(VOV) - The Vietnam Report and VietnamNet on March 9 released the FAST500 ranking list 2015 for the top-500 fastest growing firms in the country with Samsung Electronics Vietnam Co. Ltd taking the first place.

Business opportunities in the US alongside potential challenges were the main focus of a workshop in Hanoi on March 9 which aimed to get Hanoi businesses prepared for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

Annual Vietnamese factory production increased 12% within the first two months of 2015, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Both northern and southern shares ended in red after the trading session closed on March 9.

A coffee exhibition-fair 2015 opened on March 9 in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak as a part of the ongoing fifth Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival 2015, drawing the participation of 235 local and foreign enterprises.

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have allowed UK-owned Hongkong Land and Japan's Sumitomo Realty & Development to withdraw from a coveted property project at one of the best locations in the city downtown.

Vietnamese speculators are stashing away bags and bags of robusta, a caffeine-rich bean used in instant coffee and blends.

National carrier Vietnam Airlines has introduced a new uniform for its pilots and cabin crew after 15 years of using the red ao dai (traditional Vietnamese long dress).

The first Airbus A350 XWB aircraft for Vietnam Airlines rolled out of the body paint shop in Toulouse, France on March 6, featuring a polished blue exterior and the signature golden lotus flower on the tail.

Various Vietnamese products were recently showcased at a promotional fair held at the international trade centre in Mexico City in a bid to popularise the domestic products.

Deposit interest rates are set to fall across the board for the local banking sector, including a prediction that there should be a cut in a open-market operations interest rates to at least 4.5 % a year by the end of 2015. 

Foreign investors may wholly own securities and fund management companies in Vietnam from this year, Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Xuan Ha stated at a recent conference.

A draft circular that envisages requiring online retailers to register with the ministry and pay taxes has drawn mixed reviews. 

The e-commerce market this year is expected to continue its robust development, especially in the business-to-customer segment.

Vingroup-run Times City urban area and Vincom Mega Mall Times City trade centre have been honoured with Vietnam’s “Best Mixed-used Development” and “Best Retail Development” awards 2015 by the Asia Pacific Property Awards. 

Vietnam exported almost US$249 million worth of commodities to Italy in January, an annual increase of 36.39 percent, according to the Information Centre under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. 

(VOV) - Two month- exports of dragon fruits, rambutans, mangoes and longans to the four demanding markets-the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and New Zealand swelled 25.8% to 945 tonnes.

Vietnamese experts have begun to voice their concern about potential market abuse that may arise from the government's plan to open up the aviation sector. 

Beekeepers in Dong Thap Province are gathering a bumper harvest from surrounding forests, with hives dripping with millions of VND worth of sweet melaluca honey.

Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Singapore continued to experience strong growth during January, hitting US$1.577 billion, a year-on-year increase of 5.2%, says Singapore Department of Statistics (DOS). 

The Vietnam Steel Association (VSA) has demanded aid for overcoming difficulties, such as excess supply and growing competition from cheap imported steel that has hit the industry hard.

Merger and acquisition (M&A) can help domestic auto makers grow their businesses and increase their competitiveness in the current cutthroat market.

Vietnam is a friendly and reliable partner of the EU and the Free Trade Agreement being negotiated will promote growth for both sides, a senior European Commission official has said.

Vietnam reported an upsurge in the State's budget revenue, but saw a strong reduction in budget collections from crude oil products during January and February, the Ministry of Finance said.

Credit activities have developed strongly in the first months of the new year, a positive sign for the economy's recovery, independent market observers have said.

Eight Vietnamese furniture designs chosen among other winners in the Hoa Mai Furniture Design contest from 2010 to 2013 will be displayed at the International Furniture Fair of Singapore (IFFS) from March 13-16, said Nguyen Quoc Khanh, chairman of the Handicrafts and Wood Industry Association of HCM City (HAWA).

The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) has acquired all the equity of the Vietnam Construction Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VNCB).

Acronis, the world leader in new generation data protection based in Russia, has announced its expansion plans in Vietnam.

The number of new property trading firms established during January and February this year surged 88.8% from the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office.

(VOV) - Prices of flowers during this year’s International Women’s Day (March 8) have gone up sharply by 10-20% due to an inadequate supply of fresh flowers, especially in the larger cities.