There is great potential for applying the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in environmental protection, but this has not happened because a proper legal framework is missing, experts say.

The Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation (Vinacomin) aims to produce 38 million tonnes of coal in 2015, generating VND57 trillion (US$2.7 billion).

Two-way trade between Vietnam and India is on an upward trend and likely to reach the target of US$15 billion by 2020, said Vo Tan Thanh, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City branch of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The northern central region will focus on developing culture-history tourism taking advantage of the rich cultural and historical heritage, it was agreed at a December 22 conference on how to implement the Master plan on the region’s tourism development to 2020 with a vision to 2030.

Vietnam recorded a trade deficit of more than US$474 million in the first half of December.

The agro-forestry-fisheries sector is forecast to bring home US$30.8 billion from export this year, up 11.2% from 2013 despite lacklustre demand in markets all over the world.

Vietnam should develop market economy institutions in the context of integration and create a favourable business climate in order to attract more investment, heard a conference in Hanoi on December 22.

Hanoi’s December Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropped by 0.23% against last month, but gained 1.55% year on year.

A project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the World Bank (WB) has helped improve the competitiveness of farmer households in the central and Central Highlands regions after five years of implementation.

Experts from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Yokohama city have offered their experiences and ideas to Danang to help the central city draw a plan of action for sustainable development until 2030.