Photo for illustration (Source: VNA)
January alone witnessed the export value of the products gross US$33.45 million, representing a rise of 33.6% compared to December 2021, and an annual increase of 35.6%.
The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday that ended on February 6 impacted the operation of businesses. Businesses shipped ceramics overseas worth US$15 million in February, a decline of 55.2% against January and a drop of 9.3% year on year, said the Voice of Vietnam.
By the end of this year the export of fine art ceramics is forecast to rise by 20% to 25% in comparison to figures recorded last year.
Ceramics continue to represent an important export item in the export structure of Vietnamese handicraft products.
Vietnam is home to famous ceramic villages which offer a variety of products and sophisticated processing techniques, with local exporters expected to take these advantages to push for greater exports of local ceramics globally.
Lai Chau to organize culture - tourism week in mid-April
Vice Chairman of the Lai Chau provincial People’s Committee Tong Thanh Hai said that a culture and tourism week is scheduled take place in the northern mountainous province from April 14 – 17.
The event is set to feature a series of activities, including a famtrip programme, a seminar to promote links in tourism development, and a photo exhibition, among others, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
Visitors will have the chance to understand more about traditional costumes and rituals, and cultural identities of ethnic groups; and play folk games and enjoy local OCOP products of the locality.
Tam Duong district will also host the third Putaleng international paragliding tourney with the participation of 100 domestic and foreign pilots.
The Putaleng international paragliding tourney in Lai Chau in 2020 (Photo: VNA)
The event aims to introduce, stimulate travel demand and attract tourists to Lai Chau, contributing to promoting tourism development in the locality in 2022, and following years.
It is expected to promote a sustainable tourism cooperation between Lai Chau and other localities, thus helping travel agencies expand their markets.
The event will also contribute to raising public awareness and responsibility in preserving and upholding traditional cultural identities and natural resources for tourism development.
COVID-19 prevention and control measures will be applied throughout the week to ensure safety for both the local community and visitors.
Vietnam registers 66 athletes for track and field at SEA Games 31
Vietnam will send 66 athletes to compete in the track and field events at the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).
The finalisation of the team was based on the performance of the athletes in last year’s tournaments as well as in the recent selection event that took place from March 4-6, 2022, said the Nhan Dan Newspaper.
Vietnam's 2020 Tokyo Olympian Quach Thi Lan is among the 66 track and field athletes chosen for SEA Games 31. (Photo: NDO)
The national track and field team to SEA Games 31 will be coached by long jump trainer Nguyen Manh Hieu, who is also training the 2018 Asian Games gold medallist Bui Thi Thu Thao. SEA Games 31 will mark the return of the 29-year-old jumper following her absence from the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines due to pregnancy.
Among those registered, there are many popular athletes, including Nguyen Thi Oanh (triple gold medallist at SEA Games 30 in the women’s 1500m, 5000m run and 3000m steeplechase), Nguyen Thi Huyen (SEA Games title holder in both the women’s 400m and 400m hurdles), and Le Tu Chinh (the defending 100m SEA Games champion).
Several veterans will also feature, including 36-year-old Nguyen Van Lai, who dominated the men’s 5000m and 10,000m distance in three successive SEA Games editions (2013, 2015, 2017); and Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc, the women’s 20km race-walking champion in 2011, 2013 and 2015.
Vietnam dominated the athletics competition in the Philippines two years ago with a collection of 16 gold medals, which was four clear of powerhouse Thailand and surpassed their SEA Games target by five golds.
Vietnam’s fin-swimming team for SEA Games 31 has also been finalised with 25 members, including 22 athletes and three coaches.
SEA Games 31 will be hosted in Hanoi and 11 adjacent provinces from May 12 to 23, 2022, offering 526 sets of medals across 40 sports. The track and field competition is set to take place at the Hanoi-based My Dinh National Stadium between May 14 and 19 with 47 sets of medals up for grabs.
Up to 83.3 percent of FAST500 firms optimistic about 2022 outlook
Some 83.3 percent of the 500 fastest-growing companies in Vietnam (FAST500) are optimistic about the outlook and growth opportunities of the domestic market this year, given that the economy is on course to recover to the pre-pandemic level, according a recent survey conducted by Vietnam Report.
Some 89.2 percent of them are planning to expand business while 86.5 percent said they have contingents of highly-qualified, experienced and disciplined personnel, the survey shows.
The Vietnam News Agency said that about 67.6 percent of the survey companies are confident about their competitive edge as they boast good relations with partners and customers, and high-quality and competitive-priced products.
Photo for illustration (Source: VNA)
Around 62.2 percent show changes in their awareness of the strong wave of digital transformation in all areas, and that they must have clear visions and business strategies to catch up with the market trends.
FAST500 firms give priority to six strategies to deal with growth challenges. About 91.9 percent of them plan to ramp up personnel training, 83.8 percent will focus more on sales promotion, 67.6 percent want to accelerate digital transformation, 56.8 percent are committed to ensuring employment, wages and benefits of their workers, 48.6 percent aim to strengthen their risk management system, and 37.8 percent plan to step up cooperation and investment in the near future.
The survey also reveals that FAST500 expects this year, the government will continue stabilising the macro-economy, keeping inflation under control, expanding trade promotion, launching more support packages and accelerating public administrative reforms, so as to facilitate their business activities.
They also hope that government will build a better business environment and help unleash more potential resources to provide momentum for sustainable growth.
FAST500 was announced last week based on independent research and assessment of Vietnam Report JSC. It complies with international standards and was drawn up in consultation with domestic and foreign experts.
The FAST 500 rankings are also based on international standards, including the models of the Inc 500, Fortune 500 and Deloitte 500.
The performance of the companies was calculated by the CAGR on revenue and also based on criteria such as total assets, the number of workers, after-tax profits and prestige in the media.
This year, Hung Thinh Land JSC, MB AGEAS Life Insurance Company Limited and Tin Viet Finance JSC topped the list.
Germany increases natural rubber imports from Vietnam
Vietnam represents the fourth largest natural rubber supplier to Germany, shipping 40,580 tonnes worth US$84.25 million to the market last year, increasing 29.4% in volume and 77.8% in value year on year.
Statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade indicated that the market share of Vietnamese natural rubber in Germany rose to 14.5% last year compared to 13.8% in 2020.
Photo for illustration (Source: VOV)
In total, Germany imported 279,270 tonnes of natural rubber last year, worth US$554.14 million, up 22.9% in volume and 58.3% in value compared to 2020.
The Ivory Coast, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia made up the five largest natural rubber suppliers to the German market in 2021. Most notably, imports from these markets witnessed sharp increases in both volume and value compared to 2020, said the Voice of Vietnam.
Furthermore, the Vietnamese market was the 10th largest rubber supplier to Germany, exporting 40,580 tonnes worth US$84.37 million last year, up 29.4% in volume and 77.7% in value.
The market share of Vietnamese rubber in Germany therefore enjoyed a slight increase of 4.2% last year from 3.7% in 2020.
According to statistics from the International Trade Centre (ITC), Vietnam didn’t supply synthetic rubber to Germany in 2021./.