Business beat

The current wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam leads to further disruption across the manufacturing sector during July (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index ( PMI ) ticked up to 45.1 in July from 44.1 in June, signalling a marked deterioration in business conditions across the sector for the second month in a row. The latest survey from Nikkei and IHS Markit revealed on August 2 that the current wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam has led to disruptions across the manufacturing sector during July. Rates of decline in output and new orders increased from the previous month and employment was down sharply amid reports of temporary company closures and social distancing restrictions. Meanwhile, disruption was also felt in supply chains, with delivery times lengthening to the greatest extent in more than ten years of data collection. The rate of input cost inflation accelerated sharply, but efforts to secure orders … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s manufacturing sees decline in output amid COVID-19 outbreak

All four deputy prime ministers have engaged in the missions. Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 5 assigned four deputy prime ministers to missions related to the fight against Covid-19. From left: Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh, DPM Le Minh Khai, DPM Vu Duc Dam, DPM Le Van Thanh. Photo: Ta Lu Accordingly, Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh will take responsibility for external relations regarding Covid drugs, vaccines and tech transfer, and donation. Deputy PM Le Minh Khai will be in charge of issues related to financial, tax, and insurance policies, bank interests, procurement mechanisms, prices of essential goods, stimulus packages to businesses, people, unemployed, and non-resident laborers in lockdown areas. Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam, head of the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control, assumes responsibilities for overseeing the battle, monitoring the purchase of medical equipment, allocating vaccines, developing homegrown vaccines, … [Read more...] about Today’s Covid News: Government leaders assigned to anti-pandemic missions

The negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Vietnam are expected to finalize this year. Ignazio Cassis, Swiss Vice President and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, has visited Hanoi to strengthen economic ties which are regarded as fruitful with the large presence of Swiss businesses in Vietnam pouring capital in 117 FDI projects worth US$1.9 billion thus far. The three-day trip is also aimed at sharing innovative technologies for sustainable and environmentally friendly development. Ignazio Cassis, Swiss Vice President and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (L) and Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in Hanoi on August 5. Photos: MoFA Cassis plans to launch a cooperation strategy in line with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs’ 2021-2024 plans that will provide $70 million of development grants to Vietnam, particularly supporting its manufacturing sector, … [Read more...] about Swiss vice president visits Vietnam for economic push

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) welcomes Swiss Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son proposed Switzerland continue to assist Vietnam in getting access to COVID-19 vaccine supplies, treatment medicines and necessary medical equipment during his talks with Swiss Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis in Hanoi on August 5. Welcoming the guest to Vietnam, Son said the visit, which is taking place from August 4-6 in celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, will contribute to promoting the bilateral relations. He thanked the Swiss Government for continuing to prioritise the provision of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in the future, focusing mainly on environmental protection and economic reform. The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of high-level delegations and meetings, and those … [Read more...] about Vietnam hopes to receive more Swiss assistance in COVID-19 vaccine access: FM

In their first time participating in the International Economic Olympiad, Vietnamese students won two bronze medals. According to the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, the organizer of the International Economic Olympiad in Vietnam, the two students who won the bronze medal are Do Hoang Minh from the Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted and Luong An Khang from the British Vietnamese International School, Ho Chi Minh City. Do Hoang Minh from the Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted. Luong An Khang from the British Vietnamese International School, Ho Chi Minh City. Three other students who joined this competition are Nguyen Minh Vinh Ky of the British Vietnamese International School, Ho Chi Minh City; Vu Duc Kha of Nguyen Huu Huan High School, Ho Chi Minh City; and Nguyen Hoang Dam Thuyen of the Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted. The International Economics Olympiad (IEO) is an annual competition for high … [Read more...] about Vietnam wins two bronze medals at International Economics Olympiad

Students in the AAu Experience programme visit schools to participate in demonstration classes and Q&A sessions that focus on prospective careers. (Photo courtesy of A Au Vocational Guidance School) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - High schools in Ho Chi Minh City are offering more career guidance programmes to foster students’ awareness about career choices and study plans. Bui Thi Xuan High School in the city’s district 1, for instance, earlier this month carried out a programme with businesses and career counselling specialists who shared information about the labour market. Nguyen Duy Tam, deputy rector of the school, said the programme aimed to provide students with advice on choosing the career they desire. In March, Nguyen Du High School in district 10 carried out a programme themed “Experience One Day as a Teacher” to help students understand the work and activities that teachers perform in a classroom setting. The event attracted 197 students from all grades at the school. … [Read more...] about High school career-guidance programmes offer students practical advice