub

Vietnam eyes 21 billion USD in cultivation exports in 2018
The cultivation sector aims to gross over 21 billion USD in export turnover in 2018, representing a year-on-year rise of 2.2-2.3 percent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
— VietnamPlus

Changes in Vietnam’s Franchising Law
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decree No.08/2018/ND-CP (Decree 08) with immediate effect on 15 January 2018, amending several decrees related to business conditions in various areas including franchising, to reduce administrative procedures.
— Vietnam Briefing

Exports of tra fish to UK increase
Tra fish exports to the UK were worth US$45.7 million last year, an increase of 2.5 per cent over the previous year, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.
— Viet Nam News

VinaCapital invests $45m in PV Power, Binh Son refinery in January IPOs
VinaCapital’s flagship fund, Vietnam Opportunity Fund (VOF), invested approximately $45 million into two subsidiaries of PetroVietnam including PV Power and Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical (BSR) in their initial public offering (IPOs) conducted in January.
— DealStreetAsia

Vinamilk exports hit hard by war in the Middle East
Vietnam Dairy Products says that its overseas operations were hit by a halt in its exports to the Middle East due to geopolitical conflict there.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Bac Ninh ranks second in FDI attraction in 2017
The northern province of Bac Ninh attracted 3.5 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2017, ranking second among provinces and cities across the country.
— VietnamPlus

Positive outlook for FMCG sector
Fast moving consumer goods are expected to have another year of strong growth in 2018 and rise 6-7 per cent over the preceding year, according to a Kantar Worldpanel report on Viet Nam FMCG market.
— Bizhub

Thaco launches new agricultural machine factory
The Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco) on February 21 launched its agricultural machine factory in Chu Lai open economic zone in the central province of Quang Nam.
— VietnamPlus

Thái Bình begins $24.6m auto parts factory
Construction on a US$24.6-million auto parts factory is under-way in the northern Thái Bình Province’s Ti?n H?i Industrial Zone with completion expected in July 2019.
— Viet Nam News

Sellers hunting belles for live-streamed sales in Vietnam
Many online shopping sites in Vietnam have recently begun hiring attractive women to advertise their products via live videos on social media.
— Tuoi Tre

Global powerhouses to back circular economy
Vietnam’s ambition to build a circular economy – aimed at combating pollution and achieving more sustainable development by reusing and recycling defunct products – has attracted the participation of several foreign firms.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Daily grind resumes as factories get back to business after Tet holiday
Many businesses across the country have resumed production after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.
— Nhan Dan Online

Outlook bright for Vietnam’s soaring stock market in 2018
After hitting a decade-long high in 2017, the banking and energy sectors could drive the market to record levels.
— VnExpress

Mud-free eel breeding becoming commercial success
Farmers in central Thua Thien-Hue province have started breeding eels to prevent the fish species from becoming extinct.
— VietnamPlus

Feature photo Graeme Newcomb

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