 |
| Representatives from departments, agencies and businesses at the opening ceremony of the ITE HCMC 2024. (Photo: VNA) |
During the three-day event themed “Sustainable Tourism, Creating Future”, more than 10,000 business appointments have been arranged based on the businesses’ needs. At the same time, the ITE HCMC 2024 application was also upgraded with many unique features using AI technology, and QR scanning, serving as a powerful assistant for buyers.
Within the framework of the expo, there will also be a high-level forum themed “Net Zero Travel & Tourism – Creating future” along with six seminars on sustainable tourism development, exhibition activities, trade connections, survey programs and other response activities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the ITE HCMC 2024, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Van Dung emphasised that the event is a commitment of Vietnam in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular to effectively implement tourism development activities in line with UNESCO's 17 sustainable development criteria and towards reducing emissions, protecting the natural and cultural environment in each activity.
The expo is expected to be a practical solution, following Vietnam's new visa policy, to promoting the growth of the international tourist market, increasing the flow of tourists between countries and optimising tourism income through connecting trade between businesses, Dung said.
For Ho Chi Minh City, this is also an opportunity to update and learn about international experiences on motivational mechanisms and policies to develop the tourism industry when the city is accelerating the implementation of Resolution 98/2023/QH15, dated June 24, 2023 of the National Assembly on piloting specific mechanisms and policies for the city’s development.
Meanwhile, together with the ITE HCMC 2024, the city’s Department of Industry and Trade has held the “Gifts show Ho Chi Minh City 2024” with 100 booths at the SECC to create conditions for businesses to promote and introduce gifts and Vietnamese souvenirs to domestic and international tourists.
The department also launched the “Shopping Season 2024 City Sale” programme from August 30 to September 8 at three major shopping centres, offering a diverse range of products with discounts up to 80%.
Tuna exports to EU hit 133 million USD
The value of Vietnam’s tuna exports to the EU as of August 15, 2024 increased by 28% compared to the same period last year, worth more than 133 million USD, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
However, in July 2024, the country’s tuna exports to the EU began to show signs of decline compared to the same period, down 14%. In the first half of August, although tuna exports to the market increased, exports of canned tuna products continued to decrease sharply.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), canned tuna is currently the main product exported to the EU, accounting for nearly 39% of Vietnam’s total tuna export turnover to this market (accumulated from the beginning of the year to August 15).
In the first months of this year, tuna exports to the EU market have fluctuated. After continuous growth from March to June, tuna exports to the EU decreased by 14% in July.
 |
| Canned tuna is the main product exported to the EU, accounting for nearly 39% of Vietnam’s total tuna export turnover to this market. (Illustrative photo) |
VASEP compiled opinions from businesses, saying that the reason for the decline in tuna exports to the EU in recent months is that the preferential tariff is gradually running out and businesses are facing difficulties in the supply of skipjack tuna of pure Vietnamese origin, the main raw material for the canned tuna processing and export industry.
Meanwhile, at a recent meeting to discuss difficulties and obstacles in implementing Decree 37, Director of the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries Nguyen Khac Bat said that Vietnam’s seafood resources have decreased by more than 30% since 2005. For skipjack tuna, the resources have decreased by 80% since 2000-2005.
Therefore, the representative of the Institute proposed that there should be effective measures to manage aquatic resources. The world today applies not only input management measures but also output management measures for aquatic resources. Input management includes exploitation strength, number of vessels, conservation and exploitation size, while output management includes management through exploitation quotas and total allowable exploitation output.
Vietnam bags 177 million USD from exports to Myanmar
Vietnam earned 177 million USD from commodity exports to Myanmar in the first seven months of 2024, up 37% year on year, according to the General Department of Customs.
Vietnam exported 19 main items to Myanmar, mostly raw materials and fuels. Textile and footwear materials and accessories were the largest export items, bringing in 26 million USD, up 25% in value year on year.
Textiles and footwear ranked second with a turnover of 19.6 million USD, down 21.9% year on year. Vietnam also exported 36,684 tons of fertilizer to the market, reaching 18 million USD, up 28.5% in volume and up 18% year on year.
 |
| Textile and footwear materials and accessories were Vietnam’s largest export items to Myanmar. (Photo: VNA) |
Plastic products exported to the Southeast Asian country also brought in 12.7 million USD, down 51% year on year; exports of machinery, equipment, tools and other spare parts, 8.6 million USD, down 49.7%; and iron and steel, 6.1 million USD, down 12.8%.
In the agricultural products group, Vietnam exported two items to Myanmar, including coffee with 7.1 million USD, down 35.4% year-on-year, and pepper with 0.05 million USD, down 92.8%.
In general, most of the items exported to this market recorded value decreases compared to the same period last year with 15 out of 19 items. Of which, means of transport and spare parts had the deepest decrease of 93.7% year on year.
New markets help fruit exports grow to record revenues
 |
| Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) |
Vietnam's fruit export revenue hit 4.63 billion USD in the first eight months of 2024, representing an increase of 30.6% compared to the same period last year, thanks to the opening of several key markets, reported Vietnam News Agency.
This year, Vietnam's fruit sector has had a stream of good news as many products cracked new markets. Pomelos are new to the Republic of Korea, followed by fresh coconuts and frozen durians, which have also been officially exported to China.
The official opening of markets for these products has helped diversify export markets and products, thus generating greater added value for Vietnamese fruits. The industry is forecast to grow even stronger this year if Vietnam takes advantage of market opportunities.
Durian - the "king of fruits," is the biggest contributor to the revenue, reaching approximately 1.7 billion USD in the first seven months of this year, accounting for 41% of the total.
Notably, the export of frozen durian is predicted to earn 400-500 million USD this year, and the product is expected to join the "billion-USD" club by 2025.
According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, the official export of frozen durian will bring a significant advantage, helping the sector diversify products and achieve higher values.
Doan Thu Giang, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Vinh Khang JSC, said apart from fresh durian, the company is now prepared to export frozen products as well.
According to Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, the export of frozen durian will help balance production, stabilise prices, and increase income for both farmers and businesses.
In 2023, China spent nearly 6.7 billion USD on importing fresh durian and over 1 billion USD on the frozen product. The official export of frozen durian to China presents a chance for Vietnamese businesses and cooperatives to invest in infrastructure, and freezing and processing technology.
Nguyen said authorities need to quickly establish national standards that clearly define the criteria for fresh and frozen durian export, serving as a basis for accurate and objective quality control.
Vietnam attracts foreign investors thanks to its stability: Russian official
 |
| Russian and Vietnamese experts at the oil receiving and exporting control room on the Vietsovpetro – 01 vessel. (Photo: VNA) |
The high level of stability has helped Vietnam attract foreign investors, according to Chief Representative of the Russian Trade Office in the Southeast Asian nation Viacheslav Kharinov, reported Vietnam News Agency.
In an interview with the newspaper “Pravda” (Truth) of the Russian Federation Communist Party published on September 4, Kharinov said Vietnam is a socialist state with stringent law and without major violation going unpunished.
The banking system also operates under state control, he said, noting that the country now has macroeconomic and microeconomic institutions, and many experienced experts who underwent training in the former Soviet Union.
According to Kharinov, with a population of nearly 100 million, Vietnam has become a manufacturing hub for Asia and companies from the US as well. He took the example of Apple that has set up a plant in the country. The official likened the presence of major brands in Vietnam to that of the whole world.
Regarding the Vietnamese workforce, mainly untrained, the official said big groups view this as an advantage as they can offer training at their factories.
He lauded the reward system in Vietnam and suggested companies operating in the country align with the existing systems, frameworks, and order there.
Corporate owners would be foreigners, but directors are often Vietnamese to develop an effective reward system, thus promoting labourers' performance, he said./.