Crude oil output 16 million tonnes may decline quickly

Mon, 03/19/2001 - 20:47



Ha Noi, Mar. 19 (VNA) -- Experts forecast that Viet Nam's yearly crude output is likely to reach 16 million tonnes between now and 2005, but will decline quickly unless new oil fields are found.

But discoveries of new major oil reserves such as Southern Vietnam's Bach Ho, the White Tiger, field are thought not much likely. Instead, any new reserves are likely to be small.

Village in Central Highlands cures leprosy

Mon, 03/19/2001 - 20:45



Ha Noi, March 19 (VNA) -- Dac Kia - a major treatment centre for leprosy in Viet Nam's Central Highlands - has helped many sufferers from the disease to a new life.

It not only cures its patients but also helps the 111 families in its surrounds undertake economic activities to improve their living conditions.

It was a difficult task because all the villagers were poorly-educated minority people with 124 of 190 disabled.

Care for vulnerable people

Mon, 03/19/2001 - 20:43



Ha Noi, March 19 (VNA) --

* VND 10 Billion to Help the Blind

The Viet Nam Assocation for the Blind plans to provide loans worth VND 10 billion, almost USD 700,000, to its members to start their own businesses.

The money will also help the association publish 1,000 sets of books and six newspapers in Braille and open five rehabilitation classes for another 2,000 blind people.

The association, which has 31,730 members, reports that the rate of poor blind fell by 11.74 percent last year.

Vietnam contributes effectively to Francophonie

Mon, 03/19/2001 - 20:40





Ha Noi, March 19 (VNA) -- Viet Nam has been judged by senior Francophone officials as making "important" and "special" contributions to the Francophone community's development.

This has included preserving the diversity of cultures and languages within the community while expanding the use of French among the young.

All hospitals use traditional medicines

Sun, 03/18/2001 - 19:47



Ha Noi, March 18 (VNA) -- The Health Ministry is to allocate between 10 and 15 percent of its budget to develop traditional medicines and expand their use in all provincial hospitals within this year.

In all, 76 percent of Viet Nam's provincial hospitals use traditional medicines but just 0.5 to 1.5 percent of the Health Ministry's budget is alloted to them.

ASEAN deputy FM meet in Ho Chi Minh city

Sat, 03/17/2001 - 00:07




March 16 (VNA) -- Deputy Foreign Minister Le Cong Phung joined Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Secretary General Rodolfo C. Severino and 10 ASEAN-member delegations at the ASEAN deputy-ministerial meeting that opened in Ho Chi Minh City on March 15.

Participants reviewed ASEAN activities, discussed international and regional issues and principles for conduct in the East Sea.

The meeting is to prepare for the seventh ASEAN Summit, the 34th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum.--VNA

VN-China fishing accord in Bac Bo Gulf

Sat, 03/17/2001 - 00:05



Ha Noi, Mar. 16 (VNA) -- The signing of the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf fishing cooperation agreement between Viet Nam and China last December has opened the way for comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

* Overlapping Fishing Areas

Machine made in Vietnam export to US, Japan and France

Sat, 03/17/2001 - 00:03



Ha Noi, March 16 (VNA) -- Mechanical Engineering Company A74, a subsidiary of the Industrial Machinery and Equipment Corporation, has won contracts worth USD 1 million to export its products to the U.S., Japan and France.

The company will export mechanical tools to the U.S., forklift trucks to Japan and sewing machines to France.
The contract with the U.S. is of 10 years. It provides for an import tax rate of 34 percent against 5 percent levied on machines of the same kind made by other countries.--VNA

Irrigation projects to boost development in Kon Tum

Thu, 03/15/2001 - 21:56



Ha Noi, March 15 (VNA) -- Irrigation has really become a key factor in socio-economic development in Kon Tum central highland province since the province was liberated on March 17, 1975.

The province has increased its irrigation projects from only two before liberation to 45 at present. As a result, almost 4,000 ha of winter-spring rice and 11,410 ha of autumn rice crops and dozens of thousands of hectares of industrial crops are irrigated.

List of projects needing foreign direct investment

Thu, 03/15/2001 - 21:53





Ha Noi, March 15 (VNA) -- A list of 104 projects needing foreign direct investment was announced by the Planning and Investment Ministry at a seminar in Singapore today, March 15.

The seminar entitled "Towards Success" was co-organized by the Vietnamese and Singaporean Governments.

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