Vietnam Morning News For June 5

Vietnam upholds sentence for prominent human rights activists
A Vietnamese court on Monday upheld prison sentences against four human rights campaigners convicted of attempting to overthrow the state, a lawyer said.
— Channel NewsAsia

PetroVietnam contributes 1.79 bln USD to State budget in five months
The National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) has contributed 40.8 trillion VND (1.79 billion USD) to the State budget in the first five months of 2018, exceeding the plan by 32 percent and representing 55 percent of the yearly target.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam sets out green ambitions with bold targets for solar, rare earth
Vietnam plans to more than triple the amount of electricity it produces from renewable sources and push for a 26 per cent increase in household solar energy usage by 2030, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told Reuters in an interview.
— Channel NewsAsia

99-year land leasing tenure not key in preferential policies for SEZs: PM
For special administrative – economic zones (SEZs), the important issue would be to create favorable business environment, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has been quoted by local media as saying.
— The Hanoi Times

Drastic plastic – Vietnam beach awash with tide of blue waste
There’s almost more plastic than sand on this long, tree-lined beach: Plastic helmets, plastic furniture and the plastic leg of a shop mannequin all jut out of an ocean of blue plastic bags.
— Channel NewsAsia

Hanoi’s e-commerce booms, entailing potential risks
Hanoi has been one of the two leading localities in e-commerce for the past five years, but the trend has posed considerable risks in database, technology, transaction procedures, legal regulations and technology standards.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam National Shipping Lines to hold IPO in August
The Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) is scheduled to carry out its initial public offering (IPO) in August, according to the firm’s latest equitisation plan recently submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam Airlines, the fastest growing flag carrier in Southeast Asia, expands partnership with Sabre
Vietnam Airlines and Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR) are delighted to announce an expanded agreement which reaffirms their long-term partnership.
— AEC News Today/ PRNewswire (media release)

New Vietnam food centre seeks to improve traceability, safety and standards in wake of recent scandals
Blockchain technology is set to feature strongly at a new Vietnam Food Integrity Centre (FIC), which aims to improve standards in a nation that has been rocked by safety and hygiene scandals in the recent past.
— Food Navigator

Vietnam’s leading fruit exporter aims at 20 percent growth
Vietnam’s leading exporter of vegetables and fruits, the Dong Giao Foodstuff Export Joint Stock Company (DOVECO), expects a year-on-year increase of 20 percent in export for 2018.
— Fresh Plaza

Farmers shouldn’t expand pig herds: ministry
Farmers should not increase herds of pigs at present, though the market has seen a strong recovery in pig prices, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
— Bizhub

Vietnam Shrimp Farmers Slow Aquaculture Due to Plummeting Prices
Vietnam is the third largest shrimp exporter all over the world and its export value grew by 22 percent in 2017 to reach U.S. $3.85 billion compared with that of 2016.
— Seafood News

Vietnam returns to normal internet speed after week-long overhaul
Repair work on the notorious AAG undersea cable has finished three days ahead of schedule.
— VnExpress

Vietnamese catfish exports dominate US market
Vietnamese tra fish products has dominated the US market from January to April 2018 despite facing many trade barriers, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
— Bizhub

Vietnam unfazed by FDI plunge
Projects approved in the remaining months of the year will get FDI back on track, officials say.
— VnExpress

Vietnam’s trade seen stable despite decline in phone exports: HSBC
The Hanoitimes – A fall in shipment of phones and computer electronics, which constitute about a third of overall exports from Vietnam, contributed negatively to export growth for the second consecutive month in May, according to HSBC in its latest Vietnam`s report.
— The Hanoi Times

SOE equitisation needs faster pace
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has urged some State-owned enterprises (SOEs) to hasten their equitisation and divestment plans, as progress remains slow and might fail to meet their deadlines this year.
— Bizhub

Fruit and vegetable export turnover reaches US$1.62 billion
In the first five months of 2018, Vietnam`s fruit and vegetable export turnover is reported at US$1.62 billion, of which the China remained Vietnam`s largest importer, according to the Ministry of Agricultural & Rural Development (MARD).
— The Hanoi Times

Violations in Mobifone’s AVG purchase
A deal that saw MobiFone buy a massive 95 per cent of share in the privately AVG Audiovisual JSC has come under the spotlight.
— Bizhub

Vietnam asks Philippines, China to stop escalating tension in South China Sea
Vietnam called out the Philippines and China for further complicating the situation in the disputed features in the South China Sea, part of which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.
— Philippines Star

GIC-backed Techcombank shares nosedive in trading debut
The Hanoitimes – Hanoi-based Techcombank made a debut on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HoSE) with shares traded at VND102,400 (US$4.49) on June 4 at the close, down 20% from their reference price of VND128,000 ($5.62) apiece.
— The Hanoi Times

Vietnamese garment firms expect to navigate Australia
Vietnamese garment firms expect to navigate and increase garment exports to Australia once the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) takes effect, said director of the Yen Duong Ltd, Co. Thai Binh Duong.
— VietnamPlus

Made-in-Vietnam cars geared for East European roads
All conditions exist to compete and succeed in both domestic and foreign markets, Vingroup chairman asserts.
— VnExpress

Thai concerns over Vietnam, US import barriers
Thailand is calling on Vietnam to improve its customs clearance procedures after cutting import duties on built-up vehicles to zero under the Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA) agreement at the beginning of the year, according to local reports.
— Just-Auto

Vietnam, Argentina target 5 billion USD in bilateral trade value
Vietnam and Argentina hold potential to push bilateral trade to 5 billion USD in the next few years, heard a commercial exchange event in Ho Chi Minh City on June 4.
— VietnamPlus

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