Sri Lanka has set the goal of becoming the most open economy in South Asia, its Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva told a seminar held in Hanoi on January 29. 

VOV.VN - The General Department of Vietnam Customs held a press conference on January 29 in Hanoi to discuss key issues pertaining to implementing the World Trade Organisation (WTO)’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). 

Vietnam's retail sales of goods and services were estimated at VND297.7 trillion (US$13.4 billion) in January, up 11.7% from the same period last year, data from the General Statistics Office (GSO) revealed. 

VOV.VN - At a meeting convened by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on January 29 in Hanoi, business leaders elaborated on the importance of local companies improving their decision making skills.

The Vietnam e-Business Index (EBI) 2015 report has revealed great disparity in e-commerce development among localities, particularly in big cities including Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi.

The EU decided to suspend tariffs on Malaysia’s export products of automotive parts, clothing and apparel, furniture and plastic parts effective from January 1, according to Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

The US’s Ford Vietnam has announced a voluntary recall of 728 units of the EcoSport made between December 29, 2014 and March 10, 2015 to rectify suspension issues, said Lao Dong (Labour) Newspapers .

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) on January 29 announced its reference rate of VND21,881 per US dollar. 

Malaysia’s upper house on January 28 approved a motion to allow the country’s International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal In New Zealand on February 4.

VOV.VN - The plastics sector’s import surplus dipped 17.5% to US$3.54 billion last year, according to the Vietnam Plastics Association (VPA). 

VOV.VN - The US has become the biggest importer of Vietnam’s footwear products with an import revenue of nearly US$4.1 billion, accounting for 33.9% of the country’s total footwear export value, according to the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO). 

Vietnam's logistics sector is expected to maintain high growth this year, according to a Vietcombank Securities (VCBS) report.

Japanese experts in the field of copyright and related right protection shared experience with their Vietnamese colleagues in how to develop collective management organisations (CMOs) for copyright and related rights at a workshop on January 28. 

Vietnamese firms involved in fishery and agricultural products were urged to study the sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) of the European Union (EU) markets to opimise opportunities for both sides.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) would consider allowing some ailing financial companies and people's credit funds to declare bankruptcy this year, according to Deputy Governor Nguyen Phuoc Thanh.

Vietnamese export firms have mixed feelings, both happy and worried, about business prospects for this year. 

Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) is forecasted to expand 6.82% in 2016, according to the macroeconomic report for quarter IV, the whole year of 2015 and the outlook for 2016 announced by the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) on January 28.

Vietnam’s index of industrial production (IIP) in January posted a 5.9% increase year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Thailand's Siam Cement Group (SCG), which has invested US$700 million in Vietnam since 1992, plans to expand its operations in the country, especially in the cement and upstream petrochemical sectors, according to Thailand’s “The Nation” newspaper.

Vietnam saw 8,320 new enterprises begin operations, with total capital of VND59.3 trillion (US$2.7 billion) in the first month of this year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

VOV.VN -Farmers in the Mekong Delta, the country's largest fruit cultivation area, are busy preparing specialty fruits for the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. Hoa Loc mango, green grapefruit, durian, and red dragon fruit are among the most in demand.

When import tariffs on fashion products fall from 20% to zero% after the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) takes effect, Vietnamese fashion brands are expected to encounter significant challenges.

Vietnam shipped abroad phones and phone components worth US$30.18 billion last year, up 27.9% from a year earlier, according to the General Department of Customs.

Vietnam saw 8,320 new enterprises begin operations, with total capital of VND59.3 trillion (US$2.7 billion) in the first month of this year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

 PetroVietnam Southern Gas (PGS) approved the divestment of its 14.9 million shares, a 55.2% stake, in natural gas producer CNG Vietnam Joint Stock Company (CNG) on January 27.

Standard Chartered Bank expects Vietnam’s GDP growth to accelerate to 6.9% in 2016, higher than its previous forecast of 6.6% driven by better construction activity and manufacturing strength amidst continued strength in FDI inflows. 

It is necessary to define differences between the country’s Bidding Law and commitments concerning government procurement stated in the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), so as to make suitable adjustments, said an economic expert.

 Vietnam is considered the country to reap the most benefit in apparel, footwear, agro-forestry and seafood exports from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, said the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (Lefaso).

VOV.VN -Exports of footwear and related items showed robust development for 2015, said speakers at a recent meeting of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso) in Hanoi.

BKAV started a program recently on the Bphone fanpage that allow customers to exchange their old smartphone for a new Bphone, saying the idea came from consumers.