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



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.

Poor disabled, Agent Orange victims to get free health care

HCM CITY (March 4, 2003)—Agent Orange victims and disabled people with low incomes in HCM City’s rural district of Cu Chi now have access to free medical services thanks to the opening of the Humanitarian Clinic.

The non-profit medical practice, located in Ward 2 of Cu Chi District, aims to serve more than 300 people with disabilities resulting from the toxic chemical defoliant, Agent Orange, which was used during the American War, and 500 other low-income disabled in the area.

New farm fund to help reforms



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.

Seafood exporters have backs to wall

HCM CITY (March 4, 2003) — Viet Nam’s fisheries industry faces a serious challenge to meet its annual export target, according to Deputy Minister of Fisheries Nguyen Viet Thang.

The sector will have to deal with problems posed by changing markets and new technologies to achieve the target, which has been set at US$2.3 billion.

Ha Noi's economic zones attract nearly 10,000 workers



Ha Noi, Mar. 4 (VNA) - Industrial and Export Processing Zones in Ha Noi have to-date recruited nearly 10,000 workers, accounting for 7 percent of the municipal industrial production sector;s workforce.

Working regulations for 16 enterprises have been approved and those for eight others are to be passed.

Ha Noi will strive to reduce its unemployment rate to 5.5 percent by 2005 from the current rate of 7.39 percent, according to Ms. Do Xuan Phuong, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

Viet Nam airlines to stop flights on Da Nang-Bangkok air route




Ha Noi, Feb. 26 (VNA) - Vietnam Airlines will cease flights on the air route between central Da Nang city and Bangkok from March 30.

This was announced at a decision signed by Luong Hoai Nam, Director of the Planning and Marketing Department of the Airline following an agreement on the halt reached by Vietnam Airline and Thai Airways.

The Da Nang-Bangkok route was inaugurated on October 30, 1999 with three flights per week. However, there have been few passengers travelling on this air link since it was made operational.

Enterprises commit to buying clean shrimp for processing

Ha Noi, Feb. 27 (VNA) - Forty enterprises, being members of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), have committed to buying clean aquatic produce including shrimp for processing. It is one of the moves to maintain a strong foothold of Vietnamese seafood in the market.

Viet Nam exported 2.4 million tonnes of seafood last year, earning more than 2 billion USD.

One hundred Vietnamese enterprises are qualified for exporting seafood into the European Union market.

MPI calls for looser foreign investment rules

(20/Feb/2003)


The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has called for sweeping changes that would allow 100% foreign investment in several sectors for the first time.

ADB gives $45m for govt reforms

(Viet Nam News, February 19, 2003)

HA NOI — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged to lend Viet Nam US$45 million in the first phase of its support for the country’s 2001-10 public administrative reform programme.

The governor of the State Bank of Viet Nam, Le Duc Thuy and the ADB’s country director, John Samy signed off on the loan in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

The loan will fund two of the programme’s seven action plans: the training of public officials and applications of information technology, including e-governance.

PM calls on banks to take up world’s best practices

(Viet Nam News, February 19, 2003)

HA NOI — The banking sector needs to embrace international safety systems within the next five years to ensure steady development of Viet Nam’s financial system, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has said.

Speaking at a conference of the State-owned Vietcombank on Monday, he said that commercial banks should offer more services, save on social costs, reduce the use of cash and enable the Government to manage funds more efficiently.

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