Vietnamplus

The Vietnam Energy Association has asked the Government to raise electricity prices next year, retaining subsidies only for poor and people covered by special Government policies.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide 135 billion VND (roughly 698 million JPY) in non-refundable aid to help restore seven small-sized reservoirs in the central province of Quang Ngai.

German engineering firm Siemens began accepting entries on August 17 in its Green Technology Journalism Awards.

Vietnam has voiced the need to have regional and international peace and security secured for each country with self-mastery in formulating its own development plan and promoting international cooperation effectively to step up the implementation of MDGs.

Vietnamese goods have regained local consumers’ confidence thanks to their good materials, diversified designs and competitive prices.

According to a survey conducted by the TV Plus Company, 58 percent of Vietnamese consumers have been interested in locally-made products since a campaign entitled “Vietnamese people use Vietnamese goods” was launched by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) more than one year ago, compared to 23 percent previously.

Exports of tra and basa fish were up by 13 percent in volume and nine percent in revenues year on year to 52,000 tonnes and almost 116 million USD, respectively, in May, reported the General Customs Office.

Domestic cement consumption in the first half of the year dropped by up to 40 percent.

Many Vietnamese products, including garments, find it hard to enter the EU market because of pressure from trade protection policies and the debt crisis in several EU countries.

Vietnam's struggling automobile industry has received little investment from foreign enterprises and component sourcing remains low, recently released statistics from the Ministry of Finance reveal.

Experts have warned of difficult times for the upcoming rice crop, from now to the end of the year, with serious droughts threatening the crops on the front end and severe flooding looming on the back.