Vietnam pumps nearly 25 bln VND to upgrade central port

Wed, 05/18/2005 - 12:04

Three Vietnamese groups have pumped nearly 25 billion VND to upgrade the major Ky Ha port in central Quang Nam province in order for the port to receive larger ships by the end of June.
After construction is completed, larger ships with loading capacity of up to 10,000 tons can dock at Ky Ha port in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone.

Since the middle of this year, the Vietnam National Maritime Bureau has invested 3.5 billion VND to dredge the waterway leading to the port to 6.5 meters deep.

Vietnam signs deal for construction of first oil refinery

Wed, 05/18/2005 - 11:53


An international consortium led by French group Technip signed a 1.5 billion USD deal May 17 to build Vietnam's first oil refinery, the biggest ever investment in the country, AFP reported.

Officials from Technip, Japanese engineering giant JGC Corporation and Spain's Tecnicas Reunidas signed the deal with state-owned giant PetroVietnam in Hanoi.

The long-awaited deal is seen as crucial to giving Vietnam energy autonomy as, despite being a major crude producer, the nation has to import its refined products.

Fisheries sector to fund promotion

Wed, 05/18/2005 - 11:45

Workers process shrimps for export in the Nam Hai Food Ltd Company in the southern Can Tho Province’s Tra Noc Industrial Zone. The fisheries sector will inject roughly US$88,000 into a promotion campaign designed to increase its exports to the US and Japan. — VNA/VNS Photo Trang Duong
HA NOI — The Ministry of Fisheries is planning to spend VND1.4 billion (US$88,000) on promotional campaigns encouraging shrimp exports to Japan and the US, Viet Nam’s two biggest markets, in an attempt to address the disappointing export levels for the first months of this year.

Bank card issuance to double

Wed, 05/18/2005 - 10:03

HA NOI — The domestic bank card market may see a boom this year, following reports of high growth by commercial banks, who expect to double their card issuance by the end of the year.

The State-owned Vietcombank, currently the country’s largest issuer with 700,000 cards in circulation, estimated that card issuance would reach 1.2 million by the end of the year.

Vietnam textiles up for fierce challenges

Mon, 05/16/2005 - 12:20

Vietnam’s textile industry will face great challenges, instead of opportunities, when the U.S. re-imposes quotas on Chinese clothing imports, a move which the European Union will likely soon follow. 

The U.S. has announced it will re-impose quota restrictions on three categories of Chinese clothing imports, arguing that the Chinese goods are damaging the American textile industry.

7.3 million cell phone users expected by year end

Mon, 05/16/2005 - 12:15

The total number of cell phone subscribers in Vietnam will increase to 7.3 million by the end of 2005 and 21 million in 2008, according to a telecoms market researcher.

Currently, there are nearly 6 million cell phone subscribers in the country.

Market researcher BMI Group recently reported that Vietnam's mobile information market had been developing rapidly, recording a growth rate of 65 per cent in 2004.

Joint stock bank unveils new service

Mon, 05/16/2005 - 12:12

HCM CITY — The joint stock Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) announced on Wednesday that it will begin its US dollar/VN Dong option service by the end of this month.

The option is a market-risk hedging instrument. ACB will offer its customers the exclusive right to buy or sell a fixed sum of the convertible currency, paying in Viet Nam Dong within a specified time at a set price. The term will range from one week to six months.

It is one of the first two banks to get permission from the State Bank to offer the service, the other being the joint stock Techcombank.

Banking restructure aims to generate capital for key sectors

Mon, 05/16/2005 - 12:10

HA NOI — The Government will continue to restructure the banking system to encourage citizens to invest their savings and thereby satisfy the economy’s capital demands, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The Financial Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung said that increased revenue gained in this way will be invested in key sectors relating to fertiliser, gas and oil, and electricity.

The State Bank of Viet Nam said that credit growth this year is estimated at 22 per cent and 24 per cent, down from last year’s 25 per cent and 26 per cent.

Life insurance market outperforming expectations

Fri, 05/13/2005 - 15:48

Vietnamese and foreign insurers have announced impressive incomes early, revealing the potential in a young market.

Manulife Vietnam in 2002 announced its first profitable year to the tune of VND20bil, three years after setting up shop.

Prudential Vietnam, the second foreign-invested life insurance firm in the country, also reported profits for the first time in five years of operation, banking VND61bil.

Post-telecom clears the way for WTO

Fri, 05/13/2005 - 15:37

If Vietnam joins the WTO on schedule, the telecommunications industry will develop in a direction beneficial to both business and clients, said Post and Telematics Deputy Minister Mai Liem Truc.

However, experts believe there will be no boom in Internet services once the country realises its WTO itinerary.

Focus on investment and expansion

According to Mr Truc, foreign telecommunications groups that have invested in, or are planning to invest in Vietnam, are experienced partners.

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