BUSINESS IN BRIEF 24/8

 Survey finds optimistic outlook for Q3, Exports at $6.68 billion in first half of August, $154 million in 20-year goverment bonds issued in July, PVN acts to offset oil price fall, HCM City sees funding for transport projects tripling in 2016-2020

Local firm caught importing tusks

 Local police on August 21 seized 2.2 tonnes of tusks smuggled into Vietnam from Nigeria.

Eco-friendly tour launched at Tram Chim National Park

 A green sight-seeing tour was launched at Tram Chim National Park in Tam Nong district, the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, on August 22.

Tennis: Nam reaches semis at Egypt F27 Futures

 Vietnam’s top tennis player Ly Hoang Nam reached the semi-final stage at the Egypt F27 Men’s Futures, which is taking place at Sharm El Sheikh town in Egypt.

Representative of Vietnam elected as AFF deputy chairman

 Tran Quoc Tuan of Vietnam was elected as Deputy Chairman of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) for the 2015-19 term during the federation's 22nd congress held in Yangon, Myanmar on August 22, according to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

Int’l organisations laud SBV exchange rate adjustment

 International organisations lauded the exchange rate and amplitude adjustments made by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) as a timely and appropriate move to cushion external shocks.

Vietnam’s gold consumption falls 23 percent

 Vietnam's gold consumption in the second quarter reached 14.5 tonnes, down 23 percent in comparison with the first quarter, according to a report on gold trends released recently by the World Gold Council.

HCM City canal may be upgraded for $234 million

 The Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City has asked permission from the city government to upgrade the Xuyen Tam Canal under the form of a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) agreement.

Book on Vietnam’s martial art translated into French

 A French edition of the first book on the history of the Vietnamese martial art made its debut on August 22.

Amnesty demonstrates Vietnam’s humanitarian tradition

 The granting of amnesty to prisoners reflects the clement policy of the Vietnamese Party and State and the humanitarian tradition of the nation, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said in an article on the occasion of the 70th National Day.

Vietnam, Costa Rica convene second political consultation

 Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc and his Costa Rica counterpart Alejandro Solano Ortiz co-chaired the second political consultation between the two countries’ foreign ministries in San José, Costa Rica on August 20.

Vietnam attends FEALAC seventh Foreign Ministers Meeting

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc attended the seventh Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Forum for East Asia – Latin American Cooperation, held in San Jose, capital of Costa Rica, on August 21.

Vietnam affirms close cooperation in transport with Laos, Cambodia

  The transport ministries of Vietnam and Laos have affirmed close cooperation in all aspects of the transport sector at an annual bilateral ministerial meeting in Hanoi on August 22.

Vietnam, Uzbekistan celebrate national events

 A celebration marking the National Days of Vietnam (September 2) and Uzbekistan (September 1) was held in Hanoi on August 22.

Experts warn against mass investment in waste incinerators

 Experts are cautioning localities against massive investment into waste incinerators as they pose high risk to the environment and public health.

Image: Streets for youth in Hanoi to escape the heat

 VietNamNet Bridge – In summer, these streets become the favorite destinations of Hanoians, particularly the young and tourists at night.

Professionals see value of training

 VietNamNet Bridge – After one year working for a Japanese company, Le Van Thai decided to continue to take a training course in technology because he was aware of the importance of vocational training.

VN to boost IT application in gov't

 Viet Nam's Government is set to release a resolution this month aimed at boosting the use of e-Government programmes.

Photos: Nine households hold on in old Saigon building

 VietNamNet Bridge – Once a symbol of the prosperity of magnificent Saigon, the 727 Tran Hung Dao apartment building in District 1 has seriously degraded, with only a few households living in the dark and deserted space.

Redtail catfish is in high demand

Vietnamese Goods Agriculture (VietGAP) Practices will be used to breed Asian redtail catfish in Hong NguDistrict in Dong Thap Province.

In pictures: Luxury mansions of Vietnamese tycoons

 VietNamNet Bridge – Located from north to south, villas and mansions of Vietnamese tycoons have contributed to spread their reputation throughout the country.

Queuing theory critical to IT growth

Queuing theory played an important role in the development of telephone system, Internet, mobile phone network and information and technology (IT).

Rules for Viet Kieu made much easier

HCM City has made significant improvements in administrative reform to better serve overseas Vietnamese and encourage them to invest in the country.

Da Lat’s cultivation area for arabica coffee shrinks

Da Lat’s arabica coffee is well-known for its quality, as recognised by Starbucks, which recently began selling it at its stores. But the size of the arabica-coffee growing area in Da Lat is shrinking. 

Veteran helps locate comrades' remains

 VietNamNet Bridge – At 2.15pm every day, Pham Song Toan, 75, turns on the television to watch the programme, "In Search of Former Comrades in Arms".