Int’l processing, packaging exhibition opens in HCM City


HCM City: The 17th International Processing and Packaging Exhibition and Conference (ProPak Vietnam 2024) opened in Ho Chi Minh City on April 3.

The three-day event attracts 310 exhibitors from 30 countries and territories, including India, the Republic of Korea, China’s HongKong, Singapore, Spain, and the US. It also features a number of international conferences, seminars, and technical sessions.

Joseph Ross Jocson, Chairman of Asian Packaging Federation, said visitors will meet many leading experts and enterprises in the industry to update a variety of solutions to improve production and business in the future. In addition, the business community is also helped to directly access useful information in the domestic and global markets on packaging processing and packaging technology.

Chu Thi Van Anh, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Beer – Alcohol – Beverage Association (VBA), said that coming to ProPak Vietnam 2024, businesses will have a chance to look for new packaging materials, acc
ess technology and innovative technical ideas from around the world, and cooperate with potential suppliers. Meanwhile, visitors will have an opportunity to explore large operating machineries with authentic factory-like experiences right at the exhibition.

ProPak Vietnam is a top sourcing and networking trade event for food, beverages, and pharmaceutical processing and packaging technology in Vietnam. Since its inception in 2003, ProPak Vietnam has grown into a regional industry hub which has helped improve the processing and packaging sector in Vietnam and beyond./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam Expo 2024 underway in Hanoi


Hanoi: The Vietnam International Trade Fair (Vietnam Expo 2024), one of the leading international trade exhibitions in Vietnam, kicked off in Hanoi on April 3, attracting 480 enterprises from 15 countries and territories worldwide.

The 33rd event of this kind features nearly 600 pavilions, up 20% compared to the figure last year.

Besides traditional promotion activities, product showcases, and trade connections, the 4-day expo promotes business-to-business (B2B) matching through an online platform to attract both domestic and international commercial organisations and enterprises.

Exhibitors can upload information, images, and videos related to their businesses onto digital platforms and engage in direct interactions with visitors throughout the entire 365 days of the year.

Prominent among the countries and territories exhibiting products and services at the event are India, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and China, demonstrating the attractiveness of the Vietnamese market in drawing investment and foster
ing sustainable foreign trade development cooperation.

As a highlight at the expo, the Hanoi Promotion Agency on Investment, Trade and Tourism (HPA)’s pavilion serves as a venue to promote the strengths, potential, and investment policies of Hanoi, and exports and capabilities of Hanoi’s enterprises.

High-quality commodities for export and OCOP (One Commune One Product) products are being placed on display at the event.

Within the framework of the expo, specialised events will be designed, including supply-demand connection events, seminars, conferences, and forums with various debate sessions.

The event is expected to attract 20,000 visitors./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Bac Giang leads nation in economic growth in Q1


Bac Giang: The northern province of Bac Giang continued to lead the nation in economic growth in the first quarter, with an estimated expansion of 14.18%, reported Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mai Son.

All production sectors showed robust growth, including agro-forestry-fisheries up 2.14%, industry-construction 18%, services 6.32% and product taxes 4.48%.

The province now boasts 10 industrial parks with a total planned area of over 2,250ha. As of March 15, it had drawn nearly 624.26 million USD in registered investment capital. There were 310 newly-established enterprises, marking an 18% increase, with a registered capital of nearly 2.6 trillion VND (over 108 million USD).

In March, its industrial production index went up 20.6% monthly and 16.7% annually, pushing up the three-month figure to 23.89%. The sustained production expansion and stable operation of several large enterprises, particularly since the latter part of the third quarter of 2023, were credited for this achievement.

Looking toward the second quarter, Son outlined Bac Giang’s plans to proactively attract foreign investment, particularly high-quality sources with advanced technologies. This will involve preparing the necessary infrastructure, developing a skilled workforce, and ensuring land availability.

The province also aims to enhance the effectiveness of trade promotion activities, particularly for its key agricultural products such as lychee. To promote domestic brands, Bac Giang will host a “National Brand Week” in conjunction with the “Vietnamese Brand Day” on April 20 while upgrading agricultural production processes to meet VietGAP, GlobalGAP, and high organic standards, he added./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietjet’s 2023 audit report: robust international flight network growth


HCM City: Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company (HOSE: VJC) has released its audited financial statements for 2023, showing robust growth over the year.

The audited separate air transport revenue and consolidated revenue were reported at 53.7 trillion VND (approx. 2.16 billion USD) and 58.3 trillion VND (approx. 2.35 billion USD) respectively, increasing by 62% and 45% year-on-year in the order given. Notably, the company recorded a turnaround of pre-tax air transport profit and consolidated profit at 471 billion VND (approx. 18.98 million USD) and 606 billion VND (approx. 24.42 million USD) respectively.

Ancillary and cargo revenue amounted to nearly 21 trillion VND (approx. 846.6 million USD), higher than the compiled financial statements’ and increasing by more than 60% YoY. It accounted for 39% of the total air transport revenue.

As of December 31, 2023, Vietjet’s total assets totaled more than 86.9 trillion VND (approx. 3.5 billion USD). The company’s debt-to-equity ratio was 2, well below the typical
global range of between 3 and 5. Vietjet’s liquidity ratio stood at 1.3 which was within good range of the aviation industry. The cash and cash equivalents balance as of December 31, 2023 was reported at 5.051 trillion VND (approx. 203.62 million USD), ensuring the airline’s financial capacity.

The airline was also among those with best credit ratings according to guidelines by the Ministry of Finance. It has received the highest credit rating (VnBBB-) among Vietnamese corporations.

In 2023, Vietjet paid approximately 5.2 trillion VND (approx. 209.63 million USD) of direct and indirect taxes and fees.

Leading international expansion

Striving to maintain and grow domestic network while focusing efforts on expanding international routes, Vietjet in 2023 safely operated 133,000 flights with 25.3 million passengers onboard – a surge of 183% YoY, of whom more than 7.6 million were flying internationally.

Vietjet launched 33 new domestic and international routes, bringing the total number of routes to 125, inc
luding 80 international and 45 domestic routes.

Notable routes included Ho Chi Minh City – Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City – Vientiane, Hanoi – Siem Reap, Hanoi – Hong Kong, Phu Quoc – Taipei, Phu Quoc – and Ho Chi Minh City/ Hanoi – Jakarta, etc.

Vietjet is also now the largest operator of flights connecting Vietnam to India and Australia, helping promote trade and tourism with the two countries of high potentials.

The airline since early 2024 has further opened a direct route between Hanoi and Sydney, lifting the total number of Vietnam-Australia routes to seven.

It has also commenced flights from Hanoi to Hiroshima (Japan) and Ho Chi Minh City to Chengdu (China), bringing about opportunities to strengthen bilateral tourism and trade. Domestically, Vietjet has inaugurated the new route Hanoi – Dien Bien to take travelers to the historic destination of Dien Bien Phu.

The airline’s average load factor rate reached 87% and the technical reliability rate 99.72%.

Developing safe, modern, eco-friendly fleet

Sus
tainable development (ESG), which will continue to be the airline’s long-term strategic goal, is vital to the airline’s success as it helps to optimise resources, save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions with a new and modern fleet of aircraft.

To meet operational demands, Vietjet continued to invest in a modern, safe and eco-friendly fleet. As of December 31, 2023, Vietjet’s fleet consisted of 105 aircraft, including the wide-body A330s.

Having embarked on its journey to reduce carbon emissions over 10 years ago, by 2023, Vietjet’s fleet has grown significantly, contributing significantly to the company’s success by optimising resources, saving up to 15-20% of fuel, and particularly focusing on environmental protection, sustainable development, and researches on green technologies.

Regarding safety as the utmost priority, the airline last year organized numerous conferences, training courses, and simulations on safety and security, such as the Quality and Safety Conference, ISAGO (International Standard for Gro
und Operations) safety training, and emergency response simulations to proactively ensure security and absolute safety for flight operations.

Vietjet was again honored one of the safest low-cost airlines in the world by AirlineRatings.

Vietjet’s ground services center has operated efficiently, enhancing the quality of ground services while reducing operational costs at the airport. In addition to the ground handling services, Vietjet has also taken a proactive approach to aircraft maintenance work. In 2023, it launched an Aircraft Maintenance Center of International standards in cooperation with Lao Airlines in Vientiane.

Realising its strategy and vision to develop and build a workforce of international standards, the Vietjet Aviation Academy (VJAA) has become a training partner of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

In 2023, VJAA trained over 97,000 students through 6,300 courses, actively providing training for pilots and aircraft maintenance staff (CRS). The academy also installed its
third flight simulator, becoming a top-notch pilot training center in the region.

Vietjet last year achieved a significant milestone for a comprehensive development with an ever-expanding international network of medium-haul flights. The company is ready to meet the demand for domestic travelling while continuing plans to further grow the international network./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Roadmap for 2021-2030 national electricity development plan approved


Hanoi: Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has signed a decision approving a roadmap for the implementation of the national electricity development plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

The approval aims to vigorously step up the energy transition from fossil fuels to new and renewable energy sources, thus easing environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and realising commitments to the Nationally Determined Contributions and the 2050 net-zero target.

As per the roadmap, by 2030, the total domestic capacities of thermal, LNG thermal, and coal-fired thermal power plants will be 14,930 MW, 22,400 MW, and 30,127 MW, respectively.

Regarding renewable energy, by the year, the total capacities of offshore wind, onshore wind, and biomass power will be 6,000 MW, 21,880 MW, and 1,088 MW. Electricity generated from waste will be 1,182 MW, while the additional capacity of rooftop solar power will be 2,600 MW. The total capacity of battery storage is set at 300 MW.

The roadmap eyes the development of
300 MW of flexible power sources, prioritising the development in areas with possible shortages of reserve capacity and utilising existing electricity grid infrastructure.

In addition, electricity imported from Laos is projected around 5,000 MW, which could increase to 8,000 MW in favorable conditions with reasonable prices.

Regarding renewable energy sources serving exports, the roadmap identifies the central and southern regions as potential areas, with export scales ranging from 5,000 MW to 10,000 MW for feasible projects.

It also outlines specific lists of important transmission grid projects, prioritising investment in interconnected grids with neighbouring countries.

As for the rural, mountainous, and island electrification programme, it includes providing electricity to 2,478 small- and medium-sized pumping stations in the Mekong Delta region, as well as supplying electricity from the national grid or renewable energy sources to remaining islands in Quang Tri, Kien Giang, and Ba Ria – Vung Tau prov
inces.

In terms of building the industrial and service ecosystem for renewable energy, the roadmap envisions researching and building two interregional industrial and service centres for renewable energy by 2030./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Foundation for economic growth comes from fiscal policy: Economists


Hanoi: The Government’s drastic directions in financial and monetary management, and growth support in the first quarter of 2024 are a foundation helping Vietnam’s economy overcome difficulties and achieve impressive growth amidst a variety of challenges of the world economy, according to economists.

Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said that the financial sector has continued to solve a “difficult problem” of implementing a reasonable expansionary fiscal policy to both promote the economy and ensure macro-economic stability, control inflation, and ensure national financial safety. Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has operated the fiscal policy flexibly and effectively.

Economists assessed that in an unprecedented context, the MoF has researched and submitted to competent authorities to maintain solutions to implement policies on exemption, extension, and reduction of taxes and fees, such as reducing the value-added tax rate by 2 percentage points from the 10% rate.

Economist Dinh Trong Thinh said
that these policies have received applauses and appreciation from businesses and people.

Sharing the same view, To Hoai Nam, Standing Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, said that these policies have helped enterprises promote production and business activities, reduce production costs and product prices, and stimulate domestic consumption, which benefits people.

The MoF always determines to accompany and stand side by side with firms through solutions to support the business community to overcome difficulties, quickly recover and develop production and business activities, thereby contributing back to the economy and the budget, and nurturing a stable and long-term revenue source, affirmed Phoc.

In the coming time, the ministry will focus on operating the fiscal policy proactively, reasonably, flexibly and effectively; and combine the fiscal policy and other economic policies to maintain the macro-economic foundation, control inflation, ensure m
ajor balances, and promote growth and sustainable development of socio-economic fields.

In addition, the MoF will continue to improve institutions, laws and policies on state budget revenue, keep a close watch on socio-economic developments, and research appropriate tax policies to help enterprises deal with difficulties, he added./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency