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| Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang (C) and other delegates push button to start work on Ecovance high-tech biodegradable materials factory (Photo: VNA) |
The project has an initial investment of over 2.3 trillion VND (90.3 million USD), and the figure is expected to increase to more than 11.8 trillion VND by 2030.
Construction is expected to be complete in June 2025, and the factory will be officially put into operation in September 2025 after a trial operation in July.
The project has a capacity of 70,000 tonnes of PBAT biodegradable plastic products, 59,500 tonnes of PBS biodegradable plastic products, and 6,300 tonnes of THF solvent products (byproduct created during PBAT production) a year.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Anh Quan said that the project, with its goal of producing biodegradable plastics, is of great significance in an era when plastic waste pollution is a burning global problem.
Biodegradable materials not only provide a solution that contributes to reducing environmental pollution and protecting the ecosystem, but also opens up a new direction for the plastic industry towards a green and circular economy, stated Quan.
Hai Phong commits to continue creating the most favourable conditions for businesses in industrial parks and economic zones in general and SK Group in particular to accelerate the progress of construction, he added.
FAO supports Bac Kan’s agro-forestry development
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| The FAO delegation visits an agricultural model in Bac Kan province. (Photo: VNA) |
A delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) had a working session with leaders of the northern mountainous province of Bac Kan on the implementation of the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) partnership on May 10, reported Vietnam News Agency.
The FFF is carried out in Bac Kan province in three phases, with the first one in Chu Huong and My Phuong communes of Ba Be district during 2014-2017, the second in Phuong Vien commune of Cho Don district and My Phuong and Yen Duong communes of Ba Be district during 2018-2022, and five communes in Ba Be, Cho Moi and Cho Don districts during 2023-2025.
Chairman of the provincial farmers’ union and head of the FFF management board Cao Minh Hai said that the facility has contributed to improving management capacity, promoting mechanisms and policies related to cooperatives through multi-sectorial forums, and enhancing business capacity and market and capital access of the cooperative groups.
He particularly stressed that the programme has helped local cooperatives respond to climate change through raising their awareness of the environment and improve their equal access to cultural and social services.
FAO representative in Vietnam Rémi Nono Womdim recommended the province continue support policies for sustainable development of local agriculture and forestry, branch out agro-tourism and experience tourism to create better income for locals, and integrate support programmes and projects so that cooperatives could capitalise on their advantages to shape up competitive products.
FAO will continue its support programmes for Bac Kan’s cooperatives, with a focus on developing clean agricultural model integrated with experience tourism, he added.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nong Quang Nhat thanked FAO for its assistance over the past time, expressing his hope for further support in the fields of eco-tourism, sustainable forest development and protection, among others, from the organisation in the coming time.
Bac Kan is now home to more than 374,000 hectares of forest, with the forest coverage topping 73% in 2023, the highest level in the country. The province has given weight to forest management, protection and restoration, contributing to local socio-economic development and improvement in local livelihoods.
Vietnam gets various nominations at World Travel Awards 2024
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| Hoi An is a nominee for the Asia's Leading Culture City Destination award. (Photo: VNA) |
Vietnam has made the shortlist in many accolades at the prestigious 31st World Travel Award, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said on May 11, reported Vietnam News Agency.
The country has been nominated for Asia’s Leading Beach Destination, Asia's Leading Culture Destination, Asia's Leading Destination, Asia's Leading Heritage Destination, Asia's Leading Natural Destination, and Asia's Leading Youth Travel Destination in 2024.
The VNAT makes it to the list of nominees for the Asia’s Leading Tourism Board while the Hanoi and HCM City’s Departments of Tourism were nominated for the Asia’s Leading City Tourist Board and Quang Nam province’s Department of Tourism for the Asia’s Leading Regional City Tourist Board.
Ho Chi Minh City is a nominee for the Asia's Leading Business Travel Destination, and Hanoi for the Asia’s Leading City Break Destination and Asia's Leading City Destination 2024.
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| Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam. (Photo: VOV) |
Other localities getting nominations include Hoi An and Hue for the Asia's Leading Culture City Destination, Ha Giang and Ha Nam for the Asia's Leading Emerging Tourism Destination, Phu Quoc for the Asia’s Leading Luxury Island Destination, and Moc Chau for the Asia’s Leading Regional Natural Destination. Da Nang and HCM City are nominated for the Asia's Festival and Event Destination 2024.
The country also receives nomination for many other categories in the areas of aviation, hotel and travel.
Voting is open until July 23 at www.worldtravelawards.com.
Established in 1993, World Travel Awards aims to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. The awards have been recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence and dubbed as the Oscars of Travel and Tourism by The Wall Street Journal.
Vietnam was honoured in 45 categories of the 2023 event.
Hanoi works to bring craft products to the world
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| At Bat Trang pottery market in Gia Lam district, Hanoi (Photo: VNA) |
The capital city of Hanoi is focused on developing craft villages, particularly OCOP products to branch out the rural economy and promote export, reported Vietnam News Agency.
This year, the city continues to support cooperatives and households to create high-quality products that hold potential for export.
According to Nguyen Van Chi, deputy chief of the city’s Office for Coordination of the New Style Rural Development Programme, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has created favourable conditions for local OCOP products to join prestigious international craft exhibitions, helping business gain experience, seek partners, and study foreign consumer taste.
The department has also signed contracts with Swedish partners to develop packaging design for local products towards bringing Hanoi craft villages into the network of the world craft cities, he said, adding the city will back businesses and households to design international-standard packaging for four-star OCOP items.
Various activities have been organised to honour craftsmen and encourage the preservation and promotion of cultural values in the villages, with 290 people bestowed with the title of the Hanoi artisan so far.
While many craft makers have moved to large-scale production, several have a great passion for the traditional craft.
Nguyen Van Trung, an artisan in Phu Vinh village, the land of bamboo and rattan wickerwork, said that craft villages uphold national spiritual values, reflected through the customs, beliefs and festivals related to the traditional craftsmanship, adding each product has its own story and highlights the cultural traits of each locality.
He suggested that Hanoi provide more support measures so that businesses and households can attend international fairs to popularise their OCOP products.
Products of Hanoi’s trade villages are now available in over 40 countries and territories.
The city brings together 47 occupations out of 52 traditional occupations in the country. The capital has 322 craft villages, of which 69 craft villages process and preserve agricultural, forestry and aquatic products, and 197 produce wooden furniture, rattan, ceramics, glass, textiles, yarn, embroidery, wickerwork, and small mechanics.
It is also home to 13 villages producing and trading ornamental plants and animals, 16 processing raw materials to serve rural production and trades, and five providing services for production and daily activities of people in rural areas.
According to reports in the localities, the total revenue of craft and trade villages is over 22 trillion VND (865.12 million USD) a year.In recent years, craft villages have seen growth in both production and export value, with some recording revenue of more than 1 trillion VND a year./.