Trade Ministry's new regulations on export rewards


Ha Noi, Jan. 16 (VNA) -- The Trade Ministry has issued new regulations on export rewards, to take effect on Jan. 17 this year.

Under the regulations, rewards will be given to a domestically-made product or category of goods which is exported for the first time with an export turnover of more than USD 100,000 a year. For mountainous and island provinces the figure is USD 50,000.

Vietnam and Russia hold talks on Cam Ranh hand over


On Jan. 11, FM Spokeswoman answered question from NHK: According to a statement by Russian Deputy Minister of Defence last year, Russia will start withdrawing its troops from Cam Ranh as from the beginning of this year, which is ahead of the expiry of the treaty between Vietnam and Russia. Please advise how are Vietnam and Russian cooperating in this matter?

Answer:

Vietnamese agriculturar products meet safety standards- FM said

On Jan. 11, FM Spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh answered question from Quan Doi Nhan Dan: Please comment on a story of the Orange County Register which asserts that "Vietnam uses pesticide in agricultural production which affects Vietnam's agricultural products:?

Answer:

Such remarks are groundless and of ill-intention.

IT Education Network "Edunet " is under way


Ha Noi, Jan. 13 (VNA) -- An education network, Edunet, will be built at an estimated cost of around USD 445 million under a project just developed by the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET).

The project titled "Developing Human Resources in Information Technology" aims to improve the quality of IT training in universities and schools.

Under the project, around 15,000 people will be trained in IT every year, including 20 Ph.D's and 200 Master's degrees.

External relations of Vietnam in the year of 2001

The following is Foreign Minister NGUYEN DY NIEN's speech on the world situation and external relations of Vietnam in 2001.

Vietnam welcomes interim government in Afghanistan


Ha Noi, Jan. 10 (VNA)-- On Jan. 9, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai extended a message of congratulations to Afghanistan's interim leader Hamid Karzai.

The PM said in his message that the establishment of the interim government in Afghanistan with Hamid Harzai as the leader was an important start of the process for peace, national reconciliation, and reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Construction of software park starts in Ho Chi Minh city


Ha Noi, Jan. 6 (VNA) -- Work on construction of the Software Industrial Park of Ho Chi Minh City National University started in the outlying district of Thu Duc on Saturday, Jan. 5.

The project's first phase is built at a cost of VND 61,467 billion (USD 4.1 million) from the State budget.

In the first quarter of this year, workers will complete the installation of more than 22 km of the fibre-optic cable line linking the park and colleges of the city's university, and equipment and telecom network for the starting and nursing houses.

Vietnamese breeders and traders set up Catfish Club


Hanoi, Jan.7 (VNA) -- Local catfish breeders and exporters decided to set up a club of their own at a conference held in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on Jan. 5.

The conference on catfish breeding and exports was organized by the Ministry of Fisheries.

Participants at the conference said the club would help co-ordinate production and trading and protect their legitimate rights.

Major reforms to maintain foreign investment


Not complacent with a five-year high in foreign investment last year, the Vietnamese government has pledged a series of reforms, including a further cut in costs for foreign investors.

The plan was unveiled by Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Xuan Gia in an interview with Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon)on the special New Year edition.

Vietnam's GDP growth rate of 6.8 percent in 2001


Ha Noi, Dec. 31 (VNA) -- Viet Nam got a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.8 percent in 2001, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

This year's GDP growth rate was 0.1 percent higher than that of 2000 and has been a record figure since 1998.

However, the rate was lower than the yearly planned target of 7.5 percent.

The industry and construction sectors contributed a growth rate of 3.7 percent while the service sector, 2.5 percent and the agro-fisheries sector, 0.6 percent.

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