Hanoi will continue promotion efforts with trade and tourism initiatives to achieve its investment attraction strategies.

The summit aims to share best practices and promote cooperation among Vietnam's provinces and cities in building and developing smart cities.

The total transaction volume in the Jan-Sep period increased by 37.7% compared to the same period last year.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on February 25 announced the publication of a handbook for use by Vietnam’s support industries.

Vietnam Report Joint Stock Company (Vietnam Report) on February 18 announced the FAST 500 rankings in 2013 - a list of the 500 businesses achieving the fastest growth rates in the country.

Despite economic difficulties, Viet Nam accounted for a half of the world’s exported pepper volume in 2013 and expects to maintain the output this year.

Tariffs on Vietnam`s footwear exported to the EU will be cut from 13-14 per cent to 3-4 per cent this year.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) reports steel production and consumption faced difficulties in January due to an imbalance in supply and demand.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a list of 151 areas where mineral mining rights will not be auctioned.

The initial five members of the Vietnam Motorbike Association (VMA) will officially debut the new industry body later in February.

Despite initial signs of recovery, the Vietnamese auto industry is expecting a challenging 2014 as deadline pressures from ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) commitments continue to mount.

Free trade agreements such as that with the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), will expand export markets for Vietnamese garments and textiles, according to Industry and Trade Minister Vu Huy Hoang.

Vietnamese businesses should reengineer and streamline their operations in 2014 to maximize efficiencies said President of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc.

Japan has agreed to increase the maximum residue limit (MRL) of Ethoxyquin, an antioxidant preservative used in fish meal, in Vietnamese shrimp – a move that will benefit shrimp businesses.

The Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (Lefaso) is forecasting high export growth of Made-in-Vietnam handbags, suitcases and briefcases for the leather and footwear industry in 2014.

Viet Nam is expected to earn US$ 6.9 billion from shipping aquatic products abroad, representing a 13% increase against 2012, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The Vietnam Plastic Association (VPA) has reported 2013’s plastic exports earned US$1.808 billion, a 13.3% annual improvement.

The industry and trade sector of Vietnam expects the index of industrial production (IIP) to grow to 6.3% this year as the world economy recovers, helping boost exports.

Vietnam will farm, process and export Tra (Pangasius) fish in an entirely sustainable and environmentally friendly manner, in line with international law, said a senior fisheries official.

Transport Minister Dinh La Thang has asked concerned agencies to expedite work on a major project to improve operational efficiency of the No 5 Seaport System to make it a regional entrepot in the near future.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has decided to reduce the petroleum import quota for this year to approximately seven million tonnes from the earlier 9.115 million tonnes.

Ho Chi Minh City acknowledges meeting its 9.5–10% economic growth targets - 1.5 times the national average - will be challenging in 2014.

The Viet Nam-Russia oil and gas joint venture enterprise (Vietsovpetro) aims to pump up 5.1 million tons of oil in 2014, said Vietsovpetro Party Committee Secretary Dang Minh Hong.