Central Group rolls out Earth Hour 2017 program The Saigon Times Daily With the eleventh annual Earth Hour just days away, Central Group Vietnam will launch a series of programs in collaboration with its member companies and strategic partners including Big C, Robins, Nguyen Kim and Lan Chi to help Vietnam protect its natural environment. The global initiative, which has been run nine times in Vietnam, calls upon people and companies to switch off their powered devices at a given time each year to help offset the march of Climate Change. Commencing on March 24 and 25, Central Group Vietnam and its partners will restrict its use of electrical devices throughout its outlets nationwide. This will include the turning-off of lights, changes to the temperature of air-conditioning, and close monitoring of the use of electrical devices throughout its stores. The group has set a target of a 7.5% reduction in power consumption. Additionally, stores throughout the group will be calling upon … [Read more...] about Central Group rolls out Earth Hour 2017 program
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China approves fewer GMO crop imports, hampering trade: U.S. industry group
China is approving fewer new biotech crops for import than before, hampering the launch of new products globally and hurting trade, an American industry group said on Tuesday. China does not permit the planting of any genetically modified varieties of staple food crops amid deep-seated consumer opposition. But it does allow the import of GMO crops, such as soybeans for use in its huge animal feed industry. The number of annual approvals has fallen to just one last year, down from three in previous years, according to China's agriculture ministry. "The trend is moving in the wrong direction in terms of the product being approved in the past few years," said Gao Yong, co-chairman of the agriculture group at the American Chamber of Commerce in China. Gao, who is also China president at global biotech giant Monsanto Co, told reporters he was not sure why there were fewer approvals. Chinese government officials were not immediately available for comment. The United States is the biggest … [Read more...] about China approves fewer GMO crop imports, hampering trade: U.S. industry group
Japanese group seeks investment opportunity in Vietnam – News – Investment
They have so far invested in 2,410 projects in Vietnam with a combined capitalisation of US$36.3 billion. The information was revealed at a seminar in Hanoi on October 8 by the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the Japanese IHI Corporation with the aim of promoting images and enhancing cooperation between IHI and Vietnamese partners.FIA Director Do Nhat Hoang said Japan is a leading economic partner and foreign investor in Vietnam. Japanese businesses’ contributions through direct investment projects and official development assistance (ODA) provided by the Japanese Government and international cooperation agency (JICA) have been paid off. These important supplement sources will help accelerate the completion of Vietnam’s infrastructure system and make its economy more competitive.IHI CEO Tamotsu Saito affirmed that the group is willing to support Vietnam’s development goals and will actively cooperate with … [Read more...] about Japanese group seeks investment opportunity in Vietnam – News – Investment
Vietnam strives to introduce financial inclusion to vulnerable groups
(VOVworld)-How to make banking and financial services more accessible to the general public was the topic of a conference organized by the State Bank of Vietnam, Citi Foundation and Cooperative Development Foundation in Hanoi on Tuesday. State Bank Deputy Governor Nguyen Thi Hong said that financial inclusion in Vietnam should focus on more than 60 million people living in rural areas, who make up more than half of Vietnam’s labor force. This is an effective way to boost economic growth and help sustainable poverty reduction, Hong stressed. “While developing a national strategy on financial inclusion, Vietnam has paid special attention to vulnerable groups including women, farmers, small and midium-sized enterprises and micro businesses. We’ll mobilize all available resources to promote financial inclusion,” she elaborated. An estimated 500 million people in the world are still unable to access banking services, with half of them living in Asia-Pacific. … [Read more...] about Vietnam strives to introduce financial inclusion to vulnerable groups
U19 Hà Nội to face arch rivals in group B
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI - Defending champions U19 Hà Nội team will face arch rivals PVF, Sanna Khánh Hòa and Sông Lam Nghệ An in Group B of the final round of the National U19 Football Championships on March 21-31 in Bình Định Province. The event's organising board announced the draw yesterday. Hosts Bình Định are in Group A along with Thừa Thiên-Huế, Viettel and Long An. PVF are a top candidate for the title of this year's event, with 10 wins in the qualifying round and 48 goals. "We are very confident about competing in the tourney. We will play with all our heart. We will try to beat every rival," said Nguyễn Việt Thắng, PVF's assistant manager. Meanwhile, Hà Nội is also making every effort to defend its title, having won the U19 tournament in 2011, 2014 and 2016. Today, Bình Định will meet Thừa Thiên-Huế, and Viettel take on Long An in the opening matches of Group A. "Taking full of advantage of playing on our hometurf, we target to move to the final match despite the many … [Read more...] about U19 Hà Nội to face arch rivals in group B