HÀ NỘI — The tourism sector must apply digital transformation to secure sustainable development, according to dozens of participants at a forum on the topic held in Hà Nội on May 18. Titled "Green Light for Tourism to Take Off Part 2: Digital Transformation: Diving Force for Sustainable Development", the forum gathered dozens of experts from State management agencies, tourism authorities, localities, and IT. The first part of the forum held in March focused on opening doors to international tourists. Hoàng Quang Phòng, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce Industry, said at the end of 2018, the Prime Minister issued Decision No 1671/QĐ-TTg approving the “Master plan on applying informatics technology in the tourism field for 2018-2020, with orientation to 2025.” “Informatics technology has been applied in various tourism companies, especially hotels, resorts and big travel agencies,” Phòng said. A visitor uses a remote guide app on her mobile at the National … [Read more...] about Forum held on digital transformation for sustainable tourism
7 metaphors of digital transformation
Conference discusses Public-Private Partnerships in healthcare
A panel discussion at the conference on strengthening ‘Public-Private Partnership for sustainable healthcare transformation’ in Hanoi on May 18. (Photo: VNA) Opening the event, the newspaper's editor-in-chief Le Trong Minh said that Vietnam's health sector faced many challenges, such as increasing infectious and non-communicable diseases, hospital overcrowding, shortage of supplies and equipment, the ageing population as well as the disparity between regions and healthcare levels in terms of quality of medical services and standardisation of modern equipment. “For the health system to be capable and always ready to respond to future situations, towards a comprehensive and sustainable health care system, it is necessary to have new investment orientations in social resources for the health system, as well as stronger cooperation from the parties involved, including the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) method,” said Minh. At the event, MPI deputy minister Tran Duy Dong said it … [Read more...] about Conference discusses Public-Private Partnerships in healthcare
Vietnam should shift economic growth model for further development: WB report
An overview of the event to launch the report (Photo: WB) Hanoi (VNA) - For Vietnam to realise its aspiration for reaching high income status by 2045, the country will need to shift its economic growth model and sharply improve the government’s capacity to coordinate and implement economic policy reforms and public investments, a World Bank Group report says. The World Bank Group ’s Systematic Country Diagnostic Update , entitled "How Will Vietnam Blossom? Reforming Institutions for Effective Implementation”, emphasises that Vietnam's traditional growth model faces major challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, slowing globalisation, and the country’s increasing vulnerability to external shocks, especially climate risks. After identifying a series of policy responses and reform priorities, many of which are not new, the report argues that adapting institutions will be the key to success. Vietnam’s GDP per capita has increased five fold over the past three … [Read more...] about Vietnam should shift economic growth model for further development: WB report
Techcombank eyes seat at top Southeast Asian banking table
"Even in the very tough environment we are seeing, our employees have maintained a high quality and reliable service for our customers and this is helping us deliver stellar performance year after year," said Jens Lottner, CEO of Techcombank. Last year, the bank continued to reduce costs while focusing on building deposits in its current accounts and savings accounts (CASA), which Lottner described as a "stable and cheap" source of funding. Techcombank’s CASA ratio, which reflects the percentage of the bank’s total deposits that are CASA, jumped from 46.1 percent in 2020 to 50.5 percent last year, on its way to the bank’s target of 55 percent by 2025. Techcombank’s net interest margin (NIM), a measure of the difference between the interest received by the bank and the amount paid out to lenders, also increased 69 basis points to 5.6 percent during the year. "Together, these improving metrics, along with our effective cost management, translated into an excellent profit before tax … [Read more...] about Techcombank eyes seat at top Southeast Asian banking table
U.S. experts laud PM Chinh’s speech at CSIS
The speech, themed “Sincerity, trust and responsibility for a better world,” focused on how Vietnam sees the world today, the role of sincerity, trust and responsibility in a turbulent world, and what the country needs to do in order to demonstrate sincerity, and bolster trust and responsibility, for a better world. It underlined Vietnam’s willingness to cooperate with the international community to deal with issues that all countries, small or large, rich or poor, have to settle together, while affirming in a world full of turbulence, strategic competition and a great many choices, Vietnam picks no side. “Instead it chooses justice, fairness and goodness, based on the principles of international law and the U.N. Charter. It chooses equality, shared benefits for all, and win-win for all.” Gregory B. Poling, Director of the CSIS’s Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, said that the Vietnamese PM’s speech conveyed important and comprehensive messages, and … [Read more...] about U.S. experts laud PM Chinh’s speech at CSIS
Renewable energy, climate action prioritized in Party official’s visit to Germany
Thang co-chaired the seventh theory dialogue between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP), during which the two parties exchanged views on a number of both theoretical and practical matters. Discussions have placed an emphasis on Vietnam’s energy transition strategy to ensure national energy security and fulfill international commitments; developing green agriculture in Vietnam in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution; green growth and climate resilient models in some Vietnamese localities; and the path towards an eco-social market economy and advantages and challenges to energy transition and green agriculture development in Germany. The Vietnamese official also had a meeting with SPD Co-leader Lars Klingbeil. He spoke highly of the long-standing friendship between the two parties and the SPD’s efforts in co-hosting the seventh dialogue, and proposed both sides to further expand their relations in the coming time, contributing … [Read more...] about Renewable energy, climate action prioritized in Party official’s visit to Germany