Raja Badrulnizam Raja Kamalzaman, director for ASEAN and Oceania of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) (Photo: VNA)
Raja Badrulnizam Raja Kamalzaman, director for ASEAN and Oceania of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), made the projection in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency ahead of the March 20-21 Vietnam visit by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob.
Kamalzaman quoted the Department of Statistics Malaysia, saying two-way trade between Vietnam and Malaysia reached 16.71 billion USD last year, up 41.6% year on year. Of the figure, Malaysian exports fetched 10.98 billion USD, up 47.2%, while its imports hit 5.73 billion USD, a rise of 31.9%.
According to executive Vietnam is the 11th biggest trade partner and the seventh largest export market of Malaysia. The Two countries are currently striving to meet their bilateral trade target of 25 billion USD by 2030.
These figures show positive development in bilateral relations, especially after the two countries launched their strategic partnership in 2015, said Kamalzaman.
He went on to affirm that the enforcement of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) early this year, which both Malaysia and Vietnam have already ratified, will contribute to boosting bilateral trade.
To promote exports, Badrulnizam said MATRADE will focus on building a sustainable business environment, digitising trade activities, and implementing specific initiatives based on Malaysia’s national trade master plan.
He invited Vietnamese businesses to participate in the 18th Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2022 slated for September 7 – 10.
MIHAS, the world's largest Halal exhibition centre, offers a golden opportunity for Vietnamese companies to expand their Halal market and seek supply sources of Halal products and services.
Luxurious tourist railway carriage to reopen from April 1
Inside The Vietage, a luxurious tourist railway carriage of the Vietnam Railways Corporation (Source: danangfantasticity)
The Vietage, a high-end tourist railway carriage, will be reopened to travellers on the route between Da Nang city and Quy Nhon city of Binh Dinh province from April 1, reported Vietnam News Agency.
According to the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), this carriage will be connected with the train SE5 at Da Nang Station in the morning and return with the train SE8 from Dieu Tri Station in Binh Dinh in the afternoon the same day.
Unveiled in July 2020, The Vietage with only 12 seats, accompanied by restaurant, bar, and massage services, was designed to ensure the best comfort and privacy for passengers.
It offered daily round-trip journeys between Da Nang and Quy Nhon, along the coast of the southcentral Vietnam, promising luxurious travel experiences for tourists while exploring different lands of the country.
In late 2021, The Vietage was named by CNN as one of the six amazing Asia train journeys.
CNN wrote: “For travelers seeking a more comfortable experience, The Vietage offers a stark contrast -- and a price tag to match at 350 USD per person one-way.”
“The scenery is as peaceful as it is lush: water buffaloes graze in wide-open fields, humble villages flit by and impossibly green fields beg to be photographed. Onboard, marble tables, rattan screens and private booths evoke the romance of vintage rail travel."
Development plan for Mekong Delta in 2021-2030 approved
Development plan for Mekong Delta in 2021-2030 approved. - Illustrative immage (Photo: VNA)
Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has signed a decision approving a master plan for the Mekong Delta region in the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050, reported Vietnam News Agency.
The region comprises Can Tho city and 12 provinces.
The scheme sets a target for the regional economy to grow at an average rate of about 6.5 percent annually, with its gross regional domestic product in 2030 being 2-2.5 times that of 2021.
It aims to promote the strength of the local agricultural economy towards sustainability and technology application; maintain the proportion of added value at a level of about 20-25 percent by 2030; and make effective use of free trade agreements for expanding markets.
Investment will be poured into the construction and upgrade of 830 kilometers of highways, 4,000 km of national roads, four airports, 13 seaports, 11 passenger port clusters and 13 clusters of inland waterway cargo ports.
Harvesting rice in Hau Giang province (Photo: VNA)
The Mekong Delta region will focus on developing strategic agricultural products and promoting high quality agricultural goods in combination with trade, logistics services, and eco-tourism. Meanwhile, tindustry will be developed in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.
Attention will be also paid to promoting the export of agro-forestry-aquaculture products, and chemical and mechanical products serving agriculture; developing hi-tech and information technology applied-industries, and clean and renewable energy.
Wind and solar power projects will be developed on Ca Mau Peninsula, and gas-fired power projects in Bac Lieu, Kien Giang and Long An put under consideration for construction after 2030.
Regarding tourism, the Mekong Delta region looks to become an international brand for agro - rural tourism, ecotourism and maritime tourism.
Can Tho and Phu Quoc cities will be developed into international tourist hubs and a gateway to welcome visitors to the entire region.
“Red Journey” blood donation programme to take place in 46 provinces and cities
The Red Journey programme is expected to collect about 120,000 units of blood this year. (Illustrative image)
The largest national blood donation campaign entitled “Red Journey”, the 10th of its kind, is scheduled to take place in 46 provinces and cities nationwide, from June 1 to July 30, 2022, reported Nhan Dan Online News.
The programme is jointly organised by the Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, the Office of the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation, VTVCorp Joint Stock Company, the Ministry of Public Security and authorities of 46 localities.
Five provinces and cities will participate in the programme for ten consecutive years including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Lam Dong, meanwhile, Ha Giang will join the event for the first time this year.
Dr. Bach Quoc Khanh, Director of the Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and Head of the Red Journey Organising Board, said that the programme has received more than 515,000 units of blood over the past nine years, contributing to changing awareness of millions of people about blood donation and overcoming the shortage of blood.
Despite difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the Red Journey collected more than 165,500 units of blood, meeting medical treatment in the past year.
The programme is expected to collect about 120,000 units of blood this year./.