Sofware industrial park to be operate


Jan. 1 (VNA) -- Ho Chi Minh City's Quang Trung Software Industrial Park will be officially put into operation in the first quarter of this year, says its Deputy Director Chu Tien Dzung.

The 39.2-ha park, the largest of its kind in southern Viet Nam, will include software production and services, high-level research, personnel training and human resource supply, entertainment and services. In particular, there will be an international standard telecommunication transmission line at the park.

A landmark in Vietnam's education

Edition:

Vietnam today declares to the world that the country has reached national standard on elimination of illiteracy and universalisation of primary education. This constitutes an important event in Vietnam

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai visits national fine art exhibition



Ha Noi, Dec. 31 (VNA) -- Prime Minister Phan Van Khai visited the National Fine Arts Exhibition 2000 at the Giang Vo Exhibition Centre in Ha Noi today, Dec. 31.

PM Khai praised the exhibition's variety of materials and themes reflecting the Vietnamese nature, land and people.

The exhibition, held once every five years, is the last one of the century. It displays 835 works by 697 painters and sculptors, the biggest ever amount. Eleven painters over 80 years old have their works shown at the exhibition.

30,000 workers




Ha Noi, Dec. 31 (VNA) -- Viet Nam sent about 30,000 citizens to work abroad in 2000 as planned, according to the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

Seventy percent of them were professional workers.

Taiwan, the Republic of Korea, Laos and Japan are major markets for Viet Nam's labour exports.

The amount of foreign currency sent to the country by Vietnamese guest workers reached USD 1.25 billion this year.

Vietnam's Tourism in 2000 narows gap with countries in region




Ha Noi, Dec. 31 (VNA) -- The number of foreign arrivals in Viet Nam almost caught up with the Philippines and leaped to one-quarter of Thailand's figures this year, up from just one-tenth and one-40th, in the last decade.

The figures are included in an article written by Viet Nam Tourism Administration (VTA) Director General Vo Thi Thang for the national daily Nhan Dan.

The VTA welcomed the 2 millionth foreign tourist on Dec. 8, marking a huge leap from the 1 million the service received in 1994.

FDI in industries still slow



Ha Noi, Dec. 30 (VNA) -- The attraction of foreign investment is still slow, particularly for industry, despite Government efforts to improve the investment environment, reports the Industry Ministry.

A total of 196 industrial projects with total registered capital of USD 491 million have been licensed so far this year - 73 percent of all projects and 77.6 percent of total registered capital.

FDI in agricultural sector in 2000


Ha Noi, Dec. 30 (VNA) -- The agriculture sector licensed 73 foreign-invested projects capitalised at nearly USD 1,437 million in 2000, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reports.

Fifty-seven projects were granted loans worth USD 1,000 million and non-refundable aid worth USD 208 million for continued operation. The remaining 16 projects, worth USD 227 million, were signed in 2000 with USD 192 million of non-refundable aid.

Universalization of secondary education in 2010



Ha Noi, Dec. 29 (VNA) -- Vice State President Nguyen Thi Binh launched a campaign for the universalization of junior secondary education drive in Ha Noi on Dec. 28.

The Vice President asked the educational sector to renovate general education programme to ensure that by 2010 almost all of Viet Nam's people would finish junior secondary school before the age of 18.

The goal is based on previous achievements by the educational sector.

Domestic violence against women arouses public concern





Ha Noi, Dec. 29 (VNA)-- How to reduce the current widespread of domestic violence against women and girls and ensure gender equality and development and peace in the new century was the goal of a seminar held in Ha Noi on Dec. 28.

Job promotion in cooperative economic sector




Ha Noi, Dec. 29 (VNA) -- The National Fund for Job Promotion has since 1993 granted VND 166,899 billion to 1,543 job creation projects, providing jobs for more than 45,000 people.

The Viet Nam Cooperatives' Alliance (VCA) has been assigned by the State to manage loans granted by the National Fund for Job Promotion to the cooperative economic sector, and small-and medium-scale enterprises.

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