The Ministry of Finance on December 21 issued a list of preferential tariffs for goods from the Republic of Korea (RoK), a step in implementing the Vietnam–RoK Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA) in 2015-2018. 

(VOV) - Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts – a leading hotel management group from Switzerland has signed a contract for the management of Mövenpick Resort Cam Ranh Bay in central Khanh Hoa province. The project investor is Eurowindow Nha Trang Tourism Investment Joint Stock Company. 

Sundar Pichai, CEO of US Google Inc., will join a meeting with a group of selected Vietnamese entrepreneurs and the startup community in Hanoi on December 22 on the occasion of his first visit to Vietnam.

(VOV) - Footwear exports are estimated at US$1.05 billion in November, up 10.2% against last year’s figure. This brings the total export revenue in 11 months to nearly US$11 billion, an increase of 16.3% against the corresponding period last year.

Thai-owned Amata Vietnam Company Ltd has announced plans to invest over US$2.2 billion to build new zones in Vietnam.

Locally-produced fast moving consumer goods were urged to improve their competitiveness to occupy the home market as the challenge from imported products was anticipated to become stronger.

The northern mountainous province of Yen Bai stands ready to provide all possible support for businesses, including electricity, water, banking, telecommunications and information technology services. 

Vietnam's exports, especially agro-forestry and fisheries, will face difficulties in 2016 if the country does not drastically restructure the industry, Tran Tuan Anh, deputy minister of Industry and Trade said.

The capitalization of Vietnam’s stock market was estimated at more than VND1,325 trillion (US$58.8 billion), equal to 34% of the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP), this year.

Vietnam remains to be in top five of the world’s largest apparel exporters by raking in US$28 billion from shipping garment products to foreign countries in 2015.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and Timor Leste Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment signed a memorandum of understanding on rice trade in Hanoi on December 21. 

(VOV) - As many as 50 outstanding enterprises for laborers will be honored on December 26 as announced at a press conference in Hanoi on December 21.

The property market in industrial parks (IPs) shows great potential for development with enterprises looking for better production and business opportunities once free trade agreements come into effect. 

The Vietnam National Coffee Corporation (Vinacafe) will be equitised in 2017, following a directive of the government on restructuring the Ho Chi Minh City-based company.

The lack of a public-private partnership project list from the Vietnamese government is among many obstacles discouraging private foreign investors from investing in these projects in Vietnam.

(VOV) - Over recent years, the government has allowed increasing numbers of foreign transnational companies to invest in property, plant and equipment and operate businesses that compete head-on in the domestic retail market.

Asbestos has been an important construction material for Vietnam and a valuable export product over the previous years, however, in 2014 the Vietnamese government decided to phase out production and use of the material, given its adverse impact on human health.

The Vietnam National Coal and Minerals Industrial Group (Vinacomin) on December 20 inaugurated Dong Nai 5 Hydropower plant in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, one of the key projects in the country’s Power Development Plan 7.

Amid the recovery of the real estate market, experts have rung early alarm bells about the risk of supply and demand imbalance by the recent boom in high-end housing projects.

(VOV) - As many as 770 Japan restaurants are operating in Vietnam, including more than 400 in HCM City, creating fiercer completion in the highly lucrative market, according to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

(VOV) - Exports of telephones and components hit a record high of US$2.78 billion in November, up 4.4% from a month earlier, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Vietnam may sue the US Department of Agricultural Food Safety Inspection Service over its new regulations, which will make it extremely difficult for tra fish farmers to qualify their exports for the US market.

The growth model for economic and industrial zones continues to play a significant role in attracting domestic and foreign direct investment, as well as furthering national development. 

Only two out of 15,000 enterprises in the central city have invested in technological research in production.

Singapore's CapitaLand Ltd is looking to invest in Vietnam's office property segment, its country head said, as the real estate developer seeks to grow its portfolio beyond residential and serviced apartments in the fast-growing economy.

The free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) came into effect on December 20, according to a Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) press release.

The Hanoi-Moscow trade centre, part of the Hanoi-Moscow Complex (Incentra) was inaugurated in Moscow, Russia on December 19. 

The Argentinean news agency Telam on December 18 ran an article extolling Vietnam on its significant achievements after nearly 30 years of “Doi Moi” (reform).

The Vietnam General Department of Taxation is pushing head with tax reform in line with international practice, said Deputy General Director Nguyen Dai Tri at a workshop in Hanoi on December 18.

E-retailing or e-commerce has become popular in Vietnam since 2004 with the number of online customers having been on the rise.