Support the requirements

Mine action in Vietnam making progress: UNDP country chief

April 9, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The mine action sector in Vietnam is blessed with a strong and genuine partnership between the government and development partners, and the important progress made over the past few years is a clear indicator that it is indeed feasible for it to think big and make ambitious yet realistic strategies and plans to reach the finish line.

In an exclusive writing to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the upcoming Vietnamese-led United Nations Security Council ( UNSC ) open debate on April 8 titled “ Mine action and sustaining peace: Stronger partnerships for better deliver ”, United Nations Development Program Resident Representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen also made it clear that the strong sector coordination and collaboration are a “key driving force” to reach the milestones required to make Vietnam impact free by 2030.

“To the extent possible, the international community should commit to making the support predictable and long-term to align resources with government plans,” she wrote.

“Placing mine action at the forefront of Vietnamese chairmanship of the UNSC during this month is signal of global commitment, rooted in a conviction that the issue can be dealt with through strong regional and national institutions.”

The official also highlighted the remarkable achievements in the mine action sector in Vietnam over the recent past, pointing to the surveying of over 16,880 ha of land and the clearing of 9,000 ha of hazardous land in Quang Binh and Binh Dinh provinces as a result of the combined resources and perseverance of the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre, KOICA Vietnam and UNDP Vietnam.

Last December, Vietnam hosted a conference on “Women, Peace and Security”, following which the “Hanoi Commitment to Action” with 75 co-sponsors was submitted to the President of the UNSC and the President of the General Assembly, highlighting the importance of including women in building and sustaining peace, including mine action.

“We continue to encourage all partners to join this call for a decade of mine action to give back cleared land to local communities, leave no one behind and ensure we persevere in fulfilling the development aspirations of those most in need,” she concluded./.

VNA

Southern Economic Region slow in development

April 8, 2021 by sggpnews.org.vn

However, this region is showing signs of neglect and decline in recent times. In a talk with Saigon Investment, Dr. NGUYEN DINH CUNG, former Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management, shared his view on this issue.

JOURNALIST: – Sir, there are many opinions that the Southern Economic Region is facing many bottlenecks, which are limiting its ability to accelerate in growth, such as a deteriorating infrastructure, overload of urban transport, and increasing environmental pollution. What is your opinion on this state of decline and related issues?

Dr. NGUYEN DINH CUNG: – First of all, in terms of a region, frankly speaking, it is just an accumulation of neighboring localities, with no significant links. All regional activities are just superficial. The localities have no motivation, and no need to coordinate and connect into becoming a strong economic zone.

One obvious reason is that the same socio-economic indicators are applied to all localities. Thus, local governments have to compete with each other to attract investments, to take care of their home province first, so they have no need to connect with the neighboring provinces. For example, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Vung Tau is a number one priority for these two provinces, but may not be the number one priority for Dong Nai province. Likewise, connecting Tay Ninh with Ho Chi Minh City may be the number one priority of Tay Ninh, but Ho Chi Minh City has many other concerns that need to be addressed first.

In brief, Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces in the Southern Economic Region have not yet created organic links to become a unified entity. They have not created links with other regions and localities as well, so it is not possible to take advantage of regional relations to create a development momentum for the whole region. For example, Ho Chi Minh City is next to two major industrial and manufacturing centers, Binh Duong and Dong Nai, but the leading service industry of Ho Chi Minh City is real estate, while logistics services in Binh Duong and Dong Nai are their highlight.

Southern Economic Region slow in development ảnh 1

The gateway routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City with neighboring areas in the East and the South West are always severely congested.

– Sir, besides the need to complete twelve socio-economic targets of the region first, what are the other reasons?

– The root cause is that the retained budget ratios of the provinces in this region, including Ho Chi Minh City, are still very low, much lower than those in the North with the same economic scale. Regional budget revenues account for 40% of the national budget revenue, but only 20% of budget expenditure. The industrial provinces around Ho Chi Minh City such as Binh Duong and Dong Nai can only retain 36% and 47% of the budget revenue, respectively. The industrial provinces around Hanoi such as Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, and Hai Duong can retain budget at 53%, 83%, and 98%, respectively. Ho Chi Minh City alone is the highest budget contributor, but the retained rate is the lowest in the country, at only 18%.

Consequently, Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast region lack resources to invest in and re-invest in upgrading the internal transport infrastructure and associated transport systems. The gateway routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City with neighboring areas in the East and the South West are always severely congested, making production, services and export costs too high, thereby reducing competitiveness and attractiveness for investors.

If we look at the results of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Ho Chi Minh City, we will see that the scale of FDI projects in the area is getting smaller and smaller. Specifically, the average size of one FDI project in the Southern Economic Region is about USD 10 mn, significantly lower than the national average of USD 12.42 mn, while the average scale of one project in Ho Chi Minh City is even lower, only USD 5.56 mn. This means that Ho Chi Minh City is gradually lacking projects of large-scale, high-tech and modern corporate governance that are capable of leading development growth.

– Sir, according to you, how can localities in the region closely link and support each other in the most effective way?

– I must emphasize that there are fierce challenges facing the Southern region which require multi-sectoral and multi-local solutions that can only be resolved when localities build links and solve problems together. In order to do that, besides building a quality regional plan, it is necessary to let localities see practical benefits from joint activities and support each other. This means localities must have enough resources to solve their internal pressing problems, as well as participate in regional projects.

In my opinion, the first focus should be on traffic connectivity. If we let the provinces settle for themselves, it will be very difficult and take a very long time. This is where it is necessary to use public investment from the central government, and effectively stimulate development.

Besides, the governments of the provinces and cities must have a global view, so that each locality can bring into full play its own quintessential strengths. For example, Ho Chi Minh City should focus on high-tech projects, high value-added services, and should avoid more labor-intensive projects and production, because it will further stress the situation of infrastructure overload, while the value added is too small.

– Thank you very much.

Anh Thu (interviewer)

HCMC’s voters agree on the nomination of three candidates for upcoming election

April 11, 2021 by en.qdnd.vn

Particularly, Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia and President of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Veterans Major General Nguyen Minh Hoang are candidates for the 15th NA, while Deputy Chief of the Ho Chi Minh City Military Command Senior Colonel Pham Van Ram is running for a seat at the municipal People’s Council.

Having been briefed on the criteria for the NA, People’s Council deputies and biographies of the three officials, local voters agreed that the nominated candidates meet all of the requirements and are qualified to run for seats at the 15th NA and the municipal People’s Council.

All of them live a healthy and simple life and always demonstrate their firm political position and absolute loyalty to the Party, Nation, and people. In any working positions, they have always completed their tasks and wholeheartedly served the nation and people.

Voters also hoped that candidates would listen and convey voters’ concerns to the NA or municipal people’s council, and contribute to building people’s trust in the Party and strengthening national unity.

On behalf of the candidates, Nghia thanked local voters for their comments and trust. Mentioning the deputies’ honor and great responsibility, he promised to try his best to fulfil all missions assigned by the Party, State, and people and wished to receive more support from local voters.

At the event, the voters agreed on the nomination of Nguyen Trong Nghia, Major General Nguyen Minh Hoang, and Senior Colonel Pham Van Ram as candidates for the 15th NA and the municipal People’s Council.

Translated by Song Anh

Green growth strategy receives helping hand

April 7, 2021 by www.vir.com.vn

Green growth strategy receives helping hand

Clean energy is one of the focal points that the international community is encouraging Vietnam to implement in its National Green Growth Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and representatives of embassies and international organisations at the consultative conference organised by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) last week discussed opinions for this strategy.

Emphasing the importance of clean energy in the green growth process, British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward said, “This consultation is useful because Vietnam will be recovering faster from the pandemic than most countries and there’s a lot of supply chain relocation into Vietnam happening, which also means a lot of opportunities to do things differently. So, we very much welcome the national green growth strategy.”

Energy is a sector requiring great attention as it is also the major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“Vietnam has a very large potential in wind and solar, and the country could be much quicker in establishing a stable supply in time. I think there should be a particular focus in the strategy on attracting public investment into the grid’s resilience for renewable energy,” Ward said.

“Some international investors have expressed their interest to invest in the green energy sector,” he added. “So, green finance is a sector that Vietnam can develop with green bonds and investment funds, while simultaneously setting standards that will change the calculations of the banking system,” he added.

Ambassador of Spain to Vietnam María del Pilar Méndez Jiménez said, “I would encourage Vietnam very much to develop green energy because we are aware of how important energy, solar wind and water are. There are also Spanish companies that are willing to cooperate with Vietnam in this regard.”

The Politburo’s Resolution No.55-NQ/TW dated October 2, 2020 on the orientation of Vietnam’s National Energy Development Strategy until 2030 and outlook to 2045 already points towards cleaner and greener energy. The resolution states that renewable energy sources in the primary energy mix should sit somewhere between 15-20 per cent by 2030 and 25-30 per cent by 2045. The government also targets to reduce GHG emissions from energy activities by 15 and 20 per cent by 2030 and 2045, respectively.

A McKinsey study shows Vietnam has tremendous natural endowments, yet the country’s market for renewables remains in its infancy, with a grid scale of only about 200MW from solar and wind online.

“A successful renewables-led pathway includes building out the country’s wind and solar generation capabilities to 39GW and 61GW by 2030, respectively,” the study stated. “This would be five times more than Vietnam’s current energy plan and would need to be supplemented by natural gas and battery storage.”

International organisations have been working to help Vietnam promote energy. The GIZ Energy Support Programme is supporting the Vietnamese government in developing renewables by addressing barriers. GIZ works on several levels with the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam and other institutions to implement aspects of Vietnamese policies.

Along with the importance of energy development in realising the national green growth strategy, onlookers have pointed out there that shortcomings remain. British Ambassador Ward said, “All countries that are setting their targets not only need to look at growing renewables, they also need to look at the way to phase out coal and other brown energy sources.”

Though highly valuing the green growth strategy, Dong-bae Kim, Economic Minister-Counsellor of the South Korean Embassy in Hanoi also raised concerns over how it relates to the National Power Development Plan 8, especially in the power generation.

By Oanh Nguyen

Government directive targets rural industry development

April 11, 2021 by ven.vn

National industry promotion activities have mobilized resources in recent years for investment in industrial and handicraft production, contributing to rural industrialization, modernization and construction. However, industry promotion activities in many localities are lagging behind in their tasks, the workforce is still unskilled, material facilities are lacking and networks of collaborators in many localities have not been formed. These drawbacks, along with a limited budget, are eroding competitiveness and preventing investment.

In order to meet the requirements and tasks of industry promotion, the Prime Minister issued Decision 1881/QD-TTg dated November 20, 2020 on approving the National Industry Promotion Program for the 2021-2025 period, creating an important foundation to help enterprises and rural industrial establishments participate in investment and development of production in rural areas.

government directive targets rural industry development

Industry promotion programs contribute to economic restructuring

In accordance with the PM’s directive, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh has called on the people’s committees of provinces and centrally-governed cities to continue to raise awareness, strengthen responsibility at all levels and branches in directing, coordinating and implementing industry promotion activities. In addition, the minister has directed the Department of Industry and Trade to develop, amend, supplement and complete the system of local legal documents on industry promotion in accordance with relevant law, and direct the effective implementation of the local industry promotion program for the 2021-2025 period in accordance with local conditions and new developments. In addition to increasing capital from the local budget to implement industry promotion activities, target programs in each locality must be integrated and coordinated to increase the efficiency of industry promotion activities. To mobilize domestic and foreign investment in industrial-handicraft production in rural areas, information and policy guidelines must be disseminated.

Industry promotion programs should also pursue a policy of fostering and training to improve the qualifications of the industry promotion staff. Departments of Industry and Trade of centrally-governed cities and provinces should guide and direct industry promotion centers to focus on building pilot projects and group projects suitable to the potential and advantages of each region. Support programs on land, investment incentives, credit, science and technology advancement, digital transformation should also be coordinated in order to ensure maximum promotion of available resources and expansion of rural industry capacity.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked the Chairs of People’s Committees, provincial Departments of Industry and Trade and centrally-governed cities, as well as heads of relevant units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, to coordinate on implementing the directive.

Hoang Lan

Vietnam expects to send 90,000 laborers overseas in 2021

April 11, 2021 by vietnamnet.vn

Vietnamese labor export firms are working hard to find more contracts and markets.

Vietnam expects to send 90,000 laborers overseas in 2021

Vietnam’s Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) expects to send 90,000 laborers to work abroad in 2021, mainly to high and stable income countries.

Director General of the MoLISA’s Department of Overseas Labor Tong Hai Nam said the department has renewed its agreement on labor cooperation with Thailand, negotiated similar deal with Israel, and carried out existing agreements with South Korea, Japan and some other countries.

Nam added that his department has been pondering on sending workers to Romania and Poland. It has also been supporting localities to send seasonal workers to South Korea and other nations.

Nam noted that more than 26,000 Vietnamese guest workers whose labor contracts expired are unable to return home due to the effects of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The Department of Overseas Labor Management has instructed relevant units to coordinate with Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad, partners, and employers to ensure the safety and legitimate rights of guest workers amid the global crisis, while they are waiting to return home.

Besides, the department has also required 506 enterprises licensed to send workers abroad to review the number of employees who are subject to return home due to the effects of the outbreak.

Some 78,641 Vietnamese laborers were sent abroad in 2020, reaching 60.5% of the government target amid border closures imposed by many countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the MoLISA, Vietnamese labor export firms are working hard to find more contracts and markets. Besides, some have invested in training the workforce on foreign languages and necessary skills before sending them overseas.

hanoitimes