Globalization benefits developing countries

Two local scientists win Noam Chomsky Global Connections Awards

December 9, 2020 by vov.vn

The pair were presented with the Shining Star Achievement in the Research category during an online awards ceremony held at 7 a.m. on December 9.

The Shining Star Achievement in Research award is given in recognition of influential scholarly contributions in any discipline, typically in the form of scholarly journal articles that are published, or alternatively books, book chapters, or other expressions of scholarly collaboration.

Prof. Tran Xuan Bach was born in 1984 and is currently vice head of the Health Economics Department at Hanoi Medical University.

He possesses extensive experience in relation to research, surveillance, and evaluation of global health threats in the Asia-Pacific region. His work has won him numerous international and domestic awards in the past, including the Hopkins Center for AIDS Research’s International Research Award.

He has also published over 300 papers in a number of highly regarded international journals, including The Lancet, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, and AIDS and Behavior.

Most notably, Prof. Bach is the youngest professor in recent decades to work at Johns Hopkins University in the United States, the world leader in terms of public health. According to details released by the university, he has extensive experience in advising various U.N. agencies, international organisations, and governments on issues such as global health and development in Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, born in 1975 Prof. Tran Thi Ly was previously employed as a lecturer at Hue University, although she is currently working at the Faculty of Arts and Education at Deakin University in Australia.

First arriving in Australia in 2001, Prof. Ly has gone on to produce extensive research on the international education sector, including writing the first English-language book on Vietnamese higher education. She has won more than 30 awards, prizes, scholarships, and grants for research, including the prestigious Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship for her work on the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan.

Elsewhere at the event, British national Professor Elspeth Jones was honoured with the North Star Medal for Lifetime Achievement. In addition, Professor Raphael Pangalangan of the Philippines and Yao-Tai Li of Hong Kong were named as the winners in the Rising Star Emerging Scholar Certificate category.

Diageo Vietnam helps Vietnamese get free vaccination

March 5, 2021 by ven.vn

Diageo Vietnam is one of the first businesses in the country joining hands with Tuoi Tre (Youth Newspaper) to help up to ten thousand of frontline workers who work at medical centers, hospitals and centrally quarantine centers in Vietnam, to get vaccinated for free this year.

Having launched at the end of February, following the success of the 1-year long campaign “Preventing Covid-19 with Tuoi Tre”, the campaign aims to raise funds from individuals, organizations, and businesses for such a meaningful and highly practical activity. Through this tangible contribution, Diageo Vietnam demonstrates its commitment to joining hands with Vietnamese people to combat Covid-19, while facilitating safety for local communities in the new normal.

Throughout 2020, Vietnam has marked its name in the global map as a success story of keeping Covid-19 transmission under control and mitigating the pandemic’s adverse effect on all socioeconomic aspects. Strict quarantine and contact tracing measures alongside medical prevention and treatment efforts, empowered by the strong consensus between the Government and people across the country, have proven their values and helped Vietnam make the miracle.

The success of disease prevention and control activities in Vietnam lies in the ability to mobilize extensive resources and connect individuals and organizations under the same cause, which is to prevent Covid outbreak and protect the community. Those noble qualities have inspired companies like Diageo Vietnam to take bold moves and contribute their part.

Mr. Jos Duursema, Chief Operating Officer of Diageo Vietnam said: “ As a British business operating in Vietnam, we are proud to accompany and support the local communities in every possible way to protect their well-being and promote sustainable development for the country. Diageo Vietnam hopes to secure more opportunities to access effective prevention and treatment of Covid-19, hence empowers Vietnamese people with the freedom to live a healthy and successful life.”

The sense of values and purposes guides Diageo’s business operations and social activities on a global scale. Last June in Vietnam, Diageo Vietnam partnered with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front to present the Ministry of Health with 18,600 hand sanitizer bottles worth VND670 million, alongside its campaign “Clean Serve by Diageo” which provided sanitizing kits and guidelines for more than 315 bars and clubs across the country. Under the campaign’s framework, Diageo hosted a much-anticipated livestreaming session, where the brand’s ambassador shared advice and tips to more than 2,000 participants on how to maintain hygiene and secure experience as they serve customers.

HCM City accelerates digital transformation in governmental organisations

March 2, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

Governmental staff deliver public services to citizens. (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City plans to accelerate digital transformation in governmental organisations and promote e-government to heighten the efficiency and quality of public service delivery.

This is among the tasks for the city in conducting a plan on enhancing the application of information technology in governmental organisation s, promoting e-government and ensuring cybersecurity between 2021 and 2025.

To this end, the southern economic hub will focus on developing digital infrastructure serving governmental offices; creating open databases with easy and friendly access to increase transparency, towards e-government, a digital economy, and a digital society; and ensuring information safety and cybersecurity.

HCM City accelerates digital transformation in governmental organisations hinh anh 2

A customer service centre of the Electricity Vietnam (EVN). (Photo: VNA)

The city targets being among the top 5 performers in developing e-government and the top 3 in the ICT Development Index (IDI) and Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI).

It will provide more public utility services for people and businesses and improve interaction between them and authorities. It will also encourage innovative ideas and the use of technology in resolving public issues and increasing public satisfaction in public service delivery./.

VNA

Local wood industry to capitalise on export opportunities to US

February 6, 2021 by vov.vn

According to data released by the United States International Trade Commission, during the opening 11 months of last year, the US’ imports for wooden furniture endured a decline of 0.6% to US$16.8 billion compared to the same period from 2019.

Vietnam remained as the largest supplier of wooden furniture to the United States throughout the reviewed period, with the export turnover reaching US$6.26 billion, a rise of 30.9% on-year.

The proportion of imports from the country accounts for 37.2% of the total import value, up 9% compared to last year’s corresponding period.

Most notably, Vietnam is the largest market for bedroom furniture for the US, making up 49.7% of the US’ total import value, followed by Malaysia, China, and Indonesia.

Nguyen Liem, chairman of Lam Viet Joint Stock Company, attributed this increase in US demand for wooden furniture to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as it has forced many Americans to remain indoors and focus on activities such as renovating their homes and purchasing new furniture.

He emphasised that Vietnamese wood brands in the US market have significantly improved in recent years due to American people being willing to purchase Vietnamese wooden furniture at more expensive prices over similar products from the Chinese market.

Do Xuan Lap, chairman of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association, pointed out that the wood industry’s strategic export products in the US market will be kitchen cabinets and bathroom cabinets.

Due to this, Lap advised local firms to be aware of market changes and appropriate product strategies, while enhancing their competitiveness to deeper penetrate into the global supply in order to increase exports to the demanding market.

Vietnam, Venezuela seek to beef up friendship, cooperation

March 5, 2021 by en.qdnd.vn

During his virtual talks with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh on March 5, Arreaza congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 13th National Party Congress, while praising the Southeast Asian country’s efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic as well as in maintaining economic growth momentum.

Minh briefed on Vietnam’s situation and the outstanding outcome of the 13th National Party Congress as well as the country’s COVID-19 response measures and solutions to promote socio-economic development and ensure social security.

He affirmed that Vietnam supports efforts by the constitutional government of Venezuela to promote political dialogue on the basis of respecting Venezuela’s Constitution and aspirations of Venezuelan people, thus gradually solving difficulties and boosting socio-economic development in the current context.

The two officials focused their discussion on measures to further enhance the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to maintain mechanisms to promote cooperation between the two nations, especially the Vietnam-Venezuela Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation and the Political Consultation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

They also consented to increase exchanges between ministries, sectors and businesses, and foster trade and investment ties in areas of mutual interest such as agriculture, oil and gas, health, commerce, culture, and sports and tourism.

The two sides pledged to promote people-to-people exchange and operation of friendship associations.

Vietnam and Venezuela also agreed to enhance the exchange of views on international and regional issues of shared concern, and work closely at multilateral forums of which both nations are members.

Source: VNA

Bright prospects ahead for wood and handicraft exports to US

March 5, 2021 by vov.vn

Addressing the event, Nguyen Hoai Bao, member of the HAWA executive board, emphasised that despite export activities facing numerous difficulties caused by the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, the Vietnamese wood industry raked in over US$13 billion last year.

Most notably, exports to the US market enjoyed a surge of 34% to over US$7 billion compared to 2019, meaning the US has become the leading export market of the domestic wood and handicraft sector.

Despite these positives, Bao explained that the US is one of the markets that has set the strictest standards in terms of origin traceability and legality of wood products, thereby forcing local businesses to regularly update the legal system and related regulations as a means of avoiding trade risks and to fully tap into the fastidious market.

Julie Hundersmarck, a specialist at the US Forest Service International Programs, emphasised that despite facing fierce competition from a variety of regions, US importers have a preference to do business with suppliers from Asia, including Vietnam. Indeed, moving forward the US Forest Service has initiated plans to assist the country in controlling the origin and legality of wood products which are exported to the US in order to ensure sustainable development.

Last year saw the sales of furniture products in the US reach US$115 billion, with this figure forecast to hit US$143 billion over the next five years.

Experts have also pointed out that the level of consumer spending on furniture products is projected to increase moving forward, despite the outbreak of COVID-19, noting that local manufacturing firms must be sensitive when selecting investments. As such, they should regularly be introducing fresh products and developing additional trade channels in order to attract customers in an effective manner.