Insurance industry will wipe out unfair practices


Vietnam News, Wednesday January 28, 2004


HANOI -- Vietnam will stamp out unfair practices to ensure a level playing field for all insurance companies, a Government deputy minister has promised.

Deputy Minister of Finance Le Thi Bang Tam assured that insurance companies all have an equal right to exploit the market provided they offered good service.

In the event, Tam said, her ministry would crack down on insurers and others found taking recourse to these unhealthy practices to influence the market.

WTO ramifications

Consolidating confidence of the international community



In 2003, Vietnam was one of the countries that reached the high economic growth rate. Regarding economic international integration, Vietnam continued to actively participate in the regional integration process and was preparing to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). In this first issue of the year, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan granted an interview to Vietnam Pictorial, reviewing achievements and shortcomings of the Vietnamese economy in the last year.

Fund seeks to boost links with Viet kieu



HA NOI — A 10-month old fund was playing an active role attracting Viet kieu (overseas Vietnamese) back to Viet Nam, but the fund’s director noted many Viet kieu are discouraged by difficulties buying houses here.

The Community Support Fund, established last April by the foreign ministry with initial funding of VND7 billion (US$448,000), targets overseas Vietnamese living around the world, said fund’s director Nguyen Van Trung.

WHO briefs deputy PM on bird flu plan


HA NOI — The regional director of the World Health Organisation Shigeru Omi met Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Ha Noi on Tuesday to discuss Viet Nam’s response to the bird flu and regional co-ordination issues.

Omi said the outbreak was wide-spread across Asia and "highly aggressive". The WHO feared the H5N1 virus could mutate into a contagious, lethal disease that could spread among humans.

Foreign investors prick ears to Vietnam bourse

Vietnam Economic Times, Friday, January 02, 2004 22:00:55

The hive of activity among foreign investors on the HCM City securities trading floor has contributed to the recovery of the VN-Index, confirmed Vu Bang, Deputy Chairman of the State Securities Commission on December 26 in HCM City.

The number of foreign investors opening accounts for stock transaction in 2003 increased 36% compared to 2002, mostly through the Saigon Securities Company (SSI). They also now account for 27% of all trade value on the bourse.

Vietnam Airlines' 10-year operation reviewed


(01/02/2004 -- 20:56GMT+7)

Ha Noi, Jan. 2 (VNA) - The national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, marked its 10th anniversary in Ha Noi on Friday afternoon.

Cha ca la vong, specialty of Ha Noi


(01/01/2004 -- 08:05GMT+7)

Ha Noi, Jan. 1 (VNA)-Foreign and local cognoscenti coming to Ha Noi seem to hit the Cha Ca La Vong restaurant on Cha Ca street in Ha Noi, which was recently placed on an MSNBC.com list of 10 places to see before you die.

New Year welcomed nationwide


Many cultural activities were held in localities across the country to welcome the New Year 2004 and celebrate the socio-economic achievements in 2003.

Thousands of Hanoians took to the streets bedecked with coloured lights and flowers in the evening and flocked to major cultural and sports centres such as the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, Lenin Park, I Ghandi public garden, Ba Kieu Temple and Van Dien town.

Garment exporters should pay more attention to non-quota markets


(12/16/2003 -- 22:21GMT+7)

Ha Noi, Dec. 16 (VNA) - "Garment businesses should not stick to the US market only but many non-quota markets such as Japan, Canada and the Middle East," said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan.

He was speaking at a conference entitled "Challenges and Solutions to the Garment Sector Beyond 2004" held by the Ministry of Trade (MOT) in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

Viet Nam sets itself to double agricultural output over next five


(12/16/2003 -- 16:51GMT+7)

Ha Noi, Dec. 16 (VNA)- Viet Nam plans to launch an initiative to increase the agricultural output value to 31 million VND per ha in the next five years. The current yield is only 17 million VND.

Each ha of agricultural land, therefore, will yield almost 20 million VND on average.

The drive will thus improve rural farmers' incomes, said the Agricultural Economics Institute.

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