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| Dr Nguyen Thuy Ba Linh (yellow long dress) from University College London (UCL) becomes the first Vietnamese scientist to win the UK's TechWomen 100 Awards. (Photo: VNA) |
The award ceremony was held at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London on November 21.
Founded in 2017, the TechWomen 100 Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of women in the field technology, focusing solely on women working in technology below director level, with an aim to create a new generation of female role models for the industry and a pipeline of future leaders.
Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s resident correspondent in the UK at the award ceremony, Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE, CEO and Founder of WeAreTheCity/WeAreTechWomen and organiser of the Awards, said the Awards aim to find incredible women working in technology or across STEM fields to honour their achievements and at the same time support them with a full development program, building up an ecosystem of women in technology that are supporting one another and opening doors of opportunities.
To become one of the 100 most outstanding women in the field of technology this year, Linh, lecturer of Biomaterials at UCL’s Eastman Dental Institute, surpassed 1,150 applicants to be in the shortlist of 200 candidates, winning the Award for her extensive research and academic contributions in biotechnology, including biomaterials for tissue regeneration, drug delivery systems, and thermo-responsive polymers for stem cell expansion and harvesting.
Vanessa Vallely said it was an honour to have Linh as one of the winners, trusting Linh will be an asset to the group and a flagship for Vietnam. She hoped in the future the Awards will see more candidates from Vietnam.
Linh said she was happy and proud to be the first Vietnamese to receive the TechWomen 100 Award. Although living and working in the UK, Linh is always proud to be Vietnamese and believes that efforts of Vietnamese can make a difference wherever they are.
She believes the Award is not only a recognition of her efforts but also helps promote the image of Vietnamese women in science and technology, proving that Vietnamese women can make achievements in such challenging fields as science and technology.
Linh hopes her Award will inspire female Vietnamese scientists both at home and abroad, especially young people, to be confident and overcome all barriers to pursue their passion for science.
Nguyen Thuy Ba Linh was born in 1980 in Ho Chi Minh City. She graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Sciences in Chemistry in 2003 and did postdoctoral research at the Republic of Korea’s Soonchunhyang University, focusing on regenerative medicine. In 2016, she joined the University of Oxford’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering as a postdoctoral researcher, contributing to significant advancements in biomedical engineering and tissue regeneration.
In 2019, Linh transitioned to a faculty position at UCL’s Eastman. Her research interests include biomaterials for tissue regeneration, drug delivery systems, and thermo-responsive polymers for stem cell expansion and harvesting.
In addition to academic pursuits, Linh founded SmileScaff, dedicated to developing advanced scaffold technologies for accelerated wound healing and tissue regeneration. The company integrates cutting-edge biomaterials with practical medical applications, aiming to revolutionize tissue engineering. She also chaired the Vietnam Young Academy from 2021-2023 and mentor young scientists through the Vietnamese Intellectual Society in the UK and Ireland.
HCM City set to welcome fresh wave of US investment
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| A corner of Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) |
Ho Chi Minh City is poised to attract a new wave of investment from US enterprises, with numerous projects proposed in key sectors, reported Vietnam News Agency.
A recent highlight was the HCM City Autumn Forum 2024 organised in New York by the municipal authorities, which drew strong interest from US investors, particularly in the areas of technology, finance, and healthcare.
In his remarks, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Phan Van Mai said the city is willing to accompany US investors in their areas of interest and proposed making the forum an annual event.
This month, a delegation of leading US investment funds will visit the southern economic hub to co-host a conference on IPO strategies and provide insights into developing the city’s financial centre.
Philippe Ghanem, CEO and founder of SquaredFinancial, said it is a “ripe time” for HCM City to establish a new financial centre in Asia, as the city has all favourable conditions needed.
By early 2025, more than 30 US enterprises are expected to return to Vietnam to deploy signed agreements and expand links with the local business community.
Several high-profile investment projects from US firms have already been proposed. Smart Tech Group Vietnam, a subsidiary of US-based Smart Tech Group, has suggested investing 340-850 million USD to build a battery production plant for energy storage. The company is currently seeking a suitable site in the city.
Coteccons, a Vietnamese construction firm, has partnered with the US-based Eaton Corporation to propose building a data centre in the city's Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
Meanwhile, the Evolution Group, under the US investment firm Warburg Pincus, has submitted a proposal to the municipal authorities for a large-scale, 36 MW data centre in the same location, with an estimated investment of 305 million USD.
The US multinational corporation and technology company NVIDIA has shown keen interest in the city. In July, it dispatched multiple delegations to explore the local opportunities for establishing an AI research, development, and training centre, installing a supercomputer system, and partially relocating its GPU (graphics processing unit) manufacturing operations to Vietnam. Marvell Technology is also preparing to expand its chip design centres in the city./.
Vietnam needs to adapt to boost exports to massive Halal markets
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| The booth of the Vietnam Trade Office in Malaysia participates in Malaysia International Halal Showcase 2024. (Photo: VNA) |
With its strategic geographic location near major Muslim countries, Vietnam has a huge advantage to access the Halal markets, many of which are open to importing local agricultural products. Therefore, adapting to the regulations of these markets will help businesses and cooperatives gain a competitive edge, reported Vietnam News Agency.
Experts pointed out that the global Halal market, with its vast size and growing demand, holds significant potential for generating substantial incomes and diversifying product offerings for Vietnamese enterprises. Currently, 57 countries are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The region is home to more than 2 billion Muslims, representing 25% of the global population, with an annual economic growth rate of 2.9%. This market has a unique business culture and often requires Halal certification for food-related industries.
The State of the Global Islamic Economy (SGIE) Report forecasts that spending on Halal products and services will reach 1.67 trillion USD by 2025, with the Southeast Asia - South Asia - Pacific region currently being the largest consumer of Halal food in the world.
Recognising the importance of the global Halal market and its potential, Vietnam has made significant efforts to develop the Halal industry. These efforts include formulating a strategic direction for the sector's development through 2030. It also includes a project to intensify international cooperation to build and develop Vietnam's Halal industry by 2030. Vietnam should also establish a National Halal Certification Centre, develop legal regulations and national Halal standards, and sign cooperation agreements with both Muslim and non-Muslim partners.
In addition, governmental agencies at both the national and local levels, as well as businesses and associations, are increasingly focused on investing in, producing, and expanding exports to the global Halal market.
To gain a firm foothold in the Halal market, experts advised that Vietnamese products, including food, beverages, and fashion, must be produced in accordance with specific processes, meeting the required standards, and certified as Halal.
Vietnam should focus on a few key strategies, including connecting localities and enterprises with Halal markets and partners around the world in priority sectors such as agriculture, tourism, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, they said.
Additionally, Vietnam should accelerate efforts to attract investment and technical support, and assistance in human resources training and development, while continuing to perfect state management policies related to Halal, streamlining certification processes, and promoting mutual recognition of Halal certifications, the experts suggested./.
Vietnam, Malaysia step up cooperation in energy, Halal fields
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| Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien (C) and representatives of TNB Renewables Sdn Bhd. (Photo: VNA) |
A delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade led by Minister Nguyen Hong Dien had a working session with TNB Renewables Sdn Bhd in Kuala Lumpur on November 22, reported Vietnam News Agency.
Dien, who is accompanying General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse on an official visit to Malaysia, applauded the interest and cooperation of TNB Renewables Sdn Bhd as well as Malaysian businesses with Vietnam, and affirmed that Vietnam has extremely huge potention for wind power development as the country has a coastline of more than 3,260 kilometres.
The Minister said that the power grid connecting from Vietnam to Malaysia and Singapore will be part of the green power grid between Southeast Asian countries. He affirmed that Vietnam always creates favourable conditions for investors to carry out research and survey locations to develop renewable energy power projects to serve green electricity export projects.
TNB Renewables is a fully-owned subsidiary of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Malaysia's leading electricity utility company which accounts for 50% of Malaysia's electricity capacity market share. Currently, Malaysia has built an energy transition roadmap, aiming for net zero emissions by 2050. To achieve that goal, TNB is focusing on four main areas in the energy transition process, including expanding investment in renewable energy at home and abroad, promoting decarbonization technology, modernising the power grid and enhancing grid efficiency.
Datuk Ir. Dr. Shamsul Ahmad, TNB Chief Regulatory and Stakeholder Management Officer, affirmed that the company is aiming to accelerate the sustainable energy transition process in Malaysia in particular and Southeast Asia in general.
In recent times, the company has been very interested in investment cooperation with Vietnam in the field of onshore and offshore wind power, he said, expressing his hope that the two sides will not only support and facilitate the development of existing joint projects but also expand to investment cooperation projects in third countries.
Regarding Halal cooperation, this is an area of cooperation that has received great attention from senior leaders of the two countries, and plays a very important role, not only helping to increase bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and Malaysia but also helping enterprises of both sides exploit business opportunities in other markets. In that spirit, on November 22, the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Asia-Africa Market Department and the Halal Development Corporation (HDC) signed a Letter of Intent on Halal cooperation.
Vietnam Trade Counsellor in Malaysia Le Phu Cuong told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s resident correspondent in Kuala Lumpur that the recently signed Letter of Intent is important, thereby supporting the recognition of common goals of both sides in training and organising exhibitions, seminars and symposiums on Halal products in Vietnam and Malaysia. This activity not only helps improve businesses' understanding of Halal exports to the Malaysian market but also to the Muslim countries’ markets in general.
Up to now, only about 1,000 businesses exporting to the Malaysian market have Halal certificates for about 3,000 products. This agreement will help solve one of the major difficulties of Vietnamese businesses exporting to the Malaysian market, which is Halal certification.
Currently, the potential for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, including the fields of energy and Halal products, is still very large. However, in order for this cooperation to become more substantive and effective, the two sides need to promote trade promotion activities, connect businesses to popularise each other's products, and enhance search and cooperation in areas where both sides have strengths, he added.
SPRINT Project launched in Yen Bai to empower ethnic minority women
The Yen Bai provincial Cooperative Alliance joined forces with the Cowater International of Canada to launch the “SMEs Promote Resilience, Inclusion and Innovation Transformation” (SPRINT) Project on November 22, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Delegates at the launching ceremony. |
A representative from the provincial People’s Committee Office announced a decision approving the SPRINT Project funded by Global Affairs Canada through Cowater International.
Spanning the districts of Van Yen, Van Chan, Luc Yen, Tram Tau, Mu Cang Chai, and Yen Bai city, the project is designed to uplift about 300 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives, cooperative groups, and thousands of producers involved in agricultural value chains, particularly those led by or heavily involving ethnic minority women.
The project aims to equip these groups with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive market. They will attend training courses designed to enhance business and technical innovations, while also fostering green crops and resilient agricultural practices that are both sustainable and profitable.
Beyond technical training, the project seeks to raise awareness, build capacity, and develop essential skills in economic empowerment. A key focus will be on enhancing women’s participation and leadership in agriculture, livelihood development, and community-building activities.
The project will be implemented over six years (2024–2029) with a total budget of CAD9.75 million (US$6.96 million) in non-refundable official development assistance (ODA).
In preparation for the project's launch, the provincial Cooperative Alliance and Cowater International held a conference on November 21 afternoon to outline an implementation strategy for the project./.