With housing demand remaining strong, banks are optimistic 2017 will be a big year for mortgages.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and this city’s People’s Committee hosted the launch of Vietnamese Consumer Rights Day 2017, themed 'Enterprise for Customers', here on March 12.

Vietnam’s total export earnings hit US$13 billion in February, raising the total in the first two months of this year to US$27.3 billion, up 15.4% annually, said the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT). 

The Ministry of Science and Technology has urged farmers in the Mekong Delta to embrace technology to develop smart agriculture.

Vietnam’s construction contractors require the execution of suitable strategies to attain success in foreign markets, experts have said.

VOV.VN - Vietnam imported more than US$164 million worth of fruit and vegetables during the first two months of this year with 70% of the figure coming from Thailand and China, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

VOV.VN - The Vietnam government contends the ban by the Australian Department of Agriculture on raw imports is ‘causing serious damage’ to the country’s shrimp farmers and exporters, and has requested it be reversed.

Vietnam will continue reforming its economy, improving the business climate and fully implementing the commitments it has made to the free trade agreements (FTAs), actively contributing to regional economic and trade integration.

Companies that want to enter the global supply chain should show initiative and make concerted steps to enhance their capacity and growth, Dr Shantanaru Bhattacharya of Singapore Management University said at a forum held in HCM City on March 10.

Banks’ finance reports in 2016 show good news and bad news. Most of them had profits higher than the year before, but the number of non-performing loans increased.

Falling demand and overseas competition are expected to bite into Vietnam's rice exports.

Viet Capital Securities Corporation (VCSC) may list on the stock market in the third quarter of 2017, HCM Securities Corporation (HSC) said in a recent report.

The People’s Committee of the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang met representatives of the Viet-Uc Seafood Joint Stock Company on March 9 to discuss building the first high quality shrimp farm in the locality. 

Reforms in taxation procedures have elicited increased satisfaction from enterprises over the last two years, but they continue to expect further simplification, a survey by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has found.

Many Vietnamese rice exporters are facing difficulties after China authorised only 22 Vietnamese businesses to export rice into the country.

VOV.VN - Nearly one hundred farmers and exporters recently attended a business forum on the ins and outs of contract fish and shrimp farming for US based retail giant Walmart, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.

On February 24, 2017, the Vietnamese government released the new transfer pricing (TP) Decree No. 20/2017/ND-CP ‘Providing tax administration applicable to enterprises having controlled transactions’ (Decree 20), which will take effect from May 1, 2017.

The wood processing sector will have more room for development as Vietnam participates in more free trade agreements, according to the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCM City (HAWA).

The National Financial Supervisory Commission (NFSC) has reported that credit in the first month of the year saw a growth rate of 1%, the highest month-on-month increase over the past five years.

Delegates to the UN high-level meeting for the Euro-Asia region on improving cooperation on transit, trade facilitation and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development will seek how to work together to facilitate international trade on their second day in Hanoi on March 8.

Ho Chi Minh City’s authorities always create favourable conditions for foreign enterprises, especially those from Japan, to invest in the city, said Secretary of the municipal Party’s Committee Dinh La Thang.

Vietnamese food is drawing attention at the 42nd FOODEX, Japan’s largest international food and beverage exhibition, which opened in Chiba prefecture on March 7. 

 A high-level UN meeting in Hanoi on March 7 discussed challenges and opportunities in developing transit infrastructure and corridors.

The business community acknowledged progress in the tax sector’s administrative reform but urged more efforts in improving law quality, simplifying procedures, applying IT and cutting informal costs, according to a report released at a workshop in Hanoi on March 7. 

Electronic commerce in Vietnam has been growing at an average 22% a year, following the world trend of combining traditional and online sale, heard a conference on new trends of e-commerce in the southern province of Dong Nai on March 7.

Compared to 2016, banks are looking at brighter prospects in 2017 as many indexes look like they are on a trend of improvement.

The Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) will maintain its controlling stake in major ports and divest from others as it targets increased efficiency and profitability of core services over the next five years.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) wants to work with Ho Chi Minh City in tacking urban issues, such as traffic congestion and waste treatment, said President of the bank Jin Liqun.

Foreign direct investment flows into Vietnam’s real estate sector hit US$345.5 million in February, accounting for 10.1 percent in total FDI poured into the country, increasing by 12 times year-on-year.

Vietnam shipped abroad an estimated 193,000 tonnes of rubber for US$392 million in the first two months of this year.