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Hanoi wishes to learn from experience of Italy’s Milan city in urban construction and development for its programme to become a smart city, said Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung at a working session with a EU delegation on June 13.

Hanoi will cooperate with Milan in urban development, focusing on high-tech applications and smart city building, under the World City network, according to Ambassador Bruno Angelet, head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam.

The World City network is an initiative launched by the EU aimed at promoting the exchange of experience and the best practice on regional and urban development policies between EU cities and non-EU peers. Chung said Hanoi prioritises transport infrastructure development, high-quality personnel training and administrative reform. IT will be the main tool used in the city construction and development, he said, adding that city is expected to complete a big data system by 2020.

However, the official said, Hanoi wants to partner with small-and medium-sized enterprises of Europe in general and those of Milan in particular as the city still faces difficulties in building a modern information system.

Hanoi stands ready to facilitate European investors and wants to cooperate with European architects in building roads and bridges, and upgrading ancient houses, he noted.

Italian Ambassador Cecilia Piccioni said Milan is the sixth largest city in the EU in terms of network infrastructure. Following President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Italy in 2016, the World City network is the next step to advance relations between the two countries and their cities, the diplomat said. Italy and the EU in general hope for more cooperation opportunities with Vietnamese enterprises to build smart and modern cities, she noted.

The project aims to promote the sharing of information and experience in building urban and regional development policies among the participating cities. Addressing the launching ceremony, Ambassador Bruno Angelet, Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, said both EU and Vietnam have recognised that developing cities is an important factor in promoting sustainable development in the world.

The EU and its member nations pledged to cooperate with partners in the world to create cooperation opportunities among cities and boost experience exchanges as well as urban solutions to address challenges in sustainable development in partner countries. During the event, senior officials from the four cities of Vietnam, Italy and Slovakia discussed initiatives for smart and green cities.

The World Cities project, worth 700,000 EUR is funded by the European Commission’s Department for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) in Brussels. The project will be implemented in pilot cities with specific short-term cooperation agenda, including urban innovation (smart city), green technologies (energy efficiency, low carbon development). Concrete actions will be decided upon by participating cities and regions with strong support from the project’s staff and in cooperation with DG REGIO and the EU delegations to the participating nations.

The project is expected to promote market opportunities and create jobs along with pursuing sustainable economic development in the cities, thus strengthening bilateral cooperation for mutual benefits. The project has also been carried out in Australia, Indonesia, South Africa and the Republic of Korea.

Source：Vietnam+ , VietNamNet

Medical tourism has developed into one of the biggest industries in Asia over the past 3 decades. There have been massive financial investments in the medical infrastructure here, with custom-built facilities and internationally-trained nizagara-online.net doctors ready and waiting to deliver superior quality medical treatments to overseas patients, and all at ridiculously low prices.

Medical tourism is the phrase that is used to describe the act of travelling abroad specifically to receive medical treatment. There are several reasons why somebody might choose to do this:

Cost: Treatment can be as much as 60% – 70% cheaper in Asia compared to average domestic prices.
Standard of Healthcare: State-ot-the-art facilities exist here that are equipped with the latest medical technologies currently available anywhere in the world.
Waiting Times: There can be quite lengthy waiting lists for some treatments in your home country, whereas there is much more availability in Asia is.

Thousands of patients have already benefitted from undergoing treatment in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and The Philippines, receiving high-quality nizagara ed treatment at an affordable price.

Treatments in Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Asia. Considered to be the country’s cultural and spiritual centre, tourists have long-been captivated by the city’s grandiose palaces, mystical temples, busy street markets, traditional canal networks and pulsating nightlife.

There are endless retail opportunities around the city, from the world-renowned Khao San Road with its authentic Thai restaurants and shops, to the sprawling Chatuchak Weekend Market that consists of over 15,000 different stalls. There are also many modern shopping malls, a floating river market and the night-market in Patpong to explore. Other popular landmarks and activities around the city include the Grand Palace, Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn) and boat tours along the Chao Phraya River.

Medical facilities in Bangkok are second to none, with increasing numbers of overseas patients flocking to the city to avail themselves of superior, low-cost cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentation, face lifts and rhinoplasty.

At the forefront of the market is the Yanhee Hospital. Conveniently located close to the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the hospital delivers a comprehensive range of cosmetic surgeries for both the face and body, as well as a variety of non-invasive procedures to improve skin quality and counteract the effects of the aging process. The hospital adheres to the highest international standards of hygiene and healthcare, earning them accreditation with the globally-respected Joint Commission International (JCI), ensuring that international patients receive a level of medical service that is at least equal to that provided by hospitals in their own country.

The Phuket Plastic Surgery Institute, Thailand

The Phuket Plastic Surgery Institute (PPSI) is Thailand’s leading provider of cosmetic surgery treatments. Procedures range from breast lifts, breast reductions and breast augmentations, to face lifts, rhinoplasty, tummy tucks and liposuction. The hospital has garnered a global reputation for providing quality plastic surgery procedures in Phuket at rock-bottom prices. Based in the Phuket International Hospital, PPSI is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology and employs only board-registered, English-speaking surgeons.

The island provides the perfect backdrop against which to recover from treatment. Renowned for its tropical white-sandy beaches, fabulous cuisine, luxury hotels and vibrant nightlife, the traditional Thai hospitality evident throughout Phuket has made the island a popular alternative with tourists looking to avoid the hustle and bustle of Bangkok.

The Thai government recently has implemented a new regulation allowing national from China to stay in Thailand up to 90 days without a visa.

An eligible Chinese patient, together with not more than three accompanying individuals of Chinese nation (i.e. parents, spouse, children or adopted children) are allowed to have a 90 days’ visa exemption for medical purpose in Thailand, according to a joint statement issued by the Ministry of Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the official website of the Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT).

Those seeking a 90 days’ visa exemption must present a document to prove they have a medical appointment issued by health institutions certified by the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand. Once the documents approved by immigration bodies, applicants are able to enter the country for medical treatment.

Thailand has currently become a popular medical tourist destination and over the years, it has gained recognition and credibility for its medical tourism.

The government has launched a crackdown on “zero dollar” tour operators to root out illegal kickback tours since last August. The operation aims to improve qualities of tour packages.

However, the number of Chinese tourists to Thailand has fallen significantly since then. The country has eyed a drop of 7.5 percent compared to that of last year in terms of the arrival of Chinese in the first four months of 2017.

Thailand’s tourism bodies are pinning hopes on the visa exemption scheme to bring more Chinese tourists to the country’s medical industries.

Source: Destination Thailand News , Travel and Tour World

Pig overproduction was a hot topic that many National Assembly (NA) deputies asked Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong about on June 13 morning.

At the question and answer (Q&A) session, part of the parliament’s ongoing third sitting, deputy Nguyen Son of Ha Tinh province said while the plan for the animal farming sector aimed at 32 million pigs raised in 2015, an overproduction crisis occurred in 2016 when there were just 27 million pigs. Deputy Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan of Bac Ninh province asked about solutions to the oversupply of pork, which made farmers suffer from losses of up to 50 percent of production costs.

Minister Cuong attributed the situation to the rapid growth in meat production, especially in pig farming, over the past years. While the good control of animal diseases has contributed to the oversupply of food in a certain point of time, consumers’ diverse food options have substantially reduced the demand for pork.

The connectivity between production and processing steps remains weak, he said, adding that there are few businesses with a complete chain of breeding, farming, slaughtering and distribution.

More than 90 percent of pork is still sold through traditional channels. Meanwhile, Vietnam has exported pork, mainly of suckling pigs, to just three countries. It has also just shipped pork to China, a big neighbouring market, via small cross-border trade activities.

He said among the three steps of production, processing and seeking markets, the country has just done a good job of production, leading to the recent excessive pork supply and falling prices.

However, deputy Nguyen Thanh Hong of Binh Duong province said the minister’s answer was not persuasive and it did not mention the state management in this field. Giving more details about this issue, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said it is important to base on the domestic and foreign markets’ demand to make development plans.

The animal farming sector has recorded fast growth, but the expansion of markets hasn’t been truly effective, he said, noting that much room remains for Vietnam to export pork but the product hasn’t satisfied importing countries’ requirements.

Anh pointed out that Vietnam’s pork can compete with that of regional producers like China, the Philippines and Malaysia. But as there are 10.6 million small and separate farming households, it makes Vietnamese pork prices higher than those imported from the US and other countries.

He said coordination among ministries, sectors and localities needs to be reviewed to make better plans on animal farming. State agencies must devise plans that align production with the market demand and ensure that products will overcome technical barriers.

At the Q&A session, deputies also grilled Minister Cuong about counterfeit and inferior quality fertilisers and the state management in this area.

Source: Vietnam+

The National Assembly discussed on June 9 the government’s socio-economic report and asked for more investment in social security, poverty reduction, and the fight against corruption and wastage.

Many deputies pointed out bright spots, including improvement in investment, business climate, administrative reform, and the establishment of working groups to handle policy-related problems.

Deputy Tran Hoang Ngan from Ho Chi Minh City said, “Despite the high level of public debts, Vietnam maintains its macro-economic stability, ensures social security, and improves income of state employees and retired cadres. This is the 5th consecutive year that inflation is under control with stabilized exchange rates. Current account balance continues its surplus, the 5th year in a row, raising the national foreign exchange reserve. While settling bad debts and restructuring the credit organizations, the banking system remains safe.”

NA Deputy Dinh Duy Vuot from Gia Lai province suggested that the Government should focus on efficiently managing existing resources in order to reach the set target of 6.7 percent GDP growth.

He underlined the need for faster disbursement of capital, noting that only VND5.2 trillion of capital raised from Government bond has been allocated, equivalent to just 10.2% of the goal.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung reiterated a resolve to achieve a growth target of 6.7% this year, paving the way for fulfilling the 5-year plan. “The government has issued Directive 24 to enable ministries and sectors to set their own targets. There are two sets of measures. In the long run, Vietnam will continue to stabilize its macro economy, control inflation, boost economic restructuring, reform institutions, and increase labor productivity. In the short run, we will remove obstacles for businesses, promote sectors’ development, and speed up capital disbursement,” he said.

Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung said Vietnam’s public debt rate was 50% in 2010 and 62.5% in 2015 and that Resolution 7 has been issued to restructure the State budget and ensure public debts’ safety.

“In 2016 and 2017, public debts were curbed through the issuance of long-term bonds. If the 2013 government bonds’ duration was 3 years, it was more than 8 years last year. This was a good result. All loans from 2011 to 2013 with high interest rates have been rolled over with interest rates of over 6%. So the restructuring of public debts has gone smoothly,” he added.

Source: VOV.VN

Over recent years, Vietnam’s economic development has prospered – at least partly – on the back of its markedly young labour force. This asset has greatly contributed to the expansion of the country’s processing production sector. At the higher end of the labour market, however, a shortage of skilled workers and of those in possession of advanced qualifications has started to restrict further industrial development. With a number of overseas investors looking to introduce increasingly sophisticated processes into their Vietnamese operations in the course of business expansion, this lack of experienced staff has become a continuing problem. It is also a challenge for those businesses looking to recruit high-calibre individuals as they update their production processes.

Essentially, as businesses look to enhance their operations, the lack of an accessible pool of production engineers and precision tool makers, for instance, is being sorely felt. By contrast, Hong Kong is home to a number of experienced industrial players, all of which are well supported by a strong manufacturing base, especially within South China. As a result, the city can offer a comprehensive range of internationally-recognised services, which are of a sufficiently high quality to meet the requirements of buyers from most developed markets. Thanks also to Hong Kong’s advantageous location within Asia, many of the city’s experienced industrial companies are in an excellent position to tap into Vietnam’s growing need for a variety of production services.

Vietnam has a notably young population, with an average national age of about 32, and more than half of its citizens (about 55%) aged 34 years or under. In total, the15-64 age group accounted for 68% of the country’s population in 2015, up from 61% in 1999. This clearly shows that Vietnam has a large and abundant supply of young labour, something that is clearly advantageous for its on-going economic development.

This particular demographic reality is well noticed by many manufacturers and foreign investors looking for alternative production sites with sizeable labour forces as a means of supporting their business expansion. In line with the opening up of the Vietnamese economy over recent decades, the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) – particularly within the manufacturing sector – has grown dramatically.

Lower labour costs have a particular appeal for foreign investors engaged in labour-intensive processing production. Although, as of 1 January 2017, Vietnam’s statutory minimum wage level has been raised, overall the monthly pay level still stands at less than US$200. Of course, in many cases, the actual wage level is higher than the minimum, with the variance dependent on location and the level of qualification and experience of the employees concerned. After adding in statutory insurance for health care, social and unemployment benefits, Vietnamese labour costs per worker still remain at a low level – starting from around US$200-250 per month, though it can be higher in certain circumstances.

In other production sites across Asia, including some of the less developed parts of western China, it is common for total per worker monthly labour costs (including statutory contributions and insurance) to start from about US$300-350. Bearing this in mind, the cost of employing Vietnam’s youthful labour face is actually on the low side.

It is such cost advantages that have proved one of the key factors in Vietnam’s success in attracting  FDI. Thanks to the overall increase in business activities, the unemployment rate in the country’s urban areas fell from 5.3% in 2005 to 3.2% (estimated) in 2016. Although Vietnam currently enjoys virtually full employment, there is still potential for the country to supply more workers in line with increasing demand. This is largely because two-thirds of the population still live and work in the more rural areas, with urban dwellers only accounting for around one-third of the total population. Employees working in offices, factories and industrial zones in the cities have a much higher income than those engaged in agricultural, fishing and related activities in the rural areas. As a result, an increasing number of former rural residents are now moving to the cities and the nearby urban areas in order to live and work. In spite of its low unemployment levels, then, Vietnam still has a very abundant supply of available labour.

At present, Vietnam’s labour force consists of 54.5 million people, with young workers accounting for the majority and 74% of the labour force actually under 50 years of age. It should, however, be noted that the majority of these workers are unskilled. Indeed, nearly 80% of them hold no formal qualifications at all, while an estimated 9% are university graduates and only 11% have received secondary/college education or undertaken vocational training. Moreover, only 21% of the country’s employed workers have ever received any kind of professional training of three months duration or more. Needless to say, their overall productivity level is lower than that of the trained / skilled workers in China or a number of the other more advanced ASEAN countries. This, in part, explains why the wages for young Vietnamese workers have remained relatively low.

In practice, Vietnam lacks not only skilled labour, but also trained technicians and professional staff. While the low-cost labour supply is suitable for supporting Vietnam’s processing production sector, the country is unlikely to be able to adopt advanced production processes given the current standing of the workforce. Over time, however, the government is determined to improve the country’s education system and vocational training programmes. Such a solution, though, will take a considerable time to come to fruition.

Despite these concerns, FDI has continued to flow into Vietnam’s manufacturing sector, attracted by the low cost of unskilled workers, land and a number of other production factors. Increasingly, though, the country’s factories are turning to automation as a way of enhancing their efficiency and producing the more sophisticated products demanded by the international market. Encouraged by the Vietnamese government, as well as by several upstream suppliers that have chosen to follow their clients’ investments, the production of industrial inputs, as well as certain parts and components, has increased. As a result, there is an increasing demand within Vietnam for industrial services, a necessity for the production of more sophisticated finished goods and industrial inputs.

On account of the problem of recruiting high-calibre staff – notably production engineers and technicians – Vietnam currently lacks precision and industrial engineering support. Local and foreign-invested manufacturers intending to introduce more sophisticated facilities to their operations, then, will have to rely on properly-qualified staff from outside the country in order to meet their local operational needs.

In order to support their processing production in Vietnam, for instance, some manufacturers are now manufacturing their precision tooling and moulds in other locations, most notably South China. Others are looking to recruit quality service providers from nearby locations in order to secure the level of quality inspection and testing services that are recognised by international buyers. As a result, demand for a wide range of industrial supports is set to increase as the variety of production activities conducted in Vietnam continues to expand. Inevitably, the current shortage of skilled labour and technicians, as well as high-grade production engineers, will not be solved in the short term. In the meantime, manufacturers in Vietnam will continue to employ various external supports from around the Asian region.

Among the key requirements for meeting these needs are geographical proximity to Vietnam and the provision of a comprehensive range of fully up-to-date industrial services. Ideally equipped to meet both requirements, Hong Kong has a convenient geographic location and a highly efficient logistics sector. The experienced industrial players and service providers in the city are also well supported by a strong manufacturing base, especially in the case of the Pearl River Delta area and beyond. Additionally, many Hong Kong players have long been managing industrial processes to a recognised international standard and are able to comply with the statutory requirements of buyers from advanced countries. As a result, they are in a strong position when it comes to meeting Vietnam’s growing demand for a variety of production services.

Source: HKTDC