Agencies under the Ministry of Industry and Trade should adapt their management practices and policies to reflect the new economic reality, said deputy minister Tran Quoc Khanh.

(VOV) - Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on December 16 encouraged the use of consumers paying for goods and services electronically as a substitute for using cash in a speech at an e-payment forum held in Hanoi.

(VOV) - The commercial and residential real estate market in Ho Chi Minh City is going great guns and there’s been a marked improvement in mortgage lending practices, reports Shanghai-headquartered securities brokerage and wealth manager, BNP Partners.

(VOV) - The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) held a press conference on December 16 in Hanoi to provide an update for the news media on the current status of forming agricultural value chains in Vietnam.

(VOV) - Vietnam’s commercial trade with Russia has tapered off dramatically in 2015 having registered just US$1.8 billion during the first 10 months of 2015, far off the target set for the year.

(VOV) - The Vietnam-China international trade fair 2015 officially opened in Mong Cai city in the northern province of Quang Ninh on December 16. 

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has estimated that the trade deficit may be as high as US$4 billion in 2015. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has predicted the figure would be higher than US$6 billion, far outstripping last year’s US$0.6 billion.

The People's Committee of southern Kien Giang province has announced the Prime Minister's decision to establish the Phu Quoc Economic Zone management board. 

The Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (Vicofa) said the 2014-2015 coffee crop has seen sharp declines in both export volume and revenue due to unfavorable global market developments.

(VOV) - Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. – the US leading furniture brand has officially inaugurated its first showroom in Hanoi. 

Seafood companies are experiencing tough days, but they are still spending big money to take over companies in the same field to prevent their situation from becoming even worse.

Changing top managers was a highlight of Vietnamese banks in 2015.

(VOV) - The Hau Giang Provincial People’s Committee and Malaysian Toyo Ink Group on December 15 initialed a contract for Song Hau 2 Thermal Power Plant BOT project in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh has directed ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies and People's Committees of provinces to speed up the transfer of State capital ownership in State-owned enterprises to the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC).

From 1st Dec 2015 to 15th Jan 2016, customers of Circle K convenience store chain will have the opportunity to win hundreds of thousands of attractive prizes when participating in the “Wishing, Buying, Winning” promotion campaign.

Do Hoang Anh Tuan, deputy minister of finance, said reduction in the world crude price to US$36 per barrel in future transactions would not affect budget revenue this year.

US investments in Vietnam are expected to rapidly increase due to Vietnam's potential for consumption and new business opportunities, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment's Foreign Investment Agency (FIA).

Farm owners will soon be able to borrow more capital to invest in their businesses, said Le DucThinh, Deputy Director of the Economic Co-operation and Rural Development Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). 

Despite cement exports forecast to be lower than that of 2014, a supply-and-demand balance would be maintained thanks to increasing domestic demand. 

Vietnamese food, confectionary, household appliances, electronic products and steel are being showcased at 20 booths at the 10th Cambodia Import- Export & One Province One Product Exhibition (CIE &OPOP).

The Prime Minister has recently approved the equitisation plan of the Vietnam Medical Equipment Corporation (Vinamed), which has a total chartered capital of VND88 billion (US$3.9 million).

The new circular from the Ministry of Finance, providing guidance on trading rules for unlisted securities, is expected to improve the transparency of public companies and better protect investors' interests.

(VOV) - The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has enacted legislation establishing a new inspection regimen significantly impacting exports of tra fish, the major farmed freshwater species of the Mekong Delta.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Operation Centre adjusted the reference exchange rate between the Vietnamese dong (VND) and the USD up by VND90 on the morning of December 15. 

(VOV) - On December 14, Agribank announced it has opted to partner with Eurogiro to provide the bank with ‘greatly enhanced cross border remittance services’ to better serve its customers’ needs.

(VOV) -The Canada – Vietnam two-way trade increased significantly in the first nine months of this year, hitting US$2.8 billion, reprorts Canada’s statistics agency. 

Developing the agricultural value chain in the Mekong Delta was focus of the national policy dialogue forum held in Hanoi on December 14.

Despite the recent revision to the Law on Housing, which has created a more favourable legal system for foreigners to buy and own houses in Vietnam, there are still some barriers which should be removed to encourage foreign buyers.

(VOV) - On December 14, , the Belgian-based investor, Rent-A-Port, held a ground breaking ceremony of South Dinh Vu Industrial Zone II – Deep C II and construction commencement of the Gateway Commercial and Logistics Business Centre – CDC Haiphong at South Dinh Vu IZ. 

Yeon In Jung, the recently-appointed CEO of Doosan Vina, spoke with VIR about the company’s upcoming plans to make greater contributions to Vietnam’s growth by capitalising on the strength of the local workforce.