Business

The mid-term Vietnam Business Forum themed “Agenda to Action – Preparing for New Trade Agreements” opens in Hanoi on June 5.

A senior U.S. official said that Washington wants to expand economic ties with Asia, the world's fastest growing region, but warned that China's provocative conduct in the South China Sea raises tensions that are bad for business.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved in principles to allow the Vietnam National Coal and Minerals Industries Group (Vinacomin) to sell all of its charter capital at Vinacomin Finance Company (CMF) to Vietnam Prosperity Bank (VPBank).

Japan will not suspend its official development assistance (ODA)-funded projects in Vietnam, a Vietnamese official has reported.

Developing close links between stakeholders involved in fruit production and consumption is one of the measures required to sustainably develop fruit production in the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta, a forum heard last week.

More than 100 representatives from governmental agencies, enterprises and organisations will attend the 2014 Vietnam-Singapore Business Forum (VSBF 2014), which is expected to promote economic cooperation between the two countries.

Electricity prices in islands have been reduced to the same level as those in the mainland as of June 1.

Many shops and agencies have slashed retail milk product prices by 10% to 21% in anticipation of new regulations taking effect from June 1.

More than $48 trillion must be invested by 2035 to meet global energy needs as current technologies go offline and demand rises in emerging nations, the International Energy Agency said in a report launched in London on Tuesday.

President Truong Tan Sang on June 2 hosted a reception for the visiting US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker who stated that the US is keen on boosting ties with Vietnam in all fields.

The governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Nguyen Van Binh, said that Vietnamese banks will disburse a total VND10 trillion in support of local fishermen.

The Vietnam Assets Management Company lans to purchase between VND70 trillion and VND100 trillion worth of non-performing loans this year.

Most foreign businesses operating in the southern region have voiced their belief in the investment environment in Vietnam and affirmed they will continue with their operations in the country.

The Vietnamese Government is willing to closely work with the World Bank (WB) to better the country’s investment climate and competitiveness.

Prime Minster Nguyen Tan Dung has called for combined efforts to defend the country’s sacred sovereignty but avoid affecting the implementation of socio-economic development targets.

Economists at the Vietnam Centre for Economic and Policy Research say that economic growth in 2014 is expected to be lower than last year and the economic recovery remains tepid.

The Noi Bai-Lao Cai highway will open in August, project officials have confirmed.

Vietnamese businesses should commit to lessening their reliance on imports from China, said National Assembly deputy Tran Xuan Hoa, Vietnam National Coal- Mineral Industries Group former Chairman.

The Hanoi People’s Procuracy on May 27 proposed imposing a 30-year jail charge on one of Vietnam’s top banking tycoons, Nguyen Duc Kien, for his role in a multi-million dollar scandal uncovered last year.