Many foreign banks have recently set up wholly-owned operations or opened new branches in Vietnam.

VOV.VN - Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) has put into operation a garment factory in Hoang Mai town, Nghe An province.

The Government has allowed Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Co Ltd (BSR) to make its own price mechanism after the company has repeatedly called for support to improve the competitiveness of its products.

Moody’s Investors Service on September 5 placed on review for upgrade the long-term credit ratings of seven Vietnamese banks.

The programme “Creative France”, which features the dynamism of France’s innovation and economic activity, was introduced to a press conference in Hanoi on September 6. 

A survey of the private-equity sector in July by consulting firm Grant Thornton found that 72% of respondents (down 14 percentage points from six months ago) anticipated higher level of investment activities in Vietnam in the next 12 months.

A fall in tea export value is putting pressure on the tea industry to enhance product quality to raise the value and price of tea products. 

Many Japanese companies are exploring investment opportunities in the Vietnamese food market, which is expected to grow at around 5% this year. 

The world’s leading aircraft manufacturer Airbus has said its President and CEO Fabrice Bregier signed several agreements with Vietnamese partners to help the country develop the aviation industry. 

The State Securities Commission (SSC) has allowed Domesco Medical Import Export Joint Stock Corporation (Domesco) to increase its foreign ownership to 100%, a move that shows Vietnam’s willingness to open up to more foreign capital. 

A series of phishing attacks in which bank account owners lost billions of dong have cast a shadow on Vietnam’s e-commerce market, estimated to have total value of US$4 billion.

Vietnam carriers bought 40 airplanes worth US$6.5 billion from France's Airbus on September 6, as President Francois Hollande visited the nation to drum up business ties.

VOV.VN - Imports of animal feed and materials from China jumped 38.1% to US$1.95 billion for eight and a half months, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

 A recently-approved blueprint for improving access to banking services aims for 70% of adults in Vietnam to have bank current accounts by 2020. 

Potential threats to the nation’s economic sovereignty, natural environment and social fabric should be limited to the maximum extent possible, a foreign investment expert has said.

Danone Vietnam, a subsidiary of French multinational food company Danone SA, has announced stopping its operations.

Analysts believe that HCM City will make a profitable investment by pumping VND1 trillion into startups, because the benefits in the future will be even higher.

Foreign banks are increasing their presence in Vietnam through various forms by establishing 100% foreign-owned banks or opening branches. With advantages of capital and services, once TPP takes effect, foreign banks will have more advantages in Vietnam. 

Foodstuff producer Kido Joint Stock Company (KDC) is increasing stake acquisitions in vegetable oil manufacturing companies as part of its strategy to penetrate deeper into the food and spice market.

The Vietnamese Representative Office of Hanjin Shipping Global, the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s giant container shipping company, announced that it would not accept any new booking of freight orders from August 31.

The prices of RON 92 petrol and bio-fuel E5 were raised VND702 (US$0.31) and VND611 (US$0.27) per litre from 3:00 pm on September 5. 

The Nhon Trach 2 thermal power plant of the PetroVietnam Power Nhon Trach 2 company in the southern province of Dong Nai on September 5 reached its target of producing 25 million kWh for the national grid after five years of operation.

A number of banks will introduce financial assistance packages to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enable their active participation in international integration.

VOV.VN - China is in the midst of transitioning to higher value-added manufacturing under the government’s Made in China 2025 initiative to comprehensively upgrade industrial policy, say leading experts.

The low-cost carrier Vietjet on September 5 announced 150,000 promotional tickets priced only from US$ 0 under “ 12pm, It’s time to Vietjet ” campaign to mark its three new routes of Ho Chi Minh City-Kaohsiung, Hanoi-Taipei and Hai Phong-Seoul.

Tax cuts mandated by ASEAN Economic Community commitments and Vietnam’s growing demand for meat are producing a rise in foreign livestock investment and meat imports.

A pilot auction for sugar import quotas was proposed to help curb soaring prices in the domestic market, amid the elevated demand.

According to the latest survey by the Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association (Vinatas) in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Soc Trang, a third of local coffee products were either of extremely low quality or even fake. 

Domestic rice exporters are grappling with low demand in traditional importing markets and lower prices on global markets.

Vietnam’s (B1 stable) credit profile is supported by its robust economic growth and diversified economy, according to Moody’s Investors Service.