BUSINESS IN BRIEF 24/11 VMware launches new solution at VForum         VMware, a global provider of cloud infrastructure and business mobility, announced its new business partnerships and digital solution products at its annual Vforum held in HCM City on Monday. The company said that it had demonstrated how enterprises can achieve business outcomes with a portfolio of solutions that help modernize date centres, integrate public clouds and empower digital workspaces. It is partnering with companies around the world, including Telstra, M1, Vodafone, NTT, AT&T, Deutsche Telekom and most major telcos in Viet Nam to help them transform their journey across the digital value chain, including new connected ecosystems, new business models, new networks and new clouds. Vmware solutions for transformation include Integrated OpenStack 4.0, VMware vRealize Network Insight and new vSAN offerings to reduce the cost and complexity of collecting, storing and processing data and support Internet of Things (IoT) initiatives. At VForum, the company also announced its new vision of the cloud called edge computing, where the physical world meets the digital. It introduced the VMware Cloud Foundation, a simple, agile, and secure cloud infrastructure. A new approach to cyber security, VMware Appdefense, was also introduced. “Digital transformation is providing tangible results for businesses, and it is encouraging to see more organisations leveraging technology to push the boundaries of what’s possible, We have committed to equip organisations with the right tools to run, manage, connect and secure any application on any cloud to any device, enabling them to take full advantage of opportunities before them,” said Adrian Hia, general manager of Nascent Markets and Viet Nam VMware.  MyVIB Social Keyboard makes debut     The Vietnam International Bank (VIB) on Wednesday launched its new application – MyVIB Social Keyboard – enabling customers to transfer money on social networks in just five minutes. Accordingly, if customers who are having a conversation with someone on social networks such as Facebook Messenger, Viber, Zalo, Whatsapp, Twitter and Snapchat want to transfer money to the person, they can switch to “MyVIB Keyboard-MyVIB” mode. They can then transfer money without having to open any other application. Developed by VIB and Fintech Weezi Digital Co, the new application will help customers save time required to transfer money when chatting because they do not need to exit the screen to log onto MyVIB – the bank’s internet banking. Both internal and external bank transfers will take place on the "MyVIB Social Keyboard" at the chat screen and avoid sending money to incorrect recipients. For security purposes, each transfer request must be authenticated via the OTP code sent to the sender’s phone, VIB said it its statement. "Today, more and more people prefer texting instead of making phone calls and online shopping is gradually replacing traditional shopping," Tran Nhat Minh, VIB deputy general director said, expecting that the new application will bring customers who want to shop and transfer money via social networks exciting experiences of online banking services but also push up the development of non-cash payments in Viet Nam, he said.  Group focuses on trust in VN food      The Association of Food Transparency (AFT) made its debut in HCM City on Wednesday with the aim of connecting responsible players in the food production chain for the benefit of society and the environment. AFT will also work to raise prestige and protect and create a favourable environment for producers and traders who offer safe, healthy food with transparency standards with the aim of expanding market share for the products at home and abroad. AFT will also work to protect the interests of consumers and public health, as well as improve food production industry by promoting safe and transparent products. Nguyen Thi Hong Minh, chairwoman of the Advocacy Committee for the establishment of AFT, said AFT includes 59 individuals and organisations, including owners of farms, co-operatives, agricultural startups, manufacturers, retailers, raw materials suppliers, and service providers. AFT members who are safe-food producers will be transparent in offering information to consumers, with the aim of ensuring people’s health and future generations, she said. Enterprises participating in AFT must have certification related to product quality such as HACCP, GLOBAL GAP, VIETGAP, organic certification, food safety and hygiene certification. All members must also commit to provide transparent information about their products, protect people and community health, maintain prestige and quality of Vietnamese food, protect and develop brands and not compromise the association’s common interests or legitimate interests of other members. Minh said “unsafe food was still widespread in the market, affecting people’s health.” The use of plant protection chemicals in farming, antibiotics in animal breeding and preservatives in foodstuff is still common, and authorised agencies appear unable to control it, she said. Many people remain concerned about what is safe to eat and drink, she said. Dr Vu Trong Khai, member of the Viet Nam Agricultural Alliance, said many companies had invested in producing safe food products, but consumers do not trust them because inspection and certification systems have problems. If the association can recover consumer trust, it will be a great success, he said. Minh said the agricultural sector would not develop in a sustainable manner if producers did not work together to meet basic standards, quality and brand development in line with socio-economic development and consumer demand. Safe food producers need to collaborate to market their products to win consumer trust, she added. Huynh Thi Kim Cuc, deputy head of the Food Safety Management Board of HCM City, praised the establishment of the AFT, which she encouraged to work with State management agencies to help restore consumer trust in locally-made products as well as help consumers realise which products are safe. At the event, Minh was elected the chairwoman of the AFT.  No more alcohol tax hikes, forum pleads      Taxes on alcohol and soft drinks should not be hiked again in the next few years since successive hikes in special consumption tax have had a strong impact on the market, a round table organised by the Viet Nam Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Association heard in HCM City on Wednesday. Since 2013 the special consumption tax on alcoholic beverages and beer has been raised four times. From next year it will be 65 per cent. Speaking to Viet Nam News on the sidelines of the forum, Nguyen Van Viet, the association chairman, said the growth of the beverages market in the first eight months of this year was 7 per cent, the same level as previous years. “The growth was mainly due to soft drinks, which have not been affected by the tax. Alcoholic drinks saw no growth while beer witnessed low and steady growth.” The impact of the tax hikes would be clearer a year or two down the line and so the growth next year would not be higher than in 2017, he said. Experts cited the example of Japan, which takes around 10 years to bring in a new policy, saying Viet Nam too should be consistency in policy making. The tax on beer and spirits has been increased by 20 per cent in just five years, they lamented. Trieu Quang Thin, vice chairman of the Ha Noi Association for Anti-counterfeiting and Trademark Protection, warned that as the huge tax hikes push up prices, consumption would decline and companies would look for ways to evade taxes. Furthermore, it could give rise to smuggling and fake products, he said. Shivam Misra of the EuroCham Wine and Spirits Sector Committee concurred with him, telling the forum the Government could actually lose revenues due to the tax hikes. Higher taxes would give rise to illegal products, he explained. But assuring they would not evade taxes, delegates called for a road map with taxes hiked at a slower rate so that companies have time to prepare and avoid shocks. The beverages sector is one of the biggest in the country and accounts for 5 per cent of the Government’s revenues. The sector has grown consistently for many years, and exports many products. Farmers emulate high-quality Japanese fruit      Japanese netted melon, a nutritious fruit with a seductive flavour, has been successfully and profitably grown in Viet Nam thanks to the application of high-tech cultivation methods. Recently, at the Ha Nam Hi-tech Agriculture Zone in northern Ha Nam Province, the Viet Nam National Seeds Joint Stock Company (Vinaseed) successfully planted the fruit. “Ha Nam Hi-tech Park, with an area of 21.59 hectares, possesses one of the most modern cultivation infrastructures in the country. Using a specialised hot house with sun-proof roof, automatic irrigation, a water treatment system and processing and packing technology, the park is fully qualified to grow the specialty," said Do Ba Vong, deputy director of Vinaseed, told Government portal chinhphu.vn. Japanese netted melon is rich in vitamins A and C and contains anti-oxidants and elements that help fight osteoporosis and cancer, Vong said. But he added that the fruit was hard to grow in the open as its skin cracked easily, enabling it be penetrated by bacteria and fungus. Fruit quality totally depends on temperature, light, humidity and irrigation, so it needs to be grown in modern hot houses using high technology. Netted melons grown in Ha Nam Hi-Tech Park are round and weigh from 1.5 to 1.8kg each. They are crisp and sweet. Vu Van Vuong, deputy director of Ha Nam High-tech Park claimed that the fruit grown at the park was the same quality as in Japan, but fetched only one-tenth of the prices of melons imported from Japan. “Melons are being produced all year round, meeting the demands of the domestic market and others in Europe and the US,” Vuong said. According to Tasima Hisashi from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) in HCM City, high-tech agriculture can help enterprises and co-operatives increase productivity by 30 per cent. He said the core purpose of high-tech applications was to produce quality products in large quantities to make the highest profits. Regarding the vegetable and fruits industry in general, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Xuan Cuong, said that the industry had great development potential. In the Government’s agricultural restructure scheme, vegetables and fruit were identified as key agricultural products for export. Currently, the global annual demand for fruit and vegetables is about US$650 billion, which indicates a great opportunity for Viet Nam. The minister proposed the Government adopt policies to remove difficulties in land, credit and science technology to support enterprises expand and accelerate hi-tech applications for farming. “In the future, our vegetable and fruit products will be growing fast. Besides applying high technology, we also need to focus on all stages from breeding, production to processing and market expansion,” Cuong said.  Africa full of potential for Vietnamese firms      Africa is a market with high export demand and less strict requirements, giving it potential, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Department of Asia-Africa (the Middle East – Africa Zone). Nguyen Minh Phuong from the department told a seminar to promote trade and exports to the Middle East and Africa, held in Ha Noi on Tuesday, that Viet Nam has so far established ties with 53 out of 55 African countries and two-way trade has surged considerably over the past decade. Viet Nam’s exports to Africa soared from US$610 million in 2006 to $3.2 billion in 2015 and $2.8 billion in 2016. Last year, Africa’s imports neared $480 billion, which is forecast to increase to about $1.2 trillion by 2020. In the Middle East, the figure was estimated at roughly $807 billion in 2016 and at $1.5 trillion by 2020. Lying in a strategic geographical location, the Middle East borders Asia, Europe and Africa, with Dubai being the world’s third largest transit market, Phuong said. South African Ambassador to Viet Nam, Kgomotso Ruth Magau, said Africa imports made-in-Viet Nam goods such as rice, coffee, pepper, cashew nuts, footwear, apparel, household electric appliances, plastics, electronics, handicrafts and aquatic products. The event affords both sides a chance to facilitate information sharing and technological transfer, she said. Ly Quoc Thinh from the Department of Asia-Africa Market said the Middle East is home to 15 countries, huge oil reserves and mineral resources. Due to poor weather conditions, the Middle East’s agriculture, fisheries and consumer goods production is underdeveloped so the region must rely on imports. However, Vietnamese exporters still face obstacles regarding competition with regional rivals, financial risks, public security and order, red tape and poor transport links. Experts suggested reviewing business strategies and thoroughly learning about regional socio-culture before doing business in the region.  Urbanisation jumps 10 per cent      The urbanisation rate in Viet Nam has grown from 30 per cent in 2007 to 40 per cent in 2017, according to Singapore-based United Morning Post. In an article about Viet Nam’s economic reform and hosting of APEC Year 2017, the newspaper cited data demonstrating the country’s progress since the beginning of reforms in 1986. Viet Nam’s growth rate was 2.79 per cent in 1986, soared to 7.36 per cent three years later and now consistently hovers around 7 per cent. The paper said by hosting the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang, Viet Nam introduced a dynamic city to international friends. Da Nang is a small image of Viet Nam, reflecting the achievements the country has obtained from reforms and economic integration in the past 10 years, it noted. The article also pointed to a number of challenges facing ViEt Nam, such as uneven socio-economic development, outdated infrastructure, corruption, and inflation. In conclusion, it attributed the country’s robust growth to its progress in regional and global integration. Since 1990, Viet Nam has become members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).  HCM City calls for Malaysian investment in Tay Bac urban area An investment promotion event was held in Kuala Lumpur on November 22 to call for investment in Tay Bac urban area in Ho Chi Minh City. Dinh Khac Huy, head of the project’s Management Board introduced the major features of the area to Malaysian firms and its plan to become a modern satellite urban area with full living, working and entertainment facilities. Covering about 9,000 hectares spanning Cu Chi and Hoc Mon districts of Ho Chi Minh City, the area is designed for 450 residents. Currently, it needs investment in technical and social infrastructure, and housing development. Huy said that by 2020, the city needs billions of USD to improve its infrastructure, a challenge for the city as the budget will only meet about 20 percent of the figure. He called for investors to engage in infrastructure and housing projects in both Tay Bac urban area and Ho Chi Minh City in general. He also vowed to create the best conditions for Malaysian firms to seek opportunities in the city, while calling for ideas from Malaysian businesses in building Tay Bac urban area. Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Le Quy Quynh noted that Vietnam and Malaysia have enjoyed rapid growth of economic, trade and investment cooperation with two-way trade exceeding 10 billion USD in 2016. Malaysia is one of the leading foreign investors of Vietnam with many big firms operating in the country. The diplomat said that the booming development of the real estate sector in Vietnam has opened up new opportunities for both domestic and foreign investors. Ambassador Quynh pledged that the Vietnamese Embassy will back trade and investment activities of Vietnamese and Malaysian investors in each country. Rusiah Mohamed from the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) lauded Vietnam’s efforts to promote investment in Malaysia, offering a good chance for local firms to access information to serve their business plans. MATRADE will work closely with and support Vietnamese side to encourage Malaysian investment in not only real estate but other fields in Vietnam, she said. At the event, Ho Chi Minh City authorities also answered questions from Malaysian firms. VN aims for 3% agriculture growth Việt Nam targets a GDP growth rate for agriculture at 3 per cent per year by 2020 following an agricultural restructure plan that has been approved by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. Under the plan, set during the 2017-20 period, the annual average income of farmers will increase at least 1.8 times by 2020, in comparison to that of 2015. The average labour productivity is expected to expand 3.5 per cent per year and the rate of workers in agriculture who receive training is expected to rise to 22 per cent. Fifty per cent of communes are hoped to become new rural areas, while 15,000 cooperatives and unions of agricultural cooperatives are estimated to be operational. The plan also targets to provide most residents in rural areas with access to hygienic water.  The restructure plan will classify agricultural products into three main groups, including the group of key national products, the group of key provincial products and the group of local specialities. The group of key national products includes pork, poultry meat and products that have an export turnover above US$1 billion such as rice, vegetables and fruits, rubber, cashew nuts, wood and fisheries. The focus will be on reviewing related plans and strategies, building large-scale and concentrated production zones and applying advanced science and technology for this group of products. The group of key provincial products will be selected based on market demand and advantages of each locality. Polices and measures will be developed to help expand scale and competitiveness for these products. Local specialities will have specific geographic indications and will be developed together with the development of new-style rural areas. In cultivation, the country will shift to growing crops adaptive to climate change and suited to each region, develop concentrated and large-scale production areas, adopt chain production for national key products and encourage the development of clean and organic agriculture.  The plan also calls for more application of science and technology in the sector to create high-quality varieties, adopting intensive farming, reducing the use of pesticides, replacing ineffective rice cultivation land to grow other crops and promoting aquatic breeding.  The country will also develop household livestock, organic and ecological animal husbandry, and value production chains, in addition to building brands, reorganising the slaughtering system to ensure food safety, hygiene and environmental protection, inspecting and controlling diseases effectively and tightening the examination of the use of veterinary drugs and additives in the field. The livestock industry aims for an annual production growth of 4.5-5 per cent.  Meanwhile, the seafood sector will promote offshore fishing and invest in modernising processing equipment and storage on board to reduce losses, with a growth of 4.5-5 per cent per year expected. Bến Tre ponders pomelos, rambutans Representatives of farming co-ops and the Cultivation and Plant Protection Division under Bến Tre Department of Agriculture and Rural Development this week discussed measures for sustainable development of  green-skin pomelos and rambutans in the province at a seminar. Bến Tre has more than 5,600ha under rambutan, mainly in the districts of Chợ Lách and Châu Thành. A fifth of the total area grows the fruit, and produces more than 107,000 tonnes a year. Three rambutan processing firms have been set up in the province in the past few years, and recently Bến Tre rambutan were exported to China, the United States and Europe. But the Châu Thành-headquartered Tropical Fruit Export Ltd. is the only firm to sign a contract to buy the fruit, the partner being a local co-operative. Sơn Định Commune in Chợ Lách District has one farming co-operative and 17 co-operative teams growing the fruit over 500ha, but they have signed no agreements to sell their output. According to Lý Tấn Phương, chairman of the Sơn Định Commune Farmers’ Association, it is difficult to sign sales contracts for Sơn Định rambutan because of price volatility. The prices vary from VNĐ5,000 – VNĐ6,000 per kilogramme at harvest time to VNĐ20,000-30,000 in other seasons. Nguyễn Thị Hồng Thu, director of rambutan export company Chánh Thu Ltd., said no long-term contracts had been signed between farmers and buyers because prices changed greatly and the fruit could not be preserved for long. With 27,700ha of fruit orchards, Bến Tre grows many iconic fruits of the Mekong Delta, including the green-skin pomelo. It has over 7,200ha under this fruit, mainly in Bến Tre City and the districts of Châu Thành, Giồng Trôm and Mỏ Cày Bắc, and produces 57,000 tonnes a year. But only 35.4ha of orchards grow the fruit for export. Đàm Văn Hưng, head of Hương Miền Tây Ltd., said the export of the famous Bến Tre green skin pomelo faced challenges because the small scale of production led to inconsistent quality. Lâm Văn Lĩnh, deputy head of the Bến Tre Cultivation and Plant Protection Division, said green skin pomelo and rambutan were mainly consumed in the domestic market and their exports faced challenges due to buyers’ stringent requirements. Green skin pomelo and rambutan are mainly consumed as fresh fruit with only a small proportion of pomelos being used to make juices, jams, wines and other kinds of foods. This is why their value has not been fully exploited yet, Lĩnh said. Hưng said, “Collaboration (between growers and buyers) is a necessary condition for rambutan production and consumption.” The huge demand for rambutan in the local market has not been met, he said. Hương Miền Tây has signed contracts to buy nearly 1,238 tonnes of green skin pomelo a year on 277ha in Bến Tre Province. It plans to establish a quality management team to help co-operatives develop a production process and quality standards to meet market needs. It will sign purchase contracts with growers at market prices while demanding that they ensure clean standards and steady output.             The province’s cultivation and plant protection division has co-ordinated with district authorities and other relevant agencies to establish green skin pomelo and rambutan co-operatives. In Bến Tre, there are now 109 co-operatives growing pomelo and 42 growing rambutans. Sixteen contracts have been signed by processors to buy the pomelos, but farmers growing 13,500 tonnes of the fruit on nearly 500ha have yet to sign up. Not a single contract has been signed with rambutan farmers, Hưng said. According to Phan Thị Thu Sương, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, only a few contracts have been signed between Bến Tre farmers and firms due to the small scale of farms and the inconsistent quality of the fruit. Next year the department will ask the Bến Tre People’s Committee to estimate market demand for fruit and draw up production plans. Vietnamese food, beverages introduced in Indonesia Vietnamese products are being displayed to international importers and retailers at the Salon International d’almentation (SIAL) InterFood 2017 that is underway in Jakarta, Indonesia.  Vietnamese businesses brought cashew nuts, pepper, rice, coffee, tea and dried dragon fruit to the fair, which lasts from November 22-25.  Le Anh Tuan, from Hanoi Trade Corporation (Hapro), said SIAL Interfood offers a big opportunity for participating companies to access Indonesian and global markets.  Dinh Thi Thu Hang, from Richy Food JSC, said her company aims to introduce competitive products at the fair and promote exports to markets in ASEAN, including Indonesia. The annual Jakarta event is the largest international food and beverage fair in Southeast Asia. This year’s event brings together 1,100 booths of nearly 30 countries and territories around the world.  Within the framework of the event, there will be workshops and exchanges between participating enterprises, along with product promotion programmes. HCM City eyes stronger economic ties with Japanese prefecture Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said his city wants to enhance cooperation with Japan’s Osaka prefecture, especially in economy, trade and investment, while receiving Chairman of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hiroshi Ozaki on November 22. Phong highlighted flourishing Vietnam-Japan relations in different pheres, noting that recent visits by the two countries’ leaders illustrate their determination to bolster ties. He expressed his belief that bilateral relations will make great strides in the near future, particularly in 2018 when the two sides will mark 45 years of diplomatic ties. HCM City pledges to create optimal conditions for foreign businesses, including those from Osaka, to invest in priority fields such as high-tech waste treatment, renewable energy, health care, and pharmaceuticals, he added. Phong also asked the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry to connect enterprises of Kansai region, where the prefecture is located, and HCM City, step up locality-to-locality cooperation and implement signed agreements. At the meeting, Ozaki said many Osaka companies are doing business in HCM City and other parts of Vietnam. Their success in HCM City is partly thanks to local authorities’ support, which has created a favourable investment and business environment. Noting Osaka firms’ advantages, he said some of them have experiences in solving urban issues facing HCM City, including ensuring economic growth alongside environmental protection. They are ready to assist the southern hub of Vietnam to improve its manpower capacity and technology in pollution treatment, renewable energy, health care and pharmaceutical. He promised that his chamber will hold business networking and investment promotion programmes to help foster cooperation between Osaka and HCM City, as well as between Japan and Vietnam. Thanh Hoa, Japan discuss progress of Nghi Son refinery project Central Thanh Hoa province will put more focus on solving problems for Nghi Son Oil Refinery project to soon put it into use, said Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Trinh Van Chien on November 21. Chien made the statement while meeting with Yota Ona, Director-General of the Natural Resources and Fuel Department of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to discuss the construction progress of Vietnam’s largest refinery and petrochemical complex. The complex is expected to play a significant role in the province’s economic development as, once in operation, it is set to contribute about 30 trillion VND (over 1.32 billion USD) to the local budget annually, Chien told his guest. The secretary urged Japanese contractors to fast-track the project, stressing the need to also build a lake for treatment of effluent waters from refining to prevent pollution. He also asked Ono to introduce investment opportunities in Thanh Hoa to more Japanese investors with an emphasis on the fields of industry, seaport, transportation, and mining. The Japanese official, for his part, asked the provincial government to continue providing favourable conditions for the project and support Japanese investors in the province. The 9.2-billion-USD Nghi Son Refinery will be the second oil refinery in Vietnam, located in Tinh Gia district of Thanh Hoa, about 200 km south of Hanoi. Construction began in October 2013 and refinery operations are slated for the last quarter of 2017.  The complex is designed to refine about 10 million tonnes of crude oil per year. It received the first batch of crude oil from Kuwait in August, 2017. Cao Bang, Chinese entrepreneurs to strengthen cooperation Young entrepreneurs of Cao Bang province and Chongzuo city of China’s Guangxi province have agreed to cooperate in farm produce production and sales, tourism and transport. The deal was reached at a meeting in the Vietnamese northern mountainous province on November 21 between the provincial Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and a youth and entrepreneur delegation from Chongzuo. Tang Yu Ling, deputy head of the Standing Committee of the Chongzuo municipal People's Congress, lauded the two sides’ cooperation prospects. Vietnam is Guangxi’s largest trade partner and accounts for more than 50 percent of the province’s import-export volume. Trade turnover between Guangxi and Cao Bang exceeded 12 billion USD in the first nine months of this year, up 20 percent year-on-year. As Guangxi has potential to develop tourism and hi-tech agriculture, it wants to intensify collaboration with Cao Bang in these fields, she added. APEC 2017: Singapore press hails Vietnam’s economic reform The urbanisation rate in Vietnam grew rapidly in the past decade from 30 percent in 2007 to 40 percent in 2017, according to Singapore-based United Morning Post. In an article about Vietnam’s economic reform and hosting of APEC Year 2017, the newspaper cited data demonstrating the country’s progress since the beginning of reforms in 1986. Vietnam’s growth rate was 2.79 percent in 1986, soared to 7.36 percent three years later and now consistently hovers around 7 percent.   The paper said by hosting the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang, Vietnam introduced to international friends a dynamic and vibrant city. Da Nang is a small image of Vietnam, reflecting the achievements the country has obtained from reforms and economic integration in the past ten years, it noted. The article also pointed to a number of challenges facing Vietnam, such as uneven socio-economic development, outdated infrastructure, corruption, and inflation. In conclusion, it attributed the country’s robust growth to its progress in regional and global integration. Since 1990, Vietnam has become members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Workshop talks co-management of aquatic resource protection Regulations on co-management of aquatic resource protection and management of marine protected areas in Vietnam were discussed at a workshop in Hanoi on November 22. The Directorate of Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) held a national consultation workshop discussing regulations on co-management of aquatic resource protection and management of marine protected areas in reference to the revised Law on Fisheries that was adopted by the National Assembly on November 21. The workshop aimed to collect feedback from attendees to develop guidelines for the enforcement of the law and enhance information sharing and participation of stakeholders in the matter, said deputy head of the Directorate of Fisheries Tran Dinh Luan This is the first time the concept of “co-management” has been regulated in the Law on Fisheries, he noted, adding that it is intended to encourage community participation in management of aquatic resource protection. MCD Director Nguyen Thu Hue said she expects the workshop will be a good start for the consultation process to translate the law into reality. The process needs to be promoted in a consistent fashion with the participation of all stakeholders, she noted. The workshop saw representatives from cities and provinces sharing their experience and giving ideas for drafting guidelines for co-management in protecting and developing aquatic resources. The delegates also discussed amendments made in the revised regulations on management of marine protected areas in Vietnam. Sakura Color Products Vietnam launches factory in Binh Duong Sakura Color Products Vietnam inaugurated its factory producing crayons and pens in the southern province of Binh Duong on November 22. The factory has a total investment of over 800 million JPY (7.14 million USD), funded by Sakura Color Products Vietnam, a subsidiary of Japanese Sakura Group. It sits on 1.5 hectares in the Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Park II. The company is expected to earn 100 million JPY (862,600 USD) in 2018, and 700 million JPY (6.25 million USD) in 2021. The first batch of crayons and pens is expected to be shipped to Japan and regional nations in February, 2018. Yamashita Takanori, Director of Sakura Color Products Vietnam highlighted Vietnam’s favourable conditions for Japanese investors, saying that it is a member of the World Trade Organisation and has numerous trade agreements with Japan. He suggested Vietnam improve infrastructure. Vietnamese labourers are young and industrious, he said, but, pointing to the fact that the rate of workers quitting jobs before their contracts expire is high. Tran Thanh Liem, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee hailed the company’s investment, expressing his belief that it will expand operation in the locality. He hoped that it will encourage more investors, particularly those from Japan to run business in Binh Duong. Liem pledged to offer favourable conditions for investors in general and the company in particular to operate effectively. Workshop talks co-management of aquatic resource protection Regulations on co-management of aquatic resource protection and management of marine protected areas in Vietnam were discussed at a workshop in Hanoi on November 22. The Directorate of Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) held a national consultation workshop discussing regulations on co-management of aquatic resource protection and management of marine protected areas in reference to the revised Law on Fisheries that was adopted by the National Assembly on November 21. The workshop aimed to collect feedback from attendees to develop guidelines for the enforcement of the law and enhance information sharing and participation of stakeholders in the matter, said deputy head of the Directorate of Fisheries Tran Dinh Luan This is the first time the concept of “co-management” has been regulated in the Law on Fisheries, he noted, adding that it is intended to encourage community participation in management of aquatic resource protection. MCD Director Nguyen Thu Hue said she expects the workshop will be a good start for the consultation process to translate the law into reality. The process needs to be promoted in a consistent fashion with the participation of all stakeholders, she noted. The workshop saw representatives from cities and provinces sharing their experience and giving ideas for drafting guidelines for co-management in protecting and developing aquatic resources. The delegates also discussed amendments made in the revised regulations on management of marine protected areas in Vietnam. Use of Industry 4.0 technologies in aquaculture discussed A conference took place in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on November 22 to discuss the application of Industry 4.0 and advanced technologies in aquaculture in Vietnam. The event was held by the management board of the EU-funded “Sustainable and Equitable Shrimp Production and Value Chain Development” project in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), bringing together policy makers and nearly 400 farmers and businesses in the aquaculture and seafood processing industries across the Mekong Delta. During the conference, businesses and researchers shared their experience in use of Industry 4.0 technologies in aquaculture and advanced techniques and methods for safe and sustainable shrimp farming; and proposed solutions for technical and environment-related challenges in shrimp farming and potential policies for the industry’s development. Use of the Industry 4.0 technologies has significantly increased in agriculture and aquaculture in countries like Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), Thailand and American and European countries, said Dinh Xuan Lap, Deputy Director of the International Collaborating Centre for Aquaculture and Fisheries Sustainability. They allow farmers to create more added values, prove origin of the products, reduce risks and cost in production and become more adaptive to changes in weather and environment, he added. Aquaculture has contributed to over 60 percent of the country’s fishery outputs and created jobs for more than one million people in Vietnam. Vietnam, China augment cooperation along economic corridor A conference opened in Hai Phong city on November 22 with a view to promoting cooperation along the economic corridor of Vietnam’s Lao Cai province, Hanoi, Hai Phong city and Quang Ninh province and China’s Yunnan province. The corridor’s 8th cooperation conference attracted more than 200 delegates, including representatives of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Yunnan’s Kunming city, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, authorities of the Vietnamese localities, and many businesses. Chairman of the Hai Phong municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van Tung said the conference is an initiative that aims to create prerequisites for diverse friendly exchanges and cooperation activities, especially in economy, between Vietnamese and Chinese localities. He added the three-day event focuses on transport connection and cooperation in logistics development; trade and investment cooperation; tourism, educational and health care cooperation; and cooperation in currency and insurance works. It is also hoped to witness the signing of cooperation documents on finance-currency, e-commerce and tourism between Vietnamese and Chinese companies. Notably, Hai Phong and Yunnan expect to reach consensus on an air route linking the Vietnamese city with Kunming and an express train connecting Hai Phong, Hanoi, Lao Cai and Kunming. Chairman Tung said these are the most practical actions to realise the outcomes of the recent talks between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of China Xi Jinping. Enhanced transport connectivity is among the outcomes recorded since the economic corridor’s 7th cooperation conference in 2015. Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway and Tan Vu-Lach Huyen highway and sea-crossing bridge have been put into operation. These two transport projects are also connected to Hanoi-Lao Cai expressway, forming an expressway route from the mountainous province of Lao Cai to Hai Phong port. When the construction of Hai Phong-Ha Long expressway completes in 2018, it will create an expressway network from Kunming to Ha Long, thus facilitating goods transport and tourism. The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport is planning a rail route traversing Lao Cai, Hanoi and Hai Phong. It is also negotiating with China about connecting Lao Cai and Hekou North railway stations. In terms of trade and investment cooperation, Lao Cai and Yunnan provinces have rotationally hosted the Vietnam-China border trade fairs. Businesses of the Vietnamese localities have also taken part in international fairs in China such as the Vietnam-China border trade fair, the China-South Asia Expo, and the Kunming Import & Export Commodities Fair. Universities and educational establishments of Lao Cai, Hai Phong and Yunnan have maintained exchanges. Meanwhile, the provinces and cities along the corridors have also coordinated in promoting tourism.  Eight of the 11 commercial banks of Lao Cai have inked agreements on cross-border trade payment with six commercial banks and credit cooperatives of Yunnan. Their cooperation has strongly supported businesses with import and export activities via Lao Cai International Border Gate, the conference heard. Vietnam beer hits Israel supermarket shelves Saigon beer has been recommended to customers at the first Asia food fair in Tel Aviv, Israel by Israel’s leading sales and distribution company for global consumer brands, cosmetics and food, the Rakuto Diplomat International. The fair held in mid-November aims to promote food and drink from India, Thailand, Japan, Tibet (China), the Republic of Korea, and Vietnam. President and CEO of Diplomat, Roni Bornstein said he was impressed by the showcased Vietnamese products. The company decided to import Saigon beer into Israel because of its best quality and beautiful design. Diplomat had spent two years persuading Israel management agencies to allow the import of Saigon beer. Currently all labels of Saigon beer are printed in Hebrew language according to Koser standards, said Mr Bornstein. He revealed that the first batch of Saigon beer imported into the country had been sold out at the fair. Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Cao Hoang Quoc Hai said to help Saigon beer enter the market, the embassy was actively accelerating the completion of import procedures and product promotion. The fair provided a good chance for Vietnam to advertise its beverage industry in Israel and help local businesses and customers access Vietnamese famous food and drink, said ambassador Hai. Vietnam attends Sirha trade fair in Istanbul Sixteen Vietnamese businesses have showcased their agricultural products like rice, cinnamon, cashew nuts, pepper and coffee at the Sirha trade fair in Istanbul, Turkey. At the opening ceremony on November 16, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Anh Tuan spoke highly of domestic businesses’ efforts to help Vietnam farm products enter Turkey. He encouraged them to strengthen connectivity to boost exports to the potential market.  During the fair on November 16-17, Vietnamese businesses joined a Business-to-Business (B2B) forum co-organized by the Vietnam Trade Office and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK). Some of them succeeded in signing trade deals at the event.  vietnam attends sirha trade fair in istanbul hinh 2 Ambassador Pham Anh Tuan held a working session with DEIK president Nail Opak, who affirmed that DEIK will serve as a bridge to further foster economic cooperation between the two countries. Mr Tuan expressed his hope that DEIK and the embassy continue to regularly exchange information to further promote their roles in supporting businesses of both sides. Sembcorp increases stake in VSIPPL Sembcorp Industries’ wholly-owned subsidiary Sembcorp Development has entered into a sale and purchase agreement that will increase its interest in Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park Pte., Ltd. from 92.9 to 96.6 per cent. According to the firm's press release, the share acquisition in Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park Pte., Ltd. (VSIPPL) from a minority shareholder is expected to be completed by the end of November 2017. The total purchase consideration of $6.9 million was calculated based on the net asset value of VSIPPL as of September 30, 2017. VSIPPL represents the Singaporean consortium which holds a 51 per cent stake in Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park Joint Venture Co., the developer of Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park projects in Vietnam. The acquisition will be funded internally and is not expected to have a material impact on the earnings per share and net asset value per share of Sembcorp Industries for the financial year ending on December 31, 2017 Since 1996, Sembcorp has been a partner to the Vietnamese government to create integrated townships and industrial parks in the country that are complete work-live-play environments. There are seven VSIPs in Vietnam's southern, northern, and central regions. These projects uniquely integrate industrial, commercial, and residential solutions localised to suit the demands of Vietnam's rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. Fibre segment to beat $3-billion export target Bypassing the concerns that the application of anti-dumping tariffs in some export markets might cast a negative impact on export performance, the fibre sector is solid on its way to beat the 2017 export value of $3.1 billion. According to preliminary figures from the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas), Vietnam raked in $2.8 billion from fibre exports in the first ten months of this year, a 23 per cent jump on-year. As the fibre sector is encountering anti-dumping tariffs in some major export markets like Turkey, India, and Brazil, this outcome proves encouraging. According to Vitas chairman Vu Duc Giang, after Turkey imposed anti-dumping tariffs on several types of export fibre, such as draw textured yarn (DTY) and synthetic fibre in 2016, local export firms have been successful in finding alternative markets, which was the factor behind the more than 20 per cent jump in the fibre sector’s ten-month export value. Soi The Ky JSC (STK), a major player in the local fibre industry, is one of the businesses whose export operations were affected by Turkey’s tax imposition, as the company had exported DTY there. Via effective market expansion activities, in the first nine months of this year the company reaped VND1.45 trillion ($66 million) in total export value, a big jump compared to the VND972 billion ($44 million) it posted in 2016’s similar period. The company’s net revenue rose by VND206 billion ($9.3 million) in 2017’s third quarter alone, up 67 per cent on-year. According to an STK source, the company’s soaring revenue came on the back of effective sales promotion activities, particularly successes in finding new markets and customers. With such upbeat results, STK is confident in reaching the full-year revenue and after-tax profit targets of VND1.9 trillion ($87 million) and VND87 billion ($3.9 million) by the end of the year. The Vietnamese fibre sector has carved itself a place in the global fibre map and is well positioned to compete with big foreign rivals like India, China, Turkey, and Middle Eastern countries on equal footing. The export prospects of local businesses in the rest of the year and next year are forecast to be bright. According to Nguyen Minh Dao, head of the Fibre Business Department of Vinatex Nam Dinh Spinning Factory, a member of state textile and garment conglomerate Vinatex, with a monthly export value averaging at $1.1 million, they are confident in reaching 2017’s export target of $15 million. For a plant which only commenced operations a little over a year ago, not having unsold stock and counting stable export value is deemed as fair business results.   VNN