ISTRES: French President Emmanuel Macron was to address troops at an air base on Thursday (Jul 20) as he sought to repair the damage following the resignation of a highly-regarded military chief who challenged the government's budget cuts. French President Emmanuel Macron (R) visits the BA 125 French Air Force base in Istres on Jul 20, 2017. (Photo: Arnold Jerocki/Pool/AFP) Macron flew to the base in Istres, southern France, a day after General Pierre de Villiers quit in the wake of a row over the government's plans to slash €850 million (US$980 million) from his budget. De Villiers stepped aside after being publicly slapped down by Macron in front of the troops for telling a parliamentary committee he would not allow the armed forces to be "screwed". The 39-year-old president's handling of the dispute with … [Read more...]

Merger and acquisition (M&A) activities in Vietnam in 2017 will need a big push, as the market is forecasted to go through a slowdown due to a lack of large deals from foreign investors as well as the state’s delay in divestment from state-owned enterprises. VIR editor-in-chief Le Trong Minh at the press conference According to the report released at the press conference this morning, in 2016, the total value of M&A deals in Vietnam reached a nine-year record of $5.8 billion, signifying an 11.92 per cent increase against 2015 performance. However, since the end of 2016, M&A activities have been slow, with an acute lack of large deals. In the first quarter of 2017, the total value of M&A deals in Vietnam was only $1.1 billion. This opinion was voiced by experts at “Vietnam M&A … [Read more...]

NDO – Reigning national futsal champions Thai Son Nam will represent Vietnam to compete at the 2017 AFC Futsal Club Championship, scheduled to take place at Phu Tho Gymnasium, in Ho Chi Minh City, from July 20 to 30. The ten-day event will gather the participation of the 14 strongest futsal clubs from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, Qatar, Japan, Thailand, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Australia, Lebanon and hosts, Vietnam. The participating teams will battle it out in a round robin tournament of four groups, with the top two placed teams of each group advancing to the quarterfinals. Thai Son Nam Club has been drawn in Group A, together with Erem (Kyrgyzstan), Al Dhafra (UAE) and Vic Vipers (Australia). The best result achieved by Thai Son Nam at the AFC Club Championship was a third-place finish, along with the Fair Play prize, in Iran two years ago. The door is wide open for the Vietnamese representatives to seize one of Group … [Read more...]

On July 20, VIR and AVM Vietnam will co-organise a press-conference to officially announce The Vietnam M&A Forum 2017, scheduled to take place on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at GEM Centre, Ho Chi Minh City. A platform for the Vietnamese and world business community, experts, and policy-makers to discuss the exciting developments in the world of M&A As the ninth edition of the annual economic event under the theme “Seeking a Big Push,” the Vietnam M&A Forum 2017 will welcome 30 international and Vietnamese guest speakers and 500 senior leaders of investment funds, Vietnamese and international corporations, as a platform to meet and share opportunities as well as experiences from the most notable deals of 2016-2017. Additionally, the participants will be able to meet international investors from the US, … [Read more...]

In recent years, the solar power industry has become a lucrative and sustainable field for investors. Solar energy attracting investment After years of waiting, the solar power market has just received exciting news: the prime minister has signed Decision No.11/2017/QD-TTg on the mechanism for encouraging the development of solar power projects in Vietnam. Decision 11 is exciting news for domestic and foreign investors interested in the Vietnamese electricity market, especially since it requires Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) to purchase all electricity produced by grid-connected projects at 9.35 cent per kWh. Many solar power investors were said to start spending billions of dollars on theỉ projects in Vietnam Source: Institute of Energy Vietnam Thanh Thanh Cong Corporation (TTC) has … [Read more...]

In recent years, the solar power industry has become a lucrative and sustainable field for investors. Solar energy attracting investment After years of waiting, the solar power market has just received exciting news: the prime minister has signed Decision No.11/2017/QD-TTg on the mechanism for encouraging the development of solar power projects in Vietnam. Decision 11 is exciting news for domestic and foreign investors interested in the Vietnamese electricity market, especially since it requires Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) to purchase all electricity produced by grid-connected projects at 9.35 cent per kWh. Many solar power investors were said to start spending billions of dollars on theỉ projects in Vietnam Source: Institute of Energy Vietnam Thanh Thanh Cong Corporation (TTC) has … [Read more...]

Vietnam’s mergers-and-acquisitions market has the potential to draw more Asian investors to a growing pool, as they search for opportunities away from slowing domestic markets. However, there need to be more high-quality share offerings if Vietnam wants to spur them into action. Photo: Le Toan An Asian thirst for M&A 2016 was an exciting year for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Vietnam. In the first few months, M&A deals reached $3 billion, up 28 per cent year-on-year. However, the quantity of deals lowered in later months, and the year-end figure ended up at $5.2 billion. This is a slight decrease from 2015. According to experts, 60 per cent of the deals were carried out between Vietnamese partners, and the vast majority of these domestic transactions were smaller than $5 million in value. In … [Read more...]

Fishermen and their catches in Quang Binh province (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The quality of the marine environment in the central region becomes stable, meeting safety requirements for aquaculture, tourism and conservation of aquatic animals and plants, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). This is the result of a programme conducted by the MARD from May 4-9, 2017 to assess the sea environment in the four central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue. The programme, which was carried out one year after the environmental incident relating to Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Limited Company, was based on surveys conducted in 2016. The monitoring results also revealed that the total phenol and Fe levels are within the permitted limits as regulated in QCVN 10-MT: 2015/BTNMT and much lower than the 2016 … [Read more...]

PARIS: US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart offered praise for Xi Jinping at a press conference Thursday (Jul 13), but avoiding comment or criticism over Chinese Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo's death. US President Donald Trump (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron avoided comment or criticism over Chinese Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo's death AFP/SAUL LOEB Trump described Xi, the Chinese president, as a friend and patriot, refraining from offering any remarks on the death of Liu, a prominent dissident who lost his life to cancer while in detention. Of Xi, Trump said: "He's a friend of mine. I have great respect for him. "We've gotten to know each other very well. A great leader. He's a very talented man. I think he's a very good man. He loves China. I can tell you. He loves China." That … [Read more...]

Tom Holland is the perfect millennial Spider-Man for the new generation, says Channel NewsAsia's Genevieve Loh, who's calling this the best Spidey movie since Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 in 2004. "Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can." (Photo source: Movie still) SINGAPORE: By now, everyone knows that with great power comes great responsibility. And even though this over-familiar mantra is never uttered once in Spider-Man: Homecoming (an evidently clever move), it’s a reliable adage that the film’s director Jon Watts and his cast seem determined to live up to. Because, as the sixth Spider-Man film in a franchise that has seen three different actors, three different directors and three different continuities in a mere 15 years, Homecoming manages to pull off the most challenging of feats: To justify … [Read more...]

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s trip to Germany and the Netherlands, from July 5-11, was a success with numerous deals between Vietnam and the two countries being signed, said a Vietnamese Foreign Ministry official. Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said this was Phuc’s first trip to Western Europe in his capacity as the Vietnamese Government leader and he was accompanied by representatives of more than 100 businesses. During the visits, the leaders of both Germany and the Netherlands affirmed Vietnam as an important partner in ASEAN and spoke highly of the role played by the country in the ten-member group, he said. They agreed to enhance the exchange of delegations in order to intensify mutual trust, the official added. According to Son, the main focus of PM Phuc’s trip was to foster economic, trade and investment ties with the two … [Read more...]

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s trip to Germany and the Netherlands, from July 5-11, was a success with numerous deals between Vietnam and the two countries being signed, said a Vietnamese Foreign Ministry official. Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said this was Phuc’s first trip to Western Europe in his capacity as the Vietnamese Government leader and he was accompanied by representatives of more than 100 businesses. During the visits, the leaders of both Germany and the Netherlands affirmed Vietnam as an important partner in ASEAN and spoke highly of the role played by the country in the ten-member group, he said. They agreed to enhance the exchange of delegations in order to intensify mutual trust, the official added. According to Son, the main focus of PM Phuc’s trip was to foster economic, trade and investment ties with the two … [Read more...]

LONDON: Roger Federer moved into a 12th Wimbledon semi-final and within touching distance of a record eighth title on Wednesday (Jul 12) as Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic crashed out on a dramatic day at the All England Club. Switzerland's Roger Federer returns against Canada's Milos Raonic during the men's singles quarter-final match of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships. (DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP) Swiss maestro Federer eased to a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) win over Milos Raonic to become the second oldest Wimbledon semi-finalist of the Open era. However, defending champion Murray, severely restricted by a right hip injury, was dethroned by Sam Querrey 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-1. Three-time winner Djokovic was also heading for the exit after the second seed quit his quarter-final against Tomas Berdych with a right elbow … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Officials from Vietnam’s central province of Thua Thien – Hue and the Laos southern province of Salavansigned a MoU on cooperation in border management at their annual meeting in Hue city, on July 12. The event was co-chaired by Nguyen Dung, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Thua Thien-Hue and PhuthongKhammanivong, Deputy Governor of Salavan. During the event, the two sides spoke highly of the two provinces’ cooperation in the past few years, contributing to maintaining stable political security and social order in areas along their shared border line. The border guard forces of the two provinces have effectivelyperformed border protection and management tasks, protecting border markers and signs. Thua Thien Hue province has provided VND950 million (US$41,790) in aid to Salavan in order to build Co Tai border gate and helped to repair Co Tai primary school. In the near … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Officials from Vietnam’s central province of Thua Thien – Hue and the Laos southern province of Salavansigned a MoU on cooperation in border management at their annual meeting in Hue city, on July 12. The event was co-chaired by Nguyen Dung, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Thua Thien-Hue and PhuthongKhammanivong, Deputy Governor of Salavan. During the event, the two sides spoke highly of the two provinces’ cooperation in the past few years, contributing to maintaining stable political security and social order in areas along their shared border line. The border guard forces of the two provinces have effectivelyperformed border protection and management tasks, protecting border markers and signs. Thua Thien Hue province has provided VND950 million (US$41,790) in aid to Salavan in order to build Co Tai border gate and helped to repair Co Tai primary school. In the near … [Read more...]

Investment activity in popular tourist destinations continues to strengthen amid the robust demand from domestic and foreign buyers. Dang Phuong Hang, managing director of CBRE Vietnam shares her view on the phenomenon. Domestic and global investors in the first half of 2017 were enthusiastic about the local hospitality sector. Some groups looked to purchase development sites and properties outright en bloc, while others were more focused on forming joint ventures with foreign investors. There continues to be large volumes of overseas capital looking for a home. Asian groups have been especially active in hotel investment in large cities and resort destinations. South Korean buyers are seeking three- and four-star hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, while destinations such as Danang and Hoi An have also seen solid demand for hospitality assets. Asian developers and companies have been very active in the … [Read more...]

Situated in the Southeast economic quadrangle where there are dozens of industrial parks with an extremely large force of workers and specialists, Dong Nai province has yet to have a class-worthy urban area. Bui Thanh Truc, President of the Board of Directors and General Director of DONACOOP Group, has spared no effort to plan the 1,300-ha Long Hung Open Economic Ecological Urban Area with the objective of building a civilised, modern and classy township for Dong Nai province, enabling to stay on par with many modern cities in the world. From a wasteland ... In 2005 when the property market boomed, speculators rushed to buy land here. Because they bought to wait for higher prices, the scene here looked more desperate. Against this backdrop, Bui Thanh Truc as the head of the Management Board of Long Hung Cooperative persuaded competent cooperatives in the Dong Nai Cooperative … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Vietnam will lift restrictions in areas including services, telecommunications, financing and banking, among others, facilitating foreign investors’ engagement and raising their ownership stakes in domestic firms, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. >>> Vietnamese PM hosts international business leaders in Netherlands Addressing the Vietnam-Netherlands Business Forum, titled “Towards a Sustainable Future” in the Hague on July 10, PM Phuc told the 450 participating enterprises, including nearly 300 from the host country, that “you can become strategic shareholders of many Vietnamese State-owned enterprises that are about to sell shares on the market”. He informed the businesses that Vietnam has signed 12 free trade agreements and will soon sign the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) with the European Union. He added that in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2017 report, the country climbed up to 82nd … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Vietnam will lift restrictions in areas including services, telecommunications, financing and banking, among others, facilitating foreign investors’ engagement and raising their ownership stakes in domestic firms, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. >>> Vietnamese PM hosts international business leaders in Netherlands Addressing the Vietnam-Netherlands Business Forum, titled “Towards a Sustainable Future” in the Hague on July 10, PM Phuc told the 450 participating enterprises, including nearly 300 from the host country, that “you can become strategic shareholders of many Vietnamese State-owned enterprises that are about to sell shares on the market”. He informed the businesses that Vietnam has signed 12 free trade agreements and will soon sign the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) with the European Union. He added that in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2017 report, the country climbed up to 82nd … [Read more...]

Following Viettel, it is now the turn of MobiFone and VinaPhone to join the battle for 4G supremacy as they have just concurrently introduced a number of competitive price plans with slight differences for various 4G packages. Practically, in almost every announcement of a new mobile plan, carriers uniformly claim that their 4G rates are “the cheapest,” “the most attractive” or “the most affordable.” This basically implies that price is the leading factor for service providers to gain competitive advantage. While the representative of VinaPhone declared: “VinaPhone is the network operator which offers the cheapest monthly data packs for both 3G and 4G services in Vietnam today,” MobiFone’s representative said: “At present, MobiFone’s high-speed data packages are highly attractive in the market.” Meanwhile, deputy general director of Viettel … [Read more...]