Coming out on top after a lengthy anti-dumping investigation by the United States Department of Commerce (DOC) and years of litigation, CS Wind Vietnam is once again under investigation of dumping, this time initiated by the Australian Anti-Dumping Commission (ADC). Australian athorities started an investigation on Vietnamese wind towers RELATED CONTENTS: Bac Lieu: Foreign investors eye wind power projects Trung Nam Group to join renewable energy sector DOC amends antidumping duty on Vietnamese CS Wind Group wind towers Wind projects offer promising future Smooth export breeze for wind towers made … [Read more...]

After years of failing looking for suitable investors to take its place and carry out the $1.2-billion project in Ho Chi Minh City, First Solar (US) has decided to resume the solar panel manufacturing project. The information has been confirmed by the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Management Authority (HEPZA). Late last year, in a conference call with investors and industry analysts to discuss the firm’s 2017 operations, chief executive officer Mark Widmar revealed that they could even look to use the plant in Vietnam that was built but has not yet put into operation. The project was licensed in January 2011 and started construction two months later. At the time, the investor said the facility’s $300-million first phase, with a production capacity equivalent to 250 megawatt per year, would start … [Read more...]

NDO - The Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) has been urged to accelerate the handling of lingering loss-making projects, in line with market mechanisms. Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung also emphasised that the Government will not provide any more money for these inefficient projects, while leading a Government Working Group to work with PetroVietnam, in Hanoi on July 19. Speaking at the working session, General Director of PetroVietnam Nguyen Vu Truong Son stated that the group will focus on dealing with five out of 12 inefficient projects in the remaining months of 2017, including PVTex Dinh Vu Yarn Plant, Dung Quat Shipbuilding plant, and three bio-fuel factories in Phu Tho, Quang Ngai and Binh Phuoc provinces. Son noted that PetroVietnam will restart the operations of two bio-ethanol plants in Binh Phuoc and Quang Ngai this year, in order to meet the demand for E5 bio-fuel blending to completely replace RON 92 petrol from … [Read more...]

Shares slowed their decline yesterday as banks recovered, but the market is still exposed to short-term downward corrections on rising investor caution. An overview of FLC Luxury Hotel Quy Nhon in Binh Dinh Province - one of the projects for which FLC Faros Construction Corporation (ROS) is the main contractor. The HCM Stock Exchange added shares of ROS, Novaland Investment Group (NVL) and brewery Sabeco (SAB) to the basket of the VN30. - VNS Photo   The benchmark VN-Index on the HCM Stock Exchange inched down 0.18 per cent to close at 767.49 points. The key index dropped 1.12 per cent on Monday. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index was down just 0.04 per cent to end at 98.6 points after a 1.8-per-cent fall in the last session. Blue chips remained on a downward spiral as 22 of the top 30 … [Read more...]

NDO - Climate change has had an adverse effect on agriculture in general and coffee production in particular. According to the National Agricultural Extension Centre, in the 2016-2017 dry seasons, nearly 700,000 hectares of coffee in the Central Highlands and the Southeast region were damaged. Notably, of the 116 thousand hectares of coffee damaged during the 2016 dry season, 6,854 hectares were completely lost. In the dry season of 2017, unseasonal rainfall ranging from 5 to 20mm in January and February caused more than 580 thousand hectares of coffee to blossom early, accounting for approximately 15 to 20% of the total flowers, of which 50 to 70% were damaged. It is clear that the impact of climate change is one of the reasons why coffee exports in the last six months only reached 817 thousand tonnes, despite being reasonably priced (US$2,264 per tonne, an increase of 32.1% compared to the same period last year). For a long time, coffee has been considered one of the "billion … [Read more...]

The driver of a Tesla vehicle involved in a crash in Minnesota on Saturday has denied that its Autopilot system caused the incident, according to an email released by the automaker on Monday. People view a Tesla car during the Auto China 2016 in Beijing, China, April 25, 2016. Photo source: REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo WASHINGTON: The driver of a Tesla vehicle involved in a crash in Minnesota on Saturday has denied that its Autopilot system caused the incident, according to an email released by the automaker on Monday. The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Department said in a statement on Sunday that the driver of the 2016 Tesla had said that when he engaged the Autopilot system it caused the vehicle to suddenly accelerate and then roll over, resulting in minor injuries to himself and four passengers. But the driver said … [Read more...]

Vietcombank and Vietinbank were the first two State-owned banks to announce preliminary business results in H1. Vietcombank announced that its pre-tax profit in H1 had crossed 5 trillion VND (220 million USD), up 20 percent year on year, and 53.2 percent of its 2017 target. Many banks including Vietcombank have already met more than half their annual profit targets. Photo: vaytiennganhang.net Its General Director Pham Quang Dung said the result was supported by healthy growth in all sectors, following a three-year restructure. Between January and June, the bank set aside 3 trillion VND for risky loans, bringing its provision fund to 10.7 trillion VND, equal to 136 percent of its total non-performing loans. The bank’s capital mobilization increased by 10.4 percent to 660 trillion VND, while its credit growth rose to around 534 trillion VND, or 13.1 percent, achieving 95.7 percent of its target for … [Read more...]

The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) granted a license for 1Pay Joint Stock Company’s intermediary payment services on July 12. 1Pay is now one of the successful open platforms for electronic payment in Viet Nam with more than 3,000 customers from eight different countries. — Photo 1Pay/ VietnamPlus Accordingly, the company will be allowed to expand its activities in electronic payments, collection assistance, electronic money transfer and e-wallet services. Speaking at the ceremony, Hoang Tuyet Minh, deputy director of SBV’s payment department, said that she expects that 1Pay will provide the best payment solutions to customers, boosting the development of modern non-cash payment solutions in Viet Nam, bringing the country’s e-commerce to an international level. 1Pay will also launch an online … [Read more...]

The remains were found in a mass grave at Bien Hoa airport by the provincial Military Command in March thanks to information provided by both Vietnamese and American veterans. The remains were found in a mass grave at Bien Hoa airport. (Photo: zing.vn).  The Steering Committee on Search and Repatriation of Martyrs’ Remains (known as Steering Committee 1237) in the province, local units and authorities have identified 72 martyrs in the battle, whose hometowns are in 22 provinces and cities across Vietnam. These martyrs were troops of Battalion 1, Regiment 4, Regiment 5 of Infantry Division 5 and Bien Hoa Commando Company. In the battle at Bien Hoa airbase at dawn on January 31, 1968, scores of troops bravely fought outnumbered enemy troops and sacrificed themselves, in an effort to neutralize the airbase, destroy enemy technical and logistics bases and aircraft, reducing the enemy’s whole strength. Related agencies … [Read more...]

Vietnam's coffee exports fell last month by more than a fifth from the same period last year, extending a downward trend that started in March following a smaller harvest this season and a higher ratio of low-quality beans, government data showed. June shipments fell 22.7 percent from a year ago to 122,200 tons, or 2.04 million 60-kg bags, based on Vietnam Customs data released on Tuesday. Lower outflow from the Southeast Asian nation, coupled with falling exports from top producer Brazil, could reduce the downward pressure on prices created by ample stocks in importing nations, according to the International Coffee Organization (ICO). Vietnam's coffee export volume in May fell to its lowest in six months after growers finished harvesting 26.7 million bags from the 2016/2017 season in January, down 7.7 percent from the previous crop, based on a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report published in June. The exportable volume of coffee left in Vietnam at the start … [Read more...]

Amendments to Vietnam’s Penal Code, which takes effect in January 2018, give those found guilty of corruption and bribery the chance to escape the death sentence if they return 75 percent of their ill-gotten gains. Those sentenced to death for corruption or taking bribes can have their punishment commuted to life in jail if they cooperate with the authorities during the investigation and voluntarily return at least 75 percent of their illegal earnings, officials said at a press briefing called by the President Office on Wednesday.  The 2015 Penal Code had been scheduled to come into effect in July 2016 but was sheleved due to multiple errors and loopholes. The National Assembly, Vietnam's top legislature, approved the revised law last month. The clause was one of the controversial parts of the new code. Some lawmakers argued that it would weaken the fight against corruption, which the Vietnamese government has set as one of its priorities. Under the 1999 … [Read more...]

Amendments to Vietnam’s Penal Code, which takes effect in January 2018, give those found guilty of corruption and bribery the chance to escape the death sentence if they return 75 percent of their ill-gotten gains. Those sentenced to death for corruption or taking bribes can have their punishment commuted to life in jail if they cooperate with the authorities during the investigation and voluntarily return at least 75 percent of their illegal earnings, officials said at a press briefing called by the President Office on Wednesday.  The 2015 Penal Code had been scheduled to come into effect in July 2016 but was shelved due to multiple errors and loopholes. The National Assembly, Vietnam's top legislature, approved the revised law last month. The clause was one of the controversial parts of the new code. Some lawmakers argued that it would weaken the fight against corruption, which the Vietnamese government has set as one of its priorities. Under the 1999 … [Read more...]

Amendments to Vietnam’s Penal Code, which takes effect in January 2018, give those found guilty of corruption and bribery the chance to escape the death sentence if they return 75 percent of their ill-gotten gains. Those sentenced to death for corruption or taking bribes can have their punishment commuted to life in jail if they cooperate with the authorities during the investigation and voluntarily return at least 75 percent of their illegal earnings, officials said at a press briefing called by the President Office on Wednesday.  The 2015 Penal Code had been scheduled to come into effect in July 2016 but was shelved due to multiple errors and loopholes. The National Assembly, Vietnam's top legislature, approved the revised law last month. The clause was one of the controversial parts of the new code. Some lawmakers argued that it would weaken the fight against corruption, which the Vietnamese government has set as one of its priorities. Under the 1999 … [Read more...]

NDO – On July 12 the southern province of Dong Nai held a solemn memorial service to honour and rebury the remains of 72 martyrs who died during the battle at Bien Hoa airport, on January 31, 1968. Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Education and Communications, Vo Van Thuong, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, former President Truong Tan Sang, former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and leaders of the Ministry of Defence, Dong Nai province and relatives of the martyrs, from 23 provinces and cities nationwide, attended the ceremony held at the cemetery for martyrs in Dong Nai province. In his eulogy at the memorial service, Le Van Danh, Secretary of the Bien Hoa municipal Party Committee, praised the contributions and sacrifices of millions of people who spared their youth and sacrificed their lives for the cause of national liberation and reunification. During the war, Bien Hoa and Bien Hoa airport in particular were key … [Read more...]

NDO – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked for the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s coordination in promptly designing an implementation plan for the Vietnam-WEF cooperation agreement, with a focus on supporting Vietnam to effectively enforce free trade agreements (FTAs), accelerate administrative reforms, strengthen competitiveness, and to develop information technology infrastructure and human resources. >>> PMs of Vietnam, Netherlands vow to deepen ties During his reception for WEF Managing Director Philipp Roesler, in The Hague, Netherlands, on July 11 (Vietnamese time), the PM spoke highly of the WEF official’s active contributions to facilitating the cooperation between Vietnam and the WEF, whilst asking him to encourage the WEF and European enterprises to expand their investment and business ties with Vietnam, in order to make use of the opportunities brought about by the Vietnam-European Union FTA (EVFTA). He proposed that the WEF … [Read more...]

Voters voice their opinions to Gen. Lich At the meeting, Gen. Lich and other Ha Nam province’s National Assembly deputies informed the voters of the main outcomes of the third session of the 14th National Assembly and took notes of their opinions, proposals and suggestions. Gen. Lich expressed his pleasure at the development of Ha Nam province in general and Binh Luc district in particular and showed his serious concern over social welfare issues, implementation of gratitude activities to national contributors, care for troops’ families and enhancement of the building of new-style rural areas, contributing to fostering people’s trust in the Party and the State. He thanked voters for and recognized constructive opinions and suggestions, especially those on gratitude policies to national contributors. He confirmed that policies for national contributors and troops’ families demonstrate deep concern of … [Read more...]

The visit takes place at a time when Vietnam and the Netherlands are enjoying comprehensive developments in their relations, setting a model for dynamic and effective cooperation between a Southeast Asian country and a European nation. The two countries have defined climate change adaptation, water management, agriculture, energy, sea-based economy, and logistics services as prioritized cooperative fields. Vietnam’s PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse will visit the Netherlands from July 9-11.  The bilateral trade has continuously increased in recent years with Vietnam recording trade surplus. The Netherlands is now one of the biggest export markets of Vietnam in Europe. In the first five months of 2017, two-way trade hit USD 2.9 billion. Vietnam mainly exported seafood, vegetables and fruits, cashew nut, coffee, peppercorns, rice, chemical products, and plastics, while importing machines, equipment, … [Read more...]

NEW YORK: US officials announced charges against a former manager with Audi - a high-end brand in the Volkswagen group - who directed employees to design software to cheat US emission tests. US officials have announced charges against a former manager with Audi - a high-end brand in the Volkswagen group -- who directed employees to design software to cheat US emission tests. (Photo: AFP/SAUL LOEB) Giovanni Pamio, 60, an Italian citizen, is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, wire fraud, and violation of the Clean Air Act, the US Department of Justice said in a criminal complaint Thursday. Volkswagen, the world's largest car maker, admitted in September 2015 to using so-called "defeat device" software to cheat regulatory nitrogen oxides emissions tests in some 11 million cars worldwide. The … [Read more...]

Australia is one of Vietnam's largest export markets of agricultural and fishery products, bringing some US$450 million a year to the latter in the 2011 - 2016 period, with a growth rate of 8.3 per cent a year on average. Seeing the high prospect of exporting agricultural and aquatic products to Australia, Vietnam has sought to promote exports and expand this market. With respect to market opening after the adoption of the ASEAN Australia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), which was effective in 2010 with import tariffs brought to zero, Vietnam’s shipments of agricultural and aquatic products to Australia increased markedly in the 2011 - 2016 period, with vegetables and fruits climbing 27.7 per cent a year, cashew nuts jumping 12.9 per cent and seafood looking up 6.9 per cent. This contributed to the country’s overall export value increase to this market. With regard … [Read more...]

LONDON: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic barely had to break sweat to make winning starts at Wimbledon as their injury-hit opponents retired hurt amid a plague of withdrawals that blighted the first round on Tuesday (Jul 4). Switzerland's Roger Federer returns to Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov during the men's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. ( Photo source: AP /Alastair Grant) Federer is chasing a record eighth Wimbledon title and he was already well on top at the start of his 19th All England Club campaign when Alexandr Dolgopolov was forced to quit with an ankle injury. The world number three raced into a 6-3, 3-0 in 43 minutes on Centre Court before the Ukrainian limped off. Federer, who hit his 10,000th career ace in the eighth game of the first set, will face either Dusan Lajovic … [Read more...]