Customers conduct transactions at a branch of Vietcombank in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)
In the latest ranking, Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) ranks at the 950th position while Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) stands at 1,874th.
This year, Hoa Phat Group is named on the list for the first time with revenues of 1.5 billion USD and market value of 8.53 billion USD.
The total capitalisation of the four Vietnamese banks on the list reached 46.84 billion USD, in which the market value of Vietcombank accounted for more than 36 percent.
Forbes said that despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict, the world’s top companies still managed to boost sales and profits last year. Besides, the stock values of companies also dropped as inflation and bearish market hindered economic recovery.
Hoa Phat Group is named on the list for the first time
Berkshire Hathaway of billionaire Warren Buffett took the No. 1 spot for the first time since Forbes started publishing Global 2000 in 2003, dethroning the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, which dropped to No. 2 after nine consecutive years at the top of the list, it said.
Big oil groups rebounded rapidly from last year’s low ranks thanks to rising oil prices. ExxonMobil rose from 317th in 2021 to 15th this year, while Shell jumped to 16th from 324th. Both companies saw profits swing back into positive territory after last year’s losses.
Compared to last year, the minimum capitalisation of companies plummeted from 8.26 billion USD to 7.6 billion USD. However, the minimum levels of other indexes all increased over the same period.
Companies in Global 2000 recorded a total of 47.6 trillion USD in revenue, 5 trillion USD in profits, 233.7 trillion USD in assets, and 76.5 trillion USD in market capitalisation.
There are 58 countries represented in the 2022 list, in which, the US is the leading nation with 590 companies, followed by China (including Hong Kong) with 351 companies and Japan with 196 companies.
Phu Quoc Island among 25 'incredible' islands: Australian magazine
Traveller magazine has included Phu Quoc off the southern coast of Vietnam in its list of 25 "incredible" islands Australians should visit at least once in a lifetime, reported Vietnam News Agency.
An overview of Phu Quoc Island (Photo: toquoc.vn)
The Australian publication called it "Lovers' Island" which has everything for a honeymoon from luxury resorts, seafood restaurants and chic cocktail bars to shimmering reefs and pristine islets.
Between October and March is the best time to visit, it said.
It advised tourists to visit Long Beach and Khem Beach with their white sand and emerald waters, saying it is an ideal place from where to watch the sun set.
Sao Beach in An Thoi Town, famous for coral diving, is also worth exploring, it said.
Phu Quoc, dubbed "pearl island," has become a global destination after getting an international airport in 2012 and allowing 30-day visa-free entry for foreigners in 2014.
It received over five million visitors in 2019, including 541,600 foreigners.
Other places in the list are Aeolian Islands in Italy, Shikoku in Japan, Coron Island in the Philippines, Haida Gwaii Islands in Canada, Molokai in the U.S., and Daman & Diu in India.
Chinese dealers flock to purchase Vietnamese lychees
More than 100 Chinese dealers have been permitted to enter and purchase lychees in Luc Ngan district of Bac Giang province which is noted for lychee growing in Vietnam, reported VOV News.
Luc Ngan district of Bac Giang province is noted for lychee growing in Vietnam, and its juicy fruit has been exported to many markets worldwide. (Photo: VOV)
The Chinese businesspeople are scheduled to arrive in Luc Ngan on May 20, according to local officials.
This year, China has tightened the import of farm products due the recent outbreak of COVID-19. To meet its requirements, Luc Ngan district and relevant agencies have regularly directed and supervised the planting area codes to ensure the quality of lychees for export to not only China but other markets.
So far businesses from the European Union and the United States have signed contracts to consume Luc Ngan lychees with higher prices and larger output than last year.
The Luc Ngan lychee has a distinctive flavor that is different from those cultivated in other regions. The juicy product has been exported to many countries around the world such as China, Thailand, the US, Australia and others.
Japan increases banana imports from Vietnam
Japan imported more than 1,500 tonnes of bananas from Vietnam worth JPY166 million (US$1.3 million), a year-on-year rise of 38.5% in volume and 30.2% in value, VOV quoted figures of Japan Customs.
Vietnamese bananas hit supermarket shelves in Japan (Photo: VNA)
According to Soichi Okazaki, executive officer of AEON Co Ltd, Japan is importing bananas from several markets, such as Ecuador, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, and Costa Rica. However, Vietnamese bananas gain foothold in Japan thanks to their competitive prices, and a good taste.
Despite recording strong growth, Vietnamese bananas make up only 0.6% of Japan's total banana imports.
Japan Customs reports Japan spent JPY22.4 billion (roughly US$171.2 million) on importing 244,000 tonnes of bananas in the first quarter of 2022, a decline of 2.5% in volume and an increase of 3.5% in value.
The Philippines is Japan’s largest supplier of bananas, while Vietnam is their seventh largest supplier of the fruit./.