Fisheries sector to fund promotion

T4, 05/18/2005 - 11:45

Workers process shrimps for export in the Nam Hai Food Ltd Company in the southern Can Tho Province’s Tra Noc Industrial Zone. The fisheries sector will inject roughly US$88,000 into a promotion campaign designed to increase its exports to the US and Japan. — VNA/VNS Photo Trang Duong
HA NOI — The Ministry of Fisheries is planning to spend VND1.4 billion (US$88,000) on promotional campaigns encouraging shrimp exports to Japan and the US, Viet Nam’s two biggest markets, in an attempt to address the disappointing export levels for the first months of this year.

Bank card issuance to double

T4, 05/18/2005 - 10:03

HA NOI — The domestic bank card market may see a boom this year, following reports of high growth by commercial banks, who expect to double their card issuance by the end of the year.

The State-owned Vietcombank, currently the country’s largest issuer with 700,000 cards in circulation, estimated that card issuance would reach 1.2 million by the end of the year.

Vietnam textiles up for fierce challenges

T2, 05/16/2005 - 12:20

Vietnam’s textile industry will face great challenges, instead of opportunities, when the U.S. re-imposes quotas on Chinese clothing imports, a move which the European Union will likely soon follow. 

The U.S. has announced it will re-impose quota restrictions on three categories of Chinese clothing imports, arguing that the Chinese goods are damaging the American textile industry.

7.3 million cell phone users expected by year end

T2, 05/16/2005 - 12:15

The total number of cell phone subscribers in Vietnam will increase to 7.3 million by the end of 2005 and 21 million in 2008, according to a telecoms market researcher.

Currently, there are nearly 6 million cell phone subscribers in the country.

Market researcher BMI Group recently reported that Vietnam's mobile information market had been developing rapidly, recording a growth rate of 65 per cent in 2004.

Joint stock bank unveils new service

T2, 05/16/2005 - 12:12

HCM CITY — The joint stock Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) announced on Wednesday that it will begin its US dollar/VN Dong option service by the end of this month.

The option is a market-risk hedging instrument. ACB will offer its customers the exclusive right to buy or sell a fixed sum of the convertible currency, paying in Viet Nam Dong within a specified time at a set price. The term will range from one week to six months.

It is one of the first two banks to get permission from the State Bank to offer the service, the other being the joint stock Techcombank.

Banking restructure aims to generate capital for key sectors

T2, 05/16/2005 - 12:10

HA NOI — The Government will continue to restructure the banking system to encourage citizens to invest their savings and thereby satisfy the economy’s capital demands, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The Financial Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung said that increased revenue gained in this way will be invested in key sectors relating to fertiliser, gas and oil, and electricity.

The State Bank of Viet Nam said that credit growth this year is estimated at 22 per cent and 24 per cent, down from last year’s 25 per cent and 26 per cent.

Life insurance market outperforming expectations

T6, 05/13/2005 - 15:48

Vietnamese and foreign insurers have announced impressive incomes early, revealing the potential in a young market.

Manulife Vietnam in 2002 announced its first profitable year to the tune of VND20bil, three years after setting up shop.

Prudential Vietnam, the second foreign-invested life insurance firm in the country, also reported profits for the first time in five years of operation, banking VND61bil.

Post-telecom clears the way for WTO

T6, 05/13/2005 - 15:37

If Vietnam joins the WTO on schedule, the telecommunications industry will develop in a direction beneficial to both business and clients, said Post and Telematics Deputy Minister Mai Liem Truc.

However, experts believe there will be no boom in Internet services once the country realises its WTO itinerary.

Focus on investment and expansion

According to Mr Truc, foreign telecommunications groups that have invested in, or are planning to invest in Vietnam, are experienced partners.

Vietnam’s wooden furniture sales to U.S. surge

Vietnam’s wooden interior furniture exports to the U.S. have risen substantially in the last three years and the trend continues in the first few months of this year, according to U.S. figures.
In the first two months of 2005, Vietnam’s wooden furniture sales to the U.S. hit 103 million USD, up roughly 174 per cent over last year’s same period, says figures of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).

In 2001, sales were only 13 million USD, but topped 374 million USD in 2004, ITC sources say. In the last year, exports grew by 111 per cent from the previous year.

New U.S. customs ruling threatens Vietnam shrimp industry

T6, 05/13/2005 - 14:53

Vietnam’s shrimp producers and farmers are likely to face bankruptcy as shrimp exports to the American market, as well as shrimp prices, are dropping substantially following a new U.S. customs requirement over bonds.

Since March this year, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has told American importers of shrimp subject to anti-dumping duties to pay a much larger bond than ever.

CBP determines the amount of bond by multiplying the anti-dumping tax rate by an importer’s value of shrimp imports subject to penalty duties during the previous year.

Các trang