Vietnam News Highlights for August 12, 2023
Stay up to date with the latest events in Vietnam.
Prime Minister calls for urgent action against land erosion
| A coastal area in Bac Lieu Province. Photo: Nhat Bac/VGP |
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 11 asked authorities of Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, and Soc Trang provinces to prioritize the constructions that prevent land erosion and better protect the people. With the number of landslides on the rise, the Prime Minister urged local authorities to evacuate people from dangerous areas and prevent the erosion of river banks and coastlines. The three provinces expected trillions of dongs from the State budget for embankment and reforestation.
The US opens market for Vietnamese coconuts
The US has officially opened its market to Vietnamese coconuts, the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on August 8. APHIS said that it completed an update to its online database of Agricultural Commodity Import Requests (ACIR) to allow imports of young Vietnamese coconuts, that have at least 75% of the coconut kernel split and the outer green skin completely removed.
Vietnam is projected to become the fourth largest coconut product exporter in the Asia-Pacific, with exports valued at around US$900 million in 2022.
Da Lat to host the 2023 World Flower Council Summit
The 2023 World Flower Council Summit 2023 will be held for the first time in Da Lat City, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, from September 8 to 12. The World Flower Art Competition is on the agenda.
The 5-day event with the theme "Vietnam - Blooming with Timeless Charm" will have over 500 participants, including designers and experts from more than 20 countries and territories worldwide. It will also promote the city's flower industry and showcase Vietnamese culture and tourism. The event is part of the activities for "Dalat, 130 years of formation and development."
Ho Chi Minh City to initiate e-bike conversion program in Q4/2023
Ho Chi Minh City expects to release a plan in Q4/2023 to make it easier for people to convert fueled motorbikes to electric bikes. The plan would be realized in Q1/2024. Motorbike conversion is part of the national master plan that aims to achieve a net-zero emissions path by 2050 which Vietnam committed to at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26).
The plan will be first piloted in the central areas and Can Gio District. People will enjoy discounts or preferential policies when buying e-bikes. The southern hub metropolis is home to some eight million fueled motorbikes.
U14 passengers to board domestic flights with electronic birth certificates
| Passengers proceed to board flights at Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi. Photo courtesy of the airport |
The Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority is considering allowing passengers under the age of 14 to use their electronic birth certificates to board domestic flights. Currently, the electronic birth certificate is not listed as a valid personal document to complete flight check-in. The idea is part of the amended circular on air transport security, which would be issued in September.
From August 2, passengers must have class-2 e-identification account on the VNeID app to check for domestic flights. The VNeID account replaces the ID card for Vietnamese traveling within the country and the passport for international flights.
Solutions proposed to increase climate finance
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on August 11 proposed ways to increase climate finance in Vietnam, including increasing state budget allocation, attracting green investment, and raising private capital and ODA loans.
According to the ministry, the state budget disbursement for climate change activities is only US$130 billion while Vietnam will need some US$400 billion by 2040. Vietnam has cut emissions by 8-10% since 2010 and raised its power saving rate to 5.65% in 2011-2015 from 3.4% in 2006-2010.
Hanoi to host the 2023 Capital Economic Forum in September
The 2023 Capital Economic Forum themed "Improving the Investment and Business Environment, Enhancing the Competitiveness of Enterprises in 2023" will take place from September 11 to 20.
The conference will analyze and evaluate the current situation of administrative reform, improvement of the investment and business environment, and competitiveness of enterprises in the past period, collect feedback from the business community, investors in the city, and relevant agencies and organizations to propose effective solutions.
Vietnam’s wood export revenues reach US$7.8 billion in Jan-Jul
Vietnam’s timber and wood product exports in the first 7 months of 2023 were valued at US$7.8 billion, accounting for about 45% of the 2023 annual plan, down 25.5% year-on-year. Key export markets such as the US, Japan, China, and the EU all declined compared to the same period. The impact of global conflicts and high global inflation continues to tighten export markets for timber and wood products. Vietnamese woodwork is currently exported to 150 countries and territories worldwide.
