(VOV) -The Philippines is now the second largest importer of Vietnamese rice, accounting for 21.03% of the nation’s rice exports during the first six months of the year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reports.

(VOV) - The Business Network International (BNI) made its debut in Laos on July 26 at a ceremony attended by a number of representatives from the Vietnamese and Cambodian business communities.

(VOV) - Vietnam’s economic growth must reach 6.27% in the second half of the year to fulfill growth target of 5.8% for the whole year, said economists at a recent seminar discussing the economic situation in the first half and new challenges. 

(VOV) - Young researchers from the Argentine Council for International Relations and the International Research Network in Argentina gathered in Buenos Aires on July 24 for a seminar highlighting Vietnam as an emerging nation on the right track of development.

(VOV) - DOJI Gold & Gems Group Joint Stock Company recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and was presented the second class Labour Order for the company’s contributions to the homeland. 

(VOV) - The Vietnamese embassy in South Africa and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Johannesburg (JCCI) co-organized a seminar on July 25 to promote trade activities in both nations. 

(VOV) - Agro-forestry-fishery exports for the first seven months of the year jumped 11.8% year-on-year to US$17.43 billion, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

The Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA) and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) on July 25 announced the establishment of the Vietnam-Japan Supporting Industry Forum (VIETPANSIF). 

The State Audit of Vietnam (SAV) on July 25 announced the result of its 2013 report, which shows that state budget spending in 2012 exceeded estimates by 8.3 percent, or VND2.07 trillion (US$97.3 million). 

(VOV) - The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MoPI) has pledged to create favourable conditions for Japanese businesses, including those from Kanagawa prefecture, to operate efficiently in Vietnam.

(VOV) - The Vietnamese software industry has been selected as one of the top-ten software outsourcing providers of the Asia Pacific region, announced the 19th Vietnam ICT Outlook (VIO) forum in HCM City on July 25.

(VOV) - The Japanese prefecture of Kanagawa plans to build a Vietnam-based industrial park for its businesses to tap this market, Governor Kuroiwa Yuji told a senior Party official in Hanoi on July 25.

(VOV) -More than 170 domestic and foreign companies have registered to take part in the 2014 Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2014) to be held in HCM City from August 6-8.

Representatives of 16 big travel agencies from Japan will take part in a fact-finding trip in Vietnam next month to seek out business prospects and work with potential local partners over measures to promote travel between the two countries.

(VOV) -Inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) dipped 19.90% in the first seven months of 2014 year-on-year to US$9.53 billion, according to) the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Foreign Investment Agency (FIA).

(VOV) - Malaysia’s second largest bank, CIMB Group, is planning to obtain banking licenses in Vietnam as part of its drive to expand into the fast-growing Southeast Asian market, according to Reuters.

(VOV) - A seminar was held in HCM City on July 24 to assist businesses better understand the ‘preferential rules of origin incorporated in free trade agreements (FTAs) so that their export products are eligible for preferential treatment. 

(VOV) -A business delegation from Ho Chi Minh City paid a visit to Argentina from July 22-23 to learn urban management experiences and explore cooperation opportunities with the second largest Latin American country.

(VOV) - The Vietnamese economy is poised for ‘exponential’ strong growth with the signing of a number of free trade agreements (FTA) in the offing. 

The Ministry of Finance has granted a license to the BIDV Metlife Insurance Co. Ltd for its establishment and operation in Vietnam.

(VOV) - The nation’s consumer price index (CPI) for July rose by 0.23% over June and 4.94% over the same period a year ago, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

(VOV) -A Vietnamese business delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh paid a working visit to Angola from July 21-23, aiming to bolster trade cooperation with the Southern African nation.

There will be stiff competition between domestic and foreign beverage firms as Vietnam integrates further into the world beverage market, with tremendous potential for development.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has proposed that PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP) focus on mapping out strategies to boost its oil and gas exploration and exploitation overseas.

(VOV) -Two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Singapore hit more than US$8.08 billion in the first half of this year, a-year-on-year increase of 23.9%.

(VOV) -Border trade value between the two countries jumped 13% to US$2.61 billion in the first six months of the year, according to the Vietnam-China border trade steering board.

(VOV) -India shipped pharmaceuticals worth US$131 million to Vietnam in the first half of 2014, a 13.54% rise year-on-year, making it the largest supplier of the products to the country.

(VOV) -The complexity of Vietnam’s business tax climate is not impeding the attraction of foreign investment, and oddly enough, is appealing to a corrupt element of investors using complexity and legal loopholes to their advantage.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has signed with the French Egis International- Adetef consulting joint venture a technical and financial assistance contract for implementing public-private partnership (PPP) projects.

Vietnamese enterprises should make greater efforts to accelerate trade promotion, improve production capacities and sharpen their competitive skills to further tap into the Republic of Korea (RoK).