State to shed most insurance stakes




Vietnam News
- (10/10/2003)

The Government has drawn up a schedule to partially divest its stakes in insurance companies, except the Viet Nam Insurance Corporation, by 2010.

Under a Strategy for Development of the Insurance Market it announced last month, the Government will develop the giant corporation (Bao Viet) into a financial group straddling the insurance, securities and investment sectors.

A land of timeless images


By Bettina Wassener
Financial Times.com
Oct 03, 2003


The horrors and complexities of Vietnam never die. At least not in the movies. The Quiet American, released earlier this year, once again catapulted this elegant long, thin, watery strip of a country back onto the international movie screens, and thence into the consciousness of viewers on both sides of the Atlantic.

VN sustains highest regional growth



Ha Noi — Viet Nam’s GDP almost hit the Government’s growth target of 7.5 per cent this year, despite war in Iraq and the SARS outbreak.

The Asian Development Bank’s Outlook 2003 Update, released on Tuesday, stated the country’s gross domestic product grew by 6.9 per cent in the first half of this year, the highest in Southeast Asia.

Strong domestic demand, moderately expansionist monetary and fiscal policies and prudent economic management prompted the growth.

The report projected Viet Nam’s 2003-04 GDP to be about 7 per cent.

Education Ministry plans higher spending next year



HCM CITY — The Government will increase its budget for education next year to help fast-track this pivotal area in the nation’s development, says the Ministry of Education and Training.

The director of the ministry’s Finance and Planning department, Nguyen Van An, said the Government plans to spend VND25 trillion (US$1.6 billion), or 17.1 per cent of the State budget, for education development in 2004. That marks an increase of VND1 trillion or 0.7 per cent over last year.

Door open to top jobs for women



HA NOI — Many businesswomen in Viet Nam have top positions in trade and production companies, thanks to government support, says Ha Thi Khiet, president of the Viet Nam Women’s Union.

Some 30 per cent of leadership positions in 90,000 enterprises are held by women, she said.

Industries such as garment and textiles, footwear, food and drink processing and hotel services employ a large percentage of women, said Khiet, who spoke in Ha Noi on Wednesday at a meeting of 179 of the country’s most talented businesswomen.

Việt Nam dẫn đầu Đông - Nam Á về tăng trưởng kinh tế

Nhandan.org.vn, cập nhật 18 giờ - 03-10-2003


Bản đánh giá về “triển vọng phát triển Đông - Nam Á” vừa được Ngân hàng Phát triển châu Á (ADB) công bố ngày 30-9 đã xếp Việt Nam là nước dẫn đầu về tăng trưởng kinh tế trong khu vực. Nhân sự kiện này, ông Ramesh Adhikari - Chuyên viên cao cấp của ADB đã có những đánh giá đối với thành tựu mà Việt Nam đã đạt được.

Hỏi: Xin ông cho biết những cơ sở để ADB đánh giá về tình hình phát triển Đông - Nam Á, trong đó có Việt Nam?

National programme boosts remote area infrastructure



HA NOI — More than VND4,632 billion (US$299 million) has been spent on infrastructure projects in remote poor regions over the past four years in a bid to improve the living conditions of residents.

The investment is part of a national programme to eliminate hunger and ease poverty, focusing on disadvantaged areas such as remote mountain regions and off-shore islands, says a report released by the Government Office. The State budget has contributed VND4,100 billion, while local and international donations have accounted for the remainder.

Bone specialist defies odds to deliver best-possible care


by Hoang Nam

Orthopedic surgeon Vo Van Thanh spends four to five days a week in surgery treating spinal injuries.

Each operation takes from two to eight hours.

Then, the overseer of HCM City’s Trauma – Orthopedics Hospital Spine A department, spends his last working day of the week consulting and treating the most seriously injured.

He has been a specialist for spinal chord injuries opanning 30 years.

Party leader assures Hanoi voters of corruption crack-down

HA NOI — Communist Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh told his Ha Noi constituency on Monday that he was delighted to hear their frank comments about national issues and local problems.

He said their recommendations were useful to the National Assembly and the State in dealing with urgent problems in the city and country.

Manh was one of many National Assembly delegates who are meeting with voters before attending the next assembly session, scheduled to begin on October 21.

Ha Noi is represented by 21 delegates in the 500-strong National Assembly.

Non-U.S. banks allowed to double dong deposits



The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) issued a decision last week allowing non-U.S. foreign bank branches to double their deposits in Vietnamese dong.

Under Decision 1084, these branches can from October 1 increase dong deposits from both individuals and organizations to half of their chartered capital instead of 25% as at present.

This move has been anticipated earlier in a central bank's tentative scheme on removing restrictions on non U.S. foreign bank branches in Vietnam.

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