Business

Currently, Vietnam’s interest rates on loans are still highest in the region despite strenuous efforts by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to adjust them since mid-2012.

The country’s first international rubber and tyre industry exhibition opened on April 12 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7.

Some 158,200 taels of gold bullion (roughly six tonnes) were sold in six auctions held by the State Bank of Vietnam.

Despite the real estate slump, land and housing around Hanoi’s West Lake is still highly priced and attractive to better-off people.

Nearly VND24,000 billion will be allocated to the areas of the Central Highlands region’s strength such as coffee processing, rubber, eco-tourism and modern industry.

Businesses need to capitalise on free trade agreements to expand markets, boost exports and balance trade, experts said at a forum in Hanoi on April 11.

The latest slight fuel price adjustments did not receive a warm welcome by consumers.

The PM has signed a decree to stipulate a minimum capital of VND300 billion to set up a new airline.

Experts are worried that infant-formula companies are contributing to the sharp decline in the rate of breastfeeding.

The Wallonine-Bruxelles region has approved 28 non-refundable ODA projects capitalised at US$4.5 million for Vietnam in the 2013-2015 period.

Global economic activity is picking up, especially in the United States and Japan, though it appears to be weakening in India, the OECD has said.

Experts have said that Vietnam should ease regulations on foreign individuals and organisations on owning property.

Vietnam Journalists Association deputy chairman Ha Minh Hue shines light on why he is advocating for a lower corporate income tax on media organisations, to 10 per cent as applied to cultural field activities, to support the financially struggling press.

The Ministry of Construction has issued a draft decree on the levels of fines for unlicensed construction work.

Carnival, the world's largest cruise group, unveiled its Asian expansion plans on Tuesday, predicting the regional market for leisure voyages will grow dramatically within the decade.

Bad debt in the banking system has been estimated to be at VND120 trillion as of Dec. 31, 2012, and continues to rise.

The Asian Development Bank said the region's emerging economies would pick up this year but warned that the recovery remained fragile because of the eurozone crisis and tensions in Asia.

French automaker Peugeot has announced that it was returning to Vietnam with the creation of a distribution network and local production of its 408 model.

Tourism companies along the Serepok River have complained about the lack of co-operation from local hydropower plants.