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Hanoi (VNA) – As much as 5.46 billion USD worth of foreign direct investment (FDI) was injected into Vietnam as of February 20, equivalent to 84.4 percent of the figure recorded in the same time last year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment .

As many as 126 foreign projects were granted investment licences with total registered capital of 3.31 billion USD, a year-on-year fall of 33.9 percent.

Meanwhile, 115 existing projects adjusted their investment capital with a total additional sum of 1.61 billion USD, or 2.5 times higher than the same time last year.

Capital contributions and shares purchases by foreign investors stood at 543.1 million USD, down 34.4 percent.

Foreign investors pumped capital in 17 sectors, with processing and manufacturing holding the lead with over 3 billion USD or 55.7 percent, followed by power production and distribution with 1.44 billion USD (26.5 percent), real estate 485 million USD, and science-technology nearly 153 million USD.

Japan topped the list of 46 countries and territories landing investment in Vietnam , with 1.64 billion USD, equivalent to nearly 30 percent of the total. Singapore came second with 1.07 billion USD (19.6 percent), and the Republic of Korea third with 1.05 billion USD (19.3 percent).

The ministry said the southern province of Can Tho lured the lion’s share of FDI with 1.31 billion USD, accounting for 24.2 percent of the total. Hai Phong city was the runner-up since it attracted nearly 918 million USD, or 16.8 percent. Bac Giang came third with nearly 573 million USD (10.5 percent).

So far this year, the foreign-invested sector has earned 38.07 billion USD from exports, up 34 percent year-on-year, and making up 76.1 percent of the nation’s total export turnover. At the same time, it spent 31.6 billion USD on imports, up 31.2 percent year-on-year, and accounting for 66.6 percent of the country’s total import value. That resulted in a trade surplus of nearly 6.5 billion USD./.

VNA

Thereby prices of E5 RON 92 and RON 95 petrol do not exceed VND17,031 and VND18,084 per liter; while prices of diesel 0.05S and kerosene are now no more than VND13,843 and VND12,610 per liter. Mazut 180CST 3.5S is now sold at no more than VND13,127 per kilogram.

According to the Ministries of Finance and Industry and Trade, the complicated situation of Covid-19 pandemic in the country has affected production, trade and people’s everyday life. Relevant and functional departments together with authorities of localities have discussed solutions to solve difficulties in transportation and consumption of goods, especially agricultural products.

In order to limit the increase of petrol price, the two ministries have spent much of the Price Stabilization Fund for different fuel types from VND603 to VND1,729 a liter from February 10 to present; VND1,034-VND4,179 between January 11 and now.

The usage of the fund is planned to increase from VND800-VND2,000 a liter in the upcoming days. Specifically, the spending level of the fund will increase to VND2,000 a liter of E5RON 92 , VND1,150 a liter of RON95, VND850 a liter of diesel, VND900 a liter of kerosene and VND800 a kilogram of mazut.

The Hanoitimes – It is important to avoid stagnation during the transportation process of input materials for production and of agricultural products in Covid-19-hit-areas, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has said.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung instructed local authorities to soon clear the hurdles for the smooth distribution and sale of farm produce affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

People in Danang are buying farm produce from Hai Duong province. Photo: Quang Hai.

Over the past few days, the fact that Hai Duong province became a pandemic hotspot has caused difficulties for traders to ship agricultural products out of the province, due to strict anti-Covid-19 measures imposed by neighboring localities.

Under this context, Deputy PM Dung requested related government agencies and provinces/cities, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, to create favorable conditions for the movement of goods for timely exports and distribution.

“This is particularly important for input materials for production and agricultural products in Covid-19-hit-areas,” said Dung, adding it is important to avoid stagnation during the transportation process and  disruption to economic activities.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is tasked with promoting and expanding consumption markets for Vietnamese goods and products  both at home and abroad.

A report from Hai Duong Department of Industry and Trade revealed over 90,000 tons of agricultural products are facing sales stagnation.

“If not properly resolved, the issue could impact the supply chains and cause disruption to economic activities of multiple provinces/cities,” said Pham Thanh Hai, director of Hai Duong Department of Industry and Trade.

According to the MoIT, the main reason is that drivers from high risk areas are required to have Covid-19 negative testing result certificate, but health facilities currently only carry out such tests for people under quarantine, and not open for on-demand.

“Certain provinces do not accept testing results from private health facilities,” stated the MoIT, referring to the fact that the Hai Duong Center for Disease Control (CDC) was designated by Hai Phong’s authorities as the only qualified center for Covid-19 testing.

The MoIT also raised concern from the lack of a uniform safety procedure during the production and distribution of agricultural products from Covid-19 zones to other localities, leading to  conflicting measures from cities and provinces.

VNA

Hanoi (VNA) – Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong has extended a message of congratulations to Japanese Emperor Naruhito on his 61st birthday on February 23.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also sent a congratulatory message to his Japanese counterpart Suga Yoshihide.

On the occasion, Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh congratulated Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu.

Naruhito became the 126th Emperor of Japan on May 1, 2019, starting the new imperial era of Reiwa.

After Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic ties on September 21, 1973, the bilateral relationship has experienced rapid development over the past years.

Japan has been a leading important economic partner of Vietnam, becoming the largest official development assistance (ODA) provider, second biggest investor, third largest tourism partner and fourth largest trade partner of the Southeast Asian country./.

VNA