Vietnam, Armenia mull visa-free, direct flight and business forum for better bilateral ties

Vietnam and Armenia may establish a direct flight route and organize a business and economic forum to connect the people and businesses of the two nations. At a meeting on September 9, delegates from both countries also discussed the possibility of waiving visas for Vietnamese and Armenian travelers to boost the tourism sector.

Vietnam and Armenia established diplomatic relations in 1992. From 1950 to 1990, nearly 2,000 Vietnamese students studied in the latter, many of whom have actively promoted bilateral relations between the countries.

Producers, actors and actresses of Tro Tan Ruc Ro (Glorious Ashes) at the 2023 Golden Kite Awards. Photo: The Hanoi Times

2023 Golden Kite Awards honors best films, best actors

The 2023 Golden Kite Awards was held on September 9 in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, to honor the best movies and actors. Me Rom (Straw Mother), directed by Nguyen Phuong Dien, won the award for best television series.

The best feature film award went to Tro tan ruc ro (Glorious Ashes) by director Bui Thac Chuyen. Actor Thai Ho and actress Thu Trang won the Best Actor and Actress awards.

Budget disbursement target within reach: Minister of Planning and Investment

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran The Phuong said on September 9 that the government may have spent VND676,000 trillion (US$28 billion), or 95% of the full-year public spending plan. In January-August, government agencies disbursed a total of nearly VND298 trillion (US$12.4 billion), or 42% of the target set for 2023. The figure is up 2.95% year-on-year.

The deputy minister said administrative procedures have been streamlined, so it is the responsibility of contractors to prepare their files carefully to get their expenses settled.

VSIP Can Tho Industrial Park kicks off

Work on Phase 1 of the Can Tho Industrial Park with an investment of over VND3.7 trillion (US$153.8 million) started on September 9 in Vinh Trinh Commune, Vinh Thanh District, Can Tho City. It is the 13th Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in the country and the first in the Mekong Delta region.

The VSIP aims to capitalize on the city's strengths as a major food processing and distribution center, establish a "center to port" logistics network, and provide the necessary infrastructure to support investors' supply chain needs effectively. The Can Tho Industrial Park is planned to cover a total area of 900 hectares and is expected to provide jobs for 100,000 workers upon completion.

Domestic enterprises' export value growth outpaces foreign-invested sector

The export turnover of domestic enterprises export turnover increased by 8.7% in August, outpacing the growth rate of the foreign-invested sector (7.3%), according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. This is the fourth consecutive month-on-month export growth. The export value reached $20.19 billion in August, contributing to a trade surplus and strengthening foreign exchange reserves.

NEAR APAC 2023 exhibition kicks off in HCMC

The NEAR APAC 2023 technology conference and exhibition, themed "Unlimited Future," attracted 100 international speakers, more than 50 technology investment funds, and thousands of young participants in Ho Chi Minh City on September 9-10. The event aims to promote the potential of Vietnamese technology companies and showcase high-quality human resources.

The series of events also included a hackathon & coding challenge for programmers and students with a prize of over VND2.7 billion ($105,320), a job fair, and a 1:1 pitching program for Vietnamese startups with over 50 international investment funds, among others.

Vietnam wins several awards at ASEAN Public Relations Excellence Awards

A number of Vietnamese individuals and organizations were honored at the 4th ASEAN Public Relations Excellence Awards, which aimed to recognize outstanding actors in the public relations industry in the region.

The award is expected to motivate those involved in the PR industry and the media to contribute to promoting the image of the Vietnamese nation and people.