Ho Chi Minh City calls for investment in 28 green growth projects

Ho Chi Minh City has announced 28 green growth projects to be undertaken through public-private partnerships (PPPs). The projects will be discussed today (January 24) at the meeting between the city government and the World Bank on green growth and sustainability.

Three of the projects involve high-tech and semiconductor production with an expected investment of VND4.5 trillion (US$183 million), and the development of a new residential area in Thu Thiem residential area with a total investment of about VND19 trillion (US$772.4 million).

Foreign tourists tend to be individual, big spenders in Quang Ninh province

Foreign tourists set foot on Ha Long, Quang Ninh in early November 2023. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Each self-organized and overnight foreign tourist spent an average of VND3.7 million ($150) in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh last year, according to the provincial statistics office. The figure is 19.3% higher than the spending of a Vietnamese tourist.

Visitors to Quang Ninh spend an average of 2.97 days in the province, with the number of individual tourists accounting for 61% of the total. In 2023, the province welcomed 15.5 million visitors and earned a total of VND33.5 trillion ($1.4 billion), up 48% year-on-year.

Vietnam to boost seaweed cultivation

Vietnam has discovered more than 887 species of natural seaweed, 88 of which have economic value. Research on the frontline islands has recorded 375 species of seaweeds belonging to 62 families and 26 orders of 4 algal phyla.

The potential area for seaweed cultivation could be about 900,000 hectares, while only about 16,500 hectares have been exploited. On this basis, Vietnam has set a target to produce 180,000 tons of seaweed by 2025 and 500,000 tons by 2030.

Vietnam Social Security, French Embassy boost health and pharmacy cooperation

Vietnam Social Security and the French Chamber of Commerce Promotion in Vietnam, under the French Embassy, recently signed a memorandum of understanding to promote the development of the two countries' medical and pharmaceutical systems and improve people's health.

Since 2018, the French Embassy and medical associations have implemented medical and pharmaceutical cooperation with the Vietnam Social Security. A year later, the French Pharmaceutical Trade Association also signed a cooperation agreement with this organization in the pharmaceutical sector.

USAID boosts Vietnam's labor market with WISE project

The U.S. Mission to Vietnam, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the National Innovation Center of the Ministry of Planning and Investment celebrated the achievements of the WISE project, which expanded digital skills in Vietnam's labor market. Through a US$2.2 million project, the two sides partnered with educational institutions to train more than 3,000 students and 500 teachers from more than 60 universities and colleges, promote the role of women in STEM, and develop a digital workforce website.

The project supports Vietnam's goal of becoming an upper-middle income country by 2030. The United States is a longstanding partner in developing Vietnam's high-tech workforce through a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Seminar links Russia and Vietnam

The Vietnam Hotel Association is ready to welcome and support Russian companies in exploring and establishing partnerships, facilitating access of Russian companies' products to Vietnam's trade systems. The information was revealed at the seminar on "Russian Products in Vietnamese Hotels" trade connectivity project held in Moscow, Russia on January 23.

The seminar was expected to enhance mutual understanding between the two countries' businesses and boost trade activities between Russia and Vietnam.