The State Bank of Việt Nam (SBV) will deal strictly with credit institutions if people cannot withdraw money from their ATM in the months approaching Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The State Bank of Việt Nam (SBV) is drafting the National Financial Inclusion Strategies (NFIS) to increase the ratio of people and firms with access to formal financial services.

Growth prospects for Việt Nam this year are bolstered by strong domestic demand and prospects of a global economic revival.  However, protectionism, fiscal deficit, public debt and low productivity raise questions about a possible middle-income trap - and the means to overcome it. Sebastian Eckardt, the World Bank’s leading economist in Việt Nam, speaks to Việt Nam News reporter Phương Uyên on the country’s medium-term economic progress.

The HCM City customs department aims to cut the time it takes for clearing goods by half by the end of this year, Đinh Ngọc Thắng, its deputy head, told the media on the sidelines of a meeting with American businesses on Wednesday.

The Mekong Delta City of Cần Thơ’s Trade and Investment Promotion Centre plans to promote investment in the Việt Nam – Japan Industrial Park this year, according to Nguyễn Khánh Tùng, director of the centre.

Prudential Plc on Tuesday announced that it had reached an agreement to sell 100 per cent of its Prudential Vietnam Finance Company (PVFC) to Shinhan Card Co Ltd, a subsidiary of the Shinhan Financial Group (Shinhan), at a cost of US$151 million.

The three-day event will witness the participation of nearly 100 businesses, including those from foreign countries with developed maritime industries, such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and China, as well as India, Germany, the US, Norway and the Netherlands.

Shares fell slightly Wednesday on the Hà Nội Stock Exchange after rising for four consecutive sessions, due to investors’ profit-taking attempts that hit the large-cap stocks in the energy and banking sectors.

The northern province of Quảng Ninh pledged to continue hastening administrative reforms towards building a transparent business environment and sustainable development.