The AFD and EU have been actively supporting Vietnam in the areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Vietnam will receive financial aid from the EU and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to reduce the vulnerability to climate hazards in several towns in four northern and central provinces. The project is jointly co-financed with a EUR5 million (US$5.36 million) grant from the EU, a EUR123 million ($132 million) ODA loan from the AFD, and EUR 28 million ($30 million) from provincial budgets. The principal goal is to help localities adapt to climate change and recover from natural disasters such as flooding, typhoons, and drought. Delegates attend the launching ceremony. Photo: the Embassy of France in Vietnam The regional towns include Phat Diem in the northern province of Ninh Binh, Ngoc Lac in the central province of Thanh Hoa, and Hoang Mai in the central province of Nghe An, Huong Khe, and Thach Ha in the central province of Ha Tinh. … [Read more...] about AFD, EU strengthen urban climate resilience in Vietnam
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Vietnam’s long-term credit rating upgraded to “BB+”: S&P
S&P forecast Vietnam’s GDP will grow 6.9% in 2022 before settling closer to its long-term trend of growing 6.5%-7% from 2023 onward. S&P Global Ratings on May 26 raised its long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Vietnam to 'BB+' from 'BB'. S&P expects Vietnam's economy to continue its upward trend. Source: S&P The rating agency also affirmed the country’s short-term rating at ‘B’ with a stable outlook. “The stable outlook reflects our expectations that over the next 12-24 months, Vietnam's economy will continue to recover from the challenges posed by the pandemic over the past two years. This will support the external position and rein in fiscal deficits,” it noted. S&P added it could raise the ratings if Vietnam's institutional settings improve considerably, in ways that augment policy predictability and transparency. Such favorable changes in the policy environment could bolster investor confidence in the … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s long-term credit rating upgraded to “BB+”: S&P
Vietnamese textile-garment industry strong but not stable
Garment production for export at Kim Dung Textile and Garment Company in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: SGGP) Dependence on imported raw materials Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, said that the total number of enterprises participating in the textile and garment sector in Vietnam, including foreign and domestic enterprises, is more than 7,000. Of which, only 18 percent of them produce fabric materials, 12 percent produce yarn, 2 percent produce other materials, and the rest are garment enterprises. This fact has put the textile industry in front of the challenge of unstable growth due to its dependence on imported raw materials. Currently, each year, Vietnam imports 100 percent of cotton with an estimated value of US$3.2 billion and 60 percent of fabric with an estimated value of $14 billion. The US is the largest cotton and fabric import market of Vietnam, followed by China, Japan, South Korea, and … [Read more...] about Vietnamese textile-garment industry strong but not stable
Millions of travelers book tours for summer vacation
People and tourists choose to buy tours at the Hong Ngoc Ha travel booth during Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2022 Specifically, national carriers Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and the Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) have prepared to supply more than 7.1 million seats during the peak summer season from June 1 to August 15, an increase of 10 percent compared to the same period before the Covid-19 epidemic. On average, during the peak summer season, these airlines will operate 430 domestic flights, especially those to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. With international routes, Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines provide over 852,000 seats, equivalent to more than 3,600 flights, only 40 percent of the number in 2019 because international travel demand has not recovered as before. Vietravel Airlines also said that the demand for travel and tourism will increase, so it has planned to increase the number of aircraft and frequency of flights to the Central … [Read more...] about Millions of travelers book tours for summer vacation
Vietnam to build second facility of Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Thua Thien-Hue
The Vietnam Bear Rescue Center will be located at Bach Ma National Park in the Central province of Thua Thien-Hue. The new facility will be constructed on an area of 12.7 hectares including 12 houses and 12 semi-wild houses with a total non-refund donation of US$10.5 million from Animals Asia. According to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center, on May 27, the Forest Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development , the Bach Ma National Park coordinated with the Animals Asia to organize a ceremony to publicize the project, which will be built in the administrative-service area of the Bach Ma National Park to serve over 300 species of bear in a semi-natural environment. The project is expected to start construction in 2022 and be completed in four years later. Doctor. Jill Robinson MBE, the founder and General Director of Animals Asia Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Director of the Forest Protection Department Nguyen Quoc Hieu informed that … [Read more...] about Vietnam to build second facility of Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Thua Thien-Hue
Orphans, disabled kids receive scholarships on occasion of Int’l Children’s Day
At the scholarship-awarding ceremony (Photo: SGGP) At the program, 300 children with disabilities and orphans who are children of trade union members, workers, officials, and laborers in Ho Chi Minh City were able to participate in games as well as enjoy cultural performances, and fashionable performances with recycled materials. On this occasion, the City Trade Union Social Work Center also awarded 30 scholarships to disadvantaged children who overcame difficulties to study well. Units and benefactors gave away 300 toys, 220 portions, beverages, 200 boxes of confectionery, and 750 T-shirts totally worth more than VND150 million (US$6,437). According to Mr. Nguyen Mai Huy, Deputy Director of the Center for Social Work of Ho Chi Minh City Trade Union, the program has created a healthy playground for children with disabilities and orphans. Moreover, at the same time, it helped connect units, businesses, and donors for a meaningful activity full of love for workers’ kids in this … [Read more...] about Orphans, disabled kids receive scholarships on occasion of Int’l Children’s Day