Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
Statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed that Vietnam enjoyed growth in rice exports in three consecutive months, with month-on-month rises of 19 percent in volume and 20.5 percent in value recorded in September.
Compared to the same period last year, rice exports in September rose 54.5 percent in volume to 593,624 tonnes with value of 293.15 million USD.
In the January-September period, Vietnam shipped abroad 4.57 million tonnes of rice, earning 2.42 billion USD, down 8.3 percent in volume and 1.2 percent in value. However, the price of Vietnamese rice rose 7.8 percent in the period.
Experts attributed the drops to impacts of COVID-19 to the harvesting and transport of rice in the Mekong Delta region – a major rice bowl of Vietnam. However, they predicted that rice sector will recover fast when the pandemic is controlled.
According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), Vietnam is anticipating a great chance to increase exports when a fall is forecast in other rice supply sources such as India and Thailand while the global demand is rising.
Securities firm Mirae Asset Vietnam held that the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which has become effective since August 2020, is helping to boost Vietnamese rice exports to the European market.
At the same time, the US Department of Agriculture predicted that global rice consumption in the 2021-2022 crop will rise 1.8 percent year on year, which is coupled with a rise in rice prices.
Thanks to higher prices, Vietnamese rice exporters are expected to enjoy good growth in profits.
Australia’s Ambassador discusses women in leadership with Vietnamese Peacekeepers
Australia’s Ambassador to Vietnam HE Robyn Mudie has met with Vietnamese peacekeepers preparing to deploy on United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa.
Ambassador Mudie arrived at Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations invitation from the Director of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Major General Hoang Kim Phung to discuss bilateral Defence cooperation and meet with female peacekeepers who have deployed overseas or are preparing to deploy.
H.E. Ms Robyn Mudie, the Australian Ambassador to Vietnam and Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Director General of Vietnam’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VNDPKO) discussed cooperation areas to be promoted in the upcoming time. (Photo: The Australian Embassy in Vietnam)
Also marking the importance of Vietnam Women’s Day during the visit, Ambassador Mudie spoke to the peacekeepers about the roles of women in society and the opportunities and challenges those roles represent. The female peacekeepers in turn shared their perspective on women in the military and in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and the opportunities and challenges they faced.
While talking to the female peacekeepers Ambassador Mudie complimented the important role that these women fill now and on Peacekeeping missions.
She said: “As part of the first generation of Vietnam’s peacekeeping deployments, you are contributing to Vietnam’s history and the global story of women’s vital role in peace and security. In the Peacekeeping environment you are safe to approach for women and girls, you are a comfortable and dignified source of medical and health care and you understand what weighs on women’s minds.”
Australia is proud to have provided strategic airlift support to all three of Vietnam’s Level 2 Field Hospitals which have deployed to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
H.E. Ms Robyn Mudie, the Australian Ambassador to Vietnam was with female Vietnamese peacekeepers in front of vehicles equipped for the UN mission in Africa. (Photo: The Australian Embassy in Vietnam)
Vietnam’s peacekeeping in Africa complements its important role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. Australia recognises Vietnam’s key role as the co-chair of the ADMM+ Expert Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations and is pleased that Vietnam has been including women, peace and security as a key topic in this forum.
Vietnam Women’s Day begins gender month for the Australian Embassy, highlighting the importance of gender equality and empowering women and girls across the breadth of Australia’s development, diplomatic, trade and commercial and people to people priorities in the partnership with Vietnam.
Nine-month exports to Netherlands increase by 10.9%
Vietnamese exports to the Netherlands during the opening nine months of the year surged by 10.9% to reach 5.58 billion USD compared to the same period from last year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
Computers, electronic products and component group takes the lead in terms of export turnover to the Dutch market. (Photo: VOV)
Most notably, the enforcement of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is anticipated to create fresh opportunities for both Vietnamese and Dutch businesses to enhance future co-operation.
Statistics compiled by the General Department of Vietnam Customs indicate that the computers, electronic products and component group took the lead in terms of export turnover to the Dutch market during the nine-month period with 1.24 billion USD, thereby representing a rise of 3.4%, and accounting for 22.3% of total export turnover.
Furthermore, the machinery, equipment, tools and spare part group ranked second with turnover of 931.2 million USD throughout the reviewed period, posting a year-on-year rise of 64.3% and accounting for 16.6% of total export revenue.
Other export items recording an increase in terms of export turnover during the reviewed period include toys and sports equipment, which rose by 49%, cameras, camcorders and components, up 34.8%, rubber, with an increase of 82.9%, and rice, up 42.8%.
First tourists from HCM City traveled to Tay Ninh and Vung Tau
The first out-of-province tour of Ho Chi Minh City to Tay Ninh has been held with the participation of nearly 100 travelers.
Ho Chi Minh City delegations line up to ride the cable car at Ba Den Mountain. (Photo: Vnexpress.net)
The one-day tour offered opportunities for travelers to take a cable car to conquer the top of Ba Den Mountain, check in the roof of the Southeast at an altitude of 986 m, visit Hang Pagoda and enjoy local specialties.
The development of the first tourist route to Ba Den Mountain is a step in the plan to restore the tourism industry and develop inter-provincial and inter-regional tours. Earlier, leaders of two localities, Ho Chi Minh City and Tay Ninh, worked out and agreed on the process of reopening tourism activities and safe conditions for greeting guests.
Earlier on October 16, Ba Ria-Vung Tau also started a tourism recovery plan as it welcomed 4 delegations from Ho Chi Minh City with nearly 80 people to visit and relax at The Grand Ho Tram Resort & Casino and Binh Chau Hot Springs in Xuyen Moc district.
Tourists to Ba Ria Vung Tau all had COVID-19 green cards, of which the second dose of vaccine has passed 14 days and all have a valid negative test results for nCoV before boarding the bus to Ba Ria Vung Tau.
In the near future, Ho Chi Minh City will conduct visits to localities such as Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and Binh Dinh to continue promoting and opening interprovincial “green” tours./.