Võ Quang Lâm. — Photo tuoitre.vn Võ Quang Lâm, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) deputy director-general, talks to the newspaper Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) on upcoming changes in setting new electricity tariffs. How many electric tariffs will the Ministry of Industry and Trade introduce? From 2011-2014, the electric tariffs were divided into seven scales. Then, in 2015 the electric tariffs were reduced to six scales with a hope to make them simpler. The scales were then from 0-50 kW; 51-100kW; 101-200 kW; 201-300 kW; 301-400 kW and from 400 kW upward. According to the EVN, a key purpose of cutting down from seven scales down to six scales is to encourage people to save electricity and use it more efficiently. From its point of view, the EVN said the six tariff scales has already taken into consideration poor households. According to statistics, if in 2015, there were 4.5 million households using less than 50 kWh per month, then in 2018 that number dropped to 3.9 … [Read more...] about New electricity tariffs more renewable: EVN
New foundations sober living
Vietnam’s new role via Industry 4.0
The government is creating strategy to promote the rise of startups, as well as more research and development, Photo: Le Toan Several astounding figures were presented at ABB’s Technology Day 2019 last week in Hanoi. The event, highlighting Vietnam’s digital transformation towards accelerating a sustainable future, was attended by 200 delegates including business leaders and policymakers. Among the headlines, it was revealed that the Fourth Industrial Revolution could increase Vietnam’s GDP by between $28.5 billion and $62 billion in a decade, depending on the level of technological application in businesses. This increase is equivalent to a rise of 7-16 per cent of GDP by 2030. Pham Hoang Mai, general director of the Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), said at the event, “Industry 4.0 presents Vietnam with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make the step up to the next … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s new role via Industry 4.0
A new high: Indigenous Thai farmers swap opium for coffee, land
It's how all the men in his mountain village on the Thai-Myanmar border spent their time. Stateless, with little access to education, jobs or healthcare, their only options were trading opium or walking to the nearest town for odd jobs. Somchai's life turned around after the late Princess Srinagarindra, grandmother of Thailand's current king, set up a development project in 1988 in Doi Tung in Chiang Rai, once part of Southeast Asia's "Golden Triangle" notorious for trafficking of drugs, people and arms. The Doi Tung Development Project, run by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Thai royal patronage, ended opium cultivation in the area and set up a drug rehabilitation center and social enterprises to generate jobs. It trained residents to reforest vast swathes of the hillside and grow coffee and macadamia. It also gave residents 30-year land-use titles for small plots on which they could live and farm. "If the project had not started, I would not be alive today," said Somchai, 62, … [Read more...] about A new high: Indigenous Thai farmers swap opium for coffee, land
Hà Nội wants Asia Foundation to help boost urban agriculture
Farmers tend to their vegetables in Hoài Đức, a suburban district of Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Vũ SinhViet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội is willing to co-operate with Asia Foundation to promote urban agricultural production, said Chairman of Hà Nội Nguyễn Đức Chung at his meeting with Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Việt Nam Michael DiGregorio. Speaking at the meeting in the capital city on Thursday, Chung said he appreciated the operational efficiency of the Asia Foundation’s projects in Hà Nội. He said its urban agricultural development projects had contributed to improving people’s living standards. Chung emphasised the importance of the group’s projects and the need for them to be expanded. “We are willing to receive investors in the fields of production and social security,” Chung said. He said the capital city was always … [Read more...] about Hà Nội wants Asia Foundation to help boost urban agriculture
VSIP Nghe An sets new standards for living and working environments
After two decades of operations in Vietnam, VSIP has made significant strides with several integrated townships and industrial parks nationwide. There are about 757 tenants from 30 countries and territories with a total investment capital of more than $10 billion. Applying management experience and operation methods from Singapore, VSIP have designed its industrial park projects with modern master planning, full infrastructure facilities, as well as good transport connections. VSIP has launched sustainable initiatives to create a world-class work environment for over 200,000 local and foreign workers. Among them, VSIP Nghe An is built on modern plans that integrate work, live, and play elements for workers and their families. A world-class work environment Up to now, around 210 companies have visited VSIP Nghe An to explore investment opportunities. Among them, 12 companies have committed to be tenants at the park with a total investment capital of VND860 billion ($37.84 million) … [Read more...] about VSIP Nghe An sets new standards for living and working environments