Cement manufacturer LafargeHolcim Group, a joint venture between Swiss Holcim Ltd. and French Lafarge Group, may withdraw from Vietnam due to the oversupply of cement in the domestic market.

French retailer Casino Group, will continue its export activities in Vietnam despite keeping off its roots in the retail sector while attracting both foreign and domestic interest as it moves forward with the selection of a new partner.

Vietnam’s Thien Tan Group is negotiating with the US-based Global Universal Inc to form a joint venture to invest in the Chu Lai airport expansion project in the central province of Quang Nam.

The Ministry of Finance is likely to reimburse the tax arrears collected from numerous firms on income generated by additional investment during the period of 2009-2013.

A range of locally listed firms with real estate interests have both lifted their foreign ownership limit to 60% and purchase shares in order to access foreign funding for the development of their various projects.

The government may find it difficult to mobilise sufficient capital to reach its ambitious growth target for the 2016-2020 period due to budget woes.

Although the World Bank has lowered Vietnam’s growth forecast for 2016, it remains optimistic about the country’s economic prospects resulting from free trade agreements later this year.

Beginning April 2016, Japan-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd will accept the first applications for its overseas study support programme, under which up-and-coming Vietnamese students will be funded to study at Japanese universitie.

Domesco, Vietnam’s third largest domestic drug producer, is planning to divest from its profitable distribution business to lift its foreign ownership ratio ceiling to 100%, becoming the first pharmaceutical firm in the country to make the move.

Leading European airports company Aeroport de Paris and Vietnam’s biggest airport operator Airports Corporation of Vietnam are expected to begin negotiations on a stake sale next month.