Domestic Press Highlights

(18-01-2008)

New bridges to span Sai Gon River

The HCM City authorities plan to build several bridges across Sai Gon River by 2010. This year, construction begins on Phu Long Bridge linking District 12 with Binh Duong Province, and on Binh Loi 2 Bridge connecting Binh Thanh District with Thu Duc District. Eight other bridges spanning the Sai Gon River will be built to link the city’s centre with Districts 4 and 7.

Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon )

HCM City plans to eliminate monopolies

In an aim to cut service costs and increase competition, HCM City wants to eliminate monopoly practices in several industries. More investment will be sought for infrastructure, including electricity, water, post, telecommunications, transport, port and airport services. Creating incentive policies on land and tax to attract foreign investment in high-tech parks is also on the agenda. The city has proposed both policies to the Government.

Tuoi Tre (Youth)

Gov’t aids ethnic minorities in Central Highlands

The Central Highlands has begun several measures to provide land and housing for the poor and ethnic minorities living in rural communes. The region has allocated 4,863 hectares of arable land to 13,405 ethnic minority households and 262 hectares of land for housing for 8,666 poor families in five Central Highlands provinces.

Last year 25,100 houses for the poor were repaired. This year the provinces will promote investment in livestock breeding, irrigation, afforestation and clean water supply.

Nhan Dan (The People)

Pests infest winter-spring rice

Brown planthoppers have infested 70,359 hectares of the winter-spring rice crop in the southern provinces, chiefly in the Mekong Delta provinces of Bac Lieu, Hau Giang and Dong Thap. The crop pest has caused stunt and ragged rice plant disease. The Plant Protection Department has sent technicians to local areas to help farmers spray pesticides and transplant pest-resistant rice strains.

Thoi Bao Kinh Te VN (Viet Nam Economic Times)