VietNamNet Bridge – Incoming remittances last year stood at around US$12 billion with 46% of it going to production and business operations, nearly 36% to expenses and the remainder to savings and health services,

 Opportunities await local firms to boost exports stateside; Fuel price stabilization fund hits record high; CBU imports from China triple last year; Industrial production up 10 per cent; Minister seeks to calm producers as Vietnam opens markets

VietNamNet Bridge – Foreign investment funds and real estate developers have been looking for cleared land to purchase as the property market is expected to heat up in 2015.

If Vietnam uses overseas remittances to its benefit, they could be a powerful driver in the development of the national economy. Conversely, the economy could be put under pressure if they are not deployed effectively.

 Domestic demand for U.S. apples drops; JICA provides additional JPY36.4 billion to improve power supply; Export turnover hits nearly 13 bln USD in January; Vietnam trade deficit swells in January

HCM City banks urged to slash bad debt; New FDI approvals surge 67% in January; Vietnam companies dragged down by old technology; Banks speed up lending ahead of Tet; ANZ: Vietnam consumer confidence drops slightly

 Mercedes-Benz to invest $20m in Viet Nam; SeABank offers soft loans; S Korean firms favour Viet Nam; Standard Chartered ups GDP forecast; Rice traders to expand sources; January business shutdowns up 23%

 By January 20, foreign businesses had invested US$392.18 million in 44 new projects and US$271.26 million in 19 existed ones, a year-on-year increase of 67.1%.

VietNamNet Bridge – More and more wealthy Vietnamese businesspeople have been looking for investment opportunities overseas, but the results have been less than satisfactory.

 FDI firms contribute more to export growth; Consortium seeks to build wastewater treatment plant; Online trading must pay taxes from Jan 20; Second-home segment bouncing back; Bank credit swells in two largest cities

 VietNamNet Bridge - Industrial development of Vietnam has been a success but it has been proceeding at a slower level in recent years.

VietNamNet Bridge – Economists have repeatedly called on local authorities to give preferential policies to Samsung, one of the biggest investors in Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge – The 2012 Labor Code which took effect on July 1, 2013 remains confusing to many businesses due to unclear language.

VietNamNet Bridge - Local authorities have been warned to think carefully before welcoming more foreign textile and garment investors, as they could likely suffer in the future.

The highest Tet bonus in Hanoi is expected to be VND86 million, offered by a foreign invested enterprise, while the figure is VND583 million in HCM City, according to local labor departments.

The business environment in Vietnam is expected to be more open in 2015 with a number of new policies that will take effect.

HCM City extends FDI project licences; National agency to check SOE health; Ministry steps in on dairy dispute; National Assembly should tighten Uber taxi controls; Businesses called to invest in telemedicine

VietNamNet Bridge – Businesses have been mobilizing capital from all possible sources to pour into essential goods manufacturing projects and existing manufacturers have been scaling up their business.

VietNamNet Bridge – Three months ago, BJC, the group of billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, the third richest businessman in Thailand, announced a deal of to take over Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam.

Analysts believe that the Malaysian retailer Parkson has had to shut down one of its shopping malls in Hanoi because it has been taking a loss over the last few years. But other sources say the reason is a “three-party civil dispute”.