Government News 2/3 President lauds external economic activities abroad    President Tran Dai Quang together with commercial counsellors and chiefs of Vietnamese commercial offices overseas  President Tran Dai Quang lauded external economic activities and trade promotion abroad during a meeting in Hanoi on March 1 with 45 commercial counsellors and chiefs of Vietnamese commercial offices overseas. He said in compliance with the Party and State’s external policies, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has worked closely with ministries, agencies and localities to popularise Vietnamese goods, attract foreign investment and improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese firms at home and abroad. According to him, the Vietnamese commercial offices abroad have helped step up exports, especially typical farm produce and fruits, towards bringing Vietnamese goods to global distribution chains and marketing trademarks of Vietnamese goods abroad. They have partnered with domestic and foreign agencies to successfully hold trade and investment promotion conferences and seminars, as well as business forums during high-level visits by Party and State leaders. The leader hailed Vietnamese commercial offices abroad as an effective bridge connecting Vietnamese entrepreneurs overseas with domestic firms, and cooperate with domestic and foreign media to argue against information unbeneficial to Vietnam’s exported farm produce. The President noted that as 2018 is a core year to implement the Resolution adopted by the 12th National Party Congress and the National Assembly’s Resolution on the 2016-2020 socio-economic development plan, the industry and trade sector and Vietnamese commercial offices abroad in particular need to stay active, proactive and drastic to fulfill assigned tasks. He asked commercial counsellors and chiefs of Vietnamese commercial offices overseas to actively grasp situations in the host countries, improve market forecast to promptly give policy recommendations to Vietnam and help Vietnamese goods sustainably navigate foreign markets. They were also urged to push forward the ratification of signed new-generation free trade agreements and call on the Vietnamese business community abroad to look toward the homeland, thus contributing to national development. PM stresses major requirements for sectors    Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is speaking  Focusing on business production development and creating a healthier business environment remain major requirements for all departments and sectors, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said. He made the statement at the cabinet meeting in Hanoi on March 1. The Prime Minister said many countries in the world are adjusting their economic policies, including reducing corporate income tax, increasing imported goods tax and setting up trade barriers. Such factors would certainly impact Vietnam’s economic prospect. Thus, he urged economic restructuring, increasing labour productivity, attracting more foreign investment, improving domestic production efficiency and better Government policies in socio-economic management in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. The PM called for bottlenecks in production of small-and medium-sized enterprises to be removed to drive growth in 2018. He expressed his delight at seeing business activities promptly resuming after the festival. Regarding the country’s development in February, the PM said despite the week-long Tet holiday, the macro economy, as well as interest and foreign exchange rates remained stable. February’s consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.73 percent, with food and catering services up 1.53 percent. The index in the first two months of this year rose by 2.9 percent year-on-year. The leader also commented on exports in February, which stood at some 13.4 billion USD, raising the total export value in the two months to 33.6 billion USD, up nearly 23 percent year-on-year. The number of foreign visitors to Vietnam was 1.43 million, increasing by 19.4 percent compared to last year’s period. He recognised achievements in various fields from foreign direct investment disbursement, business establishment, social welfare and rural development to defence-security. However, he warned about fluctuations in global prices and asked ministries and departments to maximise efforts to curb inflation and ensure macro-economic stability. Vietnam attends orchid diplomacy event in Czech Republic     Diplomatic officials cut ribbon to open the Asian orchid exhibition 2018.  The Vietnamese Embassy in the Czech Republic joined diplomatic agencies of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand in an orchid diplomacy event held in the central European country on March 1. More than 100 kinds of Southeast Asian orchids, which were bred and taken care of by Czech botanists, were displayed at the Asian orchid exhibition 2018. The exhibition “Vietnamese forest” opened the journey through the Southeast Asian region with a mysterious imitative cave reminding of famous Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh province. On the occasion, the Vietnamese Embassy introduced to international visitors and pressmen the country’s excellent cuisines as well as its beauty through the lens of Vietnamese photographers. Tran Huong, Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in the Czech Republic, highlighted that the introduction of Vietnam’s culture quintessence and natural beauty will help promote ties between Vietnam and the Czech Republic. The event also created opportunities for Vietnam to popularise agricultural potential to the European country, helping bolster bilateral trade, she noted. Prime Minister pledges favorable conditions for Japanese groups    Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) hosts Masayoshi Fujimoto, President and CEO of Sojitz Corporation of Japan  Vietnam will create all favorable conditions for Japanese groups and corporations to do successful business in the country, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has pledged. At a reception for Masayoshi Fujimoto, President and CEO of Sojitz Corporation of Japan in Hanoi on March 1, the PM hailed the group for its investment in many projects with success, citing the project to produce high-quality rice, contributing to Vietnam’s agricultural economy development. He also lauded Sojitz for pouring investments in infrastructure and industrial parks in Vietnam, saying the move meets real demand of localities in the country. He hoped the Japanese group will expand its operation in Vietnam and do more for Vietnam’s socio-economic development, especially in clean energy, agriculture, and food safety. He said he expects that based on the extensive strategic partnership, more Japanese investors will come to Vietnam. “The success of Japanese investors will make important contributions to bolstering and deepening the efficient, productive relations between the two countries,” the PM said. Emphasizing the significance of and more opportunities from the participation in CPTPP of both Vietnam and Japan, he said he hopes businesses of the two countries will make the best use of this chance, bringing benefits for their country. Masayoshi Fujimoto spoke highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, saying his corporation has been present in various fields in Vietnam for years and is focusing on the production of high-quality rice with a view of contributing to developing a safe food industry in the country. In addition, Sojitz has been concentrating on completing power projects and conducting cooperative activities in training talents and high-quality human resources in Vietnam, he said, expressing his hopes to continue receiving support and assistance from the Prime Minister and other functional agencies during the group’s investment process in the country. VNN