Vinalines will launch its initial public offering (IPO) this December, and become a shareholder-owned concern in January next year.

Vietnamese officials from three ministries will inspect a giant aluminum stockpile at a foreign company’s factory in Ba Ria Vung Tau to determine if it has been moved to Vietnam as part of a tariff evasion scheme, the government has said.

 Starbucks Viet Nam on Friday opened its first Starbucks ReserveTM Coffee Bar in Ha Noi, the first of its Reserve experience bars in Viet Nam.

 A strategy is being developed to promote domestic trade by 2025 with a vision to 2035.

 The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of Vietnam dipped to 54.1 in April, a slight decline from March’s 22-month high of 54.6, reported Nikkei on May 3.

 Le Hoai Quoc, president of Sai Gon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP), has granted an investment certificate to BSB Investment & Development Co Ltd for the construction of the first silica and nano silica plant in Viet Nam.

Korean conglomerate Lotte Group got the go-ahead from the HCM City People’s Committee on Wednesday to develop the Thu Thiem Eco Smart City in District 2.

 About 200 brands have been franchised in Vietnam over the last decade, but the franchise of Vietnamese brands is just in the initial stage at present, insiders said at a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on May 4.

 Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung clarified issues relating to farm produce consumption, especially pork which recently saw its prices slumping during the government’s regular press conference in Hanoi on May 4. 

 The number of Mobile World Investment Corporation (MWG) retail outlets doubled to 1,207 in 2016 from 633 in 2015, with three new outlets opening every two days on average. 

 Cyber insurance makes a lot of sense but it’s expensive and as a fledgling industry lacks established standards.

 The Government will prioritize the allocation of ODA and preferential funds for HCMC to develop urban infrastructure and environment projects, as per a decree on a number of specific financial mechanisms for the city.

 Lately, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has liaised with the Vietnam Macadamia Association (VMA) on the prospect of the new agricultural produces.

  Up to 78 percent of businesses have been positive about Vietnam’s economy, according to a survey on the private equity (PE) sector conducted by Grant Thornton Vietnam, which provides assurance, tax and advisory services. 

 CPI remains unchanged in April 2017

 Japanese commodities and food have become increasingly popular among Vietnamese consumers, creating opportunities for firms from both countries.

 The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has received significant dividend payments for 2016 from BIDV, Vietcombank, and VietinBank, totaling VND6.17 trillion ($271.375 million).

 In its latest assessment released on May 3, Moody’s Investor Service has affirmed the long-term and short-term deposit and, where applicable, issuer and senior debt ratings of eight Vietnamese banks as unchanged (B1 positive).

 Figures from ten Vietnamese banks reveal the cumulative bad debt ratio has increased from 1.87 per cent at the end of 2016 to 1.9 per cent as at March 31.

 A unit of monopoly electricity provider Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) has unveiled a plan to build two solar power plants in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan with a combined capacity of 350 MW.