(VOV) -A conference on the implementation of a national campaign to encourage Vietnamese people to prioritize Vietnamese goods kicked off in Hanoi September 8.

(VOV) - With less than four months before the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) comes into force, most all of the nation’s small businesses still lack an in-depth understanding of the importance of the single regional market.

(VOV) - Vietnam’s milk and dairy imports worth US$640 million in the first eight months of the year, down 18% against the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

The Ministry of Finance plans to forgo fines imposed on businesses which were behind their tax due date if their partners, including state agencies, had failed to pay them on time in accordance with contract terms.

(VOV) - Egypt serves as an important gateway for Vietnamese products to penetrate the Middle East and North Africa, said participants at the Vietnam-Egypt Business Forum held in Cairo on September 7.

(VOV) - Supermarket chain Saigon Co.op has been listed among top 500 Asia-Pacific retailers in 2015, according to Retail Asia Publishing and Euromonitor International.

Living conditions have improved generally but the added value in agriculture per each laborer in Vietnam was at a standstill over the past decade, and not commensurate with economic growth, according to a survey conducted by the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM).

Analysts warned that dollar price fluctuations would prompt foreign investors to withdraw capital from Vietnam. If so, this would put pressure on the exchange rate.

Oman plans to increase investment in highway and water supply projects in Vietnam, the Middle Eastern emirate's sovereign wealth fund said.

As of September 4, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd. (Hong Kong) will replace Vinaland to manage the Nam Hoi An casino project.

Local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need to reform themselves and also need support from the State to survive and develop as further economic integration takes place once Vietnam signs free trade deals with partners, experts said.

A lot needs to be done between now and the end of the year to meet the export growth target of 10%, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has said.

Vietnam’s economic growth in 2015 is forecast to reach 6.4%, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The southern province of Binh Duong has, to date, attracted approximately US$22 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) with 2,511 valid projects, revealed the provincial Department of Planning and Investment. 

The Ministry of Transport is investigating transport companies who have failed to lower prices amid a drop in petrol costs.

The 19th International Exhibition on Food & Beverage and Processing & Packaging Technology (Vietfood & Beverage – ProPack Vietnam 2015) will take place in Ho Chi Minh City from September 9-12.

(VOV) - Manufacturers based out of Vietnam producing goods in the apparel/textile and footwear/leather industries led the pack in exports for the eight months leading up to September, according to Vietnam Textile and Garment Association (VITAS).

(VOV) - The Foreign Investment Agency has ranked the Republic of Korea (RoK) with investment of US$5.26 billion, representing 39.5% of the total, as the top foreign investor among 55 counties.

(VOV) - Vietnam’s trade deficit continued to broaden in the eight months leading up to September, adding to growing concerns over weakening domestic demand for home-grown goods and services.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will carry out inspections on imported monosodium glutamate (MSG) after Taiwanese company Vedan proposed a safeguarding duty on the seasoning powder, according to the Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper.

Vietnam’s coffee output in the 2015-2016 harvest is likely to fall at least 20 % short on the set target, said the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association.

The government of Vietnam has said that the national economy has not been hurt by the Chinese yuan devaluation but analysts are less optimistic.

After 70 years of national building and development and almost 30 years undertaking its reform process, Vietnam’s economy is at a pivotal point. The nation must either implement policies to grow sustainably, or else it will reach a plateau and find itself in a middle-income trap.

(VOV) - A cooperative agreement was signed in Dubai by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Vietnamese embassy and the leading Falcon financial group on September 6 to promote two-way trade between Vietnam and the Middle East through Falcon’s financial services and solutions.

Vietnam is expected to export more fruits to a number of selective markets including the United States, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan as it has reached agreements on technical measures.

Simon Topping, head of KPMG’s Asia-Pacific Financial Services Regulatory Centre of Excellence will visit Vietnam this week to share his experiences in Basel implementation in other countries in Asia.

Financial expert Dr. Nguyen Tri Hieu said to reach the regional level, a bank must have total assets of at least US$50 billion and equity of about US$5 billion.

China's top state planner said on September 7 that the country's power usage, train freight and property market have all shown improvement since August, indicating that the economy is stabilizing.

Credit this year has grown robustly and might surpass the 15-17 % annual target, however, commercial banks will find it difficult to balance lending and deposit sources, according to experts.

Johnny Rockets, an American restaurant franchise is seeking area developers for expansion into Vietnam.The move is part of the company’s expansion plans in Southeast Asia.