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Smart City – The urgent solution for a better world

by vietnamnews.vn

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed lives and economies around the globe, requiring governments to seek new urban management technologies and solutions to address the current crisis as well as promote economic growth in the post-pandemic period. One of the initiatives taken is the implementation of smart cities. [1]

The pandemic has shown the importance of smart cities where digital technology will help facilitate remote work and conduct financial transactions, which is crucial to keeping urban economies running.

In Southeast Asia, smart cities will play an increasingly important role in generating economic growth and tackling complex urban challenges. According to a report by McKinsey Global Institute [2] , smart cities are expected to create 1.2 million – 1.5 million new jobs, prevent 260,000-270,000 kiltrons greenhouse gas emissions, and save somewhere between US$9-16 billion living expenses across ASEAN.

From the “Thailand 4.0″ plan to Singapore’s “Smart Nation” initiative, governments across Southeast Asia are driving the smart city transformation process. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong recently at the 36th ASEAN Summit said that ASEAN could use [3] the smart city network in the region to exchange ideas and experiences in utilising technology in the fight against COVID-19. For example, technology to enhance contact tracing.

The ASEAN Smart City Network (ASCN) was established on April 28, 2018, to encourage further cooperation among the 10 ASEAN member states to promote sustainable smart city development. The focus of ASCN’s work is on improving the lives of the ASEAN people through technology. As ASEAN Chair in 2020, Viet Nam will play a key role in leading ASCN and promoting smart city development across Southeast Asia. [4]

From the “Thailand 4.0″ plan to Singapore’s “Smart Nation” initiative, governments across Southeast Asia are driving the smart city transformation process. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong recently at the 36th ASEAN Summit said that ASEAN could use [3] the smart city network in the region to exchange ideas and experiences in utilising technology in the fight against COVID-19 – for example, technology to enhance contact tracing.

To further encourage cooperation among the 10 ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Smart City Network (ASCN) was established on April 28, 2018 to promote sustainable smart city development. The focus of ASCN’s work is on improving the lives of the ASEAN people through technology. As ASEAN Chair in 2020, Viet Nam will play a key role in leading ASCN and promoting smart city development across Southeast Asia. [4]

Innovating through Hitachi’s technology

Integrating smart grids and sensors into urban infrastructure will allow governments to continuously collect data to operate cities efficiently, while cutting-edge software will enable rapid data analysis helping both government and business better understand the behaviour of people and consumers. With over 110 years of experience in the field of operational technology and 60 years of experience in the field of information technology, Hitachi has developed an extensive network of global partners focused on working together to develop technological solutions that address economic and social needs.

Over the past two years, Hitachi Vantara Vietnam has been involved in a number of smart city development consulting projects. Among them are large projects with a scale of over 1,000 hectares of complex structures, including residential areas, resort complexes, entertainment centres, and convention centres.

Hitachi smart city solutions aim to address concerns such as safety and public security with surveillance cameras and integrated access control systems, as well as optimise electricity usage through an intelligent energy management system. In addition to that, their Smart Traffic Control Platform Solution, developed with artificial intelligence technology and machine learning technology, helps to monitor and detect traffic violations. Beyond these smart city solutions, Hitachi has also developed solutions to enhance the consumer experience, such as providing access to a variety of services using an e-wallet application.

Viet Nam is emerging as one of Southeast Asia’s leading FinTech centres. At the end of 2019, Viet Nam had 154 FinTech companies and is considered a “FinTech model for Southeast Asia [5] “. This number increased by 285% compared to 2016, when there were only 40 FinTech companies in Viet Nam.

In Viet Nam, Hitachi has researched and developed an electronic payment system (E-Money) for retirees. Retirement beneficiaries can use these electronic cards to receive retirement payments at the post office. Plans are also underway to introduce non-cash payment systems into use in Vietnamese cities such as in gas stations or stores. [6]

Aside from non-cash payments, Hitachi has also initiated a pilot project with a local finance company to provide new financial services using digital technology such as artificial intelligence. By promoting the development of cashless payment systems and AI-based financial services, Hitachi aims to play a pioneering role in helping Viet Nam become a leading FinTech hub in the region. [7]

Hitachi Social is about making the world a better place

A successful smart city is one that ensures the happiness of its residents and improves their quality of life by creating opportunities for both personal and community growth that can enhance the social, economic and environmental values ​​of citizens.

By focusing on social innovation and powering good, Hitachi aims to improve people’s lives through its technologies. Successful social innovation requires first and foremost a deep understanding of the problems people face in everyday life, followed by the development of technology solutions that can help solve problems.

In the ASEAN region, Hitachi has been combining the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and data analysis to create “smart spaces” in cities. Through the introduction of cashless payment systems and FinTech services, smart urban spaces are expected to bring convenience and open business opportunities to organisations and businesses.

A smart city is more than just digital and urban infrastructure. Smart city technology and social innovations can contribute to the well-being of its people. An example of this is Hitachi’s efforts to use data analysis and people flow analysis to understand how people move around the city to ensure the optimal location of public facilities such as parks and childcare centres. This will improve the people’s quality of life and contribute to the greater well-being of the whole community.

[1] ABI Research, “COVID-19 to Accelerate Adoption of Technology-Enabled Smart Cities Resilience Approaches: Robotics, Digital Twins, and Autonomous Freight”, 05 May 2020 https://www.abiresearch.com/press/covid-19-accelerate-adoption-technology-enabled-smart-cities-resilience-approaches-robotics-digital-twins-and-autonomous-freight/

[2] McKinsey & Company, “ SMART CITIES INSOUTHEAST ASIA”, July 2018, https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/industries/capital%20projects%20and%20infrastructure/our%20insights/smart%20cities%20in%20southeast%20asia/mgi-smart-cities-in-southeast-asia.pdf

[3] CNA. “PM Lee calls for greater ASEAN cooperation amid fight against COVID-19.” channelnewsasia, 26 Jun 2020, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/asean-summit-pm-lee-calls-for-greater-cooperation-covid-19-12874392. .

[4] Tony Cripps, “South-east Asia is getting ‘smart’ with urbanisation”, The Straits Times, 18 May 2018, https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/south-east-asia-is-getting-smart-with-urbanisation

[5] Diesel.C. “Vietnam’s fintech industry growth is a model for Southeast Asia.” ASEAN TODAY , 29 December 2019, https://www.aseantoday.com/2019/12/vietnams-fintech-industry-growth-is-a-model-for-southeast-asia/ .

[6] Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Signs a Memorandum of Understanding to Support Digitization of Financial Services Provided by Vietnam Post Jointly with SMBC. 29 March 2017 http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/month/2017/03/170329a.html

[7] Hitachi. “Hitachi and VietCredit Start a Demonstration Experiment to Provide New Financial Services Using AI.” Hitachi.com , 2020, http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/month/2020/02/200210.html.

115 trillion VND for tax payment extension

by en.qdnd.vn

Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son said Decree No.52/2021/ND-CP aims to support enterprises, organisations, family businesses, and individuals who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the Decree, a five-month extension will be given to value-added tax of the assessment periods of March, April, May, June, the first quarter and the second quarter this year. This means the payment of VAT of March assessment period will be extended to September.

Timeframe for payment of value-added tax of July and August will be extended by four and three months, respectively.

Payment of corporate income tax in the first and second quarters will be extended by three months, according to the Decree.

A six-month extension will be given to payment of land rent fees, starting from May 31, 2021.

This is the third time the Government has introduced tax and land rent payment deadlines since the first COVID-19 cases reported in Vietnam on January 23,  2020.

Earlier, the Government promulgated Decree No. 41/2020/ND-CP dated April 8, 2020 on extension of deadlines for tax and land rent fee payment and Decree No. 109/2020/ND-CP providing the extension of time limits for excise tax payment for domestically manufactured or assembled cars.

In implementing the two previous Decrees, a total of 184,900 dossiers on tax and land lease payment extension were passed with a total sum of 87.3 trillion VND.

Source: VNA

Vietnamese, Cuban Foreign Ministers hold phone talks

by en.qdnd.vn

Son congratulated the success of the eighth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) from April 16-19 and the Cuban Foreign Minister on his re-election as a Politburo member.

He wished that the two foreign ministries would continue working closely together to further tighten bilateral friendship and collaboration.

The Vietnamese minister reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of staying united with Cuba and strongly supporting the United Nations General Assembly’s resolutions requesting an end to embargo on Cuba.

Parrilla, for his part, thanked Vietnam for providing invaluable support for Cuba over the past years and spoke highly of Vietnam’s role as rotating President of the United Nations Security Council in January 2020 and April 2021.

Both sides agreed to deliver on commitments reached by the two nations’ leaders, including those made during phone talks on May 5 between Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and First Secretary of the CPC Miguel Diaz-Canel, facilitate high-level visits when conditions allow, firstly maintaining all-level exchanges via phone talks and teleconferences amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The two sides will optimize existing cooperation frameworks and mechanisms to improve the efficiency of bilateral economic, trade and investment ties while carrying out bilateral agendas 2021, including increasing the sharing of information, experience and consultations on issues of shared concern, and offering mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums to which the two nations are members.

Source: VNA

More than 1.1 billion USD spent on car imports in four months

by en.qdnd.vn

In April alone, 14,000 automobiles worth 292 million USD were imported. However, the import turnover of CBU vehicles in April declined against the previous month.

In March, the import of automobiles increased dramatically as more than 347 million USD worth of CBUs were brought into the country.

In the first quarter of 2021, 35,367 cars worth 770 million USD were imported, up 31.1 percent in volume and 35 percent in value against the same period last year.

Industry insiders said these figures could be seen as a positive signal as the local car market continues to struggle with the impact of COVID-19.

A report from the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA) revealed that the total sales figure in the domestic automobile market in the first quarter this year reached 70,925 units, or a year-on-year increase of 36 percent.

Industry insiders attributed the surge to the increasing demand for transport and private use after the economy stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The figure comprised 51,126 passenger cars, up 34 percent, 18,735 commercial vehicles, up 43 percent, and 1,091 special-use vehicles, up 17 percent.

In March alone, auto sales by VAMA members grew by 127 percent against February to 30,935.

Of these, 21,089 were passenger cars, 9,227 commercial vehicles, and 619 special-use vehicles.

Sales of domestically-assembled vehicles rose 99 percent month-on-month to 70,952, while those of completely-built-up (CBU) vehicles increased 177 percent against January to 13,795.

Source: VNA

Vietnam records first death from adverse reaction to AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

by vietnamnet.vn

A 35-year-old female medical worker in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang died on May 7 of anaphylactic shock after receiving a dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine a day earlier.

Vietnam records first death from adverse reaction to AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine hinh anh 1

Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)

Doctor Tu Quoc Tuan, Director of the provincial Department of Health, confirmed the death late on May 7, making this the first death from adverse reaction to COVID-19 vaccine in Vietnam since the country started its inoculation drive using primarily AstraZeneca doses in early March.

The woman was working at Tan Chau Region General Hospital and received the vaccine shot on May 6.

After the injection, the patient went into shock and was treated by the Tan Chau Regional General Hospital in accordance with the protocol. The hospital also consulted with experts and doctors from the An Giang Province General Hospital and Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City via the online consutation system regarding the treatment.

She was then transferred to the An Giang Province General Hospital, and the Ministry of Health instructed the Cho Ray Hospital to send intensive care specialists there to provide emergency assistance, but the patient did not survive.

The official cause of death was registered as anaphylaxis, with an underlying condition identified as an allergy to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The health ministry’s notice said this is an extremely rare incident in regards to COVID-19 vaccinations.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long called the woman’s family to send his condolences and sympathies for their loss as well as the loss of An Giang’s frontline healthcare forces.

Earlier on May 6, Long along with three of his deputies received AstraZeneca doses, stressing the need to ensure a safe vaccination programme.

The Ministry of Health has established a steering committee for safe immunisation, which brings together leading experts and professors in all relevant fields to be ready to assist localities in handling any situation arising during the vaccination drive, Long said.

As of May 7 morning, 747,827 people in Vietnam, mostly frontline workers and medical staff, had received COVID-19 vaccine shots./. VNA

EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Blue Book 2021 launched

by en.qdnd.vn

Speaking at the event, ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi said that as the world’s two most important and successful regional organisations, ASEAN and the EU have witnessed significant growth in its multifaceted cooperation, as guided by the ASEAN-EU plan of action, spanning across various areas of non-traditional security, economic and sustainable development, environmental issue, disasters management and human rights.

“As strategic partners, we look forward to advancing cooperation with the EU to intensify cooperation to strengthen regional and global peace based on shared values and interests, and restored confidence in the free trade and rule-based multilateralism and to work towards sustainable development for the benefit of our people,” he stated.

“We also look forward to the EU’s continued support of ASEAN centrality in ASEAN-led mechanisms as well as the ASEAN outlook for the Indo-Pacific, including deepening cooperation in key areas to enhance mutual trust, respect and benefits,” he added.

On this occasion, the ASEAN Secretary-General welcomed the European Council conclusion on the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific at the time rising challenges and tension in the region.

As one of the major foreign investors and trading partners of ASEAN, the EU has shared interests with ASEAN in safeguarding free and open trade, including a transparent, non-discriminatory and rule-based, multilateral trading system, he noted.

“To this end, we welcome the progress made by the ASEAN-EU FTA joint working group in developing a framework setting out the parameters of a future ASEAN-EU FTA Agreement which could contribute meaningfully to post-pandemic recovery for our two regions and to create a stronger, more resilient supply chain and to deliver a new opportunity for our businesses and also to our people,” he concluded.

For his part, EU Ambassador to ASEAN Igor Driesman said that this publication this year is so special as it is launched just five months since the 23rd ASEAN-EU ministerial meeting in December 2020 – an event that opened a new chapter in the two blocs’ long standing relationship by becoming strategic partners.

In a joint effort with EU member states, Team Europe supports ASEAN pandemic response and recovery efforts with over 800 million EUR, he said, adding that it is also the largest contributor to the Covax Facility – the multilateral vehicle to ensure fair and equitable vaccine distribution for all.

He stressed that the EU and ASEAN share the belief that the crisis is an opportunity to build back better and to ensure an inclusive and sustainable recovery. This year, the EU will kick off support for smart green ASEAN cities and launch other new programmes enhancing ASEAN capability in taking ambitious climate actions and energy commitments and transforming these commitments into green recovery actions.

The EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Blue Book 2021 is the sixth edition of this flagship publication since 2016. This year’s 110-page edition features the highlights in the development cooperation relations of the EU, priorities and progress of projects in multiple fields underway in ASEAN member states with the EU support.

Source: VNA