VN, Cambodia to discuss ways to boost ties
Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang and Cambodian leaders discussed measures to foster the two countries’ friendship and comprehensive cooperation during his State visit to Cambodia from December 23-24.
The two countries set up their diplomatic ties in 1967. Since then, the bilateral relations continue thriving on the motto of good neighborliness, time-honored friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability in many fields.
NA Standing Committee convenes 33th session
The National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) on December 22 convened its 33th session under the chair of NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.
Addressing the event, Mr. Hung assessed that the eighth session of the National Assembly concluded successfully; draw much attention and attained strong support from voters nationwide.
The two-day session evaluated the outcomes of the eighth session of the 13th National Assembly and comment on four bills, especially the draft Civil Code (amended) and two draft ordinances.
Privatized SOEs double in number
As of December 25, 143 State-owned enterprises were privatized, doubling the figure recorded a year ago.
As many as 167 SOEs were re-organized in 2014, 1.65 times higher than the previous year.
Besides, three SOEs were dissolved; three sold; 14 ones merged and three declared bankruptcy.
SOEs withdrew more than VND6,000 billion invested in 233 enterprises operating in areas out of their core business lines, six times higher than in 2013.
FDI indicators rise against 2013
As of December 15, the disbursed volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) reached US$12.35 billion, up 7.4% compared to the same period last year and up 2.9% against the plan set for 2014.
Viet Nam granted investment certificates to 1,588 new projects with a total registered capital of US$15.64 billion, a year-on-year increase of 9.6%.
Other 594 projects increased investment capital by US$4.58 billion, equal to 62.4% of the same period last year.
WB approves $450 million for sanitation project in HCM City
The World Bank announced that its Board of Executive Directors approved $450 million in loans for Viet Nam to carry out the second phase of an environmental sanitation project in Ho Chi Minh City.
The project costs $495 million, including $250 million coming from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), $200 million from the International Development Association (IDA), and $45 million to be financed by Ho Chi Minh City’s budget.
According to Victoria Kwakwa, World Bank Country Director for Viet Nam said the project will help the southern economic hub address its public health’s issues at low cost and soon become cleaner and competitive. It also benefits local poor people by providing connections between households’ and the city’s sewer network, she added.
ADB finances infrastructure upgrade in Central region
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the State Bank of Viet Nam on December 26 signed a loan agreement to provide an additional capital of US$85 million for rural infrastructure upgrade in six Central provinces of Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Ha Tinh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Yen and Thua Thien Hue.
The project was approved in October 2007 with a total expenditure of US$168.17 million, of which US$90 million was financed by the ADB.
The project targets key infrastructural facilities in 13 provinces in the Central region, including the construction of rural roads, flood control system, rural markets, water supply programs and coastal projects.
Tourism sector records highest growth in revenue
The tourism sector posted the highest ever increase of 15% year-on-year to VND230 trillion (US$10.9 billion) in revenue despite an array of difficulties in 2014.
So far this year, Viet Nam welcomed 37.5 million domestic and 8 million international tourists, respective rises of 7.14% and 5.64% on an annual basis.
The results were attributed to the sector’s efforts to expand key tourism markets and stimulate domestic tourism demand, heard a press conference on selecting the top ten culture, sports and tourism events of the year held in Ha Noi on December 25.
Farm-forestry-aquatic exports reach US$30.8 bln in 2014
The exports of the agriculture sector are estimated to reach US$30.8 billion in 2014, up 11.2% compared to the previous year.
The sector may run a trade surplus of US$9.5 billion, up 7.7%.
Viet Nam can earn US$7.92 billion from exporting aquatic products at the end of this year, up 18.4%.
Biggest cities see CPI declines
Ha Noi’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.23% in December, posting a year-on-year increase of 1.55%, the lowest surge in recent years, according to the Municipal Statistics Office.
In December, eight out of 11 groups of products and services in the CPI basket saw rising prices.
Ho Chi Minh City’s consumer price index (CPI) in December inched down 0.36% against the previous month due to the decline in fuel prices, the municipal Statistics Department reported on December 22. On a year-on-year basis, the index saw a rise of 1.65%.
By Thuy Dung
Đăng ký: VietNam News