In the context of growing dissatisfaction with the inequality produced by globalisation, officials commit to free trade that ensures equal opportunities for citizens and businesses to benefit from and contribute to regional growth. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Điệp APEC-member economies agreed to continue enhancing regional cooperation to achieve the Bogor Goals of freer and open trade by 2020 in the Asia-Pacific region, an official said at a press conference held on Wednesday in HCM City. The press conference was held to conclude the third Senior Officials Meeting (SOM3) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum held in the city from August 18-30. Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, the APEC 2017 SOM chair, said: “In the context of concerns about the unequal distribution of the benefits of globalisation and trade liberalisation, APEC members have affirmed … [Read more...] about APEC members aim for free, open trade
Viet Nam News
Donations sought for students in central Vietnam
The New York-based Institute for Vietnamese Culture and Education (IVCE) has called for donations to support poor students in rural villages of Quang Ngai and Lam Dong provinces for the new school-year. Copies of the Pattie De La Conchinchine, an 1827 map printed in the six-volume World Atlas (Atlas universel) by Belgium cartographer Phillippe Vandermaelen (1795-1869), set to be auctioned to raise funds for students in Quang Ngai and Lam Dong. President of the Institute, Tran Thang told Viet Nam News that they aim to raise VNĐ200 million (US$8,800) to support 200 students in the two provinces. He said the institute will present pens from former US President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden. The American-Vietnamese man also said the institute will auction copies of the ancient map of Hoang Sa (Paracels), in the 1827-published maps of Phillipe Vandermaelen. Thang said … [Read more...] about Donations sought for students in central Vietnam
Testing centre proposed to tackle Ngọc Linh ginseng
In traditional markets in Nam Trà My district, prized and valuable Ngoc Linh ginseng abounds. What eager customers don’t know is that the herb they buy might not be the real thing. A Ngọc Linh ginseng root is harvested from a mountainous farm in Nam Trà My district in Quảng Nam Province. A testing centre in the district could protect the nationally recognised brand of the Ngọc Linh ginseng. - VNS Photo Văn Thọ In early 2017, Ngọc Linh ginseng, grown both in Quảng Nam Province and the central highland province of Kon Tum, was named a National Brand. But it’s easy to mix in herbs from other parts of the country without customers having any clue what they’re buying. To combat the fake Ngoc Linh (Panax vietnamensis, or Vietnamese ginseng), the central city has asked the … [Read more...] about Testing centre proposed to tackle Ngọc Linh ginseng
APEC officials debate freer trade
Delegates at APEC’s Committee of Industry and Trade (CIT) meeting in HCM City. — VNS Photo Thu Ngan APEC’s Committee of Industry and Trade (CIT) on Friday continued its two-day meeting in HCM City. Marie Sherylyn D Aquia, chair of the CTI, told Viet Nam News: “We continue to have discussions so we can have some very good deliverables for the November meeting. So we had a discussion on free trade facilitation in the Asia-Pacific. We also had discussions on trade facilitation.” “APEC is very supportive of the WTO, so we are trying to have economies implement their commitment under the trade facilitation agreement. We had discussions on digital trade and also services -- which is a very important issue they are discussing in the CTI -- because services are an important component of our economies.” At the meeting, the CTI sub-committees and groups, including the sub-committees … [Read more...] about APEC officials debate freer trade
Luc Nam finds a fruitful niche
The villagers planted custard apples in their gardens because they liked the fruit, but over the last 30 years or so, it has found even greater favour as an economic staple. Custard apples are packed before being delivered to customers. The custard apple is among several fruits that have found a niche in the northern province of Bac Giang, which has emerged as one of the largest fruit-growing areas in the nation. Different districts in the province has become well-known in Viet Nam and beyond for their lychees, longans, pineapples and custard apples. The custard apple, or na in Vietnamese, has become a specialty of the mountainous district of Luc Nam, and local authorities have been encouraging its cultivation with several supporting policies. The district grows the fruit on 1,700ha, of which 700ha follow the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standard. The custard apples are planted mainly in the communes … [Read more...] about Luc Nam finds a fruitful niche