Sci tech environment

Denise Sandquist, Fika co-founder and CEO What is Fika's biggest achievement so far and what will Fika do next after the successful fund raising? Fika’s accumulated biggest achievement so far is definitely to have become Vietnam’s fastest-growing social and dating app, building up a community of almost 50,000 members in our Facebook group where people can discuss and share tips about dating and relationships, being very active at top universities in Vietnam, and boasting a network with hundreds of Campus Brand Ambassadors whose skills we have helped improve in marketing, entrepreneurship, and events. We have created job opportunities for 30 people in Vietnam so far. Raising $1.6 million is an amazing achievement in itself, showing that international and local investors believe in our vision of creating a female-focused social and dating app, helping people with their self-growth and being with them from learning more and loving themselves, creating meaningful connections … [Read more...] about Denise Sandquist, one of the youngest female CEOs of a technology startup in Vietnam

HCM City authorities have not decided on vaccinating children. — VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Hằng HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Health is seeking directions from the city People’s Committee on vaccinating children against COVID-19. Multiple topics on pandemic prevention and control in HCM City, particularly vaccinations for children between 12 and 17 years old, were discussed at a meeting on the evening of October 18. According to deputy head of HCM City’s Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control Phạm Đức Hải, after receiving specific details on what type of vaccine to use, and how and when to vaccinate, the city Department of Health will complete the report and send it to the People’s Committee for official planning. “The vaccination plan will follow the instructions from the Ministry of Health,” Hải said. Speaking at the meeting, Hải praised the support from authorities and neighbouring provinces in helping HCM City fight the pandemic. In response to … [Read more...] about HCM City discusses COVID-19 vaccination plan for children

Việt Nam calls on relevant sides to further facilitate humanitarian and post-conflict reconstruction activities in the Gaza Strip. Photo Xinhua/VNA New York — Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations (UN), on Tuesday expressed his concern over continuous violence, causing many fatalities and injuries to Palestinians, especially children. Addressing the UN Security Council’s open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue, Quý called on Israel to put an end to violence against civilians, and conduct objective, quick investigations into all attacks on Palestinians. The ambassador also noted his concern over recent reports about the continued implementation of settlement projects in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, saying such activities are illegal under international law, and would weaken prospects of a two-state solution. He welcomed recent dialogues and meetings between officials of … [Read more...] about Việt Nam concerned over Israeli-Palestinian violence

Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – While Vietnam is not out of the woods yet, it has enough pull factors to encourage investors to continue their business operations and even move their manufacturing operations to the country, according to Vietnam Briefing. Economic activities gradually resuming The news site noted that Vietnam has announced a phased plan to reopen the economy ensuring pandemic prevention in line with health authorities. It reported that approximately two-thirds of industries in Ho Chi Minh City have reopened. The number of businesses in export processing zones and industrial parks in Ho Chi Minh City resuming operations has reached approximately 66 percent while at HCM City’s Saigon Hi-Tech park the rate is 74 percent. Intel and Samsung are targeting to resume full operations of their factories in HCM City by the end of November, which may ease some disruption to supply chains. Domestic flights are gradually resuming along with … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s economy on course to record positive growth

Total investment capital for railway development until 2030 is estimated at VND230 trillion (US$10.5 billion). Hanoi and  Ho Chi Minh City are projected to be the main transit hubs in Vietnam’s railway planning for the 2021-2030 period, which targets to build nine new railway routes with a total length of 2,362 kilometers. The country would have a network of 25 railway routes with a length of 6,354 kilometers by 2050. Photo: Tran Dung The plan was signed off by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh in decision No.1769/QD-TTg on October 19, with a view to upgrading existing railway tracks and ensuring smooth connection with international rail transport routes for total investment capital of VND240 trillion ($10.5 billion). The planning also expects to ensure greater efficient capital mobilization for the construction of new railway routes, including the North-South express railway, routes connecting international seaports, airports, and major cities. By 2030, … [Read more...] about Hanoi set to become Vietnam’s major transit hub in 2030 railway planning

Delegates to a recent seminar held in Ho Chi Minh City raised concern that Vietnam needs more highly-skilled IT workforce. According to recruitment agency Vietnamworks, the demand for IT workforce is high and will keep rising in the next few years. Job listings have also doubled in the recent three years. It is forecast that Vietnam needs 400,000 IT workers in late 2018, but there are only 250,000 engineers in the field at present. The number of IT jobs surges 47 percent annually but manpower only increases 8 percent. Nguyen Phuong Mai from Navigos Search said it is hard to seek highly-skilled managerial staff in the field. Amid the booming start-up movement, the rate of job-hopping is also high, resulting in the shortage of human resources or staff lacking management experience. In face of that, a number of firms have recruited students right after their probation while several recruitment agencies have trained staff for hire. Lam Quang Vu, deputy head of the … [Read more...] about Vietnam needs more highly-skilled IT workforce