Vietnam press highlights on July 27

Govt Officials Vow to Clear Tax, Customs Problems

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) will continue to intensify administrative reforms in tax and customs sectors, removing all remaining problems and punishing any customs or tax officers violating regulations to create more favorable conditions for businesses in Vietnam, an MoF official promised at a meeting with businesses yesterday in Hanoi.

Deputy PM: State pays due attention to overseas Vietnamese

07/22/2004 -- 11:32(GMT+7)

Ha Noi (VNA) - The State has created favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to stabilise their lives and work as well as integrate into the society of their resident countries, while maintaining a close association with the homeland.

So said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan at a conference publicising a Politburo resolution on Overseas Vietnamese, in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

Worst-hit Agent Orange province alleviates victims' plight

07/22/2004 -- 21:00(GMT+7)

Quang Tri, July 22 (VNA)- The central province of Quang Tri, where almost 15,500 locals are affected by Agent Orange/dioxin, the largest number in Viet Nam, has intensified its fund-raising campaign to help ease the plight of the victims.

In July alone, the month for the poor, the disabled and Agent Orange/dioxin victims, the provincial Agent Orange fund disburbed 324 million VND to build 24 homes each worth 8 million VND for victim families, buy wheel-chairs for 93 victims, and grant 20 scholarships to children of Agent Orange victims.

VN stays world’s largest pepper exporter

HA NOI — Viet Nam remains the world’s top pepper exporter, shipping 60,026 tonnes so far this year, a 27 per cent increase over the same period last year, reported the Viet Nam Pepper Association (VPA).

The VPA attributed the success to increased investment in new processing equipment, which has secured Viet Nam’s reputation for black pepper quality and quantity in the global market.

VN mathletes take 4th place at contest

CAIRO — A squad of Vietnamese students was placed fourth with 196 points, at the 45th International Mathematics Olympics held in Athens, Greece, from July 14-16.

The team won four gold medals and two silver medals.

The contest drew 500 students from 85 countries.

The organising board said China secured six gold medals, ranking first with 220 points, and the US second with 212 points and five gold and one silver medal. Russia was placed third, carrying off four golds and two silvers, scoring 205 points. — VNS

Justice and conscience stand by Agent Orange victims

Thousands of people all over the world have sent letters and signatures to express their feelings and support for the Vietnamese Agent Orange/Dioxin victims' lawsuit against the US chemical companies for compensations for their suffering.

A veteran's letter to Congressman Christopher Smith

14 July 2004

In re: H. RES. 427; H. RES. 613; (S. RES. 343)

Dear Representative Christopher Smith,

I apologize for sending this to your office because I am not a member of your district. However, my purpose is to comment on two matters which reflect your membership on the Veteran’s Affairs Committee and the International Affairs Committee. The decisions made by these committees are far reaching and have great influence outside your district’s boundaries.

Assistance to Agent Orange victims urged

nhandan.com.vn, July 10, 2004

The Presidium of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee today called on people of all walks of life nationwide as well as overseas Vietnamese to give a helping hand to Agent Orange victims.

The Presidium expressed its wholehearted support for the Agent Orange Victims' Association and the Agent Orange victims prosecuting the US producers of the defoliant chemicals that were used by the US troops during their aggressive war in Vietnam between 1961 and 1971.

Foreign investors upbeat about Vietnam's economy

Changes have taken place in Vietnam; the national economy has been growing at a rapid rate, posting more than 7% growth annually, Senior Economist of the China-Economist Intelligence Unit Paul Cavey said at a roundtable conference on investment in Vietnam.

Citing changes in the legal system and regulations and improvements in the investment and business environment, economist Cavey noted the equitisation process of State-owned enterprises in Vietnam has been carried out strongly to allow private businesses to develop.

Strategic investors key to SOE reform



HA NOI — "Although more than 1,500 State-owned enterprises have been equitised over the past 10 years, further efforts should be made to bring in strategic investors, an important factor for equitised businesses’ success," said Ly Tai Luan, President of the Viet Nam Union of Financial Investors (VAFI), in a letter to the Central Steering Commit for Business and Development last week.

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