Work started on the construction of a low-income residential project for workers at Yen Binh I Industrial Park in Pho Yen district, northern Thai Nguyen province on May 26.

(VOV) -Vietnam’s newly-signed free trade agreement (FTA) with the Republic of Korea (RoK) is expected to provide significant economic benefits— but for rice and other agricultural exports the impact will not be felt in the short term.

Up to 300 regional small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are taking part in the ASEAN SME Showcase and Conference (ASSC) 2015 in Malaysia’s capital of Kuala Lumpur.

Businesses and analysts all believe that the State Bank (SBV) will not devalue the dong again this year because there will be less pressure on the exchange rate.

(VOV) - The Responsible Business Forum on Food and Agriculture, under the theme ‘ASEAN Beyond 2015: Collaboration for Equitable Growth’ will be held in Hanoi from June 23 – 25. 

Attracting high technology from foreign firms is still far from a reality in Vietnam, much to the bane of local enterprises.

The northern province of Ha Nam will offer all possible support to Japanese agriculture investors, Secretary of its Party Committee Mai Tien Dung assured visiting Japanese businesses on May 26.

The country experienced a noticeable fall of registered foreign direct investment (FDI) capital, while seeing an increase in the capital disbursement, in the first five months of this year.

The permanent deputy head of the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region, Nguyen Phong Quang, was received by the Secretary of the Development Bureau of Hong Kong (China), Paul Chan, and met representatives of the territory’s General Chamber of Commerce on May 26.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has approved a draft free trade agreement between the Eurasia Economic Union (EAES) and Vietnam, according to the Belarusian News, BeITA.

Ho Chi Minh City agencies inked cooperation documents with some of the leading groups of the Republic of Korea (RoK) on May 25 as part of municipal officials’ working visit to the country, the Sai Gon Giai phong (Liberated Saigon) daily newspaper reported.

The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and its member Bank for Investment and Development of Cambodia (BIDC) were honored at a ceremony on May 25 in Phnom Penh for their outstanding contribution to the socio-economic development of Cambodia.

Officials of the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai held a working session with a delegation from Hong He county in China’s southern Yunnan province on May 25 to discuss preparations for a bilateral cross-border economic cooperation zone. 

(VOV) - On May 25, representatives from 12 Vietnam businesses in the fields of hotels, technology, mechanics, trade, wood, rubber, stock market and IT, sought investment opportunities at a business forum held in Havana.

(VOV) - Vietnam imported 5,455 complete built units (CBU) for the first half of May valued at roughly US$184 million, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. 

(VOV) - Japan's top oil refiner, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp, has unveiled plans to go ahead with refinery projects in Vietnam as it seeks to expand in overseas markets to offset shrinking domestic demand.

(VOV) - Le Phuoc Vu, chairman of the management board of Hoa Sen Group, will compete with 65 other businesspeople from 52 countries globally at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year award which is scheduled to be held in Monaco, France in June.

The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s direct investment inflow to Vietnam is expected to soar in the near future, as businesses scramble to capitalise on the recently-signed free trade agreement between the two countries.

As the greenback has been soaring against the dong in recent weeks, financial commentators have suggested this may be a result of dollar speculation in the forex market.

(VOV) - Agro-forestry and seafood product exports are estimated at US$2.37 billion in May, bringing the sector’s total export revenue in five months to US$11.4 billion, a fall of 7.3% over the corresponding period.

Vietnam’s farming sector has been transformed over the last five years through the public-private partnership model between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and various multinationals.

Greece intends to make good on its debt obligations but needs aid urgently to be able to do so, the government said on May 25.

Finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations will discuss recent foreign exchange movements when they meet in Germany this week, a senior Canadian official said on May 25.

South Africa wants to expand investment and trade ties but narrow its trade deficit with Vietnam, a visiting business delegation from that country told a meeting in HCM City on May 25.

Vietnam has numerous opportunities for economic development due to its stable economy and ongoing reforms in key sectors, the CEO of Maybank Kim Eng Group, John Chong, said at the Invest ASEAN 2015 conference in Ho Chi Minh City on May 25. 

A delegation of enterprises from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), led by the General Director of the Vault Investment Fund, Sultan Ali Ahamad Lootah, embarked on a fact-finding mission to Ho Chi Minh City in order to seek investment opportunities in the city.

The Russian Government announced its approval of a draft agreement on the establishment of a free trade zone between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Vietnam, according to the Russian news agency TASS on May 25.

(VOV) - Steel imports into Vietnam are rising dramatically and in the four months leading up to May surged 30% year-on-year to a record high, according to the Vietnam Industry and Trade Information Centre (VITIC).

Overseas food companies are eager to grab a slice of the thriving Vietnamese food ingredients industry.

(VOV) - The Vietnam trade deficit widened less than expected in the five months leading up to June and a rebound in imports hinted to some firming in domestic demand early in the second quarter of the year.