ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM NEEDED FOR BETTER ACCESSIBILITY TO CREDIT
Vietnam's access to credit has improved significantly and remained stable among the top 30 countries. In the Doing Business Report 2018 released by the World Bank (WB), the country’s Getting Credit Index ranked 29th out of 90 countries, lower than that of Malaysia and Cambodia at 20th and on par with Singapore but higher than that of Thailand (42), Indonesia (55), Laos (77) and the Philippines (142).
POLICIES TAKE EFFECT IN MAY
A number of policies on insurance business, printing activities, property valuation, quality control of vocational training, etc. take effect in May.
NAM ĐÌNH VŨ DEEP-WATER PORT BEGINS OPERATIONS
Singapore’s Gemadept and Sao Đỏ Group put Nam Đình Vũ Port’s first stage into operation in Nam Đình Vũ Industrial Park on May 7. The port is located in the northern city of Hải Phòng.
VISA WAIVER FOR WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES EXTENDED
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed to extend the visa waiver for visitors from five Western European countries to three years, starting from early July. In a press release on a regular Government meeting issued on May 3, the Prime Minister made a determined effort to carry out tasks and solutions to transform tourism into a spearhead economic sector.
DRAFT LAW LIFTS BANKS’ ROLE IN E-COMMERCE
Payments for e-commerce transactions must be made via banks or authorised payment intermediary services, according to the draft of the amended Law on Tax Management. The draft law, which was recently released by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for recommendation, aims to better manage and collect taxes on e-commerce businesses, which have developed strongly in Việt Nam in recent years.
HO CHI MINH CITY ASKED TO DOUBLE HOUSING OWNERSHIP PERIOD FOR FOREIGNERS
China-based real estate heavyweight E-House Holdings Limited proposed the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee to permit foreigners to own homes in the city for up to 100 years from the current 50.
VIETNAM’S LARGEST CASINO TO OPEN GATES NEXT YEAR
Macau’s biggest junket operator Suncity Group Holdings Ltd. is undaunted in its ambition to start operating Vietnam’s largest casino in the central province of Quang Nam. The project is expected to be launched next year.
EXPOSITION AND CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH CENTRAL COAST AND CENTRAL HIGHLANDS 2018, KHANH HOA
For the purpose of supporting all businesses of the South Central Coast and Central Highlands in applying science and technology for agricultural development, popularizing their brands and attaining good competitiveness in the integration period, the Ministry of Science and Technology and nearly 30 central and local agencies organize the Program on “Science and Technology for Agricultural Development In South Central Coast And Central Highlands 2018” to introduce agricultural technologies, equipment and products; facilitate experience exchanges; strengthen the cooperation between domestic and foreign scientists and businesses; promote investment, technological innovation and market development; and commercialize products that are generated from successful research outcomes in order to contribute to economic growth in the integration period.
