Social News 9/6 Sea water in Nghe An meets national standards   Cua Lo Beach, Nghe An All tests of sea water in the central province of Nghe An conducted since late April showed the water meets the national standards on sea water quality, the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment said on June 8. A total of 41 sea water samples were taken for testing from Quynh Phuong beach in Hoang Mai town, Quynh Nghia beach in Quynh Luu district, Dien Thanh beach in Dien Chau district, and Cua Lo and Cua Hoi beaches in Cua Lo town. The department said the water is safe for bathing and aquaculture. In order to protect the environment at local beaches and tourism sites, all relevant bodies and coastal districts have built plans to reduce activities that cause pollution. Communication work has been promoted to raise public awareness of environmental protection in coastal areas. Supervision and monitoring work has been strengthened to reduce the risks. The province has also encouraged the involvement of local residents in protecting the coastal environment. Cốc San power plant opens The new Cốc San power plant in this northern province, a run-of-river hydropower facility supplying almost 30MW of power to regional off taker Northern Power Corporation, opened yesterday. The US$50m plant is backed by Vietnamese and foreign private investment and InfraCo Asia, a company funded by the governments of the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Australia, to help provide infrastructure financing. InfraCo Asia is a company under the umbrella of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). The Cốc San project represents the first foreign direct investment (FDI) in hydropower in the mountainous northern region as well as the largest FDI project in the province so far. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Giles Lever, British Ambassador to Việt Nam, said the success of the project had demonstrated the success of the public private partnership model in developing infrastructure. "The project has affirmed Britain’s commitment to supporting Việt Nam in achieving sustainable economic development and reducing the impact of climate change,” Lever said. He added that the project would help the country attract foreign investment in renewable energy development. The project will supply clean, renewable energy to give 130,000 people access to a more reliable, affordable power supply. The improved power supplies will allow an expansion of local industry, including iron mining, copper industries and apatite mining for fertilisers. Some 250 temporary jobs were created during the construction of the plant, and there will be 35 permanent jobs there. Carbon emissions will drop by 76,000 tonnes per year, and there will be less reliance on imported electricity from China. Environmental studies carried out to World Bank standards ensured the project impact was minimal, with little land lost to the surrounding communities and no displacement of people. The plant will supply Việt Nam’s fast-growing electricity demand, currently increasing by 15 per cent year on year and creating pressure to increase the capacity of generation, transmission and distribution. Hydropower currently accounts for some 44 per cent of energy generated, followed by oil, gas and thermal power at 34 per cent and coal at 19 per cent. The government is committed to developing the generation of renewable energy and establishing a competitive electricity market. Work to develop the project in the region’s terraced terrain started in 2011 but stalled when previous investors expended their initial capital; the project was unsuccessful in securing financing through long-term loans. InfraCo Asia assessed that plans for the plant were still viable and—working in close partnership with the provincial People’s Committee—provided donor-government-backed development funding of $7.54m. This enabled the financing and completion of the project, worth a total of $49.9m. InfraCo Asia CEO Allard Nooy said InfraCo Asia’s mandate to develop sustainable infrastructure projects in South and South East Asia means it is continuing to look at opportunities in Việt Nam.  “We are currently evaluating a number of other small potential hydropower projects in Việt Nam that may require the application of InfraCo Asia’s unique development model. We are committed to Việt Nam, and our donor shareholders—the Swiss, Australian and UK governments—are key to supporting our work in this area.” Ho Chi Minh City suggested establishing open database The Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts in France (AVSE) has suggested Ho Chi Minh City establish a common open database which would help experts and managers seek development orientations. At a meeting with the Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Dinh La Thang in HCM City on June 8, the scientists and experts further explained that the database will enable all people and investors to access necessary information. Through the database, there would be more opinions about how to spur the southern metropolis’s development, they said. AVSE President Nguyen Duc Khuong said it will take one year to form the database and up to three years to train personnel for the system. Many underlined the need for the city to identify its competitive edge and expressed their readiness to contribute to the development of their homeland, including HCM City. Hailing the association’s proposals, Thang admitted that the city has yet to fully tap its potential and strengths to grow further and regain its position in Southeast Asia. HCM City wishes to receive contributions from different resources, including intellectuals and scientists abroad, he said. The official noted that although a common database was established in the locality, it has only performed the function of data collection and preservation. Therefore, he said, building an open database is necessary as it helps managers, people and investors access information they are looking for. The city will assign the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies to join hands with the association to draw up a specific project on the database, he said. The AVSE was established in 2011 with the aim of gathering young and experienced Vietnamese intellectuals in France and other countries to partake in socio-economic development at home. Vietnam Airlines increases flights for summer season The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced plans to increase flights on domestic routes to serve increasing travel demands during the summer season 2016. Accordingly, from June 1 to August 15, the carrier will provide over 662,000 extra seats on 2,115 flights across 11 routes, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, and from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hue and Da Lat. The total number of seats served during the period will be 3,555,000, up 22.9 percent from the same period last year. Tickets are available at www.vietnamairlines.com or at the airline’s booking offices and agencies nationwide. The carrier has targeted about 20.1 million passengers this year, generating 77.8 trillion VND (3.5 billion USD) in revenue and 2.3 trillion VND (103 million USD) in pre-tax profit.- Int’l coffee and dessert fair opens in HCM City The first Việt Nam International Coffee and Dessert Fair opened yesterday at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, providing an international platform for buyers and sellers to network and explore business opportunities. The fair, which ends on Friday, features over 200 coffee and dessert brands from 14 countries, with famous brands and companies like Charlie Wemsbley, Nestle, Vovos, Mê Trang, Mac Coffee, Cafe Phố, Phương Vy, Coffee Mr. Brown, Tân Nhất Hương Company, Syrup Mornin and Lý Gia Viên. During the exhibition, more than 64 talented baristas from coffee shops, restaurants and bars in Việt Nam will compete at a three-day Barista Championship competition, the largest of its kind in Việt Nam. The winner will have a chance to join the World Super Barista Championship 2017 in Seoul. Organised by Coex, South Korea’s biggest exhibition organiser, the Việt Nam Coffee and Cocoa Association and Vinexad, the fair is expected to welcome more than 50,000 visitors.   Việt Nam, the world’s second largest coffee exporter, exports about 1.5 million tonnes of coffee annually to 80 countries and territories, according to Đỗ Hà Nam, chairman of the Việt Nam Coffee and Cocoa Association. Vietnamese coffee now accounts for 12.5 per cent of coffee market share in South Korea. Fundraiser for Blue Dragon Children The Hà Nội - based Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation - an Australian charity working with vulnerable children in Việt Nam - will host a fundraising event on Saturday with Bia Tây - Ta. Tickets cost VNĐ50,000, which includes a welcome drink and a raffle ticket. The event will feature art activities, hip hop, and DJing. There will also be a raffle, with prizes from all of Hà Nội’s hottest spots. The Blue Dragon hip hop crew will present a very special show, with some freestyle battles. Talented Blue Dragon DJs, plus international and local talent, will keep the music playing throughout the day. Circus workshops, face painting, mosaic making, fun, games, arts, crafts, and a fine selection of finger food and Vietnamese treats will help attendees have a good time. Photographer Ton Van Der Velden will also sign copies of his new photography book, Hanoi Works, at the event. The book will be on sale at the event for VNĐ550,000. All proceeds will go towards the education and training of Blue Dragon Children. The book signing will begin at 4pm and end at 6pm. For sponsorship offers and volunteer opportunities for this fundraiser, please contact lukepoulson@gmail.com. Project brings trip-hop music to Redbox Oxymoron, an interactive performing arts project which combines dance and visual installation in trip-hop music, will be presented at Redbox Studio on June 18. The project reflects the way people look at themselves and their relationship with the world through music, dance and visual arts. Four famous duos in DJ, visual arts, hip hop and ballet in the city will join the project. They are DJ duo Cheezy Gangztaz, visual artists Julien Noyer and Crazy Monkey, hip hop dancers Vinh Vincent Trần and Lâm Duy Phương, and ballet/contemporary dancers Đỗ Hải Anh and Hà Lộc. The event will begin at 7pm at 197-B2 Thành Thái Street in District 10. Pre-sale tickets at VNĐ350,000 are available at www.ticketbox.vn, and tickets at door are VNĐ450,000. French animated feature films to be screened at IDECAF The Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) will screen two animated feature films, including Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) and Jack et la Mécanique du Coeur (Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart), during June. The movies will be shown with Vietnamese subtitles at 3pm on June 18 and 25. IDECAF is at 28 Lê Thánh Tôn Street in District 1. Admission fee is VNĐ50,000. Military Volleyball tourney to begin The Military Volleyball Tournament Open will begin at Biên Phòng Gymnasium in Hà Nội on June 22. The annual event will attract five male teams, including participants from Biên Phòng and Becamex Army Corps, and five female teams, including participants from Liên Việt Postbank and Vietinbank. They will compete in a round robin format to choose the best four teams for the semi-finals. The event will last until June 30. Thể Công Binh Đoàn 15 and Vietinbank were the champions at last year’s event. Quảng Ninh Coal aim for V.League top three Quảng Ninh Coal are aiming to break the national premier league’s top three this season, despite the team ranking sixth after 11 rounds, according to coach Phan Thanh Hùng. With five wins, two draws and four losses, Quảng Ninh have 17 points and 11 points behind leaders Hải Phòng. Bình Dương and Thanh Hóa share second place on 19 points. Hùng said the team have several foreign footballers on trial. In the next round on Sunday, the team will meet Becamex Bình Dương. HCM City opens fourth emergency aid station HCM City’s fourth satellite 115 emergency aid station opened at Thu Duc District Hospital on June 7 to provide timely medical aid in traffic accidents and other emergencies. The city is geographically large with an area of 2,056sq.km and has a population of 10 million, including migrants, according to the city Department of Health. With traffic jams a frequent occurrence, especially during peak hours, the original emergency aid centre in District 10 was found to be inadequate, it said. The other three are at hospitals in Districts 1, Binh Tan and Cu Chi with their headquarters in District 10. These stations co-operate with the city’s general and specialised hospitals to treat patients, according to Tang Chi Thuong, the department’s deputy head. This year the department plans to open four more stations at hospitals in Districts 2, 7, Binh Chanh and Binh Tan. It also has a “Red Alert" between hospitals to improve co-ordination and assistance from leading hospitals. Sea environment protection important: PM Protecting the marine environment is a crucial task of all ministries and localities, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said while attending a meeting in the northern province of Nam Dinh on June 8 in response to Vietnam Sea and Island Week and World Oceans Day 2016. He urged the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to coordinate with relevant ministries to promote scientific research and build strategies for maritime sustainable development as well as for the protection of national sovereignty and security. It is necessary to attract financial resources to develop the sea-based economy, which is expected to contribute around 53-55 percent to gross domestic product (GDP) and 60 percent to the country’s export turnover by 2020, he said. The Government encourages organisations and individuals to increase investment and apply advanced science and technology to make effective use of sea and island resources and improve local livelihoods, he added. He requested the MoNRE along with relevant ministries and localities review nationwide projects that discharge waste to the sea while ensuring effective implementation of legal regulations on environmental protection and punishing violators. The PM confirmed that Vietnam supports countries that have benefits in the East Sea making actions contributing to peace, stability, security and safety of navigation and aviation, as well as sea environment protection. Vietnam asked involved parties to settle differences and disputes via peaceful means and in respect of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). The country also called for increasing trust between nations, avoiding the use or threat to use force, and creating a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, he stressed. The annual Vietnam Sea and Island Week from June 1-8 aims to raise public awareness of the significant role of sea and islands in nation building and safeguarding. This year’s message focuses on sustainable protection, exploitation and development of marine natural resources. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said the week is intended to popularise the Party and State’s policy, law and viewpoint to resolutely defend national independence and sovereignty, territorial integrity, firmly protect border, sea and island sovereignty, especially over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spartly) archipelagos. A number of activities took place during the event such as a bicycle parade, cleaning up beaches, and planting trees. 3 Vietnamese rescued as UK cracks down on modern slavery: report Police in the UK have rescued three Vietnamese during a week-long operation against labor exploitation across Europe. The victims, a male, a female and one young man believed to be under 18, are receiving help and support from the UK Human Trafficking Center, Plymouth-based The Herald reported. The report said five other Vietnamese were arrested for slavery, money laundering and immigration offenses. A total of 24 people were arrested during the operation with visits to car washes, nail bars, takeaway outlets, a massage parlor and a residential property. Police data showed that Vietnamese people are a major group of victims of modern slavery in the UK, which is associated with many criminal activities such as human trafficking and drug trafficking. Up to 75% of cannabis farms in the country were allegedly run by Vietnamese gangs, who recently have begun to employ trafficked children. The Herald cited recent studies as showing that children make up nearly a quarter of the estimated 13,000 people trafficked into the UK every year, and Vietnamese children are the largest group of children trafficked there. Some Vietnamese children were also trafficked into brothels, nail bars and for street crimes purposes such as selling pirated DVDs, or breaking and entering offenses, according to the report. WB official gets credit for devotion to Vietnam’s agriculture World Bank (WB) Regional Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific Victoria Kwakwa was presented with an insignia on July 7 for her dedication to agriculture and rural development in Vietnam. Presenting the insignia in Hanoi, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat appreciated Kwakwa’s contributions to and close cooperation with his ministry during her time serving as the WB Country Director for Vietnam from 2009 to early 2016. During that time, the ministry received about 1.95 billion USD in assistance from the WB for agriculture, forestry, irrigation, rural clean water and natural disaster prevention. That support was a great source of funding for the sector’s development, Phat said. The WB has also pledged financial aid in the fiscal year 2017 for the projects on modernising the forestry industry and enhancing the resilience of coastal areas in the Red River Delta and the north central coast, assisting the national target programme on building new-style rural areas, and strengthening science-technology capacity and training manpower for agriculture restructuring, he noted. The minister congratulated Kwakwa on being appointed as the WB Regional Vice President, adding that he hopes she will continue support to Vietnam in general and its agriculture and rural development in particular. For her part, Victoria Kwakwa acknowledged the ministry’s coordination with the WB in promoting bilateral cooperation and addressing relevant issues such as climate change, drought, saltwater intrusion and dam safety. She also thanked the ministry’s staff members for accompanying WB officials during tours of different localities to learn about problems facing farmers and the agriculture sector. Rapid restructuring needed for transport sector: Deputy PM The Ministry of Transport needs to examine infrastructure development and quicken restructuring the sector in order to mobilise more off-budget funds for transport infrastructure development, said Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung. Speaking at a conference in Hanoi on June 7 to review issues related to transport infrastructure investment in the form of build-operate-transfer (BOT) and build-transfer (BT) in the 2011-2015 period, the Deputy PM asked for better accuracy in determining total investment for BOT projects and transparency in selecting contractors. He highlighted shortcomings existing in BOT projects, adding that it is necessary to enhance the inspection of projects in order to swiftly handle these weaknesses. According to the ministry, the transport sector raised 186.6 trillion VND (8.3 billion USD) to invest in 58 BOT and four BT projects in the reviewed period. After being put into use, they have proved effective in meeting transport demands; easing traffic congestion, accidents and environment pollution; and promoting socio-economic development in beneficiary areas, contributing to increasing the competitiveness of the national economy. In comparison to projects built in other forms, BOT and BT projects have helped reduce travel time, fuel consumption and vehicle depreciation. Participants expressed their concern about the quality of projects, toll rates and plans for increasing tolls. Representatives from the ministry said the Prime Minster assigned the Ministry of Finance to issue a circular regulating processes in deciding the rate of tolls. Tran Dinh Thien, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said investment in Vietnam’s BOT projects remains high compared to those in other countries, putting investors and the people at a disadvantage. The State should make policies to support and give subsidies to investors to help them shorten repayment periods, he said. Vietnam treasures revolutionary devotees’ sacrifice: official The Party, State and National Assembly (NA) appreciate and always keep in mind the precious sacrifice and contribution of Quang Nam province’s authorities and residents to the country’s revolution, NA Vice Chairman Do Ba Ty has said. He made the remarks whiling hosting a reception in Hanoi on June 7 for representatives of the revolutionary devotees and Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims from the central province. During the resistance wars against France and the US, Quang Nam experienced heavy losses with large numbers of martyrs and AO/dioxin victims. In the war against the US alone, 35,000 people there were exposed to toxic chemicals used by the US army, including 15,000 people directly engaging in the fight. Ty said while the Party and State have continually paid heed to policies for national devotees, the NA has supervised the enforcement of relevant policies and laws and fine-tuned regulations on benefits for the devotees and AO/dioxin victims. He asked central and local agencies and the Quang Nam association of AO/dioxin victims to strengthen efforts to support the revolutionary devotees and AO/dioxin victims such as by overhauling related regulations and offering aid. He added that he hopes the targeted group can weather difficulties to help with the national development. Also on June 7, the delegation from Quang Nam had a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh. Soc Trang beefs up mangrove afforestation A mangrove afforestation campaign opened in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang on June 7. The campaign aims at growing over 110,000 cork-trees, or mangrove apple plants on an area of 20 hectares of mangrove forest, worth over 1.5 billion VND (67,500 USD) in Trung Binh commune, Tran De district. The campaign was under a 6 billion VND ( 270,000 USD) project funded by the UK’s Premier Oil Company, through the provincial Red Cross Association, which has been spread out from 2011 to 2016 in the commune, aiming to plant a total of 85 hectares of cork tree forest. According to Chairperson of the provincial Red Cross Association Nguyen Thu Huong, the timely care by departments and support from sponsors have contributed to increasing the quality of afforestation and forest protection. She added, the project has also helped to strengthen the local mangrove ecosystem, improving the environment while helping prevent and cope with natural disasters. On the occasion, the province committed to 400 million VND (18,000 USD) from the local budget to finance a project to recover 12.2 hectares of forest damaged by natural disasters.- Organisations honoured for contributions to Truong Sa fund The Hanoi Fatherland Front Committee honoured 20 organisations in recognition of their outstanding contributions in raising the “For beloved Truong Sa” fund at a conference in the city on June 7. The city’s Party Committee and Fatherland Front Committee started to raise the fund on March 30 and by May 30, they had collected more than 45.5 billion VND, or 2.03 million USD, from donors across Hanoi. According to Chairman of the municipal Fatherland Front Committee Vu Hong Khanh, 35 billion VND of the sum will be sent to soldiers and residents living in Truong Sa island district, while the remaining will be used to run programmes in support of the district. The fundraising activities aim to inspire patriotism among local residents and raise their responsibility for protecting their sovereignty. Exhibition on Hoang Sa, Truong Sa achipelagoes comes to Binh Duong Maps and documents which are legal and historical evidence proving Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos belong to Vietnam are being exhibited in the southern province of Binh Duong from June 7. On display are numerous documents and around 100 maps in Chinese, Nom (old Vietnamese writing using Chinese characters), French and modern Vietnamese, issued from the 17th to the outset of the 20th century by the Vietnamese feudal states and the French government in Indochina (on behalf of the then Vietnamese state). Worthy of note is a collection of four atlases and 30 maps compiled and published by China through historical periods, which prove China has never managed the islands. The four atlases also defined Hainan Island as China’s southernmost point. The event, organised by the province and the Ministry of Information and Communications, helps raise awareness among all Vietnamese people, particularly the younger generation, on patriotism, national unity and a sense of responsibility. The exhibition will remain open to visitors until June 11. This kind of exhibition has been organised in numerous provinces across the nation, including Vinh Phuc, Nghe An, Quang Nam, and Binh Phuoc. HCM City launches Green Consumption campaign HCM City's annual Green Consumption Campaign to improve people's awareness about environmental protection opened on June 4 at Co.opmart Nguyen Kiem. Organised by Saigon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper, the Department of Industry and Trade, and Saigon Co.op - which owns Co.opmart - the campaign encourages businesses to be more socially responsible, caring for the environment and consumers' health, and calls on the public to consume more eco-friendly products. Several projects on environmental protection like the Green Movement, Green Community, Green Ward, Green Destination, and 20 other projects have been implemented this year as part of the campaign to raise awareness. Co.opmart and Co.opXtra supermarket chains will be running promotions from June 4 to 26 to increase consumption of products made by environmentally friendly businesses, Nguyen Anh Duc, Deputy General Director of Saigon Co.op, said. Customers spending 500,000 VND (22 USD) and above will receive a discount voucher worth 30,000 VND and a Co.opmart environmentally friendly bag during the promotional period. According to the organisers, more than 60,000 volunteers have taken part in the campaign since it began in 2010. More than four million people vowed to use environmentally friendly products during the campaign last year while sales of "green products" increased by 40-60 percent at Co.opmart supermarkets. Vietjet offers 100,000 tickets priced from only 0 VND Vietjet’s amazing summer promotion is back this time lasting from June 7 to 9 with 100,000 super (saving) promotional air tickets priced from only 0 VND at its website. The promotion is applied for all international routes connecting Vietnam with Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia from August 10 to December 31, 2016 (except holidays). Tickets can be booked from 12h to 14h at www.vietjetair.com (also compatible with smartphones at https://m.vietjetair.com ) or at www.facebook.com/vietjetvietnam (just click the “Booking” tab). Payment can be easily made with debit and credit cards of Visa, MasterCard, JCB, and American Express and ATM cards issued by 24 Vietnamese banks with Internet banking. Vietjet continues to increase its modern fleet, expand its domestic and international network in order to meet increasing travel demand of tourists, individuals and businessmen. With its high-quality services, special low-fare tickets and diverse ticket classes, Vietjet offers its passengers enjoyable flights with dynamic and friendly flight crew, comfy seats, amazing hot meals and special surprises from the airline’s inflight activities. Currently, the airline boasts a fleet of 37 aircraft, including A320s and A321s, and operates 250 flights each day. It has already opened 50 routes in Vietnam and across the region to international destinations such as Thailand, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, China, Myanmar and Malaysia. It has carried more than 20 million passengers to date.- Elderly association’s contributions to the nation praised Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has praised the important contributions made by the Vietnam Association of the Elderly (VAE) in all periods of the country’s history, especially during the nation’s socio-economic development and protection of its sovereignty. Addressing a gathering in Hanoi on June 6 to mark the VAE’s 75 th anniversary, he acknowledged the role and prestige of the elderly in society, noting that nearly 80 percent of social associations at local level are being headed by the elderly. He pointed to the need to tap full use of the experience and credit of the elderly. Regarding social welfare for the elderly, the Deputy PM also expressed his concern that the percentage of the population joining social insurance in Vietnam is only less than 25 percent, which affects caring for senior citizens. He called on governments at all levels, the community, and especially businesses and sponsors, to further strengthen cooperation with the VAE to mobilise resources from society and organise more charitable and social welfare programmes targeting the elderly. Speaking at the event, Heroine of Labour Cu Thi Hau, President of the VAE Central Committee, noted that 9.46 million old people are living across the country, with 8.4 million being VAE members. Currently, the VAE has covered all communes with many effective models, including a “trans-generation club” model aiming to foster affiliation between the elderly and the community in reducing poverty and reinforcing social solidarity, she said. So far, 580 clubs have been set up in 15 localities with nearly 50,000 members. The elderly have also persuaded their offspring to donate 12 million square metres of lands for road construction, she said, adding that nearly 1,000 old people living in 44 boundary localities have agreed to work with border posts in protecting social security. Nam Dinh must balance socio-economic growth, environment protection Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told the northern province of Nam Dinh to harmonise socio-economic development and environmental protection, during a working session with local officials on June 8. He said although Nam Dinh has done a good job of developing the economy, especially in building new-style rural areas and exports, it is still a deprived province as the local economy relies mostly on agriculture, and it is only able to cover only 32 percent of expenditure itself. It has fared well in ensuring political security and social order, but traffic safety still needs to be enhanced. He told provincial authorities to accelerate the disbursement of investment capital, since the disbursed sum for local projects has reached only 19 percent of the expected amount. Nam Dinh needs to work harder to improve the capacity of its officials and public servants while creating a fabourable start-up environment as there are only 3,000 businesses in the province, much too low compared to its potential, the PM said. It should strongly call for investment in the industries that it has long been famous for, such as textile – garment and automobile assembly, while encouraging investment in the retail market to capitalise on a population of about 2 million. The Government leader asked the provincial administration to speed up agricultural restructuring so as to create concentrated and large-scale production areas and raise farmers’ income. Meanwhile, policies and laws on beliefs and religions must be well enforced in Nam Dinh, home to a large number of religious followers, to help with their religious practices and daily life, he added. At the working session, provincial officials reported that Nam Dinh has shaped three economic regions with one focusing on agriculture, another on sea-based activities along the 72km coast, and the last on industry and services. It posted a growth rate of 13.5 percent in 2015. There have been 112 communes recognised as new-style rural areas, accounting for 54 percent of the total communes, and one district getting the title. The province is stepping up agricultural restructuring and has recorded an average unhusked rice output of over 6.9 tonnes per hectare, they said. During his working visit to Nam Dinh, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited some new-style rural models in the new-style rural district of Hai Hau, and met with people who rendered service to the nation and a woman holding the Vietnamese Heroic Mother title in My Loc district. VNA determined to develop into strong multimedia conglomerate Vietnam News Agency (VNA) is determined to improve its news quality and well as perform its role as a national news agency and a strong multimedia conglomerate, General Director Nguyen Duc Loi has said. During a working session in Hanoi on June 8 with Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation Vo Van Thuong, the General Director noted that as a reliable strategic news agency of the Party and State, the VNA provides information about domestic and international affairs to serve the country’s leaders, domestic and foreign press, and the public. VNA is extending and diversifying its media products in various forms in its role as a supplier of source news for domestic and foreign information services, Loi said, adding that it currently offers around 60 products in print, online and audio-visual forms, including a television channel specialized in news. The agency is focusing on upgrading technical infrastructure and improving workforce training to grow into a strong and modern news agency. In his speech, Thuong hailed VNA for its strong and rapid growth on the back of diverse and plentiful news coverage, its passionate and young staff, and serious Party and trade union activities. As a state news agency, VNA should supply latest accurate and reliable source news in various areas, meeting the demand of media agencies and the public, he said. He also agreed to VNA’s development orientations and its proposals on several mechanisms and policies to develop a number of key information products. The Nam Hai announces next round of scholarships The luxurious The Nam Hai Resort in Hoi An will celebrate its upcoming 10th anniversary in December by helping ten more underprivileged teenagers to attend university. The scholarships build on initiatives developed by its groundbreaking charity fund, Sympathetic Hearts, which has provided university education aid to 50 local youngsters facing hardship since being launched in 2009. “This program aligns with what we as a resort are always striving for - growth and improvement,” said Mr. Anthony Gill, The Nam Hai’s General Manager. “It’s a life changer.” The process for selecting the next batch of beneficiaries begins in July, when high school graduates throughout Quang Nam province will take an enrollment test devised by the Ministry of Education and Training. Sympathetic Hearts’ administrators and local education officials, including the Deputy Chairman of the Dien Ban District People’s Committee, where the resort is located, will then evaluate the results, meet with students’ families and select their freshman class of 2017. “Education is a major component of Sympathetic Hearts,” said its Executive Assistant Manager Ms. Tran Thi Canh. “Investing in education is investing in the future, because it can help bring better lives to the next generation.” All 50 students who have so far earned scholarships have either graduated or are on pace to graduate from universities in Da Nang, Hue or Ho Chi Minh City. Three graduates now work at The Nam Hai. Mr. Gill said the program’s success can be attributed to the students’ work ethic, Ms. Canh’s dedication, and the support universities provide to each scholarship recipient throughout the school year. “It’s a team effort,” he said. “And it’s a long-term proposition. We want these students to perform well each and every year, so they get their degree.” Since opening in December 2006 The Nam Hai has become synonymous with excellence through its accumulation of international awards. The all-villa resort has been hailed multiple times by the world’s leading authorities on travel, including Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines. Kon Tum attempts to settle ethnic minorities, poor households The Central Highlands province of Kon Tum supported nearly 10,000 ethnic minority and poor households in obtaining housing and farming land and accessing clean water from 2014 to May this year, reported the provincial Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs. The support, part of efforts to realise a Government decision in assisting disadvantaged households in remote and poor localities with land and clean water, was made at a total cost of 28.1 billion VND (1.25 million USD), including 16.1 billion VND from the State budget and 11.8 billion VND borrowed from the Bank for Social Policies. Kon Tum estimates that around 25,000 local households need land for housing and farming and clean water supply, requiring a total investment of 225.4 billion VND (10 million USD). This year, the province has been allocated 25.25 billion VND (1.13 million USD) for the work, including 15.25 billion VND sourced from the State budget and 10 billion VND to be shouldered by the local budget. At a working session on June 8 with a delegation from the National Steering Committee for the Central Highlands, the provincial committee also reported that in the 2005-2015 period, the province received 7,114 ethnic minority families with 21,413 members who arrived for economic reasons, often due to a scarcity of land in their home province. From 2006-2010, the locality conducted four projects to settle 9,657 migrants. Currently, Kon Tum is finalising a master plan for population arrangement for the 2015-2020 period that aims to settle 42,900 people. Head of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands Region Truong Van Ty praised the remarkable efforts and achievements that Kon Tum has made in the field. He asked the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment to work closely with localities across the province to review available land, to help the needy in stabilising their lives towards sustainable poverty reduction.- Nearly 4,000 vacancies available at HCM City women’s job fair Nearly 100 enterprises have registered to join a women’s job fair that kicked off in Le Thi Rieng cultural park in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City on June 8. Of the firms, 24 directly attended the event, the eight of its kind, and 73 others are recruiting staff through online portals at http://vieclamhcm.net and http://vlhcm.vieclamvietnam.gov.vn , with a total 3,830 vacancies. The offered jobs are in various fields, including electronics, IT, insurance, restaurant and hotel services, and textiles. Many businesses are committed to providing training for new staff, while some others are working with the city’s Women’s Union to offer free vocational training to poor women. During the five-day event, a number of conferences will be held to discuss vocational education and job creation in an open labour market, and the rights and obligations of labourers joining unemployment insurance. OVs make contributions to HCM City’s growth The Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA) in Ho Chi Minh City has been making the best of resources provided by Vietnamese people abroad in building the city and the nation as a whole. Pham Van Hai, head of the COVA’s HCM City chapter, said at a ceremony to mark its 35th anniversary on June 8, that the chapter has coordinated with other agencies to review the implementation of relevant policies and laws. They then made proposals to relevant agencies to streamline administrative procedures and remove obstacles facing overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in investment and business, as well as cooperation in science and technology, and education and training. The chapter has also worked as a bridge helping OVs contribute to national construction and development and sovereignty protection in their homeland, while creating conditions for young Vietnamese abroad to preserve and carry forward their traditional culture. About 300 overseas Vietnamese experts and intellectuals are cooperating with schools, hospitals and research centres in the southern metropolis, the meeting heard. The city has granted licences to about 2,500 businesses invested in by OVs with accumulated capital of 45 trillion VND (2.02 billion USD). Besides this, more than 120 projects worth over 260 million USD financed by OVs are operating in the locality. Statistics show that overseas remittances to Vietnam over the past 12 years increased by 10-15 percent annually. In 2015 alone, the amount stood at 12.25 billion USD, of which more than 5.5 billion USD landed in HCM City. Additionally, the Vietnamese abroad have engaged in charity activities in their homeland such as providing scholarships for disadvantaged students, supporting victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin and building bridges in rural, remote and far-flung areas of Vietnam. Diplomats look into Central Highlands’ development Chiefs of the Vietnamese overseas representative offices 2016-2019 tenure, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, had a working session with the Central Highlands Steering Committee on June 8 to study regional socio-economic development, defence and security. Along with popularising information about the Central Highlands region internationally, the diplomats should also seek foreign business partners to invest in the region, especially in high-tech agriculture production, Son said. They should work to enlarge markets for the Central Highlands region’s key farm produce such as coffee, pepper and rubber, he noted. According to Deputy Head of the committee’s standing board Tran Viet Hung, the Central Highlands region covers a total area of over 54,636 square kilometres, or 16 percent of the country’s area. It is home to more than 5.6 million people, with ethnic minorities accounting for 45 percent. The region’s average economic growth stands at 9 percent. Despite prolonged drought in the first half of 2016, the local gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 7.2 percent from the same period last year thanks to measures to stabilise the market and support production. The region’s investment climate has improved, with a higher provincial competitiveness index. Problems in medicinal materials supply under spotlight The Ministry of Health and the Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper jointly organised a workshop on the management of herbal materials for traditional medicine in Hanoi on June 8. Vietnam uses around 60,000 tonnes of medicinal materials on an annual basis, 80-85 percent of which are imported, mainly from China, according to head of the ministry’s traditional medicine management department Pham Vu Khanh. The import of medicinal materials without clear origins should be promptly addressed, he said, adding that every week, close to 300-400 tonnes of medicinal materials are imported from China via Chi Ma border gate in the northern province of Lang Son. Currently, the management of such imported materials, especially at border gates, is facing numerous difficulties, he said, noting that most the goods have neither proper packaging and label nor certificate of origins. Furthermore, the development of domestic medicinal plants has yet to receive much attention or investment due to a lack of legal normative documents. Also, another issue is the loose management in the use of valuable medicinal plants, which are being ineffectively and overly exploited, while no prevention measures are being devised. Additionally, there is no regulation on price declaration for traditional medicinal products, hence the large gap in bidding prices for those products at hospitals across the country. Given that, the department of traditional medicine management suggested building policies to support the cultivation and exploitation of medicinal plants. The health sector should increase the examination of imported medicinal materials into Vietnam and require origin and import licenses. The health ministry should build and promulgate criteria on processed medicinal plants while promoting the application of biological technology to create high-quality medicinal plant species, modernising the medicinal materials testing systems from central to local levels, and improving infrastructure at traditional medicine hospitals nationwide is important alike. As of March this year, the department granted licenses to 10 businesses to import medicinal materials from China. Nearly 4,000 out of the 12,000 flora species in Vietnam could be used in medicine production and have high economic value. Medicinal plants flourish across the country, primarily in the northern mountainous region, in the western part of central Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces, and in the Central Highland provinces of Kon Tum and Lam Dong. The output of Vietnamese medicinal plants is estimated at about 5,000 tonnes annually. VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri