Vietnam News Highlights for May 16, 2023

Vingroup tops Vietnamese green bond issuers: Climate Bonds Initiative

Photo of Vinpearl Nha Trang. Photo: vinpearl.com

Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup is the largest sustainable bond issuer, having raised a total of US$1.32 billion in green bonds by the end of 2022, according to the Climate Bonds Initiative.

The company's electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast has raised a total of US$900 million through bond issuance, while its hospitality arm VinPearl has sold its bonds for US$425 million. In December 2022, Vietnam and its partner countries agreed on the Just Energy Transition Partnership, which promises about US$15.5 billion for its green energy sector over five years.

Vietnam's digital economy to reach US$49 billion by 2025

Vietnam's internet economy could grow to US$49 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 31% per year, according to the e-Conomy SEA 2022 report. The report also said that Vietnam is Southeast Asia's third-largest internet economy, with a total value of US$23 billion in 2022, after Indonesia and Thailand.

According to the Vietnam E-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, e-commerce has gradually changed customers' shopping habits. E-commerce is expected to boost Vietnam's digital economy shortly.

Border airport opens

Laos' Houaphanh Province's Samneua District launched the Nongkhang Airport on May 15 to boost socio-economic growth in the two countries' border areas. The airport is expected to improve the landlocked country's connectivity with its neighbors.

It is a build-transfer (BT) project with a total investment of US$82 million, financed by Vietnam's Hoang Anh Gia Lai Agriculture JSC. The airport will be able to serve 100,000 passengers per year and accommodate aircraft with 70-100 seats.

Vietnam  to top 32nd SEA Games medal tally

Vietnam beat Myanmar 2-0 in the women’s football final of the 32nd SEA Games on May 15 to become the first team to win the title for the fourth consecutive time. The gold medal helped Vietnam maintain its lead in the competition's medal tally with 321 medals, including 123 gold ones.

Thailand and Cambodia are the second and third-ranked nations. All competitions of the 32nd SEA Games will end today (May 16), and a closing ceremony will be held on May 17.