VN-US trade talks stimulate bonds



HA NOI (March 13, 2003) — Major issues such as the observation of the Bilateral Trade Agreement, Viet Nam’s bid for the WTO accession, and intellectual property topped the agenda of the second session of the joint Viet Nam-US Committee for Economic and Commercial Development, which wrapped up in Ha Noi on Monday after a week-long sitting.

Leaders of the two delegations were Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Trade Luong Van Tu and the US Deputy Trade Representative John Huntsman.

Door opens to foreign investment

Thu, 03/13/2003 - 09:58



HA NOI (March 13, 2003) — Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has endorsed a landmark decision allowing foreign investors to acquire up to a 30 per cent stake in Vietnamese companies in the public sector.

Prime Ministerial Decision 36/2003, issued on Tuesday, states the move is aimed at encouraging foreign investment in State enterprises which need foreign expertise and management methods as well as foreign technology and capital in order to gain influence and competitiveness.

Govt sees bright year for rural trade

Tue, 03/11/2003 - 13:53

Ha Noi (March 11, 2003) — No stone will be left unturned to boost retail trade and services while there will be a strong new focus on rural markets in 2003, according to a Ministry of Trade report.

Identifying a growth target of 13 per cent for retail trade and services and 5 per cent for the consumption index, the ministry seeks the fulfilment of domestic demand for both raw materials and manufactured goods. It also hopes to assist farmers in selling all their produce.

Stand for peaceful solution to Iraq crisis reconfirmed

Tue, 03/11/2003 - 13:49

(Nhan Dan, March 10, 2003)

Vietnam reiterated on March 10 its stance for a political solution to the Iraq issue in line with the United Nations' Charter.

Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry Phan Thuy Thanh said UN weapons inspectors' March 7 report submitted to the UN Security Council has made it clear that their mission in Iraq has been making encouraging progress. She said that the report has recognised Iraq's increasingly active co-operation with UN weapons inspectors.

Trade Ministry clears way for level commercial playing field

Thu, 03/06/2003 - 17:05


HA NOI — March 6, 2003

The Ministry of Trade is honing a competition law which it describes as a "double-edged knife", designed to prevent both experienced foreign companies and privileged Vietnamese firms from using unfair practice to dominate the domestic market as the country opens up to regional trade.

The trade ministry discussed the drafting process and some of the difficulties involved at a seminar in Ha Noi a fortnight ago, where it also sought more expert recommendations on the law.

U.S. doctors to train Vietnamese medical workers on HIV/AIDS


Ha Noi, March 6 (VNA) -- Vietnamese and American doctors have joined efforts to launch a national training course on HIV/AIDS for Vietnamese medical workers.

The course, scheduled to run in Ha Noi from March 4-7 and Ho Chi Minh City from March 10-14, is conducted by instructors from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Global AIDS Programme, Harvard Medical School, and the University of California at San Francisco Medical School.

The course, sponsored by health authorities from both countries, will

RoK Trade Committee recognizes Viet Nam as market driven economy

Thu, 03/06/2003 - 16:55


Ha Noi, Mar. 6 (VNA) - The Ministry of Trade (MoT) has welcomed the (Republic of) Korea Trade Committee's decision to recognise Viet Nam as a market driven economy.

Thanks to that decision which was made by the Korea Trade Committee (KTC) in relation to Viet Nam's export of gas lighters to the RoK, establishment of the production cost and the selling price of Vietnamese businesses' products will be considered case by case.

Businesses in the RoK recently filed a law suit against Vietnamese gas lighter producers, accusing the latter of price dumping.

Deputy PM on VN's renewal policy at Asia Society conference

Thu, 03/06/2003 - 16:52



Ha Noi, Mar. 6 (VNA) - Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan highlighted Viet Nam's renewal policy which, he said, is based on three buttresses: first, to develop a multi-sectoral economy; second, to utilise the mechanism of the market economy; and third, to integrate into regional and international economies.

Khoan was speaking at the current 13th Asian Corporate Conference in Ha Noi on Thursday.

He explained the first buttress, saying our phylosophy is that the resources of the whole society are the motive force for development.

New farm fund to help reforms

Tue, 03/04/2003 - 16:37



HA NOI (March 4, 2003)— Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Le Huy Ngo has announced that a new agricultural restructuring fund has been established to maintain the momentum of the rural reforms of the past three years.

"We will try to build up the fund this year," Ngo told the mass media in Ha Noi last week.

He said that it would focus primarily on improving the irrigation network, plant and animal breeds and processing technology.

Village puts disabled kids first



by Hoai Nam

QUANG TRI — Disadvantaged and disabled young people from Quang Tri will soon be able to study, learn job skills and undergo medical treatment in the central province following the official dedication of the Kids First Rehabilitation Village on the weekend.

Kids First, a Washington-based NGO, has been active in Quang Tri since 1997, when it established a scholarship programme for the province’s poorest young people.

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