What activation energy is required

According to an update on Global M&A Industry Trend conducted by PwC, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and healthcare services continue to attract high levels of investor interest, and this trend will continue through the rest of the year. Ngo Thanh Hai and Nguyen Dieu Quynh from LNT & Partners There are three main reasons that M&As in pharmaceuticals could still be the future trend in Vietnam. Firstly, in the face of growing demand and rapid technological innovation, pharmaceutical companies must continuously improve and develop their research and development departments before their patents expire. Therefore, they will be ambitious to acquire smaller companies with existing conditions. Secondly, to expand the business in Vietnam, the investors will need to consider opening a manufacturing plant or acquiring a current plant from domestic companies. Under World Trade Organization commitments, foreign investors can import but cannot distribute drugs to the … [Read more...] about Are M&As still a top trend in the pharma market?

After Vietnam's tax authorities enhanced the collection of taxes from traders on digital platforms, including social networks and e-commerce sites, many traders are seeking ways to avoid paying them or pass the buck to buyers. Shopping on websites, e-commerce platforms, and social networks is a national trend. E-commerce has boomed in Vietnam with revenue of some US$13.7 billion in 2021. The figure is forecast to reach $39 billion by 2025. However, the tax revenue from this sector has not risen commensurately its growth. Multiple tricks to avoid taxes Minh Thu, living in Thu Duc City, a district-level city in Ho Chi Minh City, said after ordering a pair of shoes from an online trader on Facebook, she was surprised as the trader announced that from August 1, customers must make payments in advance and the trader will not offer the cash-on-delivery (COD) service as earlier. Money transfer descriptions must not include the words 'buy' or 'sell,' but Facebook or Zalo … [Read more...] about In Vietnam, online vendors seek ways to avoid taxes

As BNPL allows consumers to spread the cost over multiple instalments and attracts those who cannot, or would not, purchase goods or services by paying the price in full, these conditions create the ideal opportunity for BNPL service providers. Bui Ngoc Hong-Partner, LNT & Partners Despite the opportunity, the BNPL landscape in Vietnam remains slow-moving. This is partly due to the fact that Vietnam does not have a clear legal framework regulating the method. Even the sandbox scheme for fintech activities still remains in the legislative pipeline. In addition, even if a BNPL platform owner cooperates with traditional bank lenders, the parties need to deal with a significant gap between the strict regulatory web the traditional lenders are subject to, and the fintech providers’ need to “move fast and break things”. For those reasons, BNPL ventures find it hard to enter the Vietnamese market, unless they are equipped with suitable investment structures. In BNPL … [Read more...] about Clearing the way to legal support for BNPL services

Digitalization is seen as a major instrument for Vietnam to promote an independent and self-reliant economy. Businesses and people should be the main beneficiaries and the driving force for the national digital transformation, so the Government encourages them to take an active part in this process. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the meeting. Source: VGP Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the goal during a meeting of the National Committee on Digitalization today [August 8]. According to Chinh, efforts from Government agencies and localities have been translated into strong progress in Vietnam’s digitalization and contributed to the socio-economic recovery. The prime minister, however, pointed to the incompleted legal environment as the reason hampering the digitalization process, while a lack of investment in digital infrastructure, including the mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds behind the world average, means it has failed to create … [Read more...] about People and businesses urged to take part in the digitalization: PM

Inside a clean clam processing line of Lenger Seafoods Vietnam. The company exports products to markets in the EU, the UK, Japan, the US, and South Korea. — Photo courtesy of Lenger Seafoods Vietnam To provide a more favourable playground for enterprises to strengthen and access international markets, Viet Nam is on a path to boost institutional improvement. And it is believed that the United Kingdom-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) is accelerating the process, said experts. As Viet Nam has signed many new free trade agreements (FTAs) with countries or regions that require more stringent standards not only on quality but also on production processes, it is crucial for local enterprises to quickly adapt to new rules. Therefore, the Government has to make changes to relevant policies to support them. The reform is building a favourable business environment, reducing transaction expenses for enterprises, especially small and medium enterprises, and attracting quality … [Read more...] about UKVFTA to accelerate Viet Nam’s institutional reform

The Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control also held a meeting to deploy solutions to respond to a tropical depression that is likely to intensify into a storm on August 9 in Hanoi. According to Quick Report No.274 of the Commanding Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue and Border Guard, by 7 a.m. on August 9, the coast guard had guided 52,108 vessels with 229,262 people to actively move to avoid the tropical depression. Specifically, there were 298 ships with 2,137 people in the North East Sea area, including the Hoang Sa archipelago, 7,927 ships, with 38,979 people in other areas, and 43,883 ships anchored at wharves with 188,146 people. There are still 18 vessels with 113 people in the danger zones, including Da Nang, with 17 ships and 105 people, and Binh Dinh, with one ship and eight people. According to the report of Quang Binh Province, the ship QB 98084 TS with four fishermen … [Read more...] about Localities urgently prepare to respond to strengthening tropical depression