Gas pipeline contract for lot 06.1 signed



Ha Noi, Feb. 14 (VNA) -- A contract for the installation of a gas pipeline from Lot 06.1 at the Lan Tay-Lan Do field of the Nam Con Son basin to the mainland has been signed between the Viet Nam Oil and Gas Corporation (PetroVietnam), its foreign partners - BP Exploration of the UK, Statoil of Norway, and ONGC Videsh Ltd. of India - and BP Pipelines Vietnam B.V. and Statoil Vietnam A.S.

Ten fishing ports upgraded




Ha Noi, Feb. 14 (VNA) -- A project on upgrade of 10 fishing ports across the country will be completed this year, says the Ministry of Fisheries (MoF).

Of the project's total investment capital of USD 71.4 million, more than USD 35.4 million was spent on port construction and nearly USD 1.7 million, management of natural resources and environmental protection.

Number of disciplined in Party declined but are more serious



Ha Noi, Feb. 14 (VNA) -- The Inspection Commission of the Party Central Committee has warned against violating the Party's rules and disciplines in recent years and emphasised the need to increase the inspection of Party organisations at all levels in the coming years.

Construction company Vinaconex looks for the US market




Ha Noi, Feb. 13 (VNA) -- Buoyed by completing 61 percent of its yearly construction target in just two months, the VINACONEX Corporation is preparing for the United States market by investing VND 408.653 billion to upgrade equipment.

The corporation, judged the country's trendsetter by the Construction Ministry, is building a 100,000 tonne-a-year clinker mill and a 1.5 million cu.m. a year roofing plant. Its Director General Phi Thai Binh says both are expected to begin working in a few months.

Development Support Fund invests in economy




Ha Noi, Feb. 13 (VNA) -- Prime Minister Phan Van Khai urged the Development Support Fund, SDF, pump its capital into bolstering Viet Nam's most competitive industries at conference held in Ha Noi Feb. 13.

"The fund should foster and encourage the development of competitive Vietnamese-made products, and focus on sectors that can boost employment," Khai said.

The Prime Minister asked the fund to study and classify the country's development programmes, and apply reasonable interest rates in a bid to boost socio-economic development.

2,000 billion VND for mountain area development




Ha Noi, Feb. 13 (VNA) -- The Government has spent about VND 1,900 billion (USD 129 million) for socio-economic development in remote mountain communes during the past two years, reports the Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas.

It says each commune received VND 700 million a year through various programmes, including Programme 135.

Vietnam pumps 100 millionth tonne of oil



Vietnam oil and gas industry pumps 100 millionth tonne of crude oil today, February 13.

The achievement is just in time to welcome the upcoming Ninth Party Congress. The event also marks the growth of Vietnam oil and gas industry and reaffirms the position of the industry in the region and in the world.

Life for minority people has improved with socio-economic growth



Feb. 12 (VNA) -- Life for the minority people of Central Highlands Dac Lac province has much improved during the past decade as a result of its remarkable achievements in every sector, but especially in the economic, social, educational and cultural areas.

Official statistics show that Dac Lac's Gross Domestic Product, GDP, growth last year was 1.9 percent above 1995 and three times more than 1990.

Luang Prabang - Dien Bien Phu airlink opened




Ha Noi, Feb. 10 (VNA) -- An air route linking Luang Prabang, Laos, with Dien Bien Phu, Viet Nam, began with the arrival of a Lao aircraft carrying 30 passengers on Feb. 10.
It will be followed by three flights from Luang Prang to Dien Bien Phu and return every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Dien Bien Phu airport was upgraded and equipped with new facilities in preparation for international flights at a cost of about VND 4 billion and expansion of and the upgrading Dien Bien Phu terminal is to finish on Feb. 25.--VNA


Singaporean President wraps up visit to Vietnam



Ha Noi, Feb. 11 (VNA) -- Singapore's President S.R. Nathan and his wife and entourage left Ho Chi Minh City today, Feb. 11, concluding a five-day official friendship visit to Viet Nam.

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