BUSINESS IN BRIEF 16/3

Meeting tackles difficulties facing Japan’s food firms, Vietnam imports 2,300 tonnes of beef from US, Australia, Japanese firm takes acquisition route to VN beauty market, Vietnamese fruit and veg entering strict markets

VTVcab to hold $263mn IPO in April

 Viet Nam Television Cable Corporation Limited Company (VTVcab) will float nearly 42.3 million shares in its initial public offering (IPO) on April 17 on Ha Noi Stock Exchange.

VN central bank issues bills valued at nearly $1.9bn

 The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) issued bills worth some VND43 trillion (US$1.89 billion) in the past week to withdraw money from the banking system.

Assets of Vietnamese banks reach US$440.5bn in 2017

 Total assets of banks in Viet Nam by the end of last year surged 17.62 per cent against 2016 to VND10 quadrillion (US$440.5 billion).

Hanoi to host photo exhibition on beauty

 An exhibition showcasing foreign people and international landscapes through the lens of Vietnamese photographers will open at Vietnam Art Photograph Archives and Exhibition Centre on Ton That Thuyet Street on March 17.

Book of those born in Year of Renewal marked best-seller

The book 1987, containing stories of those born in 1987 — the first year after the initiation of the country’s famous Doi Moi policy — has become a best-seller, with 10,000 copies selling out only three months after its release.

Vietnamese goods less competitive because of high costs, bad design

A report from the World Bank released in 2017 showed that business costs in Vietnam are much higher than in other regional countries such as Malaysia and Singapore.

Vegetable prices plunge in northern and central regions

 VietNamNet Bridge – After waking up at 5am, Nguyen Thi Oanh, a farmer in Hanoi’s Ba Vi District, headed to the field to cut cabbages and carried them to the local market for sale.

Seminar talks fruit, veg exports

 Viet Nam’s fruit and vegetable exports are expected to top US$4.5 billion by 2020, with fruits accounting for $3.6 billion, according to the Crop Production Department.

4 dead from suspected alcohol poisoning, 1 critical

 Four persons have died, and one is in critical condition after drinking rice spirit in the central province of Quang Nam.

VN in next round in Davis, Fed Cups

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam beat Sri Lanka 2-1 in the third-round match at the Junior Davis Cup in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday.

Lam Dong: Waste treatment factory found dumping waste illegally

 Environmental police in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on Wednesday found about 40,000 tonnes of solid waste dumped illegally in the area of Da Lat Waste Treatment Factory in Xuan Truong Commune, Da Lat City.

VN, Russian soloists perform at “Musical Journey through Europe”

 Vietnamese violinist Bui Cong Duy and Russian cellist Dmitri Feygin will perform at the Musical Journey through Europe concert at the HCM City Opera House on March 18.

Francophone Day to be celebrated in VN

 A variety of activities, including art events, concerts, film screenings and a writing contest will be held nationwide to celebrate International Francophone Day 2018 in Viet Nam.

Dong Thap win national U19 football event

 VietNamNet Bridge – Dong Thap won the National U19 Football Tournament after beating defending champions Hanoi 3-2 in a penalty shootout at Tu Do Stadium in Hue City yesterday.

Up to 6 storms, tropical depressions affect mainland in 2018

 Among 12-13 storms forecast to enter East Sea, up to six are forecast to directly affect the mainland in 2018, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecastings.

Quang Ninh: flower festival to take place earlier than scheduled

 The People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province’s Uong Bi city on March 15 announced to change the time for the 2018 Cherry blossom – Yen Tu yellow ochna flower festival.

Outstanding young persons in 2017

 Outstanding young persons in 2017

Russian Foreign Minister to visit Vietnam

 Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov will pay an official visit to Vietnam from March 19-20.

RoK President to pay State visit to Vietnam

 President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Moon Jae-in and his spouse will pay a State visit to Vietnam from March 22-24.

Dialogue seeks to promote fishery cooperation in East Sea

The Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and the Embassy of Australia co-hosted the second Ocean Dialogue in Hanoi on March 15, focusing on fishery cooperation in the East Sea.

Blackberry modified to 'help drug cartels'

 The chief executive of a company that created highly-secure smartphones allegedly used by some of the world's most notorious criminals has been indicted.

Hue builds ironwood-floored road along Huong riverbank

 A 380m ironwood-floored pedestrian road is under construction along the southern bank of Huong River, one of the most well-known destinations in Hue city in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

Deadline for end of analogue TV broadcasting set for December 31

 Central and local television stations must stop analogue broadcasting before December 31, 2018 under an amendment to Decision No.2451/QD-TTg on transmission, terrestrial TV broadcasting digitalisation by 2020.

Frenchman wins award for cultural museum in Hoi An

 French photographer Réhahn, based in Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam, won the Trophées des Francais de l’étranger in recognition of his art gallery and museum in Hoi An, in a ceremony in Quai d’Orsay, Paris, this week.