Photo for illustration (Source: NDO)
The country produced over 24.8 million tonnes of steel during the period, nearly 22 million tonnes of which were sold, up 34.1 percent and 32.5 percent, respectively, year on year, said the Vietnam News Agency.
In the third quarter alone, steel output reached nearly 7.16 million tonnes, up 4 percent year on year, while steel sales slid 7 percent to over 6.2 million tonnes, as a result of social distancing measures imposed to stamp out the spread of COVID-19 in many major industrial cities and provinces.
The VSA reported that though Vietnam’s nine-month steel imports edged up just 1 percent in volume, to 14.9 million tonnes, the value surged 44 percent to 11 billion USD.
The association forecast the steel exports will regain growth momentum during the remaining months of the year following the removal of COVID-19 restrictions.
The steel industry also expects the new-generation Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), in which Vietnam is signatory to, and the recovery of production and construction will further fuel the growth.
Vietnam airlines to increase frequency of domestic flights
The Ministry of Transport announced that it has built plans on restoring domestic flights in the period from October 21 – November 30 based on the outcomes of the pilot resumption of domestic flights from October 10-17.
Accordingly, a maximum of six flights each way daily will be allowed on the routes connecting Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi – Da Nang, and Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City from October 21 – November 14, and the number will be raised to seven during November 15-30, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
Photo for illustration (Source: VNA)
On other routes, the maximum will be four flights each way per day.
The frequency of flights by each airline on each route will be increase by one per day on November 1 and 15 if the average seat occupancy of all airlines on the route during the previous 7 days reached at least 75 percent.
During the pilot period from October 10-17, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways and Pacific Airlines operated 193 flights on 17 routes to and from 17 out of 22 airports.
The total number of passengers was over 12,900, of whom 49 percent flew with Vietnam Airlines, 32.5 percent with Vietjet Air, 15.6 percent with Bamboo Airways and 2.9 percent with Pacific Airlines.
The Transport Ministry also set conditions for passengers from October 21, which require passengers to meet one of the three criteria, either having certificates for full vaccination for at least 14 days and no later than 12 months before departure, or recovery from COVID-19 no later than six months before departure, or testing negative to SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR and rapid antigen testing methods no later than 72 hours before departure.
Vietnamese director wins award at Busan Film Festival
Film project “If Wood Could Cry, It Would Cry Blood” directed by Nguyen Phan Linh Dan has won the ArteKino International Award at the Asian Project Market (APM) as part of the ongoing 26th Busan International Film Festival 2021.
Linh Dan has received a prestigious prize worth EUR6,000, said the Voice of Vietnam.
Nguyen Phan Linh Dan (Source: tienphong.vn)
The film is based on the novel Tam Van Phong Dao (Knife Throwing Game) by famous comedian Mac Can. It tells the story of magicians working in a mobile circus troupe travelling throughout the southern region and focuses on three siblings who perform the famous knife-throwing act.
Linh Dan previously studied film and TV production at the New York University, Tisch School of the Arts. She later became the first female Vietnamese cinematographer after directing Bi Mat Cua Gio (Secrets of the Wind), which premiered at the 2019 Busan International Film Festival.
The purpose of the Asian Project Market is to link new film projects with global film investors, producers, and distributors.
The organising board announced 25 projects from 14 countries which will compete in the finals, with seven given different awards as part of the event.
Last saw “Tick It” by Tran Thanh Huy win an award at the APM.
Trademark “Vietnam Rice” protected in 22 foreign countries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said that the trademark “Vietnam Rice” has by now been protected in 22 foreign countries, urging for the issuance of a legal document managing the use of the trademark.
Vietnam has been among the world’s top three rice exporters, together with Thailand and India, for years, the MARD said in a report sent to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 19, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
Trademark “Vietnam Rice” (Photo: nld.com.vn)
According to the MARD, Vietnam Rice has become a Generic Trademark in 19 countries, including Indonesia, Russia and 17 member states of the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI). It has also been registered as a Certification Trademark in three countries, namely China, Brunei and Norway. The MARD holds the ownership of the trademark in these countries.
It is important to heighten awareness of Vietnamese rice products among exporters, importers, distributors and consumers both at home and overseas, the ministry said. Protection of the trademark also lays a basis for Vietnamese rice to expand its market and increase added value and competitiveness globally, as well as preventing the faking of Vietnamese origin.
Photo for illustration (Source: VTV)
Vietnam must also urgently grant the right to use the trademark to Vietnamese producers and exporters as the trademark will be probably revoked if it is not used by the owner for 3 – 5 years in accordance to regulations of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and laws of some Madrid System member states, it noted.
The ministry proposed the PM to permit it to develop a decree providing a set of procedures for administering the use of Vietnam Rice./.