Da Nang sofware center in cooperation with Indian company




Dec. 7 (VNA) -- The software technology centre of the central city of Da Nang on Dec. 6 signed a cooperation agreement with India's Aptech Company for personnel training in software industry.

Vietnam's Economic Strategies Applauded by Multilaterals




HANOI, Dec 6 Asia Pulse - Vietnam has received a positive report card from multilateral institutions, who have praised the country's industrialisation and international integration and predicted that strong economic growth will continue.

But there is also a warning that Vietnam will need to reform its banking system and mobilise more investment from its people's savings and private enterprises, if it wants to realise its ambitious modernisation agenda.

The US veterans help land mine removal in Vietnam




HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - A U.S. veterans organization launched a $500,000 program Monday to remove landmines and unexploded bombs in central Vietnam, one of the most heavily bombed areas during the War.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which built the Washington, D.C., landmark, is backing Project RENEW, a two-year pilot program aimed at removing the war's deadly leftovers from Trieu Phong district in central Quang Tri province along the former demilitarized zone.

Customs and security fees on foreign flights

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh on Dec. 5,2000 provided details on a recent decision by the Finance Ministry regarding rates of customs and security fees levied on foreign flights to Vietnamese airports as following:

"On 13 November 2000, the Finance Ministry issued Decision 179/2000/QD/BTC on rates of customs and security fees levied on foreign flights to Vietnamese airports.

New York Life Int'l opens representative office in Hanoi



Ha Noi, Dec. 4 (VNA) -- A US insurance company, New York Life International Inc., has opened its representative office in Ha Noi to explore market demand and promote investment in trade activities.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony on Dec. 1, Chairman and General Director of the company, Gary G. Benanav, said that it was the beginning of his company's long-term commitment to the country.

ASEM discuss combination of traditional and modern medicines




Ha Noi, Dec. 4 (VNA) -- About 200 medical experts from all the 13 member-countries of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) are participating in a Ha Noi international conference discussing the combined use of traditional and modern medicines in treating difficult diseases.

The Dec. 4-5 conference is being held in response to Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's initiative to combine traditional and modern medicines was raised at the second ASEM held in London in April 1998.

UNESCO Director -General visits Vietnam




Ha Noi, Dec. 4 (VNA) -- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, Director-General Koichiro Matsuura arrived in Ha Noi today, Dec.4, to begin a three-day visit to Viet Nam as guest of Foreign Minister, Nguyen Dy Nien.

Speaking at a dinner in honour of his guest, the Foreign Minister said that he appreciated UNESCO's role in international cooperation since its emergence 55 years ago and thanked the UN agency for its long-term help to Viet Nam in education, science and culture.--VNA

OPIC loans to build medical plant in Southern provinces



Ha Noi, Dec. 4 (VNA) -- The U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corp. (OPIC) has pledged a USD 8 million loan to build a serum and medicine production plant at the Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Zone in southern Dong Nai province.

The pledge was signed in Ho Chi Minh City on Dec. 3 by OPIC Chairman and Executive Manager George Munoz, who led a mission of US businessmen assessing investment possibilities in Viet Nam.

It is the second OPIC-assisted project in Viet Nam.

Construction of Noi Bai - Bac Ninh road




Ha Noi, Dec. 4(VNA) -- Work started on Dec. 1 for construction of a 33.91 km-long road section stretching from Noi Bai International Airport to Bac Ninh on Highway 18 (km 3+300).

The project will be conducted at a total cost of VND 433 billion (USD 30 million) coming from Japan's ODA capital by the Da River Corporation, the Thang Long Corporation and the Northern Civil Engineering in 24 months.

Computer Science seeks way to narrow regional development gap



Ha Noi, Dec. 4 (VNA) -- Officially recognised as the spearhead of the national industrialization and modernization, the fledgling information technology sector is set to receive greater investment to catch up with other economies in the region and the world as a whole into next decade, confirmed the Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment.

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