HCM City compiles shortlist for IT-Telecom awards

HCM City's Department of Information and Communications yesterday, March 12, called for entries for the fifth annual Information Technology-Telecommunications Awards.

Companies, organisation, groups, and individuals making innovative information technology products should access for more information about the award.

Like in the past four years, the awards are divided into five — products and software solutions; hardware products; services that add value; IT-telecom applications; and organisations and individuals contributing to the development of the city's IT and telecom sectors.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, deputy director of the department, said this year a distinction would be made and each award would be given to two categories of recipients — big companies with experience and previous awards and small and medium-sized companies.

He said after treating large and small firms equally in the past, "this year we decided to change [because] it did not seem fair."

Entries can be submitted from now until May 12. The awards, instituted by the city People's Committee, will be presented on May 21.

A master plan to promote ASEAN’s image

The second ASEAN Communications workshop was held by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) in Hanoi on March 12.

Participants were informed about the government’s Programme of Action to Promote ASEAN Cooperation and its plan to set up the National Information Committee on ASEAN and disseminate information on the bloc’s social and cultural affairs from now until 2015.

Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy, a representative from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), suggested related agencies create a channel to receive people’s feedback about ASEAN.

Regarding to upgrading of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) website, Thuy said other ministries should have their own websites linked to the MoFA to improve the quality of information.

Quan Duy Ngan Ha, MIC Director General of Department of International Cooperation, said the plan to promote ASEAN’s image until 2015 aims to highlight ASEAN’s important role, position and remarkable achievements, as well as each member country’s history, culture and daily life.

It is important to make clear the significance of building the ASEAN community for the benefit of mutual cooperation and development in the region.

Communications work needs to be done domestically and internationally on a regular basis to cover ASEAN’s major events.

Australian university works with HCM City school

A top-10 Australian university, Latrobe University, has chosen the University of Economics International School of Business in HCM City to provide training and education programmes in the field of business administration.

The joint-training programme in the first phase will be jointly conducted on both UEH and Latrobe premises.

Currently, about 600 Vietnamese students live and study at Latrobe University in Australia.

Japan assists Vietnam to upgrade fire trucks

A contract for non-refundable aid worth US$51,000 from the Japanese Government to Vietnam to upgrade fire trucks was signed in Hanoi on March 13.

Signatories were Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yasuaki Tanizaki and Haiphong City’s Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department Director Le Quoc Tran.

Accordingly, Haiphong took over three fire trucks and Danang got two from Japan.

The two cities are known to have many industrial zones at high risk of fire.

Vinamilk grants 1,000 scholarships to talented students

Vietnam Diary Products Joint Stock Company (VINAMILK) will offer 1,000 scholarships worth VND1 billion (US$48,000) to distinguished primary school students nationwide during the 2012-13 school year.

The VINAMILK scholarship fund, now in its 10th year, made the announcement in Ha Noi today with the attendance of representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training, teachers and students.

The fund is aimed at encouraging primary school students, including children with disabilities and those from poor backgrounds, to excel in the fields of culture, sports and art.

More than 34,000 scholarships worth a total of VND19 billion ($913,000) have been granted since the fund started in 2003.

At the event, Vinamilk Public Relations Director Bui Thi Huong received an insignia from the Ministry of Education and Training for her contributions to the country's education sector.

UK education festival in Hanoi, HCM City

British Council in Vietnam will host an education festival day in Hanoi and HCM City on March 16-17 to offer local students a chance to know more about high-school and pre-departure courses in the UK.

Representatives from about 30 renowned universities, colleges and schools of the UK will share experience in winning scholarships to study at their schools with Vietnamese students.

They will also present the best ways of integrating into a new learning environment and developing their skills.

Alumni will give advice about financial and time management, travel, bank account opening, accommodations and medical services in the UK.

This is the 7th festival British Council has organised in Vietnam. This year’s event attracts the largest number of registered schools from the UK.

Sea encroachment threatens farmers

Residents in central Thanh Hoa Province's Quang Cu commune are being threatened by sea encroachment which is claiming their properties and curbing production.

The sea has encroached 200m in some areas of Quang Cu Commune in Sam Son Town over the past three years. An average of 20m a year is recorded in other areas, swallowing 100ha of sand and casuarina forests, inundating houses and damaging hundreds of aquaculture farms.

Inland, salination is making it hard for farmers to find fresh water for crops.

Nguyen Van Thai, of Thanh Thang ward, told the Gia Dinh va Xa Hoi (Family and Society) newspaper that sea erosion had all wiped 300sq m of his aquaculture farm and he was having to look elsewhere for income.

Vice chairman of Sam Son town's People's Committee Hoang Van Truyen said authorities had tried to help locals by providing sandbags and bamboo stakes, and in 2010 a 50m embankment costing around VND3 billion (US$142,000). However, the measures proved fruitless, he said.

"Lack of capital has discouraged the local authorities from trying to solve the problem," Truyen said.

VNN/VOV/VNS