New U.S. customs ruling threatens Vietnam shrimp industry

Fri, 05/13/2005 - 14:53

Vietnam’s shrimp producers and farmers are likely to face bankruptcy as shrimp exports to the American market, as well as shrimp prices, are dropping substantially following a new U.S. customs requirement over bonds.

Since March this year, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has told American importers of shrimp subject to anti-dumping duties to pay a much larger bond than ever.

CBP determines the amount of bond by multiplying the anti-dumping tax rate by an importer’s value of shrimp imports subject to penalty duties during the previous year.

Vietnam’s software industry targeting at US$1 billion in 2010

Thu, 05/12/2005 - 12:08

After the failure of the goal of US$500 million in the year 2005, the software industry of Vietnam set another aim for itself. That is to reach a revenue of US$1 billion in the year of 2010. Coming together with this target is the program draft for development of Vietnam’s software industry in the phase from 2006 to 2010 compiled by the Ministry of Post and Telecoms. As one more time mentioned in the draft, human resource is seen as the key factor for success of the program.

New tax guidelines may boost listing companies

Thu, 05/12/2005 - 11:40

HA NOI — With new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on taxes applied for those listing on the Ha Noi stock exchange, officials hoped they will encourage more firms to file for listing on the stock market.

Under the new rules released in late April, firms will enjoy an exemption on corporate income tax in the first year of listing and another 50 per cent cut for the next two years.

Tran Van Dung, director of the Ha Noi Securities Trading Centre, said after the regulations were issued, many firms have sped up registration for listing.

Survey finds local enterprises growing but problems remain

Thu, 05/12/2005 - 11:37

 HA NOI — A three-year survey released yesterday found businesses operating in Viet Nam have, on the whole, demonstrated considerable growth.

The results were publicised in the capital during a meeting hosted by the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The survey followed State-owned enterprises (SOEs), non-State firms and foreign-invested companies, from 2002 to 2004 and was conducted by the GSO and World Bank.

VN agrees to protect intellectual property

Thu, 05/05/2005 - 14:40

On April 6, 2005, Viet Nam officially acceded to the Geneva Convention for the protection of producers of phonograms against unauthorized duplication. Viet Nam will be responsible for enforcing the provisions of the convention as of July 6, 2005.

Vietnam businesses paying better to keep key employees

Thu, 05/05/2005 - 14:36

Businesses in Vietnam are paying much more attractive salaries in a bid to attract qualified employees and keep key staff amid fierce competition for the business brain.
The major weapon companies in Vietnam use to prevent losing key employees and recruit new people is high salaries, said headhunting companies.

Currently, a foreign-invested company in the country is willing to pay about VND20.2 million, or nearly US$1,300, a month for an executive director, according to research by international investment bank Dragon Capital.

Vietnam hopeful to conclude WTO talks with more partners

Thu, 05/05/2005 - 14:32

Vietnam on Thursday said bilateral talks over the country’s bid to join the World Trade Organization last month yielded high hopes of concluding negotiations with six more partners within some more rounds.

From April 6 to 16, Vietnamese negotiators worked with their counterparts from Uruguay, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Turkey over the opening up of Vietnam’s goods and services market.

Oil giant courts Talisman

Wed, 04/20/2005 - 15:58

The state oil and gas firm PetroVietnam expects to sign a contract this month with Talisman, Canada’s largest independent oil and gas company, to explore oil and gas in block 15-2/01 in Cuu Long basin, off the southern coast of Vietnam.

In his report to Prime Minister Phan Van Khai last week, PetroVietnam’s president Tran Ngoc Canh said the deal would most likely be signed by the end of this month.

Four months ago, the prime minister approved the bidding results, which allowed PetroVietnam to go ahead with negotiations with Talisman.

Life insurance firm reports first profits

Wed, 04/20/2005 - 15:50

HA NOI — Prudential Viet Nam yesterday announced its first yearly profit of VND61 billion (US$3.9 million) gained last year after five years operating in Viet Nam’s life insurance market.

The Ministry of Finance statistics reported the company last year earned a turnover of VND3.1 trillion ($197.5 million), representing more than 41 per cent of the country’s total life insurance market share.

Vietnam, Japan to proceed with currency swap talks

Tue, 04/12/2005 - 23:17

Vietnamese Finance Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung and his Japanese counterpart Hirosi Watanabe.
Vietnam and Japan will speed up negotiations for a bilateral currency swap agreement worth some 1 billion USD to stabilize Vietnam’s currency market, said the finance ministers of both countries.
Vietnamese Finance Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung and his Japanese counterpart Hirosi Watanabe reached an agreement about the issue at a meeting on the sidelines of the 9th Conference of Finance Ministers of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (AFMN). The conference opened in Laos on April 6.

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