Vietnam news in brief - January 9

Indonesian President Joko Widodo to visit Vietnam this week

Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Photo: VNA

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on January 8 that Indonesian President Joko Widodo will pay a state visit to Vietnam from January 11-13 at the invitation of State President Vo Van Thuong. The two leaders will discuss bilateral cooperation issues and the direction of relations between the two countries in the coming period. The Head of State will also hold several other meetings during his stay in Vietnam.

Vietnam to cut HFC purchases and consumption by 2038: Ministry

Vietnam plans to stop importing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from 2024 to 2028, and cut consumption of HFCs by 10% in 2034 and 80% in 2038, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The total consumption of HFCs in 2024-2028 is set at nearly 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

HFCs are only purchased from overseas suppliers for use in the refrigeration industry. The consumption of HFCs increased sharply in 2015-2022, reaching about 5,700 tonnes, or 10.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Vietnam-Canada ODA cooperation to focus on key transport infrastructure projects

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that Vietnam-Canada ODA cooperation in the coming period should focus on several key projects in transport infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and climate change response, especially in the Mekong Delta. Canada is currently Vietnam's third largest trading partner, with total bilateral turnover reaching over US$7 billion in 2022, an increase of nearly 17% compared to 2021. In 2023, despite a decline in global trade, the total trade exchange between Vietnam and Canada was estimated at US$6.17 billion.

Japanese seafood firms to start processing Hokkaido scallops in Vietnam

Japanese firms pilot processing scallops in Vietnam. Photo: Nikkei Asia

According to Nikkei Asia, Japanese seafood companies began trial processing of Hokkaido scallops in Vietnam on January 8 in response to China's seafood import ban. Japanese companies are working with their partners, such as wholesaler Ebisu Shokai and other seafood buyers such as Ocean Road and Nosui to test a shipment of about 20 tonnes of whole scallops to Vietnam.

Under the agreement, Ebisu's scallops will be purchased by Ocean Road and exported to Vietnam. In Vietnam, these scallops will be processed and exported back to Japan and sold to restaurants and retailers by companies such as Foodison, Ebisu, and Nosui.

Dong Nai attracts nine foreign investment projects worth US$410 million

On January 8, the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee issued investment certificates for nine projects, amounting to a combined capital of nearly US$410 million. This includes four new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects, with a total registered capital of US$156.4 million, four projects with increased capital totaling US$217 million, and one industrial park infrastructure project with expanded investment reaching VND871.8 billion ($35.7 million).

Local airlines bring more wet leases for Tet market

On January 8, VietJet Air, the low-cost aviation company, added the fourth wet-leased aircraft to its fleet, bringing the total number of airplanes to 107. On the same day, Bamboo Airways received the first aircraft after a comprehensive overhaul and is expected to welcome another on January 15, increasing its total fleet to 12. The initiatives by these airlines are in response to the growing market demand for travel during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. As of January 4, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam reported that 90% of total flight tickets had already been sold.