Temporary customs regulation on goods declaration procedure


Ha Noi, Jan. 9 (VNA) -- The General Department of Customs has issued a temporary regulation guiding importers and exporters to register a single declaration form of goods when going through customs procedure.

Under Decision No. 01/2001 QD-TCHQ issued on Jan. 3, 2001, subject to this new procedure are goods free or exempt from import and export duties, and goods with zero-percent duty rate.

The regulation takes effect 15 days after its signing and will be terminated when the Government changes policies on import-export management and taxes.--VNA

Vietnam and US agree to share Flood Forecast technology



Jan. 9 A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on technical cooperation in meteorology and hydrology between Viet Nam and the U.S. was signed in Washington on Jan. 9.

Signatories were Director General of the Hydro-Meteorological Service of Viet Nam Dr. Nguyen Cong Thanh and Director of the National Weather Service under the U.S. Department of Commerce John Kelly.

National Daily welcomes Indian Prime Minister visit to Vietnam




Ha Noi, Jan. 8 (VNA) -- The national daily Nhan Dan has welcomed Indian Prime Minister A. B Vajpayee's official visit to Viet Nam, which starts today at the invitation of Viet Nam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

In its editorial of Jan. 8, the newspaper says: "Indian PM Vajpayee's visit and the cooperative documents to be signed while he is here will create new chances for both countries to both expand and make their bilateral cooperation more efficient, especially in trade, investment, science and technology so as to match their potential."

Pharmaceutical sector in Vietnam



Ha Noi, Jan. 7 (VNA) -- Viet Nam will invest more than USD 1,483 million to develop its pharmaceutical sector between 2001 and 2010.

Of this, USD 1,286 million will go to the pharmaceutical industry and USD 62.4 million will be used for pharmaceutical materials.

Mekong Delta proves its fertility




Ha Noi, Jan. 7 (VNA) -- The Mekong river delta is providing more than half of Viet Nam's total rice crop, helping ensure food security and increase rice exports.

The delta has earned more than USD 1 billion from exporting about 4.5 million tonnes of rice, or 2.1 times more than 1995, in the past four years, the agricultural ministry reports.

Vietnam increases investment in population program




Ha Noi, Jan. 6 (VNA) -- Viet Nam plans to invest VND 250 billion, USD 17.9 million, in its 2001 population programme, VND 25 billion more than the previous year in a bid to cut the birth rate by 0.05 percent.

The money will be used to disseminate information about population in the provinces where the birth rate is still high the northern mountainous provinces, the Central Highlands, central coastal provinces and poor and isolated areas.

Traing job center for street children




Ha Noi, Jan. 6 (VNA) -- The Ha Noi Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA) has submitted a plan for the building of a vocational-training centre to provide vocational training and create jobs for between 300 and 350 street children to the Municipal People's Committee.

Construction of the centre, at an estimated cost of VND 4.9 billion, is expected to start this year.

The centre will teach the children rattan weaving, tailoring, carpentry, embroidery and animal husbandry.

Turnover of Garment and textile industry



Ha Noi, Jan. 5 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's garment and textile industry plans to earn USD 2.3 billion from export products in 2001.

The industry has registered an average annual growth rate of more than 10 percent in recent years. It posted an export value of USD 1.87 million in 2000, an increase of 6 percent over 1999.

Currently, the industry is focusing its efforts on overcoming difficulties and challenges to integrate into the regional and international economies.

ADB helps Vietnam to rehabilitate disaster damaged infrastructure



Ha Noi, Jan. 8 (VNA) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved aid worth USD 58.5 million to help Viet Nam rehabilitate their disaster-damaged infrastructure in the Mekong delta and the northern central region.

The amount is part of a USD 73.5 million project for restoring schools, medical stations, roads and bridges in the regions. The Vietnamese Government will supply the remainder.

Fisheries sector in Vietnam


Ha Noi, Jan. 5 (VNA) -- The fisheries sector plans to earn USD 1.6 billion from exports in 2001.

The Fisheries Ministry held a conference in Ha Noi on Jan. 5 to review the implementation of its target set for the year 2000 and discuss measures to conduct its socio-economic development plan in 2001.

Participants in the conference pointed to the outstanding issues in 2000, including low efficiency of offshore fishing, credit payment, marketing, processing and services, and discussed measures to obtain the target set for 2001.

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