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BUSINESS IN BRIEF 8/1
US
unveils anti-dumping duty on
In its
preliminary determination, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) has found
DOC
statistics show the
It
decided to impose dumping margins of 17.71% on Son Ha International
Corporation and Mejonson Industrial Vietnam Corporation Limited, and 53.91%
on other Vietnamese companies.
The
dumping margins on Malaysian companies are extremely high, more than 167%,
while those on Thai companies range only between 7-10%.
The US
Customs Service will ask these companies to pay cash deposits over 90 days
based on the proposed margins.
It is
scheduled to announce its final determination on May 17, 2014.
Japan
investors expanding e-commerce in
Although
Cyber Agent Ventures did not reveal the exact amount, it said it is investing
heavily in e-commerce in Southeast Asia, with an estimated US$20 million
earmarked for
Nguyen
Manh Dung, chief representative of Cyber Agent in
Bizewb.vn
has achieved high growth since its inception and Cyber Agent Ventures is
committed to further expanding its growth in
Bizweb.vn
officially made its debut in April 2010 and currently has more than 4,000
clients in 30 fields.
It
also won third prize in terms of information technology products at the
Vietnam Talent Awards.
Can
Tho aims for higher rice exports in 2014
The
Mekong Delta City of Can Tho City plans to export 1 million tonnes of rice in
2014, nearly 100,000 tonnes higher than 2013’s figure, earning US$516.5
million.
The
city considers rice an important key export item, helping to bring in foreign
currency resources, generate jobs and ensure stable incomes for farmers.
City
leaders have directed departments and relevant agencies to ease production
and consumption difficulties for farmers and businesses, while making
recommendations to the central government to support rice production and
sales.
This
year, Can Tho is applying the large-scale rice field model on more than
20,000 hectares in the 2013-14 winter-spring crop. It will sign contracts
with businesses and farmers to ensure sufficient rice for orders.
Currently,
local rice businesses have secured orders to export thousands of tonnes to
the
To
ensure sufficient products for export and domestic consumption during the
upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, businesses are continuing to purchase
abundant rice from farmers.
In
2013, Can Tho earned US$1,500 billion from exports, including nearly US$500
million from rice.
2013
rice exports decline in volume, value
It
only shipped 540,378 tonnes abroad in December, raking in US$264.770 million.
The
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development says 2013’s average rice export
price was US$441.2 per tonne, falling 3.4% over 2012.
According
to VFF, the price of dried paddy rice in the Mekong Delta region is currently
hovering around VND5,650-5,750 per kilogram..
660
businesses win High-Quality Product Awards
The
High-quality Vietnamese Product Business Association has announced a list of
660 businesses wining consumer votes for quality products.
Van
Minh Thang, Head of the organizing board, said questionnaires had been sent
to 16,000 households and individual consumers in 12 provinces and cities.
The
association also made direct interviews with 3,000 retailers at traditional
markets, supermarkets and convenience stores across the country.
To
meet consumer demand on food hygiene and safety, they also concurrently
conducted a survey on fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables.
Thang
revealed awards recipients include those who specialize in farm products and
traditional village handicrafts.
The
poll is carried out annually to improve the quality of Vietnamese products
and services and increase Vietnamese businesses’ competitive capacity.
LienVietPostBank
funds
Lien
Viet Post Joint Stock Commercial Bank (LienVietPostBank) has approved a
credit package worth US$193.66 million for the expansion of the Xekaman 1
hydropower plant in
The
decision makes the loan, with repayment term of 14 years, one of the largest
ever granted by the bank.
Additionally,
the bank of Nomura Singapore Special Investments Pte Ltd has agreed to
provide US$50 million of funding for the project.
The
Xekaman 1 hydropower plant project, principally invested by Viet-Lao Power
Joint Stock Company (VLPC), is part of an energy cooperation programme
between the Vietnamese and Lao governments.
The
project is of great economic, political and cultural significance and plays a
critically vital role in providing electricity to the two countries.
Construction
of the plant began in March 2011 and is expected to be completed in 2016.
Once
operational, the plant will have a combined capacity of 322MW and generate
1.218 billion KWh, 80% of which is exported to
Price
policies to boost market transparency
Economist
Vu Dinh Anh said market prices in 2014 will see a certain impact from
traditional price policies and a temporary decline in gross investment and
consumption.
The
relaxation of fiscal policies and the issuance of VND17 trillion (US$809
million) worth of investment bonds during 2011-15 will also affect prices on
the ground.
The
government's attempts to help enterprises overcome crises and accelerate
economic growth will help to circulate the widespread flow of money more
rapidly, and this will likely put some pressure on inflation.
Economists
argue that any change in prices this year should depend on the administration
of electricity, coal, fuel, healthcare services, and education.
Tran
Van Hieu, Deputy Minister of Finance, confirmed that essential items will be
managed according to the market-oriented principles formed by the State's
administration.
Experts
called for a flexible approach to issuing, allocating and implementing
policies with a view to minimising the impact on the market. The State was
also expected to apply anti-monopolistic measures to raise competitiveness.
Prices
will be publicised to reinforce public scrutiny.
Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung instructed the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to improve
price administration for goods, especially essential items, to curb
speculation and unreasonable prices.
In an
effort to control and stabilise prices during Lunar New Year 2014 (Tet), MoF
collaborated with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to investigate the
prices and quality of commodities and essential goods that will be used
during the festive season.
Nguyen
Anh Tuan, head of the Price Administration Department, noted that the initial
investigation showed that the market had a stable supply of goods, so there
will not be much pressure on price administration.
Price
management in 2013 has been well appraised. MoF's Price Management Department
explained that the movements of prices last year were the same as those seen
every year. The department's efforts helped keep the prices reasonable and
stable.
Hoa
Lac hi-tech zone toasts 70 new projects in 2013
The management
board of the Hoa Lac hi-tech zone in
Board
head Pham Dai Duong noted land clearance problems, the most difficult issue
in the past 10 years, have been solved in the last months of 2013 with great
support from the government.
As a
result, the management board intends to concentrate on building
infrastructure and improving the investment environment in 2014, he added.
Duong
said the board will also present 65 hectares to the
On
January 3, the board awarded investment certificates for Bac A Bank and
Viettel Corporation projects worth more than US$95 million. It also received
investment proposals for projects such as constructing the Vietnam–Korean
Institute of Science and Technology and the
At an
event to review the zone's activities in 2013, Minister of Science and
Technology Nguyen Quan appreciated the efforts and achievements of the
management board during the year.
The
results have given us faith and hope for building the hi-tech zone, meeting
the expectations of the government, he stated.
The
minister remarked that 2013 was an important year for science and technology
as the National Assembly had recently passed laws to regulate it.
He
expected that the zone will acquire more achievements this year thanks to the
policies and measures implemented by the government.
Bank
profit postings reveal year of mixed results
A
number of banks have released profit results in 2013 that portray both a
gloomy and bright picture of the banking industry.
The
market saw an immense effort by banks to present their balance sheets and
debt portfolios as cleaner and safer than in past years.
Vietinbank's
Chairman Pham Huy Hung said that the bank's pre-tax profit may hit VND7.7
trillion (US$365 million), which is slightly up by 2.6% against planned.
Sacombank
gained a pre-tax profit of VND2.8 trillion (US$132.7 million), which Chairman
Pham Huu Phu saw as a good attempt in 2013. The HCM City-based bank targets
VND3 trillion (US$142.2 million) this year.
TPBank
announced a 15% increase in profits last year, reaching VND362 billion
(US$17.15 million).
KienLongBank
saw approximately VND400 billion (US$18.95 million), which is a little lower
in pre-tax profits against the target of VND493 billion (US$23.36 million),
according to the bank's chairman Vo Quoc Thang, and as quoted by Tri Thuc
Tre, the online newspaper.
According
to the statistics of the State Bank of
Vietinbank's
total assets were up 13% and the bad debt ratio retained less than 1% (under
the standard of 3%). The bad debt ratio at TPBank was merely under 3%.
The
better control of non-performing loans at many local banks was made with the debt
purchases by the Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC). The wholly State
owned company, managed by the central bank, has bought VND38.9 trillion
(US$1.85 billion) bad debts at a cost of VND32.4 trillion (US$1.54 billion)
of its special bonds from 35 credit institutions as of December 31, 2013.
A
State Bank of
The
largest profit fall ranged from 20% to 30%. Only 30.4% of banks said that
their business activities improved during the period, while 21.5% disclosed
that their business results had worsened.
Up to
89.8% of the banks interviewed said that their outstanding loans had
increased by late 2013, when compared to the number at the end of the
previous year.
Signatories
to the MoU were Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim
Thoa and Guinea-Bissau‘s Secretary of State for Trade Ibraima Djaló.
However,
two-way trade remains modest, with
Thoa
quoted statistics saying bilateral trade bounced back in 2013, with
Vietnamese exports to
Ibraima
Djalo said trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries have
yet to match their potential due to geographical distance and lack of
information about markets and partners.
At a
previous meeting, Ho Thi Kim Thoa and Ibraima Djalo also discussed measures
to strengthen bilateral economic and trade ties, such as completing the legal
framework and creating a favorable environment for the two business
communities to conduct exchange activities and establish partnerships.
They
said the two countries need to share information on business and investment
opportunities, and lists of international exhibitions and import and export
companies, enabling their businesses to boost trade within the framework of
cooperation between the French-speaking countries of the
Export
turnover of
Shrimp
– a key hard currency earner
Vietnamese
shrimp businesses enjoyed unprecedented success in 2013, with their export
earnings reaching US$3 billion for the first time.
Vietnam
Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Chairman Tran Thien
Hai said the figure far exceeded the US$2.4 billion target set earlier this
year, and contributed 44% of the fisheries sector’s total export value.
The
high export value was driven by high prices of shrimp on the global market
following a 15% fall in volume caused by early mortality syndrome (
The
emergence of white-legged shrimp farming also contributed to export
windfalls, totalling US$1.4 billion in 11 months. Prawn exports conversely
earned US$1.2 billion.
VASEP
forecasts 2014 will be a much tougher year for Vietnamese shrimp businesses
after Chinese and Thai competitors recover from the effects of
This
is a joint venture project between
The
US$10 million first phase will build workshops and recruit around 3,000 local
workers by the end of 2014.
The
factory hopes for an annual production of around 9 million products by 2016,
employing 9,000 workers.
An
Shen Representative Lin Yuan Chun said the new factory was partly inspired by
the success of its earlier footwear factory joint venture in Dong Thap
province’s Thap Muoi district.
Trade
deals expected to boost exports
The
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which includes
The
opportunities for Vietnamese exporters to increase their market share will
increase enormously as the 12 countries involved in the TPP agreement make up
40 per cent of global GDP and over 30 per cent of the total world
export-import revenue, according to the minister of Industry and Trade, Vu
Huy Hoang
Phu
said that once the Viet Nam-EU free trade agreement comes into effect,
Vietnamese enterprises would benefit from tariff preferences and fewer trade
barriers. However, he urged local producers to improve product quality and
design, and enhance their competitiveness to maintain markets.
Viet
Nam's Trade Counsellor in the United States (US), Dao Tran Nhan, noted that
the US would continue to be Viet Nam's largest market and predicted that
exports to the
US
were likely to expand 10 per cent this year.
However,
Nhan also reminded enterprises of the difficulties in entering the
Therefore,
it was necessary for firms to update and study the country's new policies in
several areas to maintain a steady stream of exports to the
Vice
Chairman of the Viet Nam Textile and Apparel Association Pham Xuan Hong said
that
Hong
added that local garment producers were picking up the pace on plans to
reduce raw material imports and processing to prepare for the country's
participation in the TPP.
General
Secretary of the Viet Nam Seafood Exporters and Producers Truong Dinh Hoe
forecast that shrimp and tra fish would continue to account for the country's
key exports in 2014.
Hoe
expected seafood exports to the
General
Secretary of the Viet Nam Fruit Association Nguyen Van Ky is optimistic about
fruit and vegetable exports this year as well, since global fruit and
vegetable consumption is forecast to rise by 5 per cent.
Ky
expects Vietnamese fruit exports to increase since more fruits, such as
mango, litchi and longan, will qualify for exports to the
To
capitalise on this opportunity, Ky urged Vietnamese fruit exporters to
increase their investments in technology across the supply chain, from
cultivation and harvesting to processing and preservation.
Fisheries
look to net more exports on surging value
Viet
Nam will continue expanding its seafood export market in 2014 after
successfully increasing export value last year, noted the Viet Nam
Association Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Nguyen
Hoai
In
addition, local exporters will continue driving seafood exports to
traditional markets such as the
This
year, if trade agreements such as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the
free trade agreement between
To
make use of these advantages for boosting exports, local seafood exporters
should focus on increasing output and improving quality further for export
seafood products, he said.
Under
the agreements, he explained, tariffs are zero or at a low level but the
export markets will add stricter non-tariff barriers for exported products,
including barriers based on origin, quality standards, food hygiene and
safety, and standards of preservation and packaging.
According
to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,
The
Meanwhile,
the export value of seafood to China, Canada and Thailand last year also saw
a surge of 62.87 per cent, 33.65 per cent and 7.53 per cent respectively,
against
2012.
In
October 2013,
The
value of shrimp and prawn exports last year gained a year-on-year increase of
40 per cent, while other kinds of seafood products remained at the same rate
or even reduced because of high demand for shrimp on the world market and the
low supply from other producers due to a shrimp disease outbreak.
The
nation will continue to see sustainable development of the prawn and shrimp
market for the near future, he said, because local shrimp exporters have had
a low supply of prawn and shrimp in recent years as Chinese traders have
purchased these for export to
The
association has called on the State to adopt policies that encourage the
export of value-added seafood products to
HCMC
achieves rapid growth, low inflation
The
country's economic hub
Speaking
at a meeting between the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission and
HCM City People's Committee on Friday, the head of the commission, Vuong
Dinh
Hue, highly praised the achievement of
After
over 25 years of doi moi (renewal),
Its
average annual growth in the period was 9.6 per cent, 1.7 times the national
average.
While
it was unable to hit the 2013 growth target, the city still managed 9.3 per
cent growth. Its per capita income rose to US$4,513.
Its
economic restructuring is on the right track, focusing on major industries
and increasing value addition in the services sector.
"
He
urged the city authorities to focus on the targets set under Party
resolutions, especially those pertaining to rapid and sustainable growth,
turning into an economic, financial, cultural, medical, educational,
scientific, and technological hub that will spearhead the country's
socio-economic development.
Nguyen
Van Dua, deputy secretary of the city Party Committee, said the city had set
an economic growth target of 9.5-10 per cent for this year.
To
achieve this, the city would take measures like stabilising the economy,
reviving production and business, improving growth quality, restructuring and
changing the growth model, and developing infrastructure, he added.
Tra
Vinh targets VND20b in exports to Cambodia
The
southern
To
reach the target, the province was supporting enterprises, co-operatives and
production companies to develop goods distribution channels in
Four
production companies from
The
centre has also recently sent two groups of goods to
Food
exporters plan for tough times
The
agricultural sector is expected to continue facing difficulties in increasing
exports in terms of markets and price, although there could be signs of mild
improvement, experts said.
Last
year, some of the exports of the agricultural, forestry and seafood sectors
were valued at a total of US$1 billion or higher. These exports included
seafood, wood and wood products, rice, rubber, coffee, cashew and cassava.
In
2014, two more agricultural product segments – cashew nuts and fruits and
vegetables – are expected to join the list of export segments earning at
least $1 billion by value.
Do Ha
Nam, chairman of the Viet Nam Pepper Association, noted that last year, the
pepper industry generated a record high of $900 million in exports by value,
possibly even $1 billion if the exports from border gates are included.
Towards
the end of 2013, the price of pepper increased steadily in the local market,
while the export price rose to $7,000 per tonne in December. The export price
surged sharply due to high demand in the global market,
The
fruit and vegetable industry is also expected to earn more than $1 billion in
exports by value this year if the sector maintains the growth rate of 2013.
The industry's exports were valued at nearly $1 billion last year.
Meanwhile,
the cashew nut industry is ready to raise exports to $2 billion this year if
cashew processing companies decide to further invest in processing facilities
to increase the proportion of value-added products, as well as the value of
exports, said Nguyen Duc Thanh, chairman of the Viet Nam Cashew Association.
Last
year, the sector earned $1.8 billion from exporting raw cashew nuts and
processed cashew products, he added.
The
wood and wood products industry is estimated to earn $6 billion in exports by
value in 2014 if it maintains its 2013 growth rate. In 2013, the industry's
exports were valued at $5-5.5 billion.
In the
case of rice production, Truong Thanh Phong, chairman of the Viet Nam Food
Association, said local rice exporters had signed contracts to export rice
early this year, including a contract for shipping 500,000 tonnes of 25-per
cent broken rice to the
This
year, several countries plan to promote local rice production to reduce rice
imports, while satisfying local demand.
To
promote consumption, farmers must reduce production cost and increase the output
of high-quality rice, Thanh added.
New
rules govern e-commerce firms
Enterprises
and individuals operating electronic commerce businesses will be fined if
they have not registered their businesses with the Ministry of Industry and
Trade (MoIT).
According
to Decree No 185 of the Government, which came into effect on January 1,
2014, unregistered firms and individuals will be fined VND10-100 million
(US$475-4,760) and VND10-50 million ($475-2,380), respectively.
The
penalties can also be applied in other cases, such as companies and
individuals that do not report changes of information on their registered
websites or who take advantage of their e-commerce business to illegally
attract capital.
Along
with payments, websites providing e-commerce services will be suspended from
operating from six to 12 months. Management agencies are to confiscate
evidence of violations, withdraw domain names ".vn", ask owners to
resolve problems they caused and pay for illegal profits.
MoIT's
However,
there were still thousands of websites not completing their registrations.
The agency will cooperate with other administrations to investigate and check
firms and individuals working in e-commerce.
Websites
to be investigated include those selling products and providing e-commerce
services, such as e-commerce trading floors, online auction websites, online
promotional websites and others regulated by MoIT.
Interest
rate lowered for property bailout loans
Home
loans supported by last year's property bailout package saw a drop in
interest rate from 6 per cent to 5 per cent on Thursday.
The
move was initiated by the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) on Thursday for all
home loans that fall within the purview of the Government's VND30 trillion
(US$1.43 billion) bailout package for property owners.
Commercial
banks were expected to apply the new rate for new loans this year, beginning
on the same day, SBV Governor Nguyen Van Binh said while announcing the
decision.
In
mid-December last year, the total registered loans reached a value of over
VND1.65 trillion ($78.57 million), while some VND555 billion ($26.43 million)
was disbursed from the package, news website ttvn.vn reported, citing
Ministry of Construction and central bank sources.
Credit
institutions signed contracts to lend a total amount of VND1.13 trillion
($53.81 million) to businesses and disbursed VND205 billion ($9.76 million).
For individual loans, the figures were VND527 billion ($25.1 million) and
VND350 billion ($16.67 million), respectively.
The
Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam, Mekong Housing Bank,
Vietcombank, and Vietinbank, as well as Agribank, were responsible for the
loans.
SBV
Credit Department Director Nguyen Viet Manh told the press recently that the
central bank will petition the government to allow more banks to participate
in the programme.
Global
economic woes slow coal sales
The
Viet Nam Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) shipped 11.6 million
tonnes of coal in 2013, a 19.6 per cent decrease compared to 2012.
The
Ministry of Industry and Trade's figures showed that the slow recovery of the
world economy and domestic situation has affected coal sales, as well as
exports.
In
2013, as many as 41.19 tonnes of coal were mined in the country, a 1.8 per
cent decline from 2012. Vinacomin's output also fell 2.5 per cent in
comparison with 2012, reaching 39.5 million tonnes.
Also,
Vinacomin's consumption in 2013 was estimated at 39 million tonnes, which was
the same amount as in 2012. Domestic coal sales posted an 11 per cent
increase over 2012 to 27.4 million tonnes.
Speaking
at an online meeting earlier this week, Le Minh Chuan, Vinacomin's general
director, said the group would strive to produce and consume 3.5 million
tonnes of coal this month. Of this number, domestic coal consumption would
reach 2.75 million tonnes while exports would amount to 0.75 million tonnes.
The
group expects to meet 27 per cent of the entire year's target in the first
quarter.
Vinacomin's
Dong Bac Corporation in south-eastern
Do
Manh Giap, the corporation's deputy director, told VOV online newspaper that
they would work to produce, process and consume over five million tonnes of
coal this year.
Electronics
market faces tough year
Domestic
electronics retailers are facing challenges this year because of a sharp
decrease in consumer purchases and fierce competition.
Dinh
Anh Huan, general director of dienmay.com told ictnews online newspaper that
the market last year seemed to display little growth. The quiet market and
competition had made the demand for electronic products in the local market
fall by 30 per cent last year, compared to 2012.
Huan
said some electronics products saw growth, such as smartphones with a 30 per
cent increase and tablet computers, with sales that were three times higher
than in 2012.
He
added that despite promotions and sale programmes of even 30-50 per cent off,
electronics stores still found it difficult to attract customers.
Nguyen
Thanh Hai, marketing director of MediaMart, told the newspaper that the
nation's northern market, especially Ha Noi, is faced with an over-demand of
products.
Several
retailers have worked to overcome during this difficult period or risk
bankruptcy, while others continue to expand.
Meanwhile,
a report from the Ministry of Planning and Investment last month forecast
that the economy would continue to recover, but would not see a high growth
rate this year.
Of
note, Huan said consumers would continue adding to their savings, thus
keeping their purchasing power at lower levels.
The
Viet Nam Retailers Association said the electronics market was considered to
have high potential, since no one company accounted for more than 10 per cent
of the domestic market share.
However,
experts said the greatest challenge facing electronics retailers this year
would be competition from both domestic companies and integration into the
global economy.
By the
beginning of next year, under the World Trade Organisation's commitment,
They
said electronics retailers should create a road map to develop their internal
resources, stabilise long-term finances and strengthen supply chain models.
In
addition, they should better manage customers and have an experienced staff
to ensure sustainable development and effective competition.
VN
stock market set to ride new growth wave in 2014
The
stock market is poised to surge to record highs and outperform 2013,
according to management officials.
This
uptrend is due to the ongoing restructuring and new securities products, they
said.
The
economic growth of 2013 can be traced back to initiatives such as extending
trading hours, deploying new indexes and increasing foreign investment.
All
these strategies had a positive impact on the development of the stock market
and this could be the reason why the economic landscape looks good this year.
"Restructuring
the stock market is heading in the right direction, not by using
administrative measures but by employing market-based solutions," said
the State Securities Commission's (SSC) president Vu Bang.
With
more economic policies in the pipeline and the increasing support for the
stock market, the market was expected to be healthier and more vibrant than
last year, he added.
The
SSC will focus on completing two important projects in 2014: the development
of derivative products and the merging of the two stock exchanges.
Another
critical initiative that is geared towards attracting foreign investment and
to helping the market in general is the proposal of lifting the limitation on
foreign ownership.
This
will come into effect soon.
Tran
Dac Sinh, chairman of the HCM City Stock Exchange, said he had held meetings
with at least 10 foreign investors each month, including those with large
investment funds.
"The
investors expressed their desire to see an increase in the transaction value
each day from US$500 million to $1 billion and to be able to use other tools
such as exchange-traded funds and covered warrants," he said.
Sinh
predicted a spate of opportunities in 2014. The VN30 Index rose more than 20
per cent last year. Some of the shares surged to 300 per cent.
"Investors
can choose whichever stocks they think are profitable. I foresee consumer
goods companies performing best," Sinh added.
Dong
Nai aims for 16 per cent trade growth
The
southern province of Dong Nai aims to achieve an annual trade growth of 16
per cent between 2015 and 2020, according to the provincial trade development
plan until 2020.
According
to the plan, the province will strive to achieve more than VND155.26 trillion
(US$7.39 billion) in total retail trade and service revenue by 2015.
Last
year, the province's total revenue from retail trade and services rose 14.5
per cent year-on-year to VND98.65 trillion ($4.69 billion).
Kien
Giang cracks down on mining, stone quarries
The
People's Committee of southern Kien Giang Province recently banned mining and
extracting minerals at 97 sites until 2020.
The
restricted areas include historical and cultural locations, tourist
destinations, protective forests, special use forests, geological
conservation sites, planning zones for
security
and national defense, religious locations, and protection zones for
transportation, irrigation, dykes, water supplies, drainage, waste disposal,
electrical conduction, petrol, gas and communications.
Prohibited
limestone quarries are located in many mountains, such as Da Dung, Bai Voi
and Son Tra. Locations of quarries for construction stones include Hon Dat
District and Hon Tre in Kien Hai District. The mining of peat coal in U Minh
Thuong District has also been banned.
Vinacomin
targets 37.7 mln tonnes of coal in 2014
The
Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) aims to produce 37.7
million tonnes of coal and sell 35 million tonnes this year.
Despite
the difficult economic situation in 2013, the group fulfilled last year’s raw
production and sales targets, 42.6 million tonnes and 39 million tonnes
respectively. It earned more than 97 trillion VND (over 4.6 billion USD).
To
achieve its 2014 targets, Vinacomin will focus on improving technology, while
urging Quang Ninh province – the country’s biggest coal mine - to
continuously facilitate the group by creating favourable mechanisms and
policies.
Phu
Quoc farmers enjoy bumper pepper harvest
Farmers
in the island district of Phu Quoc, the southern province of Kien Giang,
enjoy a bumper pepper harvest in 2013 with an output of 930 tonnes, up 7
percent from the previous year.
Phu
Quoc is the largest pepper growing district in the Mekong Delta with nearly
430 ha under the tree. Pepper here is one of the best in the country.
Pham
Van Hoa, a pepper grower in hamlet 2, Cua Can commune, said new farming
techniques, particularly in the use of fertilizers, have helped increase the
pepper productivity. Instead of fertilizing only once a year, he now uses a
combination of cow, bat and fish manure for the plants depending on their
growth period.
As a
result, Hoa’s family harvested an average 3-4kg of pepper beans from each
bush of pepper plants, compared to only 2 kg previously. They expect to bring
in 2.8 tonnes of pepper this year, earning some 420 million VND (20,000 USD).
The
island district has worked out plans to expand pepper area to 500 ha in 2015,
while encouraging local farmers to adopt Global GAP (Good Agricultural
Practice) cultivation model.
Pepper
is an export staple of Vietnam, which is sold to more than 80 countries and
territories, with the EU, Asia and the US being the largest importers.
Based
on market forecasts, the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA) expects pepper
exports to reach 130,000 tonnes this year with a market value of 850 million
USD.
Pepper
is grown primarily in the provinces of Binh Phuoc, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak
Nong, Dong Nai and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
Dong
Nai exports durians, rambutans to Japan with juicy contract
A
cooperative in the southern province of Dong Nai will supply unlimited
amounts of durians and rambutants to Japan’s Aeon supermarket chain in 2014.
This
was agreed under a long-term contract recently signed between representatives
from the Xuan Thanh agricultural service cooperative and the Aeon
supermarket.
The
Japanese side earlier embarked on a fact-finding tour to Dong Nai to study
the local farming techniques and decided to purchase durians for
35,000-40,000 VND per kilogram and rambutans for 12,000-13,000 VND per kilogram,
slightly higher than domestic market prices.
The
contract will benefit over 150 local farmers who are expected to sell about
200 tonnes of Long Khanh-branded rambutans and durians to the Japanese
importer, said head of the cooperative Pham Phu Quoc.
The
cooperative’s two types of fruits have been verified by the National Office
of Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Science and Technology since
2011.
Long
Khanh town boasts the largest fruit cultivation area in Dong Nai with 3,000
hectares of rambutans and nearly 1,300 hectares of durians.
Last
year, it harvested 12-15 tonnes of durians per hectare and 27 tonnes of
rambutants per hectare.
Apart
from supplying fruits to the Aeon supermarket chain, the commune plans to
expand its market nationwide, Quoc added.-
Source:
VEF/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri/VIR
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Thứ Ba, 7 tháng 1, 2014
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