Banks offer preferential credit packages to businesses   


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Banks have launched credit packages with preferential interest rates, aiming to assist capital sources for businesses and further boost domestic production.

The Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BIDV) has introduced a new credit package worth VND20 trillion (US$892.8 million), with a preferential interest rate from now until mid-2018.

Accordingly, borrowers can enjoy an annual interest rate of 6.5 per cent for short-term loans and from 7.2 per cent for long-term loans. Besides, customers who seek to do business would join many preferential programmes from other services, such as internet banking and insurance.

Since the beginning of this year, BIDV successfully implemented two preferential packages worth VND25 trillion to support manufacturing businesses.

Meanwhile, Southeast Asia Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SeABank) has also launched a new programme, which provides preferential loans to corporate customers.

Borrowers could receive up to VND1.5 trillion at an annual rate of 7.5 per cent for loans in Vietnamese dong and 3 per cent for loans in US dollar. Based on financial needs, the bank will provide the best consultancy services to help enterprises improve the efficiency of capital.

In fact, many Vietnamese enterprises, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are still facing long-standing difficulties in accessing loans.

According to banking and financial expert Can Van Luc, most SMEs have a low management capacity and outdated technology, they lack transparency in information and feasible business plans, and do not have adequate assets for mortgages, making them ineligible for banking loans

Credit institutions are hesitant to lend SMEs money for the same reasons. Luc noted that these problems were compounded by complex banking procedures and a shortage of appropriate loan packages for SMEs.

Hoang Thi Hong, director of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Development Fund under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said it was necessary to develop a database about SMEs for credit institutions to use while evaluating.

In addition, capital-raising channels should be diversified, rather than largely dependent on banks, for instance, while raising capital from the securities market, Hong said. 

State Treasury mobilises nearly US$1.5bn from G-bonds     

The State Treasury of Viet Nam has so far successfully mobilised VND34 trillion (US$1.49 billion) via Government bond (G-bond) auctions.

This accounts for more than 75 per cent of the total bonds planned to issue in the first quarter of this year.

According to the latest report of Bao Viet Securities Company (BVSC), in the auction last week alone, the State Treasury offered for sale a large volume of 20-year and 30-year G-bonds worth VND4 trillion.

At the auction, 99 per cent and 96 per cent of the 20-year and 30-year bonds, respectively, were bought at the interest rates of 5.1 per cent and 5.39 per cent, down 0.1 and 0.01 percentage points against the previous auction, respectively.

According to BVSC, the success of these auctions comes from the abundant liquidity in the banking system after Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) holidays.

Thanks to the good liquidity, the interest rate of dong loans in the inter-bank market last week decline sharply by 0.29 to 0.49 percentage points for most terms against the previous week.

Specifically, the overnight rate dropped to 0.91 per cent against more than 3 per cent before Tet. The rates for one-week and two-week loans also reduced to 1.17 and 1.44 per cent, respectively.

The National Financial Supervisory Commission has predicted that the G-bond market in 2018 will see modest changes against last year, thanks to the economic growth of more than 6.7 per cent and inflation of below 4 per cent.

The value of G-bonds issued in 2018 is estimated at some VND180 trillion, with the focus being on long-term maturity and keeping the interest rate at low levels.

G-bonds worth VND159.9 trillion and having an average maturity of 13.52 years, up 4.81 years against 2016, were issued last year. The bonds had an average annual interest rate of some 6.07 per cent, down 0.2 percentage points against 2016, the Ministry of Finance said.

VN, Netherlands to boost agricultural co-operation     

Dutch businesses have shown interest in Viet Nam’s agriculture sector in general and the vegetable processing industry in particular as the industry has grown well in recent years.

This was said by Dutch Agricultural Counsellor in Viet Nam Arie Veldhuizen at a conference in Ha Noi on Wednesday to connect Vietnamese and Dutch agricultural businesses. The conference was organised by the Netherlands Embassy in Viet Nam and saw the participation of some 150 enterprises from the two countries.

Veldhuizen said Dutch companies, such as De Heus, Friesland Campina and PejaViet Nam, were interested in investing in Vietnamese agriculture.

According to an assessment of the Netherlands Embassy in Viet Nam, the bilateral relationship between Viet Nam and the Netherlands is a win-win situation in which Vietnamese enterprises and farmers can learn about and utilise advanced technology to improve their competitiveness.

The growth in agriculture is not only attributed to the efforts of Vietnamese enterprises but also Viet Nam’s Government, which is showing increasing concern about the development of chain goods and has been investing in modern machinery and technology to increase the value and quality of products, Veldhuizen said.

However, many opinions suggest that the agricultural sector of Viet Nam is still limited in the application of advanced cultivation techniques, and logistics services for harvesting and preserving have gained little interest of local investors. Developing the value chain, on the other hand, needs large investment by enterprises and policy support from the Government.

The Netherlands, for example, is a small country, with a low area of cultivated land and a small population (some 17 million people), but with policies and appropriate steps, it has successfully built a system of sustainable agriculture, the most competitive and effective in the world.

According to Veldhuizen, to develop the agricultural sector towards the value chain, it is important to link businesses together. As businesses of many countries meet, they can explore and exchange new opportunities for co-operation in future.

Vietnamese firms urged to work to win WB, ADB bids     

Vietnamese businesses should actively seek information and grasp the development and investment strategies of banks to win bids for projects financed by the World Bank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), said representatives of the two banks on Thursday.

The information was released in Ha Noi at the workshop entitled “Winning Contracts in the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank Financed Projects” co-hosted by the two banks and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

Achim Fock, Portfolio & Operations Manager in the World Bank office in Viet Nam, said the workshop aimed to share information for Vietnamese enterprises to gain access to WB and ADB financed projects. It also updated regulations on bidding and methods to prepare the tender, in order to help enterprises gain the capacity to win the bids.

There are currently 47 projects in various sectors, with the largest investment being related to infrastructure such as construction, water supply and drainage and transport.

It is expected that in the 2018-20 period, the WB will lend Viet Nam about US$4 billion, according to Achim.

Head of Project Administration Unit of ADB in Viet Nam Steven Schipani said the ADB would focus more on transport, energy and water supply this year. Capital would focus on the transport sector, he said, but would not be small for other sectors.

The total capital of all ADB projects in Viet Nam as of March 2018 was 59 projects with a total capital of US$7.5 billion, of which $3.5 billion had not yet been disbursed, so Vietnamese companies would have many opportunities to join ADB-financed projects, Steven said.

At the workshop, World Bank’s representative introduced new features in the bidding framework that is applied by both the WB and the ADB.

The new policy framework will minimise risk by providing more options and tools, increasing efficiency by offering tailored procurement mechanisms that are applicable to all types of tender. The banks’ core procurement principles include fairness, transparency, efficiency, fit for purpose, value of money and integrity.

"For the first time, the two Banks will allow any contract award decisions to be based on criteria other than lowest price, including quality and sustainability and has significantly improved the approach to resolving procurement-related complaints," Achim said.

According to Luu Hong Giang, deputy general director of Bach Dang Construction Corporation, which has participated in many projects funded by the WB and ADB, in comparison with foreign companies, Vietnamese enterprises have an advantage because they are active in soliciting the labour force.

However, it is common for domestic bidders to be unable to participate in large scale projects administered by the two banks. "We still have limited financial capacity, construction and administration," said Giang.

In addition, the evaluation criteria of the previous technical dossier are not clear and detailed, so many businesses struggle to compile bidding dossiers.

"However, at the present, with the new procurement policy framework, these problems are basically handled. Domestic contractors can fully compete with foreign contractors when taking part in international biddings," said Giang.

Steven said that enterprises seeking bids must understand the requirements of bidding documents and ensure they meet such requirements. With large WB and ADB contracts, businesses can set up joint ventures or use subcontractors, considering individual consultancy services to gain experience and build capacity profiles.

He said it was important to ask the investor for feedback after being rejected for a bid, in order to learn from mistakes and draw experiences to succeed in the future.

"Vietnamese enterprises need to be more active," Steven stressed.

Chairwoman of VCCI’s Science and Technology Council Pham Thi Hang said the improvements in the bidding mechanism were completed with significant contribution from the Viet Nam Party and State, allowing private enterprises to access ODA capital resources and learn more about financial institutions and the processes of WB and ADB procurement.

Ben Tre pomelo, coconut GI certified     

Green-skin pomelo and green Xiem coconut, specialties of the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, have been granted geographical indication (GI) certificate by the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP).

This was announced by the provincial authorities at a ceremony held in Ben Tre on March 15.

The People’s Committee of Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province holds the GI rights.

For green Xiem coconut, the geographical area for GI certification includes Chau Thanh, Cho Lach, Giong Trom, Mo Cay Nam, Mo Cay Bac, Thanh Phu, Ba Tri, as well as Binh Dai districts and Ben Tre City.

GI is also applicable to pomelo grown in Ben Tre City and islets in the districts of Chau Thanh, Binh Dai, Mo Cay Nam, Mo Cay Bac and Cho Lach.

At the ceremony, NOIP director Dinh Huu Phi said the GI for green-skin pomelo and green Xiem coconut would be the basis for enterprises and farmers to develop their market and protect the quality and origin of the products.

He said the GI certification was just the beginning and that in the process of production and business, Ben Tre would face many challenges, especially small-scale production, limitation in production co-operation, unstable quality of product and weak level of joining in the value chain.

Vo Thanh Hao, secretary of Ben Tre Province’s Party Committee, said after receiving the GI certificate, the province would focus on choosing seeds to preserve and improve the quality of the two products.

The province will promote propaganda and publicity for the people, producers and traders. They will become aware that the GI is the common property of the province and of the nation. Therefore, individuals and organisations must be responsible in preserving the GI tag and in developing the two products.

At the same time, the province will build model gardens and organic gardens, connect production and businesses and boost trade promotion through a system of management tools for GI to develop the value chain, strictly manage trademarks, build codes for tracing the origin and create trust for consumers.

The province has also scheduled the registration of GI abroad, especially in key export markets, to develop trade promotion activities and increase exports of the two products.

Green-skin pomelo and green Xiem coconut are considered the major plants in Ben Tre Province with high economic value. Currently, Ben Tre has over 7,200ha of green-skin pomelo and nearly 8,000ha of green Xiem coconut cultivation.

According to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, the GI registration is expected to boost the value of the green Xiem coconut in the domestic market and help expand exports to foreign markets such as the United States, Japan and the European Union.

Small in size with a green skin, each coconut has an average of 258ml of water. Its water is sweeter and different from others in terms of nutrition and health benefits.

The pomelo, which got its name as its skin remains green even when it is ripe, is much sought after in the market for its great taste. The fruit has thin skin, few seeds and pink flesh.

The GI recognition is expected to help Ben Tre expand the market for pomelo and raise the income for local farmers. 

Work starts on five RoK-invested projects in Binh Phuoc

A groundbreaking ceremony for five projects invested by businesses from the Republic of Korea was held on March 16 at Becamex – Binh Phuoc industrial and urban complex in Chon Thanh district, the southern province of Binh Phuoc. 

At the event, the provincial People’s Committee handed over investment licenses to the RoK companies - Hankuk Carbon, River Runs, Misung Industrial, Young Sung, Hankuk Advanced Materials. These firms rent 111ha in the complex and have registered to invest a total of 80 million USD in the projects which will produce carbon and glass fiber, and fishing tools. 

Hankuk Carbon CEO Moon-Soo Cho vowed to ensure construction progress of the project on schedule and in line with the country’s law.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Huynh Anh Minh welcomed the Korean investors’ selection of Binh Phuoc to build plants producing high-tech materials such as carbon fiber. 

He committed to creating favourable conditions for the investors and requested them complete the projects on schedule. 

The Becamex – Binh Phuoc industrial and urban complex sits on a site of 4,633ha, nearly 2,448ha of which is used for industrial areas and the remaining for residential areas. 

Spanning Chon Thanh town and Nha Bich, Thanh Tam and Minh Thanh communes, the complex is invested by the Investment and Industrial Development Corporation (Becamex IDC) at a total cost of 21 trillion VND (933 million USD), expecting to attract upwards 5 billion USD.

The RoK was the second largest foreign investor in Vietnam last year, just behind Japan, with total registered capital of 8.49 billion USD.

In terms of accumulative investment, the country ranked first among 125 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with total investment capital of 57.7 billion USD by the end of December 2017.

Kon Tum seeks investment     

The central highland province of Kon Tum will call for investments during the forthcoming investment promotion conference to be held here on April 22.

Deputy director of Kon Tum Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Dinh Bac told baodautu.vn that his province would advertise its potential to domestic and foreign investors while encouraging them to pump investments in a wide range of sectors, including hi-tech farming, urban infrastructure, and the pharmaceutical and tourism sectors.

Earlier, the provincial People’s Committee published a list of 108 projects, calling for investments until 2020 at a total investment capital of VND84.73 trillion (US$3.71 billion).

Some 27 projects are involved in the agro-forestry sector, 26 in the industry sector and 34 to specialise in trade, services and tourism sectors, besides the 21 in urban infrastructure development.

Among the projects is a 1,000-ha Ngoc Linh ginseng growing project, expected to cost VND2trillion, in Tu Mo Rong District; a 200-ha hi-tech farm, worth VND400 billion, in Kon Tum City, and the Tan Canh solar plant, valued at VND2.3 trillion, in Dak To District.

Others include the infrastructure development of Bo Y Industrial Zone, capitalised at VND7.9 trillion, and a VND-1 trillion urban and tourism complex, covering 380ha in Kon Tum City, and the Dong Bac urban area, expected to cost VND3 trillion.

As of February 2018, the province has lured only eight foreign-invested projects, worth $82.3 million, ranking 55th among 64 localities nation-wide, the latest report from the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Foreign Investment Agency revealed.

Local authorities have vowed to take measures to remove barriers against investors, in line with the government guidelines. 

Vietnamese businesses unite in Russian market

Vietnamese businesses in Russia have agreed to enhance solidarity and mutual support amidst challenges facing the Russian economy. 

Nearly 30 Vietnamese businesspeople gathered a meeting held by the Vietnamese Businesses’ Association in Russia (VBA) on March 17. 

VBA President Le Truong Son suggested Vietnamese enterprises in Russia increase specialisation and professionalisation in order to adapt to the new situation. 

With their determination and efforts, Vietnamese businesses have gained a foothold in the Russian market, he noted. 

Duong Hai An, General Director of Volga-Viet Company, a pioneer investor in agricultural production in Russia, said Russia’s farming sector holds a lot of potential.

Other VBA members said services, retails and cuisine are promising sectors for Vietnamese businesses. 

Vietnam Footwear Summit to discuss new growth models

New trend and growth models in the footwear industry will be the main topic of discussions at the Vietnam Footwear Summit 2018 in Ho Chi Minh City from March 21-22.

According to the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso), the event is expected to help local businesses grasp international footwear development trend, apply new materials and information and technology (IT) to slash costs and meet environmental requirements.

Provided with sufficient information from foreign experts, Vietnamese footwear producers will be able to pen vision and development strategies.

The event will also give local firms a chance to meet with customers from 20 countries worldwide.

Vietnam’s footwear industry has enjoyed a giant stride thanks to the bilateral and multilateral trade agreements as well as the fourth industrial revolution. However, enterprises need to renew to keep pace with latest trend and join the global supply chain.

Vietnam, Australia forge cooperation in economy, trade, investment

Minister for Trade and Industry of New South Wales Niall Blair said the Australian state wants to step up cooperation with Vietnam in energy, minerals (coal), gas, food and agriculture during his meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh. 

Their meeting took place in Sydney on March 16 (local time) within Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s trip to Australia to attend the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. 

For his part, Minister Anh highly values potential of the Australian market, especially New South Wales, as well as prospects and opportunities for stronger collaboration in economy, trade and investment between Vietnam and the state. 

The two ministers introduced a number of leading businesses which want to seek business opportunities in their respective countries such as the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin), the Vietnam National Shipping Lines, Sovico Holdings and VietJet Aviation JSC to the Vietnamese side, and Sunrise Group to the New South Wales side. 

Stressing the state’s cooperation potential in the field of coal, Anh suggested the Australian side introduce Vinacomin to coal suppliers in New South Wales, and urged Minister Blair to lead a delegation of New South Wales businesses to visit Vietnam. 

He proposed Australia use services of Vinalines to transport coal from Australia to Vietnam. 

The minister called on Australia to soon approve the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to make the deal come into force at an early date, bringing many new opportunities for cooperation in economy and trade between the two countries. 

Minister Blair agreed with his Vietnamese counterpart’s proposals, and pledged to inform them to relevant Australian agencies in order to intensify cooperation activities between the two sides.

At the working session, the ministers also discussed cooperation opportunities in the sphere of aviation, including collaboration between VietJet Air and airports and airlines in New Castle and Brisbane cities.

Singaporean businesses interested in food industry, agriculture in Vietnam

Many Singaporean firms are interested in investing in the food industry, agriculture, and dining services in Vietnam as they forecast that these sectors will thrive in the near future amidst broader ASEAN integration.

It was according to Andy Yun, Secretary General of Singapore Manufacturing Federation representing more than 3,000 members operating in automation, biology, construction, heavy industry and more, during the second Vietnam – Singapore business exchange held in the island state on March 17.

Yun described Vietnam as a major market in the region with potential of agriculture and food industry. Meanwhile, Singaporean enterprises are strong in technology, supply chain and logistics – a supplementary factor to bilateral partnership.

Nguyen Van Than, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, led a delegation of over 100 Vietnamese firms, many of them are start-ups, to the event. 

He said many Singaporean enterprises actively connected with Vietnamese ones at the event, proving that bilateral cooperation potential is huge. 

Accounting for over 97 percent of the total, Vietnamese SMEs contribute nearly 40 percent of the gross domestic product, 33 percent of industrial production value, 30 percent of export value and attract more than half of the workforce, he said. 

Minister at the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore Dinh Hoang Linh said the exchange is part of celebrations of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of strategic partnership. 

Statistics showed that Singapore is now the sixth largest trade partner of Vietnam in the world and the second largest in ASEAN. Vietnam is also the 12th largest trade partner of Singapore. 

Two-way trade has grown 12-15 percent annually over the past years. 

In 2017 alone, two-way trade between Vietnam and Singapore neared 16 billion USD. Singapore ranks third among 126 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with a total capital of roughly USD43 billion.

Prospects for Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports

Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports continue last year’s growth. In the first 2 months of this year the sector earned US$6.1 billion, up more than 30% from last year.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam earned US$419 million from rice export in the first 2 months of this year, 34% higher than last year. Other farm produce saw increases in both export volume and value, including coffee, tea, cashew nuts, vegetables, cassava, and cassava products.

Vietnam earned US$555 million from cashew nut exports and more than US$670 million from vegetables and fruits.

According to the IMF’s Global Economic Outlook 2018, the global economy is likely to maintain a growth rate of 3% this year.  

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will benefit Vietnam’s exports of garments, textiles, leather footwear, and aquatic and agricultural products.

But to increase exports, Vietnam needs to meet import standards set by CPTPP member countries and other demanding markets like the US, South Korea, and the EU.

Nguyen Hoang Thuy, Trade Counselor in Australia, said “We want to be regularly updated on the integration process of the domestic market and participate in meetings between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and foreign partners on agro-forestry-fishery exports.”

In the sector’s restructure plan until 2020, the Ministry will focus on improving productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of farm produce to achieve sustainable growth.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said, “We call for close coordination between Vietnam’s ministries, agencies, and sectors and trade offices abroad to boost farm produce exports to wider markets.”

Vietnam’s farm produce has been exported to 180 countries and territories around the world. Vietnam is among the world’s 15 biggest agricultural exporters.

In 2018, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development hopes to earn US$41 billion in export turnover, of which the farming sector will contribute more than US$21 billion, seafood about  US$9 billion, forestry products US$8.5 billion, and other sectors US$1.5 billion.

Honor aims to break into Vietnam’s top 3 smartphone brands

Vietnam’s crowded smartphone market has just became even more cut-throat with the arrival of Huawei Group’s Honor, which debuted last week. The brand also announced strategic collaborations with Vietnamese partners.

The new phone series, which are named Honor 9 Lite and Honor 7X are priced between VND5 million and VND7 million ($219 and $306) and mark Honor’s first venture into the booming Vietnamese market. The Huawei-owned smartphone brand did not hide its ambition to become Vietnam’s top 3 smartphone brand in 2020, following Apple and Samsung.

The brand calls itself a “young, fun and innovative partner of young Vietnamese consumers,” targeting the price-conscious and trendy millennials in the ASEAN’s fast-growing economy.

Following the trend, Honor makes sure to emphasise the prowess of its smartphone cameras: competitive dual-lens 13MP + 2MP cameras on both the front and back of the phone.

“Vietnam is one of our key target markets in Southeast Asia, a strategic ground for Honor to continue offering the best state-of-the-art products and innovations," said Akin Li, president of Honor in Southeast Asia.

To boost its growth in Vietnam, Honor has announced strategic a partnership with Vietnam’s top gaming firm VNG, the distributor of the popular battle royale game Rules of Survival. Other partners include Singapore’s IGG, distributor of real-time strategy game Lords Mobile and the action-packed game inspired by manga series Honkai Impact 3, as well as Bigo Live, an app for live-streaming services.

Honor phones are also available for sale on top e-commerce websites such as Lazada, Shopee or Tiki, with flash sales to attract the first customers.

Upon entering Vietnam, Honor and Huawei will have to compete with fellow Chinese rivals such as Oppo, Xiaomi or Vivo. While Oppo goes down the celebrity endorsement route, Xiaomi chose to partner with Digiworld, a domestic distributor, to conquer the Vietnamese market.

According to market research firm GfK, 13.6 million smartphones were sold in Vietnam in the first 11 months of 2017, an increase of 3.1 per cent compared with the same period of 2016. The top selling brands are Apple’s iPhone, Samsung’s Galaxy series, and Oppo.

Cuu Long Pharmaceutical swimming upstream

While Vietnamese enterprises in general and pharmaceutical firms in particular tend to increase the foreign ownership limit (FOL), Cuu Long Pharmaceutical JSC (Pharimexco), a member of F.I.T Group, goes against the stream by decreasing the FOL to 32.57 per cent.

Vietnam Securities Depository (VSD) issued the announcement permitting Pharimexco to decrease the FOL from 49 to 32.57 per cent. This shows Pharimexco’s commitment to be faithful to Rhinos Asset Management (RAM).

Earlier in February this year, Pharimexco completed the $20-million sale of convertible bonds in a private placement to an investment fund managed by Rhinos Asset Management (RAM) from South Korea. The convertible bonds have an interest rate of 1 per cent per year with a five year maturity and conversion price of VND25,000 ($1.10) per share. Besides, the bond volume will be converted into shares after one year.

As per the agreement, after one year, if all convertible bonds were converted into ordinary shares, which would mean RAM will hold approximately 18 million shares worth VND25,000 ($1.10) each, around 24 per cent, to become a large shareholder of the company.

Along with the convertible bond sale, early this year Pharimexco permitted a representative of RAM to join its board of directors. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical has offered RAM to purchase over 25 per cent of voting shares. The deal would take place without a public tender.

According to Nguyen Van Sang, chairman of the Board of Directors of Pharimexco, since the firm became a member of F.I.T Group, the company has been working to become the leading pharmaceutical firm in Vietnam. In order to realise this target, Pharimexco is currently focusing on developing large-scale projects, including the third hollow capsule manufacturing factory, which will be the largest such facility in Vietnam with the capacity to cover 40 per cent of domestic market demand.

Another large project is a cancer treatment medicine factory, which is a co-operation with State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC). The factory will pioneer producing cancer treatment medicine in Vietnam. The construction of the factory was started in 2017 with the total investment capital of VND1 trillion ($44.1 million).

Pharimexco’s long-term development plan shows its determination to become the leading pharmaceutical firm in Vietnam. Also, the firm seems to have stable finances to pursue this plan.

Since Pharimexco became a member of F.I.T Group, the company has been working to become the leading pharmaceutical firm in Vietnam.

In 2017, Pharimexco reported VND775.8 billion ($30.08 million) in revenue and VND74.9 billion ($3.29 million) in after-tax profit, signifying a slight on-year increase in revenue and decrease in after-tax profit.

The acquisition of Euvipharm, a pharmaceutical company owning one of the most modern factories in Vietnam, is the reason of the decrease in after-tax profit.

Notably, the deal was completed in early 2017, however, until June the same year, Euvipharm maintained operations, meaning Pharimexco could not write down any profit from the firm in the first six months of the year. Furthermore, in 2017, Pharimexco went into great expenses to rebuild Euvipharm’s sales channel.

Last year, the firm’s assets soared from VND845 billion ($37.1 million) to VND1.22 trillion ($53.59 million), up 44.5 per cent on-year, while equity increased by 20.6 per cent to VND791.8 billion ($34.78 million) from VND656.6 billion ($28.84 million).

However, the firm had been carrying a debt of VND429 billion ($18.84 million) as of December 31, 2017.

At present, F.I.T Group owns 71.72 per cent of Pharimexco, after completing the purchase of an additional 1 million shares in late March 2017.

Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine elevates radiology curriculum with GE’s enterprise imaging solutions

Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine is working with GE Healthcare and T.D Medical Company to foster a new generation of digitally-attuned radiologists, radiographers and clinicians in Vietnam.

The university, which opens its new Advanced Imaging Training Centre today will offer technical and hands-on training with GE’s Enterprise Imaging Software such as Centricity TM Universal Viewer and Advanced Visualisation.

Centricity TM Solutions for Enterprise Imaging delivers comprehensive reading across hospitals, reporting and collaboration across care pathways to help improve clinical efficiency and drive enhanced patient outcomes.

The opening of the centre is a milestone for the university and signifies a step up in the future of healthcare in Vietnam.

Pham Ngoc Thach University will be a first-mover in the country, offering education around enterprise imaging solutions in Vietnam, and elevating the current traditional textbook model of teaching to include hands-on digital experience.

In addition, training will be open to qualified clinicians from across the country who are looking to upskill themselves through specialist and master programmes, and Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses.

“In the last few decades, the landscape of radiology has changed dramatically. Advances in imaging technology have made medical images increasingly detailed and informative. The traditional concept of practicing radiology with film is gradually becoming outdated," said Professor Ngo Minh Xuan, MD., PhD, rector of Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine. "Qualified radiologists and advanced diagnostic imaging training courses are particularly needed in Vietnam where imaging equipment and facilities are distributed all over the country, from communes to districts, provincial and central locations. Learning how to use technology will ensure better clinical outcomes starting from administering the scan to the diagnosis”

GE Healthcare’s Centricity TM Universal Viewer features a single image repository across 2D and 3D studies generated by X-Ray Systems, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Ultrasound and more, across all providers in the healthcare system.

Workload management tools and access to images from multiple care areas from a single desktop increases clinical collaboration and productivity. It allows clinicians to fuse MRI images with other scans and improve diagnostic accuracy.

Another powerful benefit is the processing of dynamic or functional scans to show changes caused by a disease over time, providing a complete view of the patient’s medical history. Radiologists, clinicians and radiographers will be able to learn and practice the processing and interpreting of complex cases.

“Enterprise imaging is a prime example of how information technology can improve patient outcomes. We are confident that our investment and collaboration with Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine will further promote knowledge sharing in the field of radiology and bring about better utilisation of information technology in medical imaging, thereby benefiting patients across Vietnam,” said Marc Foo, senior commercial director for Healthcare Digital, GE Healthcare ASEAN.

Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine is a public medical school in Ho Chi Minh City. It offers graduate and postgraduate education in medicine and healthcare staff training for the southern region of Vietnam. Its new Advanced Imaging Training Centre will be used as part of the curriculum effective immediately.

ProPak Vietnam 2018 returns next week

ProPak Vietnam makes a timely return for its 13th edition on March 20-22, 2018 at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.

Propak Vietnam 2018 is the ideal business platform for Vietnamese food, drink, and pharmaceutical manufacturers and suppliers to upgrade technological capabilities, enhance competitiveness in the market, and stay abreast of industry trends.

This is also a prominent gateway for industry leaders to learn from and network with peers from around the world, exchange professional knowledge and know-how, as well as discuss potential business partnerships.

Consistently attracting robust international participation, ProPak Vietnam 2018 will feature more than 420 exhibitors from 29 different countries and regions, and this figure is likely to continue to increase by the show date.

Notable among participating countries are the major manufacturing and exporting hubs, such as Australia, Spain, USA, Germany, France, Italy, China, Korea, and Japan.

A vast array of top-of-the-range equipment, innovative technologies, and solutions will be on full display across the 10,000 square metres of the exhibition space. The four main areas of focus include processing and packaging equipment and machinery, packaging materials and accessories, processing and packaging services, as well as quality control and training.

The exhibition has grown through the years and is a positive reflection of Vietnam’s strong industry growth which serves both domestic consumption and export markets.

“ProPak Vietnam 2018 is the largest edition since its launch in 2005. The exhibition has grown through the years and is a positive reflection of Vietnam’s strong industry growth which serves both domestic consumption and export markets,” said BT Tee, general manager of UBM VES, the organiser of the expo.

He added that, “As Vietnam’s economic performance continues to strengthen, we expect to see a similar growth for ProPak Vietnam in the coming years, further solidifying its position as the event of choice for food, drink, and pharmaceutical processing and packaging technologies.”

ProPak Vietnam 2018 will take place alongside Plastics & Rubber Vietnam 2018 in Ho Chi Minh City, the 7th trade event for plastics and rubber manufacturing technologies and materials.

Bosch showcases latest automation technology at Propak Vietnam 2018

Bosch Rexroth, the Drive and Control division of Bosch Vietnam, will showcase its latest technology for connected automation at Propak Vietnam 2018 on March 20-22.

At Booth F30 at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7, visitors will experience a selection of Rexroth’s innovative exhibits that demonstrate the benefits of connectivity in a variety of manufacturing and assembly operations—from manual to fully automated.

Bosch Rexroth’s latest advancements, from Open Core Engineering to new IoT Gateway, a technology which makes it easy for manufacturers to add connectivity to existing machines and equipment, serve as a highlight of the show.

Further “connected” exhibits and demonstrations feature the new high-speed, high-precision VarioFlow plus plastic chain conveyor systems, Nexo tightening systems, new Active Cockpit production floor data visualisation system and more.

The following are some exhibited products and demo highlights.

Smart factory technology will be presented with an appearance by Rexroth‘s ActiveCockpit, interactive communication platform for the manufacturing industry.

As an interactive communication platform, ActiveCockpit processes and visualises production data in real time. ActiveCockpit networks IT applications such as production planning, quality data management, and e-mailing with the software functionality of machines and plants.

The information is the basis for decisions and process improvements.

The IoT Gateway makes it easy to connect to Industry 4.0 environments without intervening in the automation logic.

The precisely coordinated combination of control hardware and software for implementing IT applications collects sensor and process data, transmits it to MES (Manufacturing Execution System), cloud applications or local machine state monitoring systems, for example, and enables process data analysis.

OpenCore Engineering combines PLC-based engineering and IT automation. This integrated approach is made possible by the Open Core Interface, the significant expansion of our solutions for machine automation.

With the Open Core Interface, Bosch Rexroth is providing a software interface that is unique as it permits enhanced access to the control core, offering numerous programming languages and allowing the integration of smart devices into automation systems.

In addition, individual real-time control functions can be independently created.

Cabinet-free automation technology—Decentralised Servo drives IndraDrive Mi: IndraDrive Mi enables machine manufacturers to integrate all electrical drive components directly into the machine. This saves space and reduces wiring effort by up to 90 per cent.

The latest in high-precision tightening technology—Bosch Rexroth’s Nexo cordless nutrunner. Nexo offers a direct measuring system for accurate torque and angle detection.

Combining economical operation and safety critical tightening capability, Bosch Rexroth’s Nexo nutrunner can handle the most demanding applications and is suitable for both large and small scale production.

Its decentralised intelligence is located directly onboard the tool which enables operation without cable connections or the need for an external controller. By integrating the control of the tightening process, the highest level of reliability is possible—even in wireless dead zones.

With a wide range of load and speed capabilities,Rexroth's linear motion system is scalable from small laboratories to large warehousing or aircraft assembly operations.

Bosch Rexroth’s linear motion technology: EasyHandling—Linear Module System—a complete platform for the easy design, construction, and commissioning of Cartesian motion robots (also known as linear robots).

It combines open, user-friendly programming environments with precise and reliable linear componentry to create the most accessible, easy-to-use Cartesian motion robot.

Modular plastic chain conveyor VarioFlow plus is a flexible, modular plastic chain conveyor system used for moving high volume packaged goods and other consumer goods, such as packaged foods, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare products.

VarioFlow plus chain conveyor system is optimised for quick assembly and convinces by particularly low-noise, economical operation with which multi-axis control has never been easier.

Rexroth’s Open Mechatronics Demo demonstrates this by utilising Open Core Engineering to control a multi-axis Cartesian system.

Schneider Electric’s Easy UPS 3S coming to Vietnam soon

Early this year, Schneider Electric, the global specialist in the digital transformation of energy management, automation, and power protection, rolled out a compatible UPS set, Easy UPS 3S, offering robust electrical specifications.

The 10-to-40kVA uninterruptable power supply (UPS) is easy to install, easy to use, and easy to service – making business continuity easy for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).

The Easy UPS 3S is an exceptional combination of an optimised footprint design and advanced product features, protecting critical equipment in many environments from damage due to power outages, surges and spikes.

The 10-40kVA uninterruptable power supply (UPS) is easy to install, easy to use, and easy to service—making business continuity easy for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The Easy UPS 3S is an exceptional combination of an optimised footprint design and advanced product features, protecting critical equipment in many environments from damage due to power outages, surges, and spikes.

This unit delivers up to 96 per cent efficiency in double conversion mode and up to 99 per cent efficiency in energy-saving ECO Mode, taking the industry standards for the 10-40kVA UPS to a new level.

Customers also benefit from the start-up service option to ensure the Easy UPS 3S is properly and safely configured for optimal performance, reliability, safety, and peace of mind.

“Easy UPS 3S addresses a market need we see for a solution that offers best-in-class power availability, reliability, manageability, quality, and convenience for small and medium-sized businesses, data centres, and manufacturing facilities,” said Pedro Robredo, vice president, Secure Power, Schneider Electric.

“With this new 3-phase offer, Schneider Electric is now able to meet customer needs and partner requirements in a wide range of industries and applications. With this 10-40kVA UPS, our customers will benefit from easy installation, configuration, management, and maintenance, as well as enhanced efficiency.”

The Easy UPS 3S is properly and safely configured for optimal performance, reliability, safety, and peace of mind.

This new offer is rugged, with a wide input voltage window and strong overload protection all in a compact and lightweight footprint, and it has been designed and tested following rigorous Schneider Electric procedures—making it an excellent fit in both the data centre space and in light industrial environments.

It rolls into position quickly and installation is straightforward. It features an intuitive display interface for easy configuration and monitoring, and customers can monitor and manage the UPS status remotely through Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure™ IT cloud-based and on-premise software suites.

The flexibility, versatility, and competitiveness of Easy UPS 3S, including its short delivery time and wide variety of applications, make it easily adaptable for any small and medium-sized enterprise.