KTFA:  Vietnam

Henig:  Đà Lạt plans to open casinos, new night market at tourist destinations

07:00 | 17/02/2023

Đà Lạt has proposed to Lâm Đồng Province that the city open food markets, new night markets, and casinos in the Valley of Love and other tourist destinations as part of its night-time economy development project.

The Đà Lạt People’s Committee plans to open a musical park at a city flower garden, and a food market in the area of Trần Lê and Hoàng Văn Thụ streets. Business hours of cafes, cinemas, and shopping centres will be lengthened to increase sales.

In the period of 2023 to 2030, a 1,600-metre walking street on Trần Quốc Toản Street will be opened. A new, modern night market located in the city’s Light Park will also replace the current one on Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street.

There will be different programmes and activities in each location to stimulate local demand and tourism.

The city also proposed to let Thành Công Lâm Đồng Tourism Joint Stock Company develop a night-time economy complex, including shophouses and casinos at the Valley of Love and other destinations.

The city’s night-time development project aims to reduce heavy traffic in the city centre, exploit the potential local economy, and bring positive changes to its tourism.

Source: vietnamnews.vn    LINK

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Henig:  Vietnamese collector successfully purchases royal seal

07:00 | 17/02/2023

Authorities are carrying out procedures for the repatriation of the seal to Việt Nam in accordance with the laws of both nations.

A Vietnamese collector from the northern province of Bắc Ninh has spent €6.1 million (US$6.5 million) purchasing the Nguyễn Dynasty imperial seal from a French auction house.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the purchaser of the gold seal is Nguyễn Thế Hồng, Chairman of Bắc Ninh Antiquities Association. He has covered all the expenses for negotiating with Millon Auction House with regard to the seal’s authenticity and repatriation, under the timely sponsorship of the Vietnamese Government and relevant ministries, branches and agencies.

The contract to purchase the seal was signed with Millon on January 13 in France. Authorities are carrying out procedures for the repatriation of the seal to Việt Nam in accordance with the laws of both nations. It is expected to return at the end of April.

Hồng is a real estate businessman. He also established the Nam Hồng Royal Museum in Từ Sơn District, Bắc Ninh Province, which displays the artifacts he has collected, from bronze antiques and ceramics to wooden furniture.

One item in his collection, the Đông Sơn Bronze Jar dating back between 2,200 and 2,300 years ago, was recognised as a national treasure in January.

In November last year, Việt Nam announced that the negotiation for the seal’s return had been successful "in the spirit of consensus and understanding between the two sides and the friendly cooperation relationship between Việt Nam and France".

On October 19, Millon announced its auction of 329 antiquities, including two dating back to the Nguyễn Dynasty – a golden seal made in 1823 and a golden bowl made under the reign of King Khải Định (1917 - 1925). The auction of the seal was deferred twice by the Paris-based auction house due to "the strong interest of the Vietnamese State", as they announced on their website.

According to the French auction house, the gold square seal is 10.4 centimetres high and weighs 10.78 kilograms. It was passed down from the second king of Nguyễn Dynasty, Minh Mạng (1791-1841) to its last, King Bảo Đại (1913-1997).

Its handle is in the form of a coiled dragon with a raised head. The dragon's forehead is engraved with the word Vương (Emperor) which symbolises the emperor's supreme power, and each of its legs has five claws. The phrase Hoàng Đế Chi Bảo (Treasure of The Emperor) appears on the imperial seal.

Việt Nam’s Department of Cultural Heritage has confirmed that the seal is authentic.

According to Dr. Phan Thanh Hải, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, a member of the National Heritage Council, the Hoàng Đế Chi Bảo gold seal is extremely valuable in terms of culture and history.

"That a private collector has spent all the money to purchase and bring the artifact back home is really a good sign in the process of socialising heritage conservation and promotion activities," he told Thanh Niên (Youth) Newspaper.

Source: vietnamnews.vn   LINK

Henig:  Horticultural, floricultural technology expo attracts 200 brands

February, 16/2023 - 14:55

HortEx Vietnam 2023, the fifth international exhibition and conference for horticultural and floricultural production and processing technology in Việt Nam, will be held in HCM City’s Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre from March 1 to 3.

HCM CITY — HortEx Vietnam 2023, the fifth international exhibition and conference for horticultural and floricultural production and processing technology in Việt Nam, will be held in HCM City’s Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre from March 1 to 3.

The exhibition has attracted nearly 200 exhibitors from 25 countries and territories, including Belgium, mainland China, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, and the host Việt Nam, with those from Egypt and the UK attending the show for the first time.

There will be national pavilions of the Netherlands, Turkey, Taiwan, and Việt Nam. This year, the Netherlands is a “partner country” at the expo, with the participation of 30 Dutch companies under the Netherlands pavilion organised by the Netherlands Embassy in Hà Nội.

In addition to showcasing equipment and technologies for the vegetable, flower and fruit industries, the expo will feature seminars, a fruit and vegetable export forum, Grower Talks, B2B business matchmaking, a flower showcase, a premium fruit showcase and other activities.

To facilitate farmers to have access to new technologies and products from all over the world, the organising committee will provide free shuttle buses for delegations of 40 people or more from provinces to visit the exhibition and attend the seminar.

HortEx Vietnam has become the largest professional meeting place in Southeast Asia for businesses and experts in horticultural and floricultural industry, and helps Vietnamese businesses access advanced technology in the world and expand export markets, said Nguyễn Bá Vinh, director of Minh Vi Exhibition & Advertising Services Company Limited (VEAS), one of the expo’s organisers.

Jointly organised by VEAS, Nova Exhibitions BV Company (Netherlands), and China Great Wall International Exhibition Co., Ltd, the exhibition is expected to attract 8,000 trade visitors.

Đặng Phúc Nguyên, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association, said Việt Nam has the potential to become one of the major fruit exporters for the world. The country has an area of 1.2 million hectares of fruit growing, with total output of about 12 million tonnes a year.

Vegetables and fruit export revenue is over US$3.5 billion per year, he said.

— VNS   LINK

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Henig:  US, Việt Nam to counter wildlife trafficking through sea ports

09:27 | 16/02/2023

The growing demand for endangered, exotic, and protected wildlife drives a global illegal market, valued at more than US$20 billion per year.

Ninety per cent of the world trade is seaborne and an estimated 72-90 per cent of illicit wildlife volumes are trafficked through maritime transport, meaning detecting and intercepting wildlife shipments at maritime ports is critical.

The figures were revealed on February 14 at a workshop on ‘Strengthening inspection, detection, investigation and handling illegal wildlife trade through seaports', co-hosted by the Management Board for Forestry Projects under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD); the General Department of Việt Nam Customs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), US Department of State, USAID. The conference draw the participation of customs representatives from major seaport authorities in HCM City, Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng, Quy Nhơn and TRAFFIC.

The workshop provided participants with information on the maritime cargo inspection and screening procedures to control and detect wildlife trafficking, including the Customs Container Control Programme, technology interventions to improve detection rates, including new x-ray innovations supported by USAID and the US Department of State, and new guidelines on wildlife trafficking adopted by the International Maritime Organisation.

Examples of interdepartmental, international, and cross-sector coordination and cooperation in countering wildlife trafficking, opportunities and the latest trends of this transnational crime were also highlighted.

“Wildlife trafficking is a cross-border, transnational crime. We focus on capacity building and supporting stakeholders of Việt Nam, including customs and port authorities, to effectively and responsibly enforce international treaties,” said director of the Management Board for Forestry Projects (MBFP), Đỗ Quang Tùng.

Thought to be the world’s largest known ivory seizure, in March 2019 Việt Nam Customs seized over nine tonnes of ivory at Đà Nẵng port. The seizure represents over 1,000 elephants and brought the amount of ivory seized in Việt Nam since 2004 to over 70 tonnes.

“Countering wildlife trafficking is a global priority for the US Government. USAID supports interagency collaboration, transboundary cooperation, and reforms to policies and practices to ensure transnational wildlife crime is prevented,” said Annie Wallace, director of Office of Climate Change, Energy and Environment, USAID Việt Nam.

Participants highlighted opportunities to strengthen the detection and interception of wildlife trafficking cases after a tour at Đà Nẵng port.

"Wildlife trafficking is a growing concern globally, threatening not only biodiversity but also ecosystems vital for climate change mitigation, domestic and international economies. Investigating and intercepting the perpetrators of this illegal trade is a challenge, requiring coordination and collaboration between enforcement agencies and the maritime shipping industry. Through USAID’s Saving Threatened Wildlife project, we aim to change the perception that trafficking wildlife to Việt Nam is a low risk, high reward activity," said Michelle Owen, Chief of Party - Saving Threatened Wildlife, WWF.

Supported by USAID and implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture of Rural Development (MARD) by WWF, TRAFFIC and ENV, the Saving Threatened Wildlife project supports efforts to counter wildlife trafficking.

USAID partners with MARD to assist Việt Nam’s customs and seaport authorities to use technology to counter wildlife trafficking.

USAID’s Saving Threatened Wildlife project, implemented by WWF, convened agencies to discuss tools and technology that combat wildlife trafficking through improved detection and interception at maritime ports.

Source: VNS   LINK

Henig:  Market extends rallies on back of bank stocks

February, 17/2023 - 05:18

The index claimed back nearly 20 points after falling for fourth straight session due to strong selling pressure.

HÀ NỘI — Shares settled higher on Thursday, boosted mainly by banking stocks while foreign investors continued to run away from the market.

The market's benchmark VN-Index gained 10.09 points, 0.96 per cent, to end the day at 1,058.29 points. The index claimed back nearly 20 points after falling for the fourth straight session due to strong selling pressure.

The market's breadth was positive as the number of stocks adding points outnumbered those performing negatively. Specifically, 251 ticker symbols advanced, while 61 stocks went down.

However, liquidity declined over the previous session.

The index's rallies were thanks to gains in large-cap stocks, especially in the banking sector. The VN30-Index, tracking the 30 biggest stocks on the southern bourse, increased by 11.92 points, or 1.4 per cent, to 1,055.26 points.

Twenty-six stocks of the VN30 basket rose, while only two declined. And two stocks stayed flat.

On the Hà Nội Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index also inched higher on Thursday. It closed the trading session at 210.84 points, an increase of 2.87 points, or 1.38 per cent.

During the session, more than 70.1 million shares were traded on HNX, worth more than 1.2 trillion (US$473.1 million).

Of the top five stocks dominating the market trend, there were three bank stocks, led by BIDV (BID) with a gain of nearly 2.3 per cent. The other two stocks were Vietinbank (CTG) and VPBank (VPB), up 2.77 and 1.74 per cent, respectively.

Hòa Phát Group (HPG)'s and Vingroup (VIC)'s positive performances also lifted the market's sentiment.

On the other hand, foreign capital continued to exit the market as foreign investors net sold VNĐ109.54 billion on the main southern exchange HoSE. They net bought VNĐ16.72 billion on HNX.

VNS   LINK

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Henig:    Attracting green investment in southeast region

06:00 | 16/02/2023

(VEN) - Sustainable development orientation is on the rise, helping Vietnam remain competitive and advance its green economy. Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces of Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau are developing strategies to boost "green" foreign direct investment (FDI) in the region.

Leaders in attracting FDI

Attracting foreign direct investment is a major Party and State policy that contributes to the achievement of socioeconomic development goals. With the existing advantages and appropriate investment attraction plan, provinces in the southeast are leading the country in terms of FDI attraction in the country.

After more than 30 years of attracting FDI, Ho Chi Minh City has become the economic, financial, commercial, science-technology and innovation hub of the area and the country. The city has attracted US$55.8 billion in FDI, accounting for 12.7 percent of the country's total. It has efficiently utilized 18 export processing zones, industrial parks, and high-tech zones, contributing to economic growth, exports, state budget revenue, and country-wide employment.

Binh Duong Province has made significant strides in attracting FDI by concentrating on solutions to improve the investment climate and consistently enhancing competitiveness. As a result, Binh Duong attracted US$3.1 billion in 2022, nearly double its goal. Binh Duong has so far attracted 4,082 FDI projects worth a total of US$39.7 billion from 65 countries and territories, with a rapid investment growth in high technology, environmentally friendly, less labor intensive and high added value sectors.

Dong Nai Province has attracted 1,551 investment projects worth almost US$33 billion from 43 nations and territories. The Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei and Japan have become the biggest foreign investors in Dong Nai. According to Nguyen Thi Hoang, Vice Chair of the Dong Nai Province People's Committee, FDI inflows are crucial to the province's socioeconomic growth and contribute to the economic restructuring of the industrial sector.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province drew more than US$1.3 billion in FDI in 2022, bringing the total to over US$30 billion in 446 FDI projects, placing it fourth in the country in FDI attraction.

Green capital attraction

Many communities in the southeast are keen to attract green-oriented foreign direct investment in order to meet the demands of sustainable development. Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Chair, Phan Van Mai, has stated that the city will prioritize industrial development based on high technology and a digital economy, with an emphasis on developing industries that have a high science and technology content. The city's export processing zones and industrial parks are undergoing a gradual transition toward high-tech industrial parks.

Notably, in March 2022, Binh Duong Province began development of the Vietnam- Singapore Industrial Park III (VSIP III) on an area of 1,000 hectares, with total capital of more than VND6.4 trillion to attract green FDI. Following the global trend, this industrial park was developed and funded with a focus on sustainability.

The trend of sustainable development, or green industry, is becoming clearer than ever in Vietnam. Vo Van Minh, Chair of the Binh Duong Province People's Committee, affirmed that the province is focusing on developing green industry and industry with high added value. Similarly, in order to be ready to welcome hoped-for green FDI investment, Dong Nai and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces are also changing policies to prioritize high-tech and sustainable projects.

High-quality foreign investment capital to green Vietnam’s economy is crucial given the growing interest of developed nation consumers not only in product design and quality, but also in eco-friendly goods. Therefore, the growth of green industries becomes an essential aspect in Vietnam's investment competition.

Thanh Minh    LINK