Vietnam's textile industry has been seeing a strong flow of foreign investment over the first half of the year, a trend that many say is spurred by a trade treaty expected to be completed by this year-end.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delivered a stark warning on July 2 of the huge financial hole facing Greece as angry and uncertain voters prepare for a referendum that could decide their country's future in Europe.

There will not be many foreign homebuyers who immediately jump into the Vietnamese market as soon as a new policy allowing them to do so takes effect, said an expert from US-owned realty consultant firm CBRE Vietnam.

The national flagship carrier Vietnam Airlines held a ceremony on July 2 to receive its first Airbus 350-900 aircraft and announce its upgrade service quality programme and new brand identifying system, marking a major step in bringing the airline into the international arena. 

Around 200 enterprises from Vietnam and Laos took place in the Vietnam-Laos Trade Fair which opened at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Laos’ capital city of Vientiane on July 2. 

An electronic portal called eRegulations, which aims to facilitate international investors’ access to information related to foreign investment procedures in Vietnam, was launched in Ho Chi Minh City on July 2. 

North-eastern province Quang Ninh has attracted US$5.1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) through 104 projects so far, according to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment. 

Necessary preparations by domestic businesses for the free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was the focus of discussions among experts at a workshop held in Ho Chi Minh City. 

(VOV) - National Citizen Commercial Joint Stock Bank (NCB) has been honoured by the United Kingdoms Global Banking and Finance Review for “Most Innovative Retail Bank Vietnam 2015” and “Most Innovative Bank for Enterprise Culture Vietnam 2015”.

The bank for Development and Investment of Vietnam (BIDV) officially announced a 12% rise in its registered capital from VND28.11 trillion (US$1.30 billion) to VND31.48 trillion (US$1.44 billion). 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will forge stronger agriculture production growth in the second half of this year through three major measures, stated minister Cao Duc Phat at a press conference in Hanoi on July 1.

As a large agricultural producer, Vietnam has much demand for fertilisers and plant protection chemicals, offering much opportunity for companies in the field.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment has publicised norms for 267 conditional business areas to help enterprises meet requirements under the revised Investment Law which takes effect from July 1.

(VOV) - Vietnam’s cement consumption rose by 6% for the first half of this year to 34.16 million tonnes, meeting 47.4% of this year’s plan.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Nguyen Dinh Thao made a trip to Argentinian Central province from June 30 - July 2 to promote trade between the two countries. 

(VOV) - Remittances from overseas Vietnamese to HCM City for the first half of this year are estimated to hit US$2.6 billion, 18.2% higher than the level recorded during last year’s period.

The Ministry of Finance plans to ask the National Assembly for permission to focus on the issue of five-year Government bonds instead of those with longer terms as originally planned.

A staggering 16,500 apartments in HCMC were sold in the first half of this year, reports of CBRE Vietnam show.

(VOV) -An investment promotion conference themed “My Vietnam - your investment destination” is taking place in New York City, the US from July 1- 5 with the purpose of strengthening US investors’ confidence in development potential for the Vietnam market.

Vietnam’s index of industrial production grew by 9.6% from the same period last year in the first two quarters of the year, announced the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The National Power Transmission Corporation has mobilised VND70.65 trillion (US$3.36 billion), including US$1.3 billion of official development assistance (ODA), in the past five years for its power projects. 

Novaland Group launched a programme called “the 100 first apartments for Vietnamese overseas and foreigners” on July 1, the day the revised Law on Housing takes effect. 

(VOV) -The Vietnam Trade Office in collaboration with the Vietnamese Business Association in Australia is having a lot of success giving lychee a fresh image in Australia.

Vietnam Dairy Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) wants to reduce State owner-ship in enterprises after equitisation to create conditions to increase their self-management and competitiveness for further development.

Vietnam Airlines received its first Airbus A350 XWB in a handover ceremony held in the French city of Toulouse on June 30.

Central province Quang Binh will call for investments worth VND23.4 trillion (US$1.08 billion) in 35 key projects in the commerce and tourism sectors at an investment promotion conference in August.

(VOV) - Vietnam’s revised Housing Law officially came into effect on July 1, which allows Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) and other foreigners to acquire an ownership interest in real estate in Vietnam. 

Measures to boost trade between Vietnam and Germany were discussed during a Vietnam Fatherland Front delegation’s working visit to Germany by that ended on June 30.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee granted an investment licence to the Empire City project worth US$1.2 billion inside the city’s Thu Thiem urban zone on June 30.

(VOV) - The World Bank (WB)’s Board of Executive Directors approved US$315million in two credits for Vietnam to support the government’s agriculture restructuring plan and help with the revision of a new education curriculum.