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| An illustration of the pharmaceutical–biological industrial park that is going to be built in Thai Binh Province (Photo: VNA) |
With a total cost of 3.8 trillion VND (149.5 million USD), the park will be developed on an area of 334 hectares that spans three communes of Trang Bao Xa, An Vinh and Dong Hai. The construction is expected to begin next year.
The park will be the first of its kind in Vietnam, focusing on producing and supplying medicines and medical equipment and products for domestic demand and exports. It is expected to make an important contribution to the overall development of Vietnam’s healthcare sector.
The park will comprise research and development institutes, a biotechnology zone, warehouses, logistics centres, commercial areas that showcase medical–pharmaceutical products, as well as areas for training and incubation of start-up enterprises in the pharmaceutical–biological industry.
It is expected to provide jobs for 18,000 people when it becomes operational, and attract investments worth 800 million USD from now until 2027 and $1.2 billion from 2028 to 2030.
Some pharmaceutical companies from the US, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Germany, and India have expressed their interest in establishing factories in the park.
The development of the park is part of the national strategy and programme to develop the pharmaceutical industry and domestically produce medicinal materials until 2030, with a vision to 2045.
It is also part of the development plan for Thai Binh province in the 2021-30 period with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister.
Emirates to recruit pilots in Hanoi, HCM City
Emirates is accelerating its recruitment efforts in Vietnam to meet the surge in customer demand. The airline will host pilot recruitment roadshows in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, seeking experienced commercial pilots to join its expanding team, said the Vietnam News Agency.
The upcoming roadshows will take place in Hanoi at the Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi on November 29 at 7 pm and November 30 at 10 am. In HCM City they will be held at Pullman Saigon Centre on December 1 at 7 pm, December 2 at 10 am and 5 pm. Pilots are required to attend only one of the sessions.
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| Emirates to recruit in Hanoi, HCM City - Photo for illustration (Source: Emirates) |
At the session, prospective Emirates pilots can learn more about the airline’s recruitment process, opportunities, training programmes, career trajectories and benefits. They will also have the chance to speak to current Emirates pilots. Interested pilots based in the northern region and those in the South can register for the respective Hanoi and HCM City roadshows via this link.
Emirates’ Country Manager in Vietnam Majid Al Falasi said: “Vietnam is a fast-growing market with rising demand for international travel, and Emirates is committed to supporting this growth by recruiting skilled pilots. With Emirates, they’ll enjoy a rewarding career, flying on one of the world’s most modern fleets, along with comprehensive training, and extensive benefits. We look forward to welcoming Vietnam’s top aviation talent as we expand operations in this dynamic market.”
Headquartered in Dubai, Emirates operates a modern fleet of over 260 aircraft, serving more than 148 destinations across six continents. The airline operates daily flights from Hanoi and HCM City to Dubai.
Brazil represents largest soybean suppliers to Vietnam
Brazil was the largest soybean supplier to Vietnam during the past ten months of this year, reaching 1.07 million tons, equivalent to nearly US$535.76 million, up 20% in volume and 0.9% in value over the same period, Radio the Voice of Vietnam quoted preliminary statistics by the General Department of Customs.
Throughout the reviewed period, the South American country's soybean supply accounted for 59.2% of the total volume and 57.3% of the total soybean import turnover of Vietnam.
The past ten months saw the nation’s soybean imports hit close to 1.82 million tons, worth nearly US$935.84 million.
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| Soybean (Photo: agri.vn) |
The second largest market was the US, with 568,705 tons, equivalent to US$301.57 million, accounting for 31.3% of the total volume and 32.2% of the total soybean import turnover.
It was trailed by the Canadian market, with 109,005 tons valued at US$ 64.42 million, making up for 6% of the total volume and 6.9% of the total soybean import turnover of the nation.
In Vietnam, soybeans are grown in 26 provinces and cities across the country, of which about 87.8% are in the North and 12.2% are in the South.
Domestically produced soybeans are used to make many types of food such as tofu, soy milk, soy milk powder, and soy sauce.
Because domestic production is not enough to meet consumption and processing needs, Vietnam imports a large amount of soybeans every year. While domestically produced soybeans are traditional varieties, most imported soybeans are genetically modified varieties.
According to agricultural experts, corn and soybeans are both familiar crops in Vietnam. However, the areas under these two crops are still small, and their productivity are far lower than those of other countries in the world.
Vietnam is currently the third largest importer of soybean meal and the ninth largest importer of soybeans in the world. Over the past 10 years, the country has consumed an average of nearly 2 million tons of soybeans each year.
Vietnam: A global magnet for scientific talent
Vietnam has rapidly established itself as a premier destination for scientific talent worldwide, driven by a robust policy framework aimed at nurturing talent and cultivating a skilled workforce for sustainable development, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
In recent years, the country has welcomed an impressive roster of scientific luminaries, including Nobel laureates and recipients of other prestigious awards. These visits have not only enriched the Vietnamese scientific landscape but also sparked collaborations that are pushing the boundaries of knowledge.
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| Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) |
At the forefront of this scientific renaissance are the Meet Vietnam Association (MEA) and the International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE). Founded in 1993 by Prof. Tran Thanh Van, a distinguished French-Vietnamese physicist, MEA has played a pivotal role in fostering cooperation and advancing science and higher education in Vietnam. The association's partnership with UNESCO, established in 2012, has further amplified its impact on the global scientific stage.
In 2023 alone, MEA and ICISE, in collaboration with the Binh Dinh provincial People's Committee, held nearly 150 international scientific conferences and over 45 specialised scientific classrooms, drawing nearly 10,000 scientists from 35 countries and territories. The association also hosted public science talks, online and in-person interactions with Nobel laureates, providing invaluable opportunities for students, scholars, and the general public to engage with some of the brightest minds in the field.
A significant milestone in Vietnam's scientific landscape is the establishment of the VinFuture Prize, the first by a Vietnamese entity and one of the world’s most valuable annual prizes. Now in its fourth season, the VinFuture Prize has garnered nearly 1,500 nominations from over 80 countries and territories, with more than 9,000 scientists serving as nominating partners.
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| The VinFuture Prize Award 2022 ceremony - Photo courtesy of the organisers |
Prof. Sir Richard Henry Friend, Chairman of the VinFuture Prize Council, highlighted the prize's impact by noting that past recipients have gone on to achieve even greater accolades. For instance, Dr. Katalin Karikó and Prof. Drew Weissman, winners of the inaugural VinFuture Prize for their groundbreaking research on the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, later received the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Similarly, Dr. Demis Hassabis and Dr. John Jumper, recipients of the VinFuture Special Prize in 2022, were recently awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
In 2024, the group of authors honoured with the VinFuture Special Prize 2023 for their pioneering research in emerging fields have been named among 100 most influential people in the world, particularly in the health sector, by Time magazine. They also earned accolades at other prestigious international awards, such as the Tang Prize and the Lasker Awards./.