Forum seeks to improve economy’s competitiveness

Enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of Vietnam’s economy topped the agenda of the Vietnam Business Forum which was held in Hanoi on May 26.

Government officials, businesspeople and representatives from a number of international organisations discussed a wide range of issues related to infrastructure, human resources development, and administrative, legal and tax reforms.

Vietnam’s Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc, World Bank Country Director in Vietnam Victoria Kwakwa and the International Finance Corporation (IFC)’s Regional Director Simon Andrew were optimistic about the Vietnamese economy’s current indexes, saying that Vietnam remains an attractive destination for foreign investors.

They also pointed out a number of challenges Vietnam needs to deal with to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of its economy, especially those regarding laws, administrative procedures, infrastructure and personnel training.

The WB official pledged to support Vietnam’s reforms and expected to join in working out its socio-economic development plans when the country has much to do in the post-crisis period.

A representative from the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) in Vietnam said the biggest challenge for Vietnam in the remaining months of 2010 is to balance its growth rate, while curbing inflation.

The EuroCham representative expressed belief in huge potentials of Vietnam – a leading nation in the region and a destination for investors from Europe .

President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam Jocelyn Tran suggested the country improve skills of its workforce. Vietnam also should make greater efforts to stabilise the macro-economy, legal system and labour relations, promote the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, and speed up infrastructure development, she said.

Hiroyuki Moribe, Head of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO)’s Hanoi Office, said Vietnam is still an appealing destination and a potential market for Japanese investors thanks to its political and social stability.

Vietnam sees the highest rate of Japanese companies which are planning to expand business as compared with other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASENA), Hiroyuki said.

While sharing concerns about the establishment of private economic groups and impacts of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement, the Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association, Dr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, put forth specific solutions to help the youth to set up shop.

Cuong emphasised the necessity to provide young people in rural areas with access to Internet and chances to meet with successful young entrepreneurs, as well as encourage the youth to enrich themselves.

Hanoi hosts exhibition on nuclear power

An international exhibition on nuclear power opened its doors in Hanoi on May 27 to spotlight the advanced technologies and skills needed to build Vietnam ’s first nuclear power plant in the central province of Ninh Thuan.

The three-day event is being attended by many of the world’s nuclear giants from Japan , Russia , France , the US , China , Canada and Bulgaria . All are there to showcase their financial, technical and executive strengths as well as their experience in putting nuclear power projects into operation across the world.

The exhibition, the fourth of its kind so far in Vietnam , includes the preparations being made for the nation’s first nuclear power plant, the construction of which is scheduled to start in 2014 with the first turbine likely to be commissioned by 2020.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade forecast that the nation’s demand for electricity will increase to 294 billion kWh in 2020 and almost double that to 562 billion kWh in 2030.

Meanwhile the supply of raw materials for the electricity industry is expected to be enough to produce 230 billion kWh by 2020 and 293 billion kWh by 2030.

Nuclear power is therefore a way of making up the short fall and research have been carried out since 1996.

The National Assembly on November 25, 2009 approved the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, which will have a total capacity of 4,000 MW.

The project will have two plants, each with two turbines.

Science-technology transfer to Northwest urged

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong has urged relevant ministries and agencies to enhance research capacity and transfer of scientific-technological application to develop agriculture and rural economy in the northwestern region.

Deputy PM Trong, who is also Head of the Northwest Steering Committee, stressed technologies on breeding, preservation and processing, and models on combination between production and business, at a meeting in Moc Chau Farm town, Moc Chau district, Son La province, on May 26.

The meeting on science-technology transfer and application, promoting agricultural development and rural economy in the northwestern region drew delegates from the northern provinces of Ha Giang, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Son La, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Hoa Binh, Bac Kan, Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, Lang Son and Dien Bien and the northern central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces.

The northwestern region has accounted for a significant volume in the country’s total output of several agricultural products. It produces 70 percent of the country’s tea, 33.5 percent of soybeans, 45.7 percent of litchi and longan, 37.6 percent of maize and 58.2 percent of the buffalo heard.

The region registers an annual growth rate of agriculture-forestry-aquaculture value of 8 percent in comparison with the national rate of 5.5 percent.

But, the poverty rate in the region almost doubled the country’s rate. In 2008, the region’s rate was 30 percent.

According to reports presented at the meeting, 42 state scientific-technological projects, focusing on plant and animal varieties, farming technologies, plant protection measures and veterinary medicine, were carried out in the northwestern region over the past two years, improving labour productivity, product quality and farming effectiveness.

43 businesses chosen for National Brand Name programme

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has selected 43 businesses from 12 industries for the National Brand Name programme this year.

The businesses, chosen from 2000 entrants, have established their own trademarks in garment, leather shoes, financial service, food and beverages, electronics, technology, telecommunication, real estate, tourism, transportation and distribution.

They include such names as VNPT, Vietnam Airlines, Vinacafe, Viettel, Viettien, PetroVietnam and VietinBank.

According to Nguyen Thanh Bien, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, the programme aims to increase the competitive capacity of Vietnamese products in the domestic and international market, encourage the export of processed industrial products and build up an image for Vietnamese products on quality, innovative and creative criteria.

The event is the only kind which is sponsored by the State to promote the national image and help Vietnamese businesses secure a firm position in the country and develop their strong brand name, he added.

The brand name selection is carried out every two year. In 2008, 30 businesses were chosen and all of them have since achieved an annual growth rate of over 15 percent.

22 countries recognise Vietnam’s market economy

A total of 22 countries around the world have to date recognised the market economy in Vietnam, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu reported to the 20 th plenary session of the National Assembly’s Committee on External Relations on May 26.

Vietnam and Japan also set up a dialogue forum on the issue, Deputy Minister Tu said, adding that a number of other countries and Vietnam are conducting technical reviews for early recognition of the market economy in the Southeast Asian nation.

In his report, Deputy Minister Tu, who is also General Secretary of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation, said in 2009 Vietnam signed five bilateral agreements and protocols, and 15 multilateral agreements and protocols within the WTO, ASEAN and ASEAN+ frameworks, and 32 cooperation deals.

Regarding implementation of commitments within the WTO, ASEAN, APEC and ASEM frameworks as well as international trade agreements and deals under negotiations, Deputy Minister Tu asked to accelerate the making of laws regulating international economic integration. He also said state management agencies should improve their capacity in dealing with relevant issues such as competition governance, fighting subsidy and dumping trade and solving trade disputes.

Italy shares experience on clean energy

A series of Italy’s solutions for greener and cleaner cities, looking toward durable sustainable and renewable energy, was shared at a workshop held in Hanoi on May 26 by the Italian Embassy.

The workshop themed “Urban area and clean energy” is an opportunity for the two countries’ specialists to share experience in clean energy in urban areas, especially in the context of expanded Hanoi, said Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrea Perugini.

At the workshop, part of the millennium anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, Nguyen Duc Cuong, Director of the Institute of Energy’s renewable energy and clean development mechanism centre presented mechanisms and policies on renewable energy in Vietnam.

Vietnam has a great potential on renewable energy, scattered in ecological areas nationwide such as wind power in the central region, sea-born energy, small-sized hydroelectricity, bio-mass electricity and solar power, he added.

Cuong attributed rapid economic development, population growth and urbanisation to the increasing demand for energy use.

He also mentioned how to balance renewable energy development and economic development targets because cost for renewable energy production is about 1.5-2 times higher than that for traditional energy production.

A representative from Italian company Ansaldo Sistemi Industriali presented solutions for green and clean cities with the aim of increasing technology effectiveness to improve living quality in urban centres as well as reducing energy consumption.

The workshop also introduced a solution on zeroing exhaust fumes in urban centres, including effective use of current energy production plants, construction of a power shifting system in urban areas and use of renewable energy.

Source: VietNamNet/VNA