Vietnam Morning News For March 30

Vietnam economy grows at best rate in a decade
Vietnam’s economy saw its strongest first-quarter growth in a decade, data showed on Thursday (Mar 29), driven by a surge in electronics manufacturing and exports.
— Channel NewsAsia

Vietnam has huge potential in franchising: experts
Many international and regional brands will enter Viet Nam’s retail and franchise sector in the coming years, according to experts taking part in Viet Nam Retail and Franchise Conference held in HCM City on Wednesday.
— Bizhub

Domestic cement consumption down, export market bright
Domestic cement consumption fell in March, while cement exports had growth against the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Construction.
— VietnamPlus

U.S. delivers more patrol boats to Vietnam amid deepening security ties
The United States has given six patrol boats to the Vietnamese Coast Guard, the U.S. embassy in Hanoi said on Thursday, amid warming ties between the former foes.
— Business Insider

Foreign investors target garment shares to seize CPTPP
Foreign investors spent VND810 billion (US$35.68 million) to buy 50 million shares of the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex), aimed to seize opportunities from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on Vietnam’s textile and garment.
— The Hanoi Times

China becomes number one fruit and veg export market for Vietnam
According to the Vietnam Economic Paper the export value of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables was 790 million USD in the period from January 1st to March 15th.
— Fresh Plaza

Vietnam tra fish export normal despite higher U.S. tariffs
Vietnamese tra fish export to the U.S. remains uninterrupted despite the U.S. tariff hike, said U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink at a press conference on March 26.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Hanoi’s exports surge 16.9 percent in first quarter
Hanoi’s export turnover hit 3.15 billion USD in the first quarter of 2018, representing a year-on-year increase of 16.9 percent, according to the municipal Department of Industry and Trade.
— VietnamPlus

Agriculture sector earns nearly US$9 billion from exports
The agriculture sector has shown optimistic performance right at first months of the year, posting a US$8.7 billion export value of agriculture, forestry and fishery products in the first quarter.
— The Hanoi Times

Vietnam: GPBank to sell 26.9% stake in Hanoi-based Kim Lien for $25m
Hanoi-based Global Petro Commercial JSC (GPBank) expects to earn VND570 billion ($25.08 million) by selling a 26.9 per cent stake in Kim Lien Tourism JSC.
— DealStreetAsia

Vietnam jails ex politburo member again for graft
A former politburo member in Vietnam was jailed for 18 years today, his second graft conviction this year as part of an aggressive anti-corruption sweep targeting senior officials, bankers and businessmen.
— Business Standard

In Cuba, Vietnam Communist Party chief advocates economic reforms
The head of Vietnam’s Communist Party advocated for the importance of market-oriented economic reforms on a two-day visit to old ally Cuba, which is struggling to liberalize its poorly Soviet-style command economy.
— Business Insider

Colossal Vietnam-produced container cranes shipped to India
A shipment of giant ship-to-shore cranes developed by a Vietnamese company began their journey to an Indian port on Wednesday as part of a multi-crane contract between the firm and its foreign partner.
— Tuoi Tre

Ho Chi Minh City to develop smart urban area
Ho Chi Minh City People`s Committee has approved the task of selecting the idea to develop Can Gio district into smart urban area.
— The Hanoi Times

Vietnam wants IMF’s support in economic restructuring
The Vietnamese Government hopes to receive further policy evaluations and consultancies from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restructure the economy, creating momentum for growth, said Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue.
— Nhan Dan Online

No.1 Hi-Tech Vinamilk dairy farm inaugurated in Thanh Hoa
Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) has just inaugurated No.1 Hi-Tech Vinamilk dairy farm in the town of Thong Nhat, Yen Dinh district, Thanh Hoa province.
— The Hanoi Times

How Vietnam Changed Journalism
When I first got to Saigon as a journalist, in 1963, I took it for granted that American policy to counter Communist expansion into the southern part of Vietnam was the right thing to do.
— New York Times

Vietnam, Belarus ink business cooperation deals
Business cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus will be further developed following trade deals inked between the two sides in the northern province of Hung Yen on March 29 in the presence of Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko.
— Nhan Dan Online

MoIT orders Grab to report on acquisition of Uber
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on Tuesday asked Grab Taxi Company Limited to report on its acquisition of Uber in the Southeast Asian market, including Viet Nam.
— Bizhub

Feature photo Lucas Jans

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