Illustrative photo. Photo: VNA

National program pushes for innovation among enterprises

The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has been accelerating support for Vietnamese companies to promote technology transfer and develop new technologies for the creation of higher-quality and value-added products under the national technology innovation program by 2030, according to an official.

Approved by the government in January last year, the national program will provide further assistance for businesses – the driver of the economy and innovation, said Ta Viet Dung, Deputy Director of the MoST’s State Agency for Technology Innovation.

It focuses on product innovation, from developing new products to innovating technology-based production and management processes; technology innovation; and adoption of new market approach and development methods.

It also encourages technology transfer for the development of rural, mountainous and disadvantaged areas, and enhances training of workforces in these areas.

It is very important to raise awareness of the nature of and opportunities brought by innovation among Vietnamese businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that face various challenges and struggle to gain access to governmental incentives, Dung said, noting that the provision of information, technological consultation and support to call for investment in technology innovation are crucial.

He further said that the agency has been taking measures to push for innovation within enterprises, improve regulatory frameworks, and formulate a systematic support network that brings together parties from both at home and abroad to help firms innovate, cited VNA.

Additionally, the agency will promote business matching events in technology and regularly organize activities to offer technical consultation and support for firms.

Dung emphasized the need to foster decentralization and effective coordination among sectors, centrally and locally-run authorities responsible for accelerating innovation; remove barriers in terms of legislation, economic policies, finance and public administration that hinder innovation and technology development; and adopt sandboxes for the testing of policies that boost the use of new technologies and business models.

Vietnam adopts strategy on foreign investment co-operation by 2030

The nation is set to raise the proportion of registered foreign investment flows from certain countries and territories to over 70% during the 2021 to 2025 period before rising to 75% in the 2026 to 2030.

This target has been set out in a 10-year national strategy on foreign investment co-operation which recently approved by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Photo: vietnambiz

The countries and territories part of the plan in Asia include the Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, China, Taiwan (China), Malaysia, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, whilst those in Europe include France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia and the UK, in addition to the United States.

The strategy also seeks to increase the number of multinationals listed in Fortune Global 500 conducting business in Vietnam by 50% by 2030, according to VOV.

The nation is also aiming to turn itself into ASEAN’s top 3 and the world’s top 60 nations in terms of the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings.

The strategy outlines nine solutions aimed at boosting the efficiency of foreign investment co-operation in Vietnam, the most notable one of which is developing innovation ecosystems, fostering supporting industries, and supporting domestic firms to form joint ventures with foreign enterprises in hi-tech sectors. This is in addition to assisting domestic companies in properly evaluating, selecting, and receiving technology transfer from overseas.

Vietnamese doctors provide free health check-ups, medicines for needy people in Laos

A delegation of Ho Chi Minh City's Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs on June 4 provided free health check-ups and medicines for impoverished overseas Vietnamese and Lao people in Vientiane.

The program was implemented with the coordination of the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos and and the Executive Committee of the Vietnamese Association in Vientiane.

Doctors provide free health check-ups for OVs and Lao people. Photo: VNA

This annual event was part of activities to respond to the Vietnam - Laos and Laos - Vietnam Year of Friendship and Solidarity 2022, and celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties, and the 45th year of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation between the two countries, reported VNA.

Addressing the event, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City Vo Thanh Chat praised efforts made by OVs living and working in Laos, and local people in recovering their lives after the Covid-19 pandemic and stabilizing their jobs, and joining activities towards the homeland.

He affirmed that the HCM City authorities and the whole country will continue to share with Vietnamese expatriates in Laos, as well as the Lao government in taking care of health of those who face difficulties in their lives.

During the program, 500 people were presented medicines and gift packages worth 1 million VND (US$43) each.

The program enabled OVs and local people with difficult circumstances to have their health checked and receive medical advice and consultancy. It also contributed to raising public awareness of the importance of health care.

Nikkei Asia appreciative of speed of Vietnamese post-pandemic recovery

Japanese news service Nikkei Asia announced on June 3 its Covid-19 Recovery Index for May, highlighting that both Vietnam and the Philippines recorded their best performances as both countries strived to ease restrictions while keeping infections low.

The index assesses numerous countries and regions on their infection management, vaccine rollouts, and social mobility. The higher the ranking, the closer a place is to recovering, with this being characterized by lower infection and death rates, better inoculation coverage, as well as fewer movement restrictions. Indeed, Vietnam and the Philippines had occupied last place in the index back in 2021.

However, based on May's data, the nation jumped 48 places to reach 14th. The biggest improvement came in its score for stringency, after the country allowed students to return to school and businesses to reopen. In addition, is also the first country in Southeast Asia to exempt foreign travelers from all testing, vaccination, and quarantine requirements, cited VOV.

Vietnam is the first country in Southeast Asia to exempt foreign travelers from all testing, vaccination and quarantine requirements. Photo: vir

Nikkei Asia's piece also states that with more than 80% of the population fully vaccinated and 60% now boosted, Vietnam duly received a score of 27 out of a possible 30 for inoculations. Among the vaccines deployed as of May 8, 46% were mRNA shots produced by Pfizer and Moderna, 28% were AstraZeneca's viral vector vaccines, and 23% were conventional jabs from Chinese manufacturer Sinopharm, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Furthermore, Vietnam is also the first country in Southeast Asia to exempt foreign travelers from all testing, vaccination and quarantine requirements, the article emphasized.

In the Philippines, daily cases dropped to below 200 over the past week, with no confirmed deaths being reported. This decline in infections thereby helped the country move up 40 spots in the ranking, to reach 33rd.

The Philippines reopened its borders to fully vaccinated international tourists in February. This week, it also stopped requiring foreign nationals with booster shots to present a negative test result upon arrival.

Elsewhere, Cambodia and the Republic of Korea (RoK) lead Asian countries at second and eighth place, respectively. Both are currently "living with" the virus and boast high vaccination coverage, according to the article.

Vietnam to use new passport form from July 1

The Ministry of Public Security will use a new passport form from July 1, 2022, reported the Vietnam Government Portal (VGP).

The move aims to implement Circular 73/2021/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security on passport specimens.

The new passport form will be printed with Vietnamese spectacular sceneries and cultural heritages, namely Ha Long Bay, Hue Citadel, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, Nha Rong Habour, Lung Cu Flag Tower, and so on.

Vietnam will use new passport form from July 1. Photo: NDO

Apart from promoting the images of Vietnam to the outside word and uphold the tradition, history, geography and culture of the country, the new passport form is expected to ensure technical safety and prevent counterfeiting.

From June 6 to 31, the Ministry will only issue ordinary passports for urgent cases, including those with medical treatment certificates, working decisions, or plane tickets, cited NDO.

The same day, the Ministry of Public Security started launching online issuance of ordinary passports (without electronic chips) to Vietnamese citizens from June 1, according to the Immigration Department of Vietnam.

Vietnamese citizens can access http://dichvucong.gov.vn or http://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn to make an online declaration, pay the fee and receive their passports by post or collect them at immigration offices.

Previously-issued passports are still valid until the dates of expiration which are printed on the passports.

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