KTFA:  Vietnam:

Henig:  Gov’t asks for focus on digital finance, digital economy this year

January, 14/2023 

Non-cash payments for social allowance, pension and social insurance allowance would be promoted while the national population database would be improved and used to identify customers and authenticate bank accounts.

HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese Government has asked ministries and localities to focus on promoting the development of digital finance and digital economy in 2023.

Accordingly, the institutions, mechanisms, policies and legal framework would be improved to accelerate the national digital transformation with a focus on developing human resources and ensuring information security.

KTFA:

Henig:  Trade with UK: Record growth, untapped potential

06:00 | 13/01/2023

(VEN) - The UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) officially came into force on May 1, 2021. The two countries have seen bilateral trade growth despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and the UK is forecast to remain a promising export market for Vietnamese goods.

Increased presence in UK

Trade between Vietnam and the UK reached more than US$6.6 billion in 2021, up 17 percent compared with 2020. The sum included nearly US$5.8 billion worth of Vietnamese exports to the UK, up 16.4 percent, and US$849 million worth of UK exports to Vietnam, up 23.6 percent. In the first 11 months of 2022, Vietnam’s exports to the UK reached nearly US$5.63 billion, up 7.4 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, imports from the UK reached US$700 million, down 10 percent.

KTFA:

Vietnam News:

Henig:  Top 10 ICT developments in 2022

06:00 | 11/01/2023

(VEN) - Vietnam's information and communications technology (ICT) industry entered a post-COVID development phase in 2022, with the Party and government adopting policies to promote the development of the technology sector and businesses. Following are 10 outstanding ICT developments of 2022 as voted by the journalists of the ICT Press Club.

1. National strategy adopted on digital economy and digital society

On March 31, 2022, the prime minister promulgated a national strategy for digital economy and digital society development to 2025, with a vision to 2030. This strategy foresees the centrality of digital development in achieving rapid, sustainable, inclusive development, adaptive and resilient to challenges in a world of unpredictable changes. The vision sets a target for the digital economy to account for 20 and 30 percent of Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025 and 2030, respectively.

KTFA:

Henig:  US crude stocks drop global oil prices

Baghdad / NINA / - Oil prices fell today, Wednesday, giving up the gains of the previous session, after data in the sector revealed an unexpected increase in US crude and fuel stocks, which raised concerns about fuel demand.

West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 59 cents, or 0.8%, to $74.53 a barrel.

Brent crude futures also fell 62 cents, or 0.8%, to $79.48 a barrel.   LINK

KTFA:

Henig:  Kiên Giang aims to improve industrial production value by 8%

January, 11/2023 - 08:43

The industrial production value of Kiên Giang Province is more than VNĐ44.6 trillion last year, reaching 105.3 per cent of the plan, up 13.7 per cent compared to 2021.

KIÊN GIANG — The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kiên Giang strives for industrial production value to reach more than VNĐ48.18 trillion (US$2.04 billion) this year, a year-on-year increase of 8 per cent.

The industrial production value of Kiên Giang Province was more than VNĐ44.6 trillion last year, reaching 105.3 per cent of the plan, up 13.7 per cent compared to 2021.

KTFA: Vietnam:

Henig:  Standard Chartered forecast Việt Nam 2023 GDP growth at 7.2 per cent

January, 10/2023 - 07:31

Standard Chartered Bank expects Việt Nam’s strong growth of 7.2 per cent in 2023 and 6.7 per cent in 2024, following a solid recovery to 8.0 per cent in 2022.

HÀ NỘI Standard Chartered Bank forecasts Việt Nam’s economic growth at 7.2 per cent in 2023 and 6.7 per cent in 2024, following a solid recovery to 8.0 per cent in 2022.

The forecast is highlighted in the bank’s recently published global research report on Việt Nam titled “Việt Nam – Still enjoying high-growth status”.

“We still have a conviction on Việt Nam’s high growth potential over the medium term,” said Tim Leelahaphan, Economist for Thailand and Việt Nam, Standard Chartered. “While macro indicators moderated somewhat in Quarter 4 2022, they remain largely robust. Retail sales posted solid growth in the second half of 2022, implying improved domestic activity.”

KTFA:

Clare:  The Sudanese government obliges all of its institutions to deal in the Iraqi dinar

The Ministerial Council of the Iraqi Economy took, on Monday, a number of economic decisions, including obligating all ministries and state institutions to pay wages for goods and services in dinars.

This came, during the presidency of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, the meeting of the Ministerial Council for the Economy, in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Planning, the Ministers of Finance, Trade, Industry, Agriculture, Labor and Social Affairs, the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, and the Chairman of the Commission The National Investment Agency is an agency, and the Prime Minister's advisors for economic and legal affairs, according to a statement received by Shafaq News agency.

KTFA: Vietnam News

Henig:  Hanoi tourism meets recovery targets

06:00 | 09/01/2023

(VEN) - An estimated 17.02 million tourists visited Hanoi in the first 11 months of 2022, over five times the figure in the corresponding period last year. That includes 1.27 million foreign tourists, meeting the minimum target set for the year.

According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, in November alone, Hanoi hosted 1.61 million visitors, including 1.35 million domestic tourists and 255,000 foreigners, and earned VND4.39 trillion from tourism, five times higher than in the same period last year.

Director of Hanoi Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang said that in December 2022, the department will complete a report to the city People’s Committee on tourism planning to 2030, with orientation to 2050, and submit a cooperation program with CNN on 2023 promotion.

Vietnam News:

Henig: Drum Dance Festival of the Muong

06:00 | 08/01/2023

(VEN) - The Muong ethnic minority in the northern mountainous region welcome spring and celebrate Tet (the Lunar New Year) with a traditional drum dance festival and other activities.

The drum featured in the festival is made of buffalo skin. It is about 30cm in diameter and 45cm in length, enough for drummers to easily play and swing. The drum dance was previously performed by only two people – symbolizing father and son, but nowadays it includes up to 10 persons to provide entertainment during Tet and other community events.