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| Workers at Giang Dien Industrial Park, Trang Bom district, the southern province of Dong Nai (Photo: VNA) |
Of the total, 7.94 billion USD was poured into 1,227 new projects, a year-on-year increase of 50.8% and 27.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, 440 projects had their capital added with a total of over 2.08 billion USD, dropping 9.3% and 8.7% as compared to the same time last year.
Foreigners also injected more than 1.05 billion USD into 1,158 capital contribution and share purchase deals during the period, down 68.2% and 9.4%.
Among the 78 countries and territories having investment in Vietnam in the first five months, Singapore was the largest since it landed nearly 3.25 billion USD in the country, making up of 29.3% of the total and growing 28.2% year-on-year.
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| Illustrative photo (Source: baodautu.vn) |
Foreign firms invested in 17 out of the 21 economic sectors, with the processing and manufacturing industry taking lead as it saw over 7.42 billion USD, or 67.1% of the total investment and up 11.9% against the same time last year. The realty sector came second with 1.98 billion USD in investment, rising 70.8% year-on-year, followed by wholesale and retail sales (514.2 million USD), and transport and warehousing (342.2 million USD).
The MoIT said most of the FDI ran to localities with sound infrastructure, stable human resources, concerted efforts in administrative procedure reform, and active investment promotion work like Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, and Hung Yen.
The disbursement of FDI capital grew 7.8% to some 8.25 billion USD during the five-month period.
As of May 20, the country was home to 40,285 valid projects with a combined capital of 481.33 billion USD, around 305.43 billion USD of which has been disbursed so far.
Vietnam’s tra fish export tipped to bounce back
Vietnamese tra fish export has roared back to growth after a significant drop recorded earlier this year as countries have scaled up their imports, reported Vietnam News Agency according to insiders.
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| Tra fish processed at Sao Mai Group (Photo: VNA) |
Statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed that the country raked in an estimated 725 million USD from shipping tra fish overseas during the first five months of 2024, up 2% year-on-year.
The US remained the largest buyer, followed by China, Europe, and several South American markets, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said, adding the export value of processed tra fish rose 8.5-fold against the same time last year while frozen fillets have been the key export to the US with export turnover of over 120 million USD, rising 19% year-on-year and accouting for 98% of total tra fish shipments to this market.
According to VASEP General Secretary Truong Dinh Hoe, the US’s consideration of recognising Vietnam as a market economy has brought positive prospects to many economic sectors, including the fisheries. If the recognition comes, this would be an advantage for exporters in the upcoming anti-dumping duty reviews on shrimp and tra fish.
As for the European market, tra fish exports in the first five months of the year fell 7% year-on-year to some 70 million USD. VASEP said Germany surpassed the Netherlands to become the biggest importer within the bloc, adding markets recording positive growth during the period include Lithuania (215%), Spain (69%), Belgium (62%), and Greece (46%).
An expert from the association said as tra fish export to the bloc will be affected by global recession and escalating tension, Vietnamese firms need to capitalise on the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement to better integrate into the market.
Furthermore, it is necessary for them to meet the EU’s green standards on environmental protection and sustainable development so that more products will be able to access the region, the specialist said.
The tra fish sector forecast that exports will expand 10% in Q3 with fuel and logistics costs as well as interest rates cooling down.
Vietnamese athletes win gold medal at Aerobic World Cup in Japan
Vietnam won a gold medal in the team of five category at the Aerobic World Cup 2024 in Tokyo, Japan on May 26, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| The Vietnamese aerobics team earned gold medal in Japan. (Photo Ivan.F.Melogym) |
The team, which comprises of Nguyen Che Thanh, Le Hoang Phong, Tran Ngoc Thuy Vi, Nguyen Viet Anh and Vuong Hoai An, took first place with 19,866 points, surpassing the French team (19,241 points) and the Hungarian team (19,155 points).
Additionally, Phong, Thanh and Vi ranked fifth in the trio category with 19,077 points. The Bulgarian team claimed the gold medal in that event with 20,033 points.
In the mixed doubles, Hoang Gia Bao and Tran Pham Huyen Linh finished sixth with 17,600 points.
The World Cup in Japan is an important international tournament for Vietnamese players to hone their skills before competing in the 2024 Asian Championship, which will be held on June 8-10 in Hanoi. The event is expected to attract teams from 13 countries and territories.
Duc Minh amazingly triumphs at HCM City World Cup 3-Cushion 2024
Vietnamese billiard player Tran Duc Minh (world #250) suddenly clinched a breathtaking victory over his Korean opponent Kim Jun-tae (World #4) in the final match on May 26 evening, becoming the new champion of the 2024 Ho Chi Minh City World Cup 3-Cushion 2024, reported the Voice of Vietnam.
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| Vietnamese billiard player Tran Duc Minh (world #250) celebrates his amazing victory over Korean opponent Kim Jun-tae (World #4) in the final, becoming the new world champion at the Ho Chi Minh City World Cup 3-Cushion 2024. (Photo: plo.vn) |
Minh, 40, beat big opponents of the world, including Turkey’s Benkay Karakurt (world # 25) in the quarterfinals and Turkey’s Kiraz Tolgahan (world #17) in the semi-finals before clashing against Kim Jun-tae who was expected to take the world No.1 position after this tournament.
With enthusiastic cheers of home spectators at Nguyen Du Sport sHall, Minh continuously scored points and left Kim behind. However, the Korean opponent who deserved to be the No1 star even though he has never won a World Cup, scored 12 consecutive points in just one inning to close the gap with Minh (43 and 45). In other two innings, Kim patiently fought back to trail Minh behind by 1 point (46 and 45).
The competition entered into dramatic moments. Spectators at the Sports Hall seemed to be holding their breath to watch the players’ movements.
In the end, Minh outperformed his experienced opponent in the 22nd inning, scoring enough 50 points, only 4 points more than Kim’s. The Vietnamese player screamed loudly after becoming the world champion of the 3-cushion carom billiards. He then choked up to share his unexpected joy with spectators supporting him at the Sports Hall.
Also at the final gala, the south-central province of Binh Thuan received the symbolic flag to host the World Championship 3-Cushion Billiard Individual in September 2024./.