Tin viet nam

Health Ministry confirms 14 fresh imported Covid-19 cases

The Saigon Times

A woman is admitted to a local quarantine center. The Health Ministry has confirmed 14 fresh imported Covid-19 cases – PHOTO: VNA

HCMC – Vietnam’s Covid-19 tally jumped to 2,772 with 14 new imported cases that the Health Ministry reported this evening, April 16.

Among them, six were reported in Khanh Hoa Province. Two of them arrived home from Japan on Flight VJ8837, which landed at Cam Ranh International Airport on April 13 and were immediately quarantined in the province.

The other four patients flew back to Vietnam from Russia through Cam Ranh International Airport on April 13.

The six tested positive for Covid-19 on April 15 and are being treated at the Khanh Hoa Hospital of Tropical Diseases.

Another patient was recorded in Danang. He arrived at the Danang International Airport from Japan on April 7. He was also found to be diagnosed with Covid-19 on April 15 and is receiving medical treatment at the Danang Lung Hospital.

Two other cases in Nghe An are all men who returned to Vietnam from Japan through Vinh Airport. They tested positive for Covid-19 today and are being treated at a general hospital of the northwestern area of Nghe An.

Four other cases in HCMC include three men and a woman. They flew home from the United Arab Emirates through the Tan Son Nhat International Airport on April 14 and tested positive for Covid-19 on April 15. They are under medical treatment at the Cu Chi Field Hospital.

The remaining case was reported in Quang Nam. She entered Vietnam from Japan through the Danang International Airport and was sent to a centralized quarantine center in Quang Nam.

She is being treated at the Quang Nam Central General Hospital.

Southeast Asia’s largest renewable energy complex inaugurated in Ninh Thuan

The Saigon Times

A view of Trung Nam Group’s solar and wind power complex in Ninh Thuan Province. The project is the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia – PHOTO: TRUNG NAM GROUP

HCMC – The Trung Nam Group and authorities of the central province of Ninh Thuan on April 16 inaugurated a complex of solar and wind farms, which is the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia as it covers an area of 900 hectares and is expected to produce nearly one quadrillion kilowatt hours of electricity per year.

The project, invested in by the Trung Nam Group, is located in Thuan Bac District. With the completion of the wind farm, together with a solar power plant, which had been inaugurated earlier, the complex now has a total capacity of over 350 megawatt peak, Tuoi Tre Online newspaper reported.

The project will make Ninh Thuan a renewable energy hub of the country.

The province holds great potential to develop wind power with 14 areas covering an area of 8,000 hectares, mainly in Ninh Phuoc, Thuan Nam and Thuan Bac districts. The number of storms affecting the province is small and the wind volume is stable during the year, ensuring the operation of wind turbines.

Moreover, Ninh Thuan annually has a total of 2837.8 sunny hours on average, the highest among localities in Vietnam, facilitating the generation of solar power.

According to Trung Nam Group, to develop a wind power project, investors must spend a lot of time, use a high number of laborers and apply many modern technologies as these projects tend to be located in areas with a severe climate and rough terrain.

The wind farm costs VND4 trillion, while the solar power plant requires an investment of VND6 trillion and comprises 705,000 solar panels.

Businesswoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao receives the Legion of Honour awarded by the French Government

The French Embassy in Vietnam on April 14 held a ceremony to present the Legion of Honour from the Government of the French Republic to Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, chairwoman of Sovico Group, president and CEO of Vietjet.

The solemn ceremony was attended by diplomats from many countries, heads of government ministries and various state organizations, leaders of cultural agencies, and leaders of businesses among others.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao at the ceremony of presenting the Legion of Honour awarded by the Government of the French Republic.

The Legion of Honour, established by Napoleon Bonaparte, is the most prestigious, long-standing and highest order of merit awarded by the French government to individuals and organizations with special contributions.

As the Chairwoman of Sovico Group, President and CEO of Vietjet, Madame Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao has made special contributions to promoting economic, cultural, development cooperation, making strong highlights in the strategic partnership, economic cooperation between Vietnam and Europe, and between Vietnam and the French Republic.

At the ceremony, Ambassador Nicolas Warnery honored the contributions of Madame Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, highly appreciated her vision, wisdom and compassion, business philosophy for the development of the community, and the future generation.

He extended his gratitude to the businesses led by Madame Thao such as Sovico, Vietjet, HDBank, etc. for always accompanying and cooperating with French businesses and the French people, especially during the period of Covid-19.

French Republic Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery presents the Legion of Honour to Madame Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao.

Achievements of the businesses led by female billionaire Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao in the fields of finance, aviation, real estate, and international trade are admired by international friends and contribute to the economic development in Vietnam as well as in the world.

On the Vietnamese side, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung attended the ceremony and delivered a speech: “Congratulations to Madame Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao for the noble award that the French government has presented today. The event today will be a highlight in the diplomatic, cultural and economic relationship between the two countries. In front of the international friends, Vietnam is proud of the good values of a strongly developed Vietnam that the business community in which Madame Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao is a typical female representative has joined hands to build”.

Madame Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao extended her thanks to the French government and people, French President Emmanuel Macron, the former French Ambassadors to Vietnam as well as Ambassador Nicolas Warnery. At the same time, the businesswoman also thanked everyone who has been supporting and cooperating closely with her personally as well as with her businesses such as Sovico, Vietjet, HDBank, etc. in the past time, bringing about great business results.

The Legion of Honour is the most recent award that female billionaire Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao has received. She is one of the few Vietnamese businesswomen who have received many domestic and international awards such as Asia’s Most Influential People for her philanthropy awarded by Tatler magazine, one of 100 Asian economic transformers voted by Business Insider Australia magazine, top 100 most powerful women in the world, most powerful female leaders in Asia, the Best Businesswoman Award in ASEAN, Asia-Pacific CEO of The Year 2019 voted by the world business community, etc. She was also included in a case study for teaching and research at Harvard University – USA.

Diplomats, heads of ministries and organizations and leaders of businesses take a group photo at the ceremony.

Sovico Group led by her has pioneered to become an official partner of the United Nations, together with member organizations such as UNESCO, UN-Habitat, UNIDO Vietnam and international bodies, etc. UN Resident Coordinator Kamal Malhotra once shared: “With this partnership, Sovico Group demonstrates its commitment to sustainable development in Vietnam as well as to the principles and values of the United Nations. We welcome them to become the pioneer group of Vietnam, and also to become a partner of the United Nations. We hope Sovico will be an inspiring example for other corporations and businesses in Vietnam to take practical actions to realize a sustainable future for Vietnam together”.

The Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam Michael Croft expressed his admiration to the President and CEO of Vietjet: “With the decision of achieving a strategic partnership between Sovico Group and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO, Madame Thao has clearly shown a preeminent vision beyond ordinary business thinking. She understands that the honest business philosophy and corporate responsibility are the foundation to go beyond financial strength. This is probably due to her in-depth understanding of the role of businesses in a large society and her kind heart alongside her overwhelming vision”.

Japanese companies increase presence in Vietnam’s retail market

By Hung Le

Hirai Shinji, chief representative of JETRO in HCMC, presents a Japanese product at the press conference announcing the seventh Japan Vietnam Festival – PHOTO: HUNG LE

HCMC – Japanese companies have increased their presence in Vietnam’s retail market instead of focusing on the manufacturing sector, according to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

Addressing a press conference on April 15 announcing the seventh Japan Vietnam Festival, Hirai Shinji, chief representative of JETRO in HCMC, said Vietnam remains an attractive destination for Japanese companies to invest in the manufacturing sector. However, Japanese companies are gradually shifting to non-manufacturing sectors, especially retail, to take advantage of a growing middle class in Vietnam and a population of nearly 100 million.

A report of JETRO several years ago showed that up to 40% of Japanese investors in Vietnam were active in the manufacturing sector. However, the figure has dropped to some 20% at present.

Japanese food manufacturer Meiji recently announced the establishment of its operations in Vietnam with charter capital of 200 million yen (US$1.8 million) to sell the Meiji-branded infant formula imported from Japan.

Sojitz Corporation and Vietnam Livestock Corporation, a subsidiary of Vietnam’s leading dairy producer Vinamilk, have reached an agreement to establish a new joint venture for the purpose of importing, processing and selling beef products in Vietnam.

Aeon opened its sixth shopping mall in Vietnam last December and fashion brand Uniqlo opened its seventh outlet in the country in March 2021.

Many other Japanese retailers such as household goods chain Muji, pharmacy chain Matsumoto Kiyoshi and fashion brand Miki House have opened their first outlets in HCMC and have plans to expand to other cities.

At the Japan Vietnam Festival organized in HCMC this weekend, Japanese retailers such as FamilyMart, Hachi Hachi, Kamereo, Akuruhi and Logitem will present a wide variety of Japanese products, from clothes and food to cosmetics from 50 Japanese producers. Many of the products will be introduced to Vietnamese consumers for the first time.

In terms of e-commerce, JETRO and Japanese companies have collaborated with large e-commerce platforms in Vietnam such as Shopee, Lazada and Tiki to enable Vietnamese consumers to access Japanese goods.

Japan’s exports of agriculture-forestry-aquaculture products and food to Vietnam in 2020 rose 17% compared with 2019, helping Vietnam become Japan’s fifth biggest importer of these products after Hong Kong, the United States, mainland China and Taiwan.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Japanese instant products such as ice cream, spices, natto (fermented soybean), vinegar and masks have become more familiar among Vietnamese consumers.

The seventh Japan Vietnam Festival will be held at September 23 Park in District 1, HCMC, from April 17 to 18, featuring hundreds of booths selling Japanese and Vietnamese products. Visitors will also enjoy music performances by famous artists from both countries such as girl band Elfin, boy band Amatoudanshi and singers Exile Atsushi, Dong Nhi, Ong Cao Thang and Minh Hang. Besides, there will be a Karate Show, a Bon Odori performance (Japanese traditional dance) and other cultural events.

HCMC meets requirement for loan disbursement extension for second metro line

The Saigon Times

Workers clear the site for the second metro line project in HCMC. The HCMC government has affirmed that it met the requirement to extend the loan disbursement deadline for the second metro line project in the city – PHOTO: TNO

HCMC – The HCMC government has written to the Ministry of Finance, affirming that it met the German Development Bank’s (KfW) requirement to extend the deadline to disburse a loan of 240.75 million euros (US$288 million) for the city’s second metro line project and adjust the time to pay off the loan.

According to the city, it signed two agreements with KfW on the loan in 2011, the local media reported.

In 2019, when the project’s completion deadline was adjusted, the city proposed the bank extend the deadline to disburse the loan to 2026 and that it would start paying the loan from 2027.

However, KfW said it could extend the loan disbursement deadline to the end of December 2024. It would continue extending the deadline in accordance with the reality and the project’s progress.

As for the requirement for the deadline extension, the Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) of HCMC must sign an appendix with the consulting firm of the project, Implementation Consultant (IC), or work out an alternative plan to ensure consultancy for the project.

MAUR has worked with IC on the appendix many times but IC asked the city to make payments for incomplete items and those ineligible for payment and the workload in signed appendices to continue its consultancy for the project.

According to the municipal government, it could not meet IC’s requirement as the requirement went against regulations on contract management. As a result, the two sides could not reach a consensus.

MAUR later held a meeting with other sponsors to replace IC.

The metro line project was designed to be 11.2 kilometers and pass through districts 1, 3, 10, 12, Tan Binh and Tan Phu. Its investment was estimated at VND47.8 trillion.

The project includes seven main packages from CP1 to CP7, of which the CP1 to build an office building and auxiliary items at the Tham Luong Depot has been completed, while tenders for the six others have yet to be held.

Work on the project was planned to start in 2022 and be completed in 2026.

Covid-19 vaccine provided by COVAX must be injected before mid-May

The Saigon Times

The first Covid-19 vaccine shipment provided by COVAX Facility arrived in Vietnam early this month. The vaccine must be injected before May 15 – PHOTO: VNA

HCMC – The Covid-19 vaccine shipment that was provided by COVAX Facility and arrived in Vietnam on April 1 will expire two months after it arrived in the country, so the vaccination must be completed before May 15, half a month before the vaccine is out of date.

At an online meeting with localities on the Covid-19 prevention and control on April 16, a representative of the Ministry of Health said Covid-19 vaccines have a shelf life of only six months, the local media reported.

Therefore, the vaccination has been accelerated so as not to waste the vaccine. Specifically, the Ministry of Health ordered the completion of the first phase this month. At present, residents have been injected with more than half of the doses.

The second phase has just kicked off. However, the vaccination remains slow as localities were cautious to ensure the safety of those receiving the vaccine.

According to the Medical Service Administration under the Ministry of Health, Vietnam has reported no cases of blood clots after being injected with the vaccine.

The supply of Covid-19 vaccines is insufficient all over the world, so the transport of vaccines to Vietnam was slower than expected and the volume of doses was smaller as well. As planned, two more batches of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine will arrive in Vietnam this month and next.

Dang Quang Tan, head of the Vietnam General Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health, said the world has an additional 600,000-700,000 new Covid-19 cases and 1,000-2,000 fatalities a day. The pandemic shows signs of emerging complicated again.

Therefore, the country should closely control border gate areas to prevent illegal entry.