\Russia’s Kaluga Oblast is willing to give incentives and help Vietnamese enterprises invest in the region, a local official has said.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has proposed building a draft law on investment in public-private partnership (PPP) models, including BOT (build-operate-transfer) form, which is expected to become a legal foundation for all PPP investment activities.

Dak Lak authorities have allowed 18 investors to conduct survey and build solar power projects in the Central Highland province after considering their financial capacity and experience.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) is currently the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam, and its increasing presence in Vietnam’s stock market is helping attract indirect Korean investment in the country, said Chairman of the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSCV) Tran Van Dung.

The northern province of Phu Tho hopes Japanese businesses will continue expanding investments in the Vietnamese locality and commits to creating favourable conditions for their operation.

More Asian brands, particularly those from Southeast Asia, have been franchised to the Vietnamese market, with seven foreign franchises licensed in Vietnam this year.

The government has set a target of disbursing all public investment capital in 2018 although it acknowledged that this is a tough task, said Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue. 

After setting foot in the automobile manufacturing industry, Vingroup, the leading real estate group in the country, shows ambitions to jump into the US$5.3 billion pharmaceutical sector.

Numerous investors, including foreign investors, intend to invest in the suspended Chu Lai Soda processing plant invested by Chu Lai Soda Processing JSC, despite its debts exceeding VND3 trillion (US$131.58 million).

The stock market has shown positive reactions to the disclosure of the government’s intention to slash the corporate income tax (CIT) from 20-22% to 15-17%.

Inspired by many Republic of Korea (RoK)'s businesses and investors making a splash in Vietnam, many RoK's financial institutions are seeking to further invest or shore up their operations here. And it is not only RoK's businesses, but local ones too that such investors are aiming at.

With their home only a two-hour flight away, investors of luxury apartments from Hong Kong are now looking to the emerging city of Hanoi, where accommodation is cheaper than elsewhere in the region.

Long An authority had a dialogue on April 6 with representatives of business of the Republic of Korea to remove obstacles in their production and business in the southern province.

The central province of Nghe An is striving to lure eight foreign direct investment (FDI) projects worth US$100 million in 2018.

The northern province of Vinh Phuc has called for investments in support industries for automobile, motorbike and electronic production, said Nguyen Van Tri, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.

VOV.VN - Nafoods Group JSC has opened a new fruit and veg production and processing complex with an annual capacity of 9,000 tons in the district of Duc Hoa in Long An province.

Vietnam Dairy Products JSC (Vinamilk) will invest in four high-tech dairy farms in the north central province of Thanh Hoa until 2020, said Vinamilk General Director Mai Kieu Lien.

The southern province of Binh Phuoc has attracted 11 investment projects totalling US$100 million in the first quarter of 2018, approximately equal to this year’s target.

Korean retail giant Lotte is considering whether to open more stores in major Vietnamese cities, including the capital city of Hanoi and the southern largest economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City.

The Central Highlands province of Dak Nong has approved in principle a solar power project, worth VND1.1 trillion (US$48.4 million), in Truc Son commune, Cu Jut district, the provincial People’s Committee announced on April 4.

Construction of a Japanese-funded wind and solar power project began in Quy Nhon city, the central province of Binh Dinh on April 3.

The northern city of Hai Phong attracted US$916 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first quarter of this year, surging by 332.34% from the same period in 2017.

VOV.VN - The central province of Quang Nam has so far attracted 153 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with a total registered capital of US$5.58 billion, with five new FDI projects worth US$12.4 million being licensed in the first quarter of this year, according to statistics released by the province.

The Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh attracted 26 investment projects worth over VND407 billion in the first three months of 2018, up 18 projects against the same period last year. 

In Q1/2018, total FDI from new investments, addition to existing projects and share purchase reached US$5.8 billion, equal to 75.2% of the same period last year.

A total of 1,285 deals were made by foreign investors to contribute capital to and buy shares of Vietnamese businesses with total capital of US$1.89 billion in the first quarter of this year, up 121.6% against the same period last year.

BS Heidelberg Solar GmbH of Germany said it plans to invest in two solar power projects in Vietnam’s southern province of Hau Giang, namely Hau Giang I and Hau Giang II. 

Real estate lured investment of VND79.2 trillion (US$3.48 billion) in the first quarter this year, accounting for 28.4% of total registered capital in the period, the highest of all sectors, the Ministry of Planning and Investment reported.

Vietnam will provide all possible conditions it can for international investors, donors and organisations to get involved in developing transport infrastructure in the country, said Transport Minister Nguyen Van The.

The Hong Kong-based Sunwah Group wants to invest in steel production using high, environmentally-friendly technology in Vietnam and boost cooperation in education, solar energy and tourism with the country, said Chairman Jonathan Choi.