Firms must adapt to FTA changes

As part of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), Việt Nam will cut 669 tariff lines to zero per cent starting in January 2018. Assistant Professor Đinh Trọng Thịnh of the Hà Nội-based Finance Academy talks to Nông thôn ngày nay (Countryside Today) about the significance of these changes.

Brave new Asia-Pacific world

With the dust barely settled after the International Monetary Fund and World Bank raised hopes at their annual meetings in Washington, DC that a long-awaited growth revival is materialising, the global economy received more welcome news from the other side of the world affirming a turnaround.

Water management in disarray

Châu Trần Vĩnh, deputy director general of the Water Resources Management Department, speaks to the newspaper Nhân Dân on the importance of close co-operation between agencies in water management.

Hygiene key to animal husbandry recovery

Nguyễn Đức Trọng, deputy director of the Animal Health Department, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, speaks to the newspaper Nông thôn Ngày nay (Countryside Today) on the country’s efforts to restore livestock production as soon as floodwaters recede.

Downtown car fee stokes debate

In an effort to curb traffic congestion, a local firm has recently proposed charging a VNĐ30,000 – 50,000 (US$1.3 - 2.2) fee for  cars entering HCM City’s downtown. The plan has raised controversy among experts and locals, according to Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper. Officials and members of the public offered their opinions about the plan to the newspaper.

Gender inequality slows VN economy

The Mckinsey Global Institute estimates if women had the same involvement in the world labour markets as men, as much as US$28 trillion, or 26 per cent, could be added to the global annual GDP by 2025. This is equivalent to the size of the combined US and Chinese economies today. ActionAid UK estimates that gender inequality in the economy costs women in developing countries $9 trillion a year.

For construction, stick to the plan

Architect Lê Văn Lân, Vice President of the Hà Nội Architects’ Association, speaks to the newspaper Kinh tế & Đô thị (Economic and Urban Affairs) about the importance of already approved construction projects.

Funding public institutions not affordable

Professor Nguyễn Hữu Khiển, former Deputy Director of the National Academy of Public Administration, talks to Thời báo Tài chính Việt Nam (Việt Nam Financial Times) about the constantly unbalanced State budget.

Prostitution occurs whether we like it or not

Dr. Chung Á, member of a consulting group for Chairman of the National Committee for AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Prevention and Control discusses with the Sức Khỏe & Đời Sống (Health & Life) newspaper on prostitution.

 

Việt Nam all set for APEC summit week

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn tells the Thời báo Kinh tế Việt Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) newspaper that the country is ready for the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders’ Week.

Bio-tech key to climate change response: scientist

Prof Dr Bùi Chí Bửu, former director of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences for Southern Việt Nam, speaks to Việt Nam News about the agricultural challenges faced in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta and measures to cope with them.

Public sector streamlining an internal revolution

Associate Professor and Doctor Nguyễn Quốc Dũng, member of the Party’s Central Theoretical Council, tells the VOV e-newspaper that streamlining the public sector is a revolution that requires both determination and sacrifice.

Lower numbers of undocumented workers will help the economy

Nguyễn Thị Xuân Mai, head of the Department for Labour and Population Statistics of the General Statistics Office, discusses with the Nông thôn Ngày nay (Countryside Today) newspaper measures to reduce the rate of undocumented workers.

Higher fees provide better hospital services

Healthcare service quality in public hospitals has improved, but not yet met user demands. Lương Ngọc Khuê, director general of the Medical Examination and Treatment Department (Ministry of Health) talks with Hải Quan (Customs) Newspaper about the issues.

IT makes granting IP rights easier

Director of the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) Đinh Hữu Phí tells Lao Động (Labour) newspaper about using technology to make it easier to establish intellectual property rights in the context of Viet Nam being elected as the new chair of the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

PhDs in Việt Nam: Just what does the doctor order?

Whatever the merits or demerits of the recent brouhaha over a PhD dissertation, the time is opportune to take a seriously critical look at some post-graduate academic practices and “traditions” in the country.

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