A series of foreign companies are eager to tap the promising opportunities in the water related solution market in Vietnam, which is facing water security challenges in a changing era.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, speaking after a meeting with US President Barack Obama on October 26, said his Southeast Asian country intends to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal the United States has forged with 11 other nations.

Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang had a working session with a delegation from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) led by Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong-nam in Hanoi on October 26 to discuss the future of Vietnam-DPRK cooperation.

The State Bank of Vietnam plans to apply the ISO 20022 standard – a universal financial industry message scheme – by 2019 to facilitate cross-border transactions of the banking system, especially when the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is formed by year’s end.

The State budget value for 2015 will rise above expectations by VND17.4 trillion (US$790.9 million) while the budget deficit is estimated at VND31 trillion (US$1.4 billion), Deputy Finance Minister Do Hoang Anh Tuan told a press conference in Hanoi on October 26. 

(VOV) - The Far East Organization of Singapore has announced it will hold a real estate investment seminar on October 31 in Hanoi to introduce the country’s potential to interested parties.

(VOV) - On October 26, Ho Chi Minh City hosted a seminar discussing future opportunities and challenges for local administrations and businesses as a result of the signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

(VOV) - Retailers throughout Vietnam should form affiliated chains to improve their competiveness with foreign rivals, said experts at a recent seminar in Hanoi discussing the opportunities and challenges brought about by free trade.

The Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) will start to import between 2 million and 3 million tonnes of coal in 2016.

How to turn Vietnam into a new processing and manufacturing centre of the world after 2015 was the main topic of an international scientific seminar held in Hanoi on October 24 by the State Bank, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee and the World Bank. 

The government has set the annual economic growth target of 6.5-7% for the 2016-2020 period, with further improvement of the business climate being one of its top priorities to realize the goal.

The great advantage of the service is that passengers, who just need to have a smartphone with a 3G or internet connection, can call a taxi within the shortest possible time, know their itineraries in advance, and calculate the service fees they have to pay. 

Making his third visit to Vietnam on October 19, GE’s chairman and CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt showed his eagerness of expanding the global player’s operations in renewable energy, healthcare, and aviation following the growing country’s new engagements under global and regional free trade agreements. 

It would only be appropriate to celebrate the Vietnam-US’ diplomatic relations by citing a vivid case study success. The 20-year journey of US-based leading healthcare company Abbott, as it built its presence in Vietnam, fits perfectly. 

As the least developed of the Trans-Pacific Partnership member nations, Vietnam is most likely to become the biggest beneficiary of the agreement with an increase in GDP, FDI and exports of manufactured goods, lower cost of imports, and higher productivity due to more external competition, a global property consultancy has claimed.

Since the phenomenal success of game app "Flappy Bird," Vietnam's startup ecosystem has gained considerable momentum in the last two years and it is on the radar of many foreign venture capital funds.

The country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.81% in the third quarter and by 6.5% in the first nine months of this year, the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) has reported.

Vietnam Trade Office officials have showcased the country’s high-quality seafood, tea, coffee, and other agricultural products at an international fair-expo themed “Business in the Regions” in Belarus’s Gomel city.

(VOV) - Coffee futures in London lost ground on October 16-17 with prices of robusta coffee falling US$42 per metric ton on forecasts of rains producing an abundant upcoming harvest in top producer Brazil.

Vietnam's logistics industry has many opportunities to develop and engage more deeply in the world’s with the future signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, to which the Southeast Asian country is party.

The Ministry of Finance has submitted a new regulation regarding the use of public-owned automobiles by state officials in Vietnam to the Prime Minister for approval to lessen wastefulness, an office chief under the ministry recently told a press meeting.

About three million people in Vietnam are classified as middle class, whose average property is worth about US$18,074, according to Credit Suisse.

Five big rice exporters, including Thailand, India, Vietnam, Pakistan and the US, are all under the influence of new economic circumstances. However, Vietnam is the only country which has seen exports fall.

A number of banks have slightly adjusted up savings rates and launched promotional programs to attract more depositors.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) to find ways to further boost the development of economic zones and industrial parks.

Vietnam’s consumer price index (CPI) in October inched up 0.11% from the previous month, the same increase from last year’s corresponding period, announced the General Statistics Office (GSO) on October 24.

(VOV) - On October 23, the Vietnam Farmers’ Association (VFA) celebrated its 85th anniversary with a kick-off of an agriculture festival at the Gia Dinh Park in Ho Chi Minh City filled with live music and lots of fun.

(VOV) - On October 23, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh met in Hanoi with CEO Michael L Corbat of the US banking and investment giant Citigroup to discuss the nation’s economic situation and the bank’s plans.

The Vietnam Assets Management Company (VAMC) has issued special bonds to purchase over VND92 trillion (US$4.18 billion) worth of bad debts from the beginning of this year to October 20, according to Nguyen Quoc Hung – Chairman of VAMC’s member board.

Women account for 20% of Vietnamese entrepreneurs and the proportion is expanding, said Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Chairman Vu Tien Loc at a forum held in Hanoi on October 23.