The Competition and Consumer Protection Department has given the go-ahead for the merger and acquisitiondeal between the two largest local electronic retailers – Mobile Worldand Tran Anh Digital World.

Despite facing difficulties, the garment and textile sector is expected to export products worth US$31 billion this year, a year-on-year increase of 10.2 per cent, and the outlook is bright for next year too.

 Viet Nam’s seafood export turnover is expected to reach US$8.3 billion this year, posting an 18 per cent increase over 2016, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

 The Vietnamese coffee industry has great potential to develop considering the size of the global market and the country’s small share in it, according to the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development.

 The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is taking steps for the sale of 53.59 percent of its stake, equivalent to nearly 343.7 million shares, in the country’s largest brewery Saigon Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Corporation (Sabeco).

 Three big companies of PetroVietnam will make their initial public offerings (IPOs) in the next three months, under equitisation plans approved by Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue late last week.

 Numerous hi-technology projects have been granted investment licences and allowed to increase investment capital in the last months of the year.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh highlighted Vietnam’s commitment to promoting the multilateral trading system while addressing a plenary session of the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Argentina on December 11.

 The National Assembly Standing Committee on December 12 passed a resolution approving the addition of 553 billion VND (24.2 million USD) to the budget estimates to buy rice for the national reserve. 

The Hanoi Stock Exchange confirmed Intimex Vietnam’s decision to buy 6 million shares of Hanoi Toserco (TSJ), a tourism company established in 1988, with total estimated value of VND200 billion.

 Vietnam finished third at the first Asian Boules Sport Confederation Petanque Championship in Thailand with two silvers and one bronze.

 Vietnamese shares plunged on December 11 as investors turned cautious before exchange-traded funds (ETFs) started restructuring their portfolios. A lack of information during the year-end period also had an impact on confidence.

 Hanoi’s Culture and Sports Department has sent a letter urging the municipal People’s Committee to preserve an archaeological site dating back to 1,000 BC in the city’s western outskirts.

 Deputy Minister of National Defence Nguyen Chi Vinh has reiterated Vietnam’s intention to develop defence cooperation with China.

Though Vietnam is among the world’s top exporters of farming produces, 90 percent of the products are exported in the raw form with quality and value lower than many foreign rivals, said the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

 The show Khat Vong Tre (Young Aspiration), an annual entertainment programme, will be held at Quan Ngua Sports Centre, 30 Van Cao street, Ba Dinh district on December 12.

 Ho Chi Minh City wants to increase government workers’ salaries so that they match at least the minimum wage in the industrial sector.

 Vietnam bagged five gold medals at the Asian Rowing Cup 2017, which closed on December 10 in Palembang, Indonesia.

 Signature foods from different localities nationwide will be featured during a celebration for New Year 2018 at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Son Tay town, the outskirts of Hanoi.

 The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee convened its 19th session in Hanoi on December 11 to review outcomes of the fourth sitting of the 14th NA and discuss preparations for the next meeting.