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Vietnam aims to ensure legality, sustainability of all timber exports

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Vietnam is taking steps to ensure all input materials used in its timber value chains are legal and meet sustainable development requirements, with a view to become one of the world’s leading centers for processing wood for exports, a Vietnamese official has said.

Pham Van Dien, deputy director general of the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VAF) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, was speaking at the Forum on Sustainable and Legal Timber Value Chain in Vietnam, which took place in southern Binh Duong Province on Friday. 

The event, with an attendance of 150 delegates, was organized by the VAF, a multi-party core group within the framework of the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Vietnam is exporting timber to many markets such as the U.S., the EU and Japan, among others, all require the legality of exported items, so Vietnam aims to meet two criteria on legality and sustainability for its wooden exports, Dien said.

The official emphasized that Vietnam is endeavoring to become one of the world’s leading centers for processing wood for exports, with an export turnover expected to amount to US$25 billion by 2030.

“To achieve this goal, we need to build and operate a system to ensure that Vietnam’s timber is legal in accordance with international commitments and agreements, thereby ensuring that 100 percent of input materials used in all the country’s timber value chains are legal,” Dien said.

It is essential to strengthen forest management to help boost timber origin tracing and promote sustainable timber trade, the Vietnam News Agency cited Oemar Idoe, Group Coordinator of GIZ’s projects on environment, climate change and agriculture in Vietnam, as saying.

Rui Ludovino, First Counselor of the EU Delegation to Vietnam (EUD) and in charge of matters on climate action, environment, employment and social policy, emphasized the need to ensure the legality and sustainability of timber and timber products.

The EU-Vietnam Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VPA/FLEGT) signed in 2018, which aims to address illegal logging, improve forest governance and promote trade in legal timber products, Ludovino said. 

Under the agreement, wood exploitation must not cause deforestation, forest degradation, or loss of biodiversity or natural resources, the counselor said, calling for the implementation of the agreement as soon as possible to benefit businesses of both sides. 

Diep Bao Tri, financial director of Minh Duong Furniture Corporation in Binh Duong, said that in order to expand the market, his company will continue complying with both Vietnamese and international requirements in ensuring legal and sustainable timber supply chains.

According to the results of the enterprise assessment and classification under the VPA/FLEGT, the company has been classified into the Group 1 that include those fully comply with the criteria of the Vietnam’s Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS), Tri stated.

After a timber exporter with such classification gets a FLEGT license, expected by the end of 2023, it will have its exports cleared immediately upon arrival at the destination port without having to additionally report about timber legality, the director said.  

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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/business/20221029/vietnam-aims-to-ensure-legality-sustainability-of-all-timber-exports/69800.html

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Vietnam Q1 rice exports at 1.79 mln T, up 19.3% year-on-year

Revenue from rice exports in the period is seen up 30.2% at $952 million.

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Vietnam’s rice exports in the January-March period are estimated to have risen about 19.3% from a year earlier to 1.79 million tonnes, government data showed on Wednesday.

Revenue from rice exports in the period is seen up 30.2% at $952 million.

March rice exports from Vietnam, one of the world’s leading shippers of the grain, likely totalled 900,000 tonnes, worth $480 million.

Source: Reuters

Source: https://e.nhipcaudautu.vn/economy/vietnam-q1-rice-exports-at-179-mln-t-up-193-year-on-year-3351586/

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NovaGroup to sell stake in property subsidiary Novaland

NovaGroup wants to sell a 2% stake in Novaland, and if the transaction goes through, chairman Bui Thanh Nhon and his family will become minority shareholders.

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In a notice sent to the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange on Monday, NovaGroup said it would sell 38 million shares between March 30 and April 28 to balance its investment portfolio and restructure debts.

The announcement comes amid a sharp rise in the price of NovaGroup shares thanks to the deferral of its bond redemption, approval for capital hike and the nomination of two new directors. Novaland shares closed Monday at the ceiling price of VND12,700 ($0.54) and there were no sellers, a fourth straight day of gains.

At this price, the transaction is expected to fetch Nova nearly VND500 billion ($21.3 million).

But it will reduce NovaGroup’s stake to 27.43%. Nhon’s family, including himself, his wife, two children and two related companies, will see their holdings fall to 50.72%.

Novaland’s charter makes 51% the controlling stake.

NovaGroup, formerly known as Thanh Nhon Trading Co., Ltd., was founded by Nhon in 1992.

It underwent several rounds of restructuring. In 2007 two companies, Novaland Group in real estate and Anova Group in livestock and animal feed, were established.

In 2020 NovaGroup restructured for a second time and added three more corporations: Novaland, Nova Service (services) and Nova Consumer (consumer goods). A year later it set up five more companies, with Novaland remaining the main one.

The last time NovaGroup sold shares in Novaland was in November 2022 when it registered to sell 150 million shares but only managed to sell 98 million.

Novaland is Vietnam’s second largest listed property developer, according to Reuters.

It reported revenues of VND11.15 trillion and after-tax profits of VND2.29 trillion last year, 25% and 34% down from 2021.

It has capital of VND257 trillion, 82.6% of it from debt.

Source: VnExpress

Source: https://e.nhipcaudautu.vn/companies/novagroup-to-sell-stake-in-property-subsidiary-novaland-3351561/

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Vietnam calls for U.S. support in digital transformation

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The Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications, at a working session on Wednesday with the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and representatives from many U.S. enterprises, called on U.S enterprises to support Vietnamese enterprises, especially SMEs, in digital transformation.

Following a working session with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the USABC and U.S. enterprises, who are in Vietnam to seek cooperation, investment, and business opportunities, held a meeting with the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications.

A view of the working session between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council. Photo: Duong Giang / Tuoi Tre
A view of the working session between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council. Photo: Duong Giang / Tuoi Tre

USABC President and CEO Ted Osius took time from the meeting to share his appreciation for the potential of Vietnam’s digital economy.

According to Osius, U.S. enterprises are paying attention to the Southeast Asian country’s policies aimed at boosting the digital economy, digital infrastructure development, and metaverse and digital asset management regulations.

They are also keen on the country’s priorities and targets for 2023 – the year of digital data, as well as how U.S. firms can join hands to help Vietnam achieve these targets, Osius added.

A representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications said Vietnam expects to conduct the digital transformation with three pillars—digital government, digital economy, and digital society.

The ministry admitted that Vietnam needs a new legal framework appropriate to the development of it’s digital economy, in which U.S. firms can make contributions.

Lessons from successful digital transformation in other countries may not be successfully applied in Vietnam, so domestic firms can help localize solutions developed by U.S. enterprises.

U.S. ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (L) and USABC President and CEO Ted Osius at the working session with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: Duong Giang / Tuoi Tre
U.S. ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (L) and USABC President and CEO Ted Osius at the working session with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: Duong Giang / Tuoi Tre

At the working session with the USABC and representatives of Meta, Roblox, SpaceX, FedEx, UPS, Amazon Web Services, Boeing, and Apple, PM Chinh thanked them for accompanying Vietnam on it’s digital transformation journey and wished all enterprises success in working with Vietnam.

“Your success is also our success,” PM Chinh stressed.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese government is always willing to listen to U.S. firms’ opinions and proposals.

Vietnam will continue to create favorable conditions for U.S. enterprises to expand their investment in Vietnam and pave the way for Vietnamese companies to take part in their value chains.

The prime minister also discussed Vietnam’s development pillars, breakthrough strategies, and viewpoint on the foreign-invested sector.

In addition, he introduced specific sectors in Vietnam in which the USABC and U.S enterprises are interested, such as digital economy, creative industries, healthcare, energy, agriculture, and aviation.

He affirmed that Vietnam is willing to import machines, equipment, tools, and spare parts from the U.S. to balance Vietnam-U.S. trade.

Meta has high hopes for Vietnam

On Wednesday, Rafael Rrankel, Director of Public Policy for South and Southeast Asia at Meta, met with representatives from Vietnamese press agencies, including Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

At the meeting, Rrankel said Vietnam has a high number of Facebook users and the number is on the rise. In addition, many Vietnamese companies use Facebook’s Business Messaging service to manage parts of their operations.

Director of Public Policy for South and Southeast Asia at Meta Group Rafael Rrankel. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre
Director of Public Policy for South and Southeast Asia at Meta Group Rafael Rrankel. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

“It can be said that you are a leading market of Facebook in the world in using the service,” Rrankel affirmed.

The Meta representative shared his appreciation for the Vietnamese government’s long-term vision and investment in telecom infrastructure.

The Vietnamese government has issued policies to support digital economy development, and considers the digital economy and support enterprises’ digital transformation as top priorities, Rrankel said.

Rrankel emphasized that “these help leading technology enterprises of the U.S., including Meta, see the bright outlook of Vietnam.”

Like us on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

The Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications, at a working session on Wednesday with the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and representatives from many U.S. enterprises, called on U.S enterprises to support Vietnamese enterprises, especially SMEs, in digital transformation.

Following a working session with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the USABC and U.S. enterprises, who are in Vietnam to seek cooperation, investment, and business opportunities, held a meeting with the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications.

A view of the working session between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council. Photo: Duong Giang / Tuoi Tre
A view of the working session between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council. Photo: Duong Giang / Tuoi Tre

USABC President and CEO Ted Osius took time from the meeting to share his appreciation for the potential of Vietnam’s digital economy.

According to Osius, U.S. enterprises are paying attention to the Southeast Asian country’s policies aimed at boosting the digital economy, digital infrastructure development, and metaverse and digital asset management regulations.

They are also keen on the country’s priorities and targets for 2023 – the year of digital data, as well as how U.S. firms can join hands to help Vietnam achieve these targets, Osius added.

A representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications said Vietnam expects to conduct the digital transformation with three pillars—digital government, digital economy, and digital society.

The ministry admitted that Vietnam needs a new legal framework appropriate to the development of it’s digital economy, in which U.S. firms can make contributions.

Lessons from successful digital transformation in other countries may not be successfully applied in Vietnam, so domestic firms can help localize solutions developed by U.S. enterprises.

U.S. ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (L) and USABC President and CEO Ted Osius at the working session with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: Duong Giang / Tuoi Tre
U.S. ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (L) and USABC President and CEO Ted Osius at the working session with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: Duong Giang / Tuoi Tre

At the working session with the USABC and representatives of Meta, Roblox, SpaceX, FedEx, UPS, Amazon Web Services, Boeing, and Apple, PM Chinh thanked them for accompanying Vietnam on it’s digital transformation journey and wished all enterprises success in working with Vietnam.

“Your success is also our success,” PM Chinh stressed.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese government is always willing to listen to U.S. firms’ opinions and proposals.

Vietnam will continue to create favorable conditions for U.S. enterprises to expand their investment in Vietnam and pave the way for Vietnamese companies to take part in their value chains.

The prime minister also discussed Vietnam’s development pillars, breakthrough strategies, and viewpoint on the foreign-invested sector.

In addition, he introduced specific sectors in Vietnam in which the USABC and U.S enterprises are interested, such as digital economy, creative industries, healthcare, energy, agriculture, and aviation.

He affirmed that Vietnam is willing to import machines, equipment, tools, and spare parts from the U.S. to balance Vietnam-U.S. trade.

Meta has high hopes for Vietnam

On Wednesday, Rafael Rrankel, Director of Public Policy for South and Southeast Asia at Meta, met with representatives from Vietnamese press agencies, including Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

At the meeting, Rrankel said Vietnam has a high number of Facebook users and the number is on the rise. In addition, many Vietnamese companies use Facebook’s Business Messaging service to manage parts of their operations.

Director of Public Policy for South and Southeast Asia at Meta Group Rafael Rrankel. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre
Director of Public Policy for South and Southeast Asia at Meta Group Rafael Rrankel. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

“It can be said that you are a leading market of Facebook in the world in using the service,” Rrankel affirmed.

The Meta representative shared his appreciation for the Vietnamese government’s long-term vision and investment in telecom infrastructure.

The Vietnamese government has issued policies to support digital economy development, and considers the digital economy and support enterprises’ digital transformation as top priorities, Rrankel said.

Rrankel emphasized that “these help leading technology enterprises of the U.S., including Meta, see the bright outlook of Vietnam.”

Like us on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/business/20230324/vietnam-calls-for-us-support-in-digital-transformation/72241.html

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