The Central Highland fair will take place in Dak Lak province from March 9-14 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Buon Ma Thuot victory and the city’s 105th founding anniversary.

The Washington Post reports that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will consider whether or not to list Vietnam’s Tra and Basa fish as catfish under the 2008 farm bill. The report has aroused concern amongst Vietnamese seafood exporters.

The Government plans to exploit Vietnam’s marine resources and develop its coastal economic zones.

The Japanese Government is teaming up with domestic companies to build, operate and maintain infrastructure facilities in Asia and other emerging markets, including Vietnam, a local daily reported.

The Mekong Delta region hopes to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) in high-tech, supporting industry, agricultural processing, and rural development by improving its infrastructure and human resources, local officials said.

The government has set a goal to increase the export turnover of agricultural, forestry and seafood products by US$700 million to reach US$16 billion this year.

Fewer people were hospitalized from food poisoning during the Lunar New Year festival (Tet) but more were taken to hospital for traffic accidents, according to the Ministry of Health.

A batch of Chu Dau Pottery, a famous product in the northern province of Hai Duong, was shipped to Russia on February 22 opening export activities for the Year of the Tiger 2010.

The Hoan Vu timber processing company on February 22 exported two containers of woodworks to Europe, earning US$40,000, said its director Luu Van Bay.

The Tra Vinh Food Company is about to export 6,500 tonnes of rice to the Philippines and Malaysia as scheduled.

The Doosan Company at the Dung Quat Economic Zone in the central province of Quang Ngai held a ceremony on February 22 to export seven large cranes worth US$17.5 million to its Indonesian customer – PT Pelebuhan Samudera Palaran.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will grant more official development assistance (ODA) to urban development projects in Hanoi in 2010.

The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on February 22 granted licenses to 10 projects with a total registered investment of US$922.5 million along with VND6,178 billion.

Last year, despite the impact of the global economic crisis, Vietnam’s economy rebounded quickly and kept up the momentum for the growth thanks largely to the State’s effective management.  

Langbian Mountain has become an attractive destination for tourists thanks to its biodiversity and attractions such as mountain climbing, camping and the traditional cultures of its ethnic minority groups.

The Ho Chi Minh City Young Business Association (YBA) will organise a number of activities to help young entrepreneurs develop in various fields.  

Around 260,000 tonnes of salt will be imported to meet domestic demand and stabilise the price of salt, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.  

The Ministry of Construction and the Vietnam Cement Association have announced that an additional of 13 cement production lines, with a designed capacity of 11.7 million tonnes, will be completed in 2010.  

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will sign a loan agreement this March for two new construction projects: one to build a new terminal at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport and one to build a highway linking Noi Bai and the Nhat Tan area of Hanoi.

The southern province of Binh Duong licensed six new foreign investment projects capitalised at US$116.5 million in January 2010.

Crown Holdings, Inc, a leading US manufacturer of metal packaging for food, beverages and household, personal care and industrial products, will build an additional production line at its current base in southern Dong Nai province.  

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced it will open a direct route from Hanoi to Rangoon, Myanmar, on March 2, operating 4 flights a week using Fokker 70 aircraft.  

Vietnam will open showrooms in some European countries like France, Germany and Italy, says Vuong Dinh Ngan, Deputy Head of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency.  

The US Office of Management and Budget on February 16 decided to extend its review of rules on catfish food safety inspection proposed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the amount of disbursed FDI in Vietnam are forecast to increase by 10 percent year on year in 2010 to US$22-25 billion and US$ 10-11 billion, respectively.

Some food sellers in Hanoi opened their shops on the second day of the Lunar New Year Festival (February 15) with a 100 percent increase in prices.  

Despite doing businesses in different areas, three entrepreneurs born in 1974 (the year of the tiger according to the Lunar calendar) have the same expression of self-confidence, strong character and the ability to surmount obstacles.

The An Giang Fisheries Import Export Joint Stock Company (Agifish) set a target to export 35,000 tonnes of tra fish in 2010, earning about US$60 million.

Two foreign ships docked at Cam Pha port in Quang Ninh province on February 15 to be fed with coal for overseas clients.

As the national economy found some bright spots in 2009 it is expected to grow at least 6.5 percent this year.