Infrastructure

Quang Tri inks MoU with Singapore Manufacturing Federation

June 13, 2021 by bizhub.vn

The signing ceremony on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Ly

The People’s Committee in the central province of Quang Tri signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) via a video conference late last week.

The two sides have agreed that this year the Singaporean not-for-profit organisation will introduce experts to assist the province with its planning and propose ideas, solutions, and adjustments to a master plan for the South East Quang Tri coastal economic zone.

Quang Tri authorities have allowed enterprises introduced by SMF to conduct feasibility studies and submit investment proposals for certain infrastructure projects, including those on the construction of airports, seaports, and industrial parks.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Le Quang Tung said the agreement marked a milestone in Quang Tri’s socio-economic development strategy and would present opportunities for the comprehensive and sustainable development of the two sides’ operations in the future.

He also voiced his hope that SMF would promptly carry out cooperation plans and propose ideas that capitalise on the potential and advantages the province holds.

SMF had studied opportunities for Singaporean firms to invest in Quang Tri since 2016, SMF President Douglas Foo said. — VNS

Carbon Dated: multinational companies to cut suppliers failing to curb carbon emissions

June 14, 2021 by www.vir.com.vn

The Carbon Dated study shows that MNCs are increasing the pressure on their suppliers to become more sustainable

According to Carbon Dated study, which looks at the risks and opportunities for suppliers in emerging and fast-growing markets as large corporates transition to net zero, multinational companies (MNCs) expect to exclude 35 per cent of their current suppliers as they transition away from carbon.

The study finds that supply chain emissions account for an average of 73 per cent of MNCs’ total emissions.

More than two-thirds (67 per cent) of MNCs say tackling supply chains emissions is the first step in their net-zero transition, rather than focusing on their own carbon output.

More than two-thirds (67 per cent) of MNCs say tackling supply chains emissions is the first step in their net-zero transition, rather than focusing on their own carbon output.

Racing against the clock to hit their net-zero carbon goals, MNCs are increasing the pressure on their suppliers to become more sustainable, with companies based in emerging and fast-moving markets facing the biggest challenge.

Some 64 per cent of MNCs believe emerging market suppliers will struggle more than developed market suppliers to meet their emission reduction targets, with a further 57 per cent prepared to replace emerging market suppliers with developed market suppliers to aid their transition.

MNCs are concerned that emerging market suppliers are failing to keep pace for two key reasons: insufficient knowledge and inadequate data.

Some 56 per cent of MNCs believe that the lack of knowledge among emerging market suppliers (41 per cent for developed market suppliers) is a barrier to decarbonisation.

With MNCs struggling with the quality of data, two-thirds are using secondary sources of data to plug the gap left by supplier emissions surveys. A further 46 per cent say that unreliable data from suppliers is a barrier to reducing emissions.

The study also reveals that the current approach taken by MNCs could create a $1.6 trillion opportunity for the net-zero club: those businesses reducing emissions in line with MNC net-zero plans.

This represents a major opportunity for net-zero-focused suppliers across the 12 markets in this study, but also quantifies the potential losses to companies not embracing net-zero transition.

MNCs are also willing to spend more on net-zero products and services. Some 45 per cent said they would pay a premium of 7 per cent on average for a product or service from a net-zero supplier.

To help their suppliers’ transition to net zero, some 47 per cent of MNCs are offering preferred supplier status – a sales advantage – to sustainable suppliers, and 30 per cent are offering preferential pricing.

Some MNCs are going further, offering grants or loans to their suppliers to invest in reducing emissions (18 per cent) or data collection (13 per cent).

“It’s no surprise that as multinational companies transition to net zero, they will have to ask to their suppliers to evidence their own transitions. However, suppliers – especially those in emerging and fast-growing markets – cannot go it alone,” said Bill Winters, group chief executive of Standard Chartered.

“MNCs need to incentivise their suppliers to help them kickstart their transition journey, but governments and the financial sector have a role to play too by creating the right infrastructure and offering the necessary funding.

“Decarbonisation is vital for the survival of the planet, but a vibrant trade ecosystem is essential for maintaining an interconnected global economy. We must work together to ensure the supply chain is decarbonised in a way that delivers shared prosperity across the world.”

The Carbon Dated study surveyed 400 sustainability and supply chain experts at MNCs across the globe.

By Thuy Dung

VN jumps three places in global innovation index

July 26, 2019 by vietnamnet.vn

Vietnam has jumped three ranks on the 2019 Global Innovation Index (GII) to place 42nd out of 129 economies around the world.

WIPO helps Vietnamese firms in IP protection Stepping forward with high-tech

VN jumps three places in global innovation index

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac speaks at the ceremony. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Le

The latest ranking was announced by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in New Delhi, India on Wednesday.

With this jump, Vietnam has leapt 17 spots since 2016. This year’s result is also the highest ranking Vietnam has ever achieved.

Switzerland, Sweden, the US, the Netherlands and the UK remain at the top.

The GII 2019 ranks economies based on 80 indicators, from traditional measurements like research and development investments and international patent and trademark applications to newer indicators including mobile-phone app creation and high-tech exports.

This year’s theme was “Creating Healthy Lives – The Future of Medical Innovation.”

Through the theme, GII 2019 focuses on how medical innovation, including the use of artificial intelligence, genomics and mobile health applications, will transform the delivery of healthcare.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac said Vietnam’s science-technology and innovation sector has made important contributions to national economic growth over recent years, especially in the fields of health care, agriculture and industry.

Growth based on capital and cheap labour is gradually slowing. In order to maintain momentum, Vietnam is shifting to a growth model based on technology and innovation, he said.

The new GII report also stated that Vietnam and the Philippines made significant progress this year. “Both economies improved in most of the GII areas and gained top ranks in high-technology imports and exports,” it said.

Sacha Wunsch Vincent, head of the WIPO’s Composite Indicator Research Section, Economics and Statistics Division and Co-Editor of the GII, hailed Vietnam as a model country among those surveyed by the WIPO over the past three years.

GII’s 80 indicators provide a comprehensive overview of innovation, including political environment, education, infrastructure and business sophistication.

Last year, Vietnam ranked 45th out of 126 countries and economies, up two places from 2017.

Published annually since 2007, the GII is now a leading benchmarking tool for businesses, policy makers and others seeking insight into the state of innovation around the world.

VNS

Creative centre promotes development

August 13, 2019 by vietnamnet.vn

Hanoi Creative City is the largest creative complex in Hanoi. Launched in September 2015, it brings together organisations, businesses, individuals, products and services as well as creative activities.

Hanoimoi’s Weekend interviews architect Doan Ky Thanh, who is one of Hanoi Creative City’s founders.

Architect Doan Ky Thanh.

How do you assess the creative industry in Vietnam?

The creative industry has prevailed in the world for a long time, while in Vietnam this concept is still quite new. In fact, the creative industry is not something that is far away. What people imagine is turned into a product through their hands. It is creative industry.

But to be creative it is necessary to create an environment for creativity to grow and develop. That environment requires transparency in intellectual property rights. Certain creators must be protected for the products they create. That is the motivation to encourage and acknowledge the efforts and talent of creative people.

The creative industry has been showing its great contribution to the GDP of nations. In developed countries, the creative industry even accounts for the largest proportion. Innovative industries in countries such as Japan or Singapore contribute greatly and have high growth rates.

The creative industry only appeared in Vietnam recently. Compared to other countries in the region, we have been delayed by one step.

Recently, the Ha Noi Committee’s Commission’s for Publicity and Education organised a workshop to assess and re-examine the benefits of creative spaces in urban areas and the role of creative activities in socio-economic development.

This recognition shows the changing perception of managers about the role of creative spaces in socio-economic development and their contribution to the creative industry.

What is the most important thing for creators?

It is tolerance. In the office of Hanoi Creative City, we put the word “tolerant” at the highest level to remind our colleagues that to be creative, there must be tolerance to accept the ‘new’. Only tolerance makes people accept the difference of others. Then the difference and tolerance will be the cornerstone of creativity.

So where should we start?

The first thing that can be done right now is to create hubs that connect resources together.

The Vietnamese game Flappy Bird was very successful. To be like that people need to create, write music, graphics, sales and marketing, communications, etc. There must be a lot of capacity to be together to create a product that can convince the market.

For that, first, there must be creative hubs, infrastructure, which are hubs for people to share with each other.

This is very suitable for the knowledge economy that our country and the world are pursuing. Sharing resources, opportunities or legal issues and governance will create an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

A business that starts will cost a lot but if it joins hubs it can reduce costs and spend resources investing in innovation and development.

Hanoi should create creative hubs. It can be seen that the benefits of innovative hubs are to connect the resources that inspire society and those who inspire creativity, attract tourism, and promote trade and production.

All these are socially beneficial when people; tourists and the youth in particular enjoy and consume innovative products. It also contributes to the economy. These hubs will create many other opportunities.

What role does traditional cultural heritage play in creative hub development?

In fact, creators always consider cultural heritage as an asset, an inspiration, and a material to create from.

Selling products is just a normal business. We need to sell cultural products and sell “joy”. To sell cultural products people must know how to exploit and use culture appropriately.

So what role does the creative hub play in developing the creative industry?

The art district is a place where young people have a place to play, enjoy art and interact with artists. Hanoi does not have such art districts.

Art districts are where artists show, experiment and commercialise their art products and bring them to the public faster and more efficiently.

Hoan Kiem District seems to form a creative hub with cultural heritage spaces such as book streets, walking streets or mural streets.

In addition to creating creative spaces and cultural spaces, these creative hubs also contribute to preserving heritage spaces and developing tourism.

Hanoi used to have Zone 9. It once attracted many tourists. Tourists could watch, drinking coffee, buying some items and painting and watching artists work.

In your opinion how should we connect traditional culture to youth?

Many artists around the world and in Vietnam have done that. There needs to be creative hubs or art districts to have space for the creators show their artworks.

Young people today do not have or have very few opportunities to access and transform traditional values. They don’t see and they are not inspired to get to know and like traditional culture.

I believe that if there are spaces for artists to perform surely young people will love traditional culture. VNS

Bao Khanh

New hope for first velodrome project in Vietnam

June 14, 2021 by www.vir.com.vn

The proposal for the approval of the 1/2,000 zoning plan for Rach Chiec National Sports Complex in An Phu ward, Thu Duc city on May 31 from Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Architecture would be vital to saving this project, according to KP Singh, CEO of Vietnam Sports Platform (VSP), the investor of this project.

“Right after the 1/2,000 plan is approved, we will have the 1/500 plan approved and the project will be pushed forward. VPS is now also ready to contribute recommendations for the 1/500 plan of the velodrome. We are committed on processing this project even though it was delayed for years,” Singh told VIR .

new hope for first velodrome project in vietnam

VSP’s velodrome and an international-standard stadium are the first projects of this type in Vietnam

Formed in November 2015, the $200 million project is invested by VSP, a joint venture between Japan Photo Promotion Co., Ltd. (30 per cent) and Korea Sports Promotion Organisation (70 per cent).

It is known that VSP is the only investor so far that has proposed a project at the Rach Chiec National Sports complex. Therefore, when officially approved, this project will be an essential factor in attracting other investors to participate in developing the complex.

After long consideration, in 2015, Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued a document to permit VSP in principle to build the velodrome inside Rach Chiec National Sports Complex. The Committee had also assigned local authorities to conduct land clearance and compensation and procedures for this project.

In 2016, VSP was even ordered by the committee to push up its process for preparation to conduct this project. In March 2017, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Architecture approved the project planning parameters.

However, soon after, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) informed VSP that the selection of investors for this project must be chosen again via an open international bidding process. VSP, once more, had to submit dossiers for the bidding again.

Through the appraisal process, in 2018, the DPI submitted a report to Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, confirming that VSP is eligible to participate in the bidding based on its technical and financial capacity. Some other contractors did not meet the set criteria and had to withdraw from the bidding process.

“VSP was confirmed to qualify to participate in the bidding based on its technical and financial capabilities in 2018. Since then, however, there is no significant progress in the approval process. We do hope that when the 1/2,000 planning of the Rach Chiec complex is approved, we will receive the official approval from the city’s committee,” he said.

According to the plan, the velodrome is designed to accommodate over 6,000 seats and will be the first enclosed air-conditioned stadium on such a large scale in Vietnam. Various other Olympic standard sports such as boxing, wrestling, cue sports, fencing, judo, badminton, table tennis, and taekwondo can be conducted in this project.

The project will generate more than 1,000 jobs, promoting children and youth sports, medical facilities, public health facilities, concerts and cultural events, art gallery, public library, and sponsorships to build sports facilities at local schools.

Meanwhile, the Rach Chiec National Sports complex is expected to serve up to 100,000 people including athletes, spectators, staff, and other related subjects.

With the total investment capital of VND15 trillion ($652.17 million), this project will have 12 key components including a 50,000-seat stadium, a velodrome with motor racing and outdoor football field, a football academy, and many others.

According to Ho Chi Minh City DPI, the complex will be invested VND34 trillion ($1.5 billion), of this around VND8 trillion ($347.83 million) will be reserved for land clearance and compensation and infrastructure development.

By Bich Ngoc

Quang Tri proposes to develop $335 million Cam Lo-Lao Bao Expressway

June 14, 2021 by www.vir.com.vn

Quang Tri is has proposed adding Cam Lo-ao Bao Expressway to the national highway planning during 2021-2025

The province seeks the prime minister’s approval to add Cam Lo-Lao Bao Expressway to the planning on highway construction for the 2021-2025 period with a vision to 2030.

It is expected that the expressway will have a length of 70km, a 4-lane highway standard, a 17m-wide roadbed, invested under the public-private partnership (PPP) method. The total investment capital is estimated at VND7.7 trillion($334.8 million), with the central budget contributing 28.31 per cent with a payback period of 19 years.

Quang Tri is located at the beginning of the East-West Economic Corridor connecting Vietnam with Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. At present, National Highway No.9 is considered one of the important bridges linking Cam Lo with Lao Bao International Border Gate.

The problem is that vehicle traffic on Highway No.9 is increasing, including container trucks transporting goods to Laos and vice versa, causing overload, traffic jams, road hazards and endanger commercial activities. This necessitates the development of Cam Lo-Lao Bao Expressway.

Completing roadway infrastructure is a key target in highway planning in 2021-2025 with a vision to 2030.

Notably, by 2030, the country will focus on developing expressways, including the Eastern Cluster of the North-South Expressway, expressways connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and expressways in the Northwest Region, the Central Highlands, and the Mekong Delta Region.

Until 2025, priority expressway projects connect to the North-South Expressway (VND243.8 trillion or $10.6 billion), Halong-Mong Cai (VND12.66 trillion or $550.43 million), Lang Son-Cao Bang (VND10.5 trillion or $456.5 million), Dau Giay-Lien Khuong (VND6.18 trillion or $268.7 million), and Bien Hoa-Vung Tau (VND14.9 trillion or $647.83 million).

By Ha Vy