Vietnam Morning News For January 5

South Korea’s GS Retail aims for 2,000 convenience stores in Vietnam
Son Kim Group, one of Vietnam’s leading privately-owned retailers, and South Korea’s GS Retail are planning to launch their first convenience store in Ho Chi Minh City on Jan. 19.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Securities sector to grab investor interest in 2018
The securities market is likely to be the most attractive investment channel for investors in the Vietnamese economy this year, analysts said.
— VietnamPlus

Garment sector eyes $34b exports
Viet Nam’s textile and garment industry targets a year-on-year increase of 10 per cent in export value, to US$34 billion, in 2018.
— Bizhub

Central bank injects US$792 million to support market
State Bank of Việt Nam (SBV) made a net cash injection of VNĐ18 trillion (US$792 million) into the economy in the past week.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnamese tycoon arrested after being deported from Singapore
A fugitive Vietnamese tycoon who is accused of spilling state secrets was arrested in Hanoi on Thursday after being deported from Singapore.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Government clarifies preferential tax lists for goods imported from the RoK
The Government has issued two decrees on Vietnam’s special preferential import tax lists as part of the efforts to implement the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (VKFTA), as well as another deal between ASEAN and the RoK (AKFTA).
— Nhan Dan Online

SBV gets new deputy governor
Doan Thai Son, general director of the Legal Department of the State Bank of Viet Nam, has been appointed deputy governor of SBV, according to a prime ministerial decision.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Real estate remains third largest FDI lurer
The real estate sector ranked third in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to Vietnam, accounting for 8.5% of the total registered capital, which was announced at the CBRE Vietnam’s press conference on the real estate market held on January 4.
— Nhan Dan Online

MWG picks up Tran Anh Digital World
The Mobile World Investment JSC (MWG) has announced the completion of its acquisition of Tran Anh Digital World, becoming the dominant shareholder with a stake exceeding 90 per cent.
— Vietnam Economic Times

PM approves launch of US direct flights this year
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved direct flights between Vietnam and key markets, including the US.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Interview: Vietnam’s economy faces underlying challenges, likely to grow 6.5 pct in 2018
In 2017, Vietnam’s economy had another good year of strong growth and broad macroeconomic stability, but some underlying challenges remain, a World Bank (WB) economist told Xinhua recently.
— Xinhua

Five largest families own assets worth $12.2b
Five richest families have seen their wealth swell in early 2018 thanks to the boom of Viet Nam’s stock market.
— Bizhub

Ho Chi Minh City court suspends Uber lawsuit against local taxman
A court in Ho Chi Minh City has halted a case brought by Uber B.V. against the municipal tax department, as the local company claiming to legally represent the ride-hailing service is in fact not authorized to do so.
— Tuoi Tre

Vietnam cops seize US$3m heroin hidden in tea packets
Vietnamese cops have seized US$3 million worth of heroin hidden inside packets of tea and smuggled from Laos, state media said on Thursday (Jan 4), the largest recorded haul of the drug in the communist country.
— Channel NewsAsia

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