Lee nguyen

The Hanoitimes – An international workshop on nanotechnology and its application is being held in Binh Thuan Province of Vietnam from November 9 to 11.

New technologies that work at the nanolevel could be used to produce nano materials for mass market products, Jean-Charles Guibert, chairman of MINATEC, one of the largest world-wide innovation campuses in micro-nano-bio technologies, said.

Guibert told that it was important, however, to set up intellectual property protection in order to use nanomaterials in products.

“Vietnam’s laboratories have the skills, but they need more equipment to develop Vietnamese intellectual property. In addition, it is important to ask public researchers and professors to transfer their knowledge to industry,” he added.

Speaking at an international workshop that began on November 9 in Binh Thuan province, he said that a favourite way to transfer knowledge to industry is via the creation of startups as they can move inventions into innovation for the market.

“This trend is supported by young researchers looking to develop their own company,” Guibert said. At MINATEC laboratories, materials are at the core of multiple applications fueled by innovative startup products, he said.

He added MINATEC campus teams have created more than 50 material-based companies, he said, adding that this supported the MINATEC business model, with strong income in terms of R&D contracts and licences. Today, 30 percent of campus revenue is based on income from these startups.

The three-day workshop features a broad scope of important issues in nanotechnology, ranging from nanofabrication techniques and nanomaterials. Applications of micro-nanotechnology are also being highlighted.

Nae-Eung Lee, a lecturer at Sunkyunkwan University’s department of advanced materials science and engineering in the Republic of Korea, spoke about the essential requirements for developing nanosensors for smart and wearable electronics. Sensors are critical components in many smart wearable systems that can be used for bio-medical diagnostics, prosthetics, prognostics, preventive medicine and rehabilitation medicine, according to Lee.

Integration of various sensor devices into mobile smartphones is now being investigated, which would enable the analysis of bio-markers from various body fluids, monitor physiological parameters, and detect hazardous gases around humans, he added. For these purposes, the development of various sensors with high sensitivity, accuracy, durability and stability is required, he said.

Nguyen Duc Hoa, Vice Chairman of the Binh Thuan provincial People’s Committee, said that nanotechnology would help develop the economy in the fourth industrial revolution.

The International Workshop on Nanotechnology and Application, which ends on November 11, connects scientists, researchers, enterprises and investors, and strengthens co-operation in scientific research, training and nanotechnology, with the aim of making products that encourage sustainable growth, Hoa said.

The Hanoitimes – The petroleum sector holds a significant role in the country’s development, not only in terms of economy, but also in national defense and security.

Improved financial mechanism is required for Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) to ensure sustainable development.

Overview of the meeting. Photo: Quang Hieu

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed the view in a government meeting discussing a draft decree on finance management of PetroVietnam on March 3, noting any changes must be in compliance with the Petroleum Law and other regulations.

According to Phuc, the petroleum sector holds a significant role in the country’s development, not only in terms of economy, but also in national defense and security.

“Bearing that in mind, government agencies should create more favorable conditions for the sector’s development, especially in the search for new oil and gas fields, as well as promoting market demands for petroleum-related products [fertilizer, electricity],” Phuc said.

The PM requested the Ministry of Finance to revise and perfect current regulations on retrieving funds from unsuccessful oil prospecting projects for new oil and gas fields, including a uniform risk mechanism.

Phuc set the deadline for the submission of the draft decree on March 20, expecting improved conditions for the use of state capital at PetroVietnam to ensure the state-run firm’s growth in the future.

Despite difficult economic climate in 2020, PetroVietnam paid over VND83 trillion (US$3.62 billion) to the state budget.

The Hanoitimes – The suspension was in response to the request of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to stop flights from and to epidemic-stricken areas.

Vietjet Air would start suspending flights to China from February 1 as the coronavirus is spreading in the populous country, local media reported.

Illustrative photo.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese airlines continue to closely cooperating with local authorities to comply with medical procedures of the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

Previously, Vietjet Air received permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) to conduct four flights on January 24 – 27 to carry Chinese passengers back to Wuhan, China. These aircraft later flew back to Vietnam without any passenger on board.

Other domestic airlines such as Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific are expected to inform passengers on schedules of the flights to China soon.

The suspension was in response to the request of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to stop flights from and to epidemic-stricken areas. At a government meeting on January 30, the government decided to stop issuing visas to all Chinese, except for official and diplomatic passport holders.

With the complicated nature of the epidemic in China, airlines based in North America, Europe and Asia are canceling flights to China, with British Airways being the first airline in the world suspending all direct flights to China.

Other major airlines such as United Airlines, American Airlines, Air Asia, Cathay Pacific, Air India, IndiGo, Lufthansa and Finnair have announced plans to slash the number of flights they are operating to China or stop flying to the country.

The WHO at a meeting on January 30 declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in response to the outbreak of coronavirus in China and other countries. To date, there have been over 9,900 confirmed cases of infection around the world, including 213 deaths in China.

In Vietnam, there are five cases of infection with coronavirus, while 32 are in quarantine pending test results as of January 31, according to the health ministry.

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam should create breakthroughs in 2019 to complete the 2016-2020 socio-economic development plan and create a foundation for the next five years, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung has said.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency , the official stressed greater efforts are needed to fulfill the GDP growth target of 6.8 percent set for 2019 by the National Assembly.

To that end, he proposed improving the domestic business environment to facilitate the operation of businesses and reduce production and business costs.

The private economic sector is expected to drive growth, he said, emphasising the need to remove difficulties and barriers and create an equal playing field for enterprises.

The Government has taken actions to enable businesses to access new technologies as scientific-technological innovation is an urgent need of the national economy, the minister noted.

Preparations for intensive international integration and the improvement of the capacity of the national economy as well as businesses would help Vietnam optimise opportunities, especially those generated by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which came into force in Vietnam on January 14, he said.

Dung also said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)  and Vietnam are expected to remain attractive destinations for global investment in 2019.

Reviewing Vietnam’s economic performance in 2018, he said national GDP grew 7.08 percent, the highest level over the past 11 years.

Noteworthy was the agro-forestry-fishery sector, which expanded 3.76 percent in the year, a record rise, he said, highlighting a trade surplus of 7.2 billion USD, foreign direct investment (FDI) disbursement exceeding 19 billion USD, and inflation below 4 percent.

The country’s impressive performance received praise from international organisations and the World Bank, he said.

According to the minister, the highlight of the national economy lies with its resilience, which is consolidated by the export and processing and manufacturing industry.

He, however, pointed out difficulties facing the economy such as uncertainties of the global economic situation and impacts of US-China trade tension.

Internal weaknesses like small economic scale, low competitiveness and productivity, climate change, natural disasters and diseases, among others have also hindered growth, the official said.

Dung expressed his belief that efforts of the entire political system would help the country overcome these obstacles in 2019.-VNA

VNA