Remittances pour into Vietnam as Lunar New Year nears
Remittances pour into Vietnam as Lunar New Year nears

Vietnam’s inbound remittance has been rapidly increasing since the beginning of this week and is expected to rocket next week, when the current lunar year reaches its final days and Vietnamese are ready to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year).

Remittances pour into Vietnam as Lunar New Year nears
Tet shoppers hit local markets on a budget
Tet shoppers hit local markets on a budget

Wholesale markets and shops in HCM City offering a range of quality local products as the shopping season begins in earnest ahead of Tet, the Lunar New Year.

Tet shoppers hit local markets on a budget
HCM City apartment sales up 47% in Q4
HCM City apartment sales up 47% in Q4

Total apartment sales in Ho Chi Minh City reached nearly 7,700 units in the fourth quarter of 2015, up 47% from the previous quarter, according to Savills Vietnam’s Market Brief released on January 29. 

HCM City apartment sales up 47% in Q4
Medical supply plant to be based in Saigon hi-tech park
Medical supply plant to be based in Saigon hi-tech park

Singapore’s Charles Wembley Vietnam was granted an investment licence to build a medical equipment plant in Saigon hi-tech park (SHTP) on January 29. 

Medical supply plant to be based in Saigon hi-tech park
Sri Lanka looks to be most open economy in South Asia
Sri Lanka looks to be most open economy in South Asia

Sri Lanka has set the goal of becoming the most open economy in South Asia, its Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva told a seminar held in Hanoi on January 29. 

Sri Lanka looks to be most open economy in South Asia
Vietnam committed to WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement
Vietnam committed to WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement

VOV.VN - The General Department of Vietnam Customs held a press conference on January 29 in Hanoi to discuss key issues pertaining to implementing the World Trade Organisation (WTO)’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). 

Vietnam committed to WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement
Nation's retail sales up 11.7% in pre-Tet month
Nation's retail sales up 11.7% in pre-Tet month

Vietnam's retail sales of goods and services were estimated at VND297.7 trillion (US$13.4 billion) in January, up 11.7% from the same period last year, data from the General Statistics Office (GSO) revealed. 

Nation's retail sales up 11.7% in pre-Tet month
VCCI: Local companies must improve decision making
VCCI: Local companies must improve decision making

VOV.VN - At a meeting convened by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on January 29 in Hanoi, business leaders elaborated on the importance of local companies improving their decision making skills.

VCCI: Local companies must improve decision making
E-commerce gap remains disparity
E-commerce gap remains disparity

The Vietnam e-Business Index (EBI) 2015 report has revealed great disparity in e-commerce development among localities, particularly in big cities including Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi.

E-commerce gap remains disparity
EU to lift tariffs on more Malaysian exports
EU to lift tariffs on more Malaysian exports

The EU decided to suspend tariffs on Malaysia’s export products of automotive parts, clothing and apparel, furniture and plastic parts effective from January 1, according to Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

EU to lift tariffs on more Malaysian exports
More than 700 Ford EcoSport cars recalled in Vietnam
More than 700 Ford EcoSport cars recalled in Vietnam

The US’s Ford Vietnam has announced a voluntary recall of 728 units of the EcoSport made between December 29, 2014 and March 10, 2015 to rectify suspension issues, said Lao Dong (Labour) Newspapers .

More than 700 Ford EcoSport cars recalled in Vietnam
Central bank's reference rate falls again
Central bank's reference rate falls again

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) on January 29 announced its reference rate of VND21,881 per US dollar. 

Central bank's reference rate falls again
Malaysia’s upper house approves TPP deal
Malaysia’s upper house approves TPP deal

Malaysia’s upper house on January 28 approved a motion to allow the country’s International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal In New Zealand on February 4.

Malaysia’s upper house approves TPP deal
Plastics import plunges
Plastics import plunges

VOV.VN - The plastics sector’s import surplus dipped 17.5% to US$3.54 billion last year, according to the Vietnam Plastics Association (VPA). 

Plastics import plunges
US – biggest importer of Vietnam footwear
US – biggest importer of Vietnam footwear

VOV.VN - The US has become the biggest importer of Vietnam’s footwear products with an import revenue of nearly US$4.1 billion, accounting for 33.9% of the country’s total footwear export value, according to the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO). 

US – biggest importer of Vietnam footwear
Logistics set for high growth, marine transport expected to benefit
Logistics set for high growth, marine transport expected to benefit

Vietnam's logistics sector is expected to maintain high growth this year, according to a Vietcombank Securities (VCBS) report.

Logistics set for high growth, marine transport expected to benefit
Developing collective management organisations for copyright
Developing collective management organisations for copyright

Japanese experts in the field of copyright and related right protection shared experience with their Vietnamese colleagues in how to develop collective management organisations (CMOs) for copyright and related rights at a workshop on January 28. 

Developing collective management organisations for copyright
Fishery and farm exporters urged to study EU regulations
Fishery and farm exporters urged to study EU regulations

Vietnamese firms involved in fishery and agricultural products were urged to study the sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) of the European Union (EU) markets to opimise opportunities for both sides.

Fishery and farm exporters urged to study EU regulations
Creditors may be allowed to go bankrupt
Creditors may be allowed to go bankrupt

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) would consider allowing some ailing financial companies and people's credit funds to declare bankruptcy this year, according to Deputy Governor Nguyen Phuoc Thanh.

Creditors may be allowed to go bankrupt
Exporters' outlook for 2016 remains mixed
Exporters' outlook for 2016 remains mixed

Vietnamese export firms have mixed feelings, both happy and worried, about business prospects for this year. 

Exporters' outlook for 2016 remains mixed
CIEM: Vietnam's economy to grow at 6.82%
CIEM: Vietnam's economy to grow at 6.82%

Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) is forecasted to expand 6.82% in 2016, according to the macroeconomic report for quarter IV, the whole year of 2015 and the outlook for 2016 announced by the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) on January 28.

CIEM: Vietnam's economy to grow at 6.82%
Industrial production index surges nearly 6% in January
Industrial production index surges nearly 6% in January

Vietnam’s index of industrial production (IIP) in January posted a 5.9% increase year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Industrial production index surges nearly 6% in January
Thai cement group boosts investment in Vietnam
Thai cement group boosts investment in Vietnam

Thailand's Siam Cement Group (SCG), which has invested US$700 million in Vietnam since 1992, plans to expand its operations in the country, especially in the cement and upstream petrochemical sectors, according to Thailand’s “The Nation” newspaper.

Thai cement group boosts investment in Vietnam
Newly established firms increase 21% in January
Newly established firms increase 21% in January

Vietnam saw 8,320 new enterprises begin operations, with total capital of VND59.3 trillion (US$2.7 billion) in the first month of this year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Newly established firms increase 21% in January
Western region prepares specialty fruits for Tet
Western region prepares specialty fruits for Tet

VOV.VN -Farmers in the Mekong Delta, the country's largest fruit cultivation area, are busy preparing specialty fruits for the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. Hoa Loc mango, green grapefruit, durian, and red dragon fruit are among the most in demand.

Western region prepares specialty fruits for Tet
Vietnamese fashion brands warned about more competitive future
Vietnamese fashion brands warned about more competitive future

When import tariffs on fashion products fall from 20% to zero% after the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) takes effect, Vietnamese fashion brands are expected to encounter significant challenges.

Vietnamese fashion brands warned about more competitive future
2015 phone exports exceed US$30 billion
2015 phone exports exceed US$30 billion

Vietnam shipped abroad phones and phone components worth US$30.18 billion last year, up 27.9% from a year earlier, according to the General Department of Customs.

2015 phone exports exceed US$30 billion
Newly established firms increase 21% in January
Newly established firms increase 21% in January

Vietnam saw 8,320 new enterprises begin operations, with total capital of VND59.3 trillion (US$2.7 billion) in the first month of this year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Newly established firms increase 21% in January
PetroVietnam Southern Gas to offload its shares in CNG
PetroVietnam Southern Gas to offload its shares in CNG

 PetroVietnam Southern Gas (PGS) approved the divestment of its 14.9 million shares, a 55.2% stake, in natural gas producer CNG Vietnam Joint Stock Company (CNG) on January 27.

PetroVietnam Southern Gas to offload its shares in CNG
Standard Chartered forecasts Vietnam’s GDP growth at 6.9%
Standard Chartered forecasts Vietnam’s GDP growth at 6.9%

Standard Chartered Bank expects Vietnam’s GDP growth to accelerate to 6.9% in 2016, higher than its previous forecast of 6.6% driven by better construction activity and manufacturing strength amidst continued strength in FDI inflows. 

Standard Chartered forecasts Vietnam’s GDP growth at 6.9%
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