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| Vietnam earns 5.87 billion USD from exporting fruit and vegetables in nine months (Photo: VNA) |
In the period, the sector enjoyed a trade surplus of 13.86 billion USD, soaring 71.2%, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The export revenue of agricultural products reached 24.85 billion USD, up 27.7%; that of forestry products hit 12.46 billion USD, up 20.3%; fishery products 7.23 billion USD, up 9.5%; and animal husbandry products 376 million USD, up 3.8%.
All key products reported surges, including timber and wood products (11.66 billion USD, up 21.3%), fruit and vegetables (5.87 billion USD, 39.4%), coffee (4.37 billion USD, 39.6%), rice (4.37 billion USD, 23.5%), cashew nuts (3.17 billion USD, 22.5%), and shrimp (2.79 billion USD, 10.5%).
In January - September, the export value to Asia rose by 17.4%, the Americas by 26.1%, Europe by 34.6%, and Oceania by 16.1%. However, shipments to Africa saw a decrease of 0.3%.
The US, China, and Japan continued to be the three largest export markets, with the US accounting for the highest proportion at 21.6%, followed by China at 20.8% and Japan at 6.6%, statistics show.
Tourism sector sets sights on 17-18 million international visitors this year
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has affirmed its commitment to attracting 17-18 million international visitors to Vietnam in 2024 by ramping up promotional and marketing efforts during the fourth quarter, with a particular focus on the Indian market, known for high-spending tourists, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Vietnam looks to attract 17-18 million international visitors this year (Photo: bnews.vn) |
The ministry made the statement at its quarterly press conference held on October 3.
In the first eight months, the country welcomed 312,000 Indian visitors, shooting up 263% from a year earlier, placing India eighth among Vietnam’s top 10 sources of international tourists, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).
To capitalise on the expected surge in Indian tourists, the ministry and VNAT have developed a strategy to boost tourism promotion in the world's most populous market. Notably, in October, the VNAT will collaborate with travel agencies and localities to organise a large-scale promotional campaign in India.
Between January and August, Vietnam welcomed over 11.4 million international visitors, up 45.8% year-on-year. The number of domestic tourists reached some 89.5 million. Meanwhile, the eight-month tourism revenue approximated 586.1 trillion VND (23.67 billion USD).
The country currently houses more than 4,140 companies supplying international travel services and over 39,149 licensed tour guides. Additionally, there are 269 five-star hotels with more than 87,300 rooms nationwide.
In the fourth quarter, the ministry is set to implement plans and measures to accelerate the recovery and sustainable development of the sector. Upcoming events include the 2024 Vietnam tourism awards ceremony, a national food festival in Dien Bien province, a Vietnamese tourism booth at the World Travel Market London in the UK, and a Vietnam-Taiwan (China) tourism cooperation conference.
Vietnam’s FDI attraction wins big
Foreign investors have been disbursing funds and accelerating investments in factories to establish long-term operations in Vietnam, reflected through the recent inauguration and groundbreaking of several projects across Vietnam, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) |
In late September, Long Son Petrochemicals (LSP)’s integrated petrochemical complex, the first of its kind in Vietnam, was put in commercial operation. A subsidiary of the SCG Chemicals (SCGC) and a member of the Thai SCG Group, it has a total investment capital of more than 5 billion USD. The complex is expected to earn a revenue of 1.5 billion USD and contribute 150 million USD related to the value added tax to the budget each year.
On September 26, the Philippines’ Aboitiz Foods inaugurated a 45 million USD animal feed plant in Ben Luc district, the Mekong Delta province of Long An. The Gold Coin Feedmill Long An, one of the most advanced feed mills in Southeast Asia, has a designed capacity of 300,000 tonnes per year, increasing Aboitiz Foods' total annual feed production in Vietnam to 1.1 million tonnes.
Also in Long An, Vietnam’s Dong Tam Group and CS Wind Group of the Republic of Korea (RoK) on September 10 signed a cooperation agreement on land leasing for a large-scale wind power equipment factory whose total investment capital hits 200 million USD.
In the northern region, on September 28, China’s Deli Group broke ground for its new stationery manufacturing plant at the Dai An Expanded Industrial Park in Hai Duong province.
The 270 million USD factory, covering an area of 21.2 hectares, is set to operate for 50 years. Once completed, it is expected to produce over 104 million stationery and household items made from paper and plastic annually. Additionally, it will manufacture more than 2.4 million electronic products, including personal computers, photocopiers, and shredders, as well as 22.5 million rubber products such as balls, sticks, and mats.
According to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, total registered foreign investment, including new capital, adjustments, and capital contributions via share purchases, exceeded 24.78 billion USD in the first nine months of this year, up 11.6% year-on-year.
In September alone, foreign capital neared 4.26 billion USD, the highest monthly figure this year and accounting for 17.2% of the nine-month total.
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| Illustrative photo (Source: chinhphu.vn) |
In January-September, FDI disbursement was estimated at 17.3 billion USD – the highest in the past five years, representing a year-on-year rise of nearly 9%.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment assessed that FDI flows continue to concentrate in provinces and cities with advantages in attracting foreign investment, such as good infrastructure, stable human resources, efforts to reform administrative procedures, and dynamic investment promotion. Notable locations include Bac Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Dong Nai, Bac Giang, and Ninh Thuan. These ten localities accounted for over 80% of the number of new projects and nearly 73% of total investment capital in the country over the past nine months.
Many large projects in sectors such as semiconductor and energy, and in the manufacturing of electronic components and high-value-added products have been newly invested in or expanded in the period.
On October 1, the Innovate Vietnam 2024 conference in Hanoi, Meta’s President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg confirmed that an affordable line of Meta virtual reality glasses will be produced in Vietnam.
The Quest 3S line uses a similar technology to its predecessor model Quest 3, but will be cheaper and lighter, he added.
On September 25, at a meeting with Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and State President To Lam as part of his US trip, Tim Hughes, Senior Vice President for Global Business and Government Affairs of the US-based provider of spacecraft, satellite launch services, and satellite communications SpaceX, informed that the group aims to inject 1.5 billion USD into the country in the near future.
Vietnamese kickboxers to compete at Asian Kickboxing Championships
Vietnam will send 32 fighters to the Asian Kickboxing Championships, scheduled to be held in Cambodia from October 4 to 10, according to the Vietnam Kickboxing Federation (VKF), reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Vietnam will send 32 fighters to the Asian Kickboxing Championships, scheduled to be held in Cambodia from October 4 to 10, (Photo: VNA) |
The Vietnamese athletes will compete in 34 events of ring and tatami disciplines. They include some Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) champions such as Nguyen Quang Huy, Trieu Thi Phuong Thuy, Huynh Van Tuan, Nguyen The Huong and Nguyen Hoang.
This is the third time Vietnam has taken part in the championships.
VKF President Vu Duc Thinh said that the federation sends the strongest fighters to the tournament with the hope of winning medals, adding that it is expected to help them to sharpen their techniques and be more confident in upcoming events.
The tournament is also an opportunity for coaches and fighters to introduce the beauty of Vietnamese culture, country and people to international friends, he added.
Kickboxing came to Vietnam in 2009 and has been growing nationwide, particularly in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Dinh, Thai Nguyen and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
Vietnamese kickboxers have obtained many achievements. In two recent SEA Games, they won nine gold medals./.