Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan on March 12 conducted a field trip to inspect the progress of the flood prevention project in the city.

 The UN Human Rights Committee held a session on March 11-12 in Geneva, Switzerland to review Vietnam’s third national report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a project on a new national public service portal, with people and businesses the centre of these services. 

 Viet Nam’s aviation market is forecast to increase rapidly, fuelled by new growth from the participation of more private carriers and improved infrastructure.

 Foreign Minister Pham Bình Minh had a telephone conversation today with his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah regarding the trial of a Vietnamese national involved in the murder of a North Korean citizen.

 Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ramiz Hasanov conducted a political consultation in Hanoi on March 12 to discuss bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.

 The 2019 International Francophone Day entitled “Couleurs Francophones” (Francophone Colours) will offer a range of interesting activities, heard a press conference on the event held in Hanoi on March 12.

The Hanoi-based High-Level People’s Court has decided to reduce the imprisonment penalties for 13 defendants that were involved in an online gambling ring, considered the biggest of its kind uncovered in Vietnam so far.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 12 for Myanmar’s Minister of International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin, who is in Vietnam for the ninth meeting of the two countries’ Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.

The Government Office held a ceremony in Hanoi on March 12 to launch the National E-Document Exchange Platform, a move towards a digital government and economy. 

VietNamNet Bridge - A source from the Hanoi People’s Committee said IKEA is planning to develop a system of retail centers and storehouses in Hanoi with investment capital of $450 million.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese farmers are now under pressure as South Korean businesses plan to take measures to boost farm produce export to Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge - The water shortage in Vietnam is becoming serious, requiring management agencies to strengthen water sources protection.

 The HCMC government has decided to advance VND39 billion (nearly US$1.7 million) to the Management Authority for Urban Railways of HCMC (MAUR) to pay the salaries and allowances of its employees.

 The China Pacific Construction Group, a Chinese firm specializing in infrastructure investment and construction projects, has expressed interest in investing in Vietnam’s North-South Expressway project under the PPP format.

Because of the currently slow disbursement of ODA funds, the Ministry of Transport has agreed with proposing the Government and the National Assembly to use state budget for building Rach Mieu 2 bridge to ease traffic jam in the Mekong Delta.

 The Ministry of Planning and Investment remained optimistic about Vietnam’s GDP growth target of 6.6% - 6.8% for 2019, VnEconomy reported.

Vietnam has achieved replacement level fertility and maintained the total fertility rate (TFR) - the average number of children born per woman - at less than 2.1 children per woman in almost all the past 10 years. 

In addition to benefiting from import tariff cuts, under the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, European businesses will be able to have their products protected in Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge - After a long period of interruption, key transport infrastructure projects can now resume operation.