Illustrative image. (Photo: VNE) Nguyen Phu Hoa, head of Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, said T&L Global Foods Supply Pty Ltd has sought to register the “Rice; Best Rice of the World” trademarks for the two varieties.
Both rice varieties ST24 and ST25 were developed in Vietnam by farmer-scientist Ho Quang Cua and his colleagues and have won international prizes.
The office has spoken with Cua about coordinating action and being actively engaged in discussions with leaders of T&L Global Foods Supply, which said it would check the matter with its brand unit.
The agency has also sent documents and photos to IP Australia to clarify that the ST24 and ST25 rice varieties were developed by Cua and a team of Vietnamese scientists, and have been granted patents in Vietnam.
It has asked IP Australia to consider the matter and to avoid possible disputes that could affect ST24 and ST25 rice exports from Vietnam to Australia.
Vietnam is also meeting with lawyers in Australia to prepare the necessary steps in line with IP Australia’s regulations, Hoa told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
He suggested Cua step up completing procedures to join in addressing the case and protecting the trademark.
Do Gia Thang, Director of Nguyen Do Lawyers in Australia, said it takes three to four months to carry out checks on a patent registration.
Newly established firms gain fastest growth since 2017
The number of new enterprises established in the first four months of 2021 rose 17.5% from a year earlier, the fastest growth since 2017, and it increased in all economic sectors, Vietnam News Agency quoted figures of the General Statistics Office (GSO).
Photo for illustration. (Source: congthuong.vn)
Between January and April, nearly 44,200 new firms were set up with VND627.7 trillion (US$27.2 billion) worth of capital and 340,300 employees registered, up 17.5%, 41%, and 7.8%, respectively, from the same period last year.
The registered capital averaged VND14.2 billion per business, rising 20% year on year.
The total capital poured into the economy topped VND1.42 quadrillion in the first four months, including VND792.9 trillion of additional capital from 14,900 existing businesses.
Besides, nearly 19,300 enterprises also resumed operations, growing by 8% from a year earlier, the GSO reported.
In April alone, the number of newly established firms approximated 14,900, registering VND179.9 trillion worth of capital and 94,600 employees. These figures respectively went up 33.1%, 59.1%, and 30% from the previous month.
The registered capital averaged VND12.1 billion per business, rising 19.6% month on month and 1.7% year on year.
As many as 5,745 companies resumed operations in April, up 50.8% year on year.
The GSO held that these are positive signs for enterprise development in the time ahead.
German newspaper analyses reasons behind Vietnam’s tourism growth
Tourists wear masks at a beach in Da Nang. (Photo: VNA)
German newswire Finanzen.net has published an article on Vietnam’s economic achievements despite COVID-19 and explaining reasons behind the nation’s tourism growth, reported Vietnam News Agency.
The article said Vietnam has strongly emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. With a population of 95 million, the nation was still able to contain the pandemic earlier than many developed countries, and only a few deaths have been recorded so far.
It cited an analysis from James Johnstone, an expert from RWC Partners, that in 2020, although travel restrictions and border closures severely impacted the tourism industry, Vietnam showed a faster recovery than other countries in the region. The outcome was attributable to the number of domestic visitors, which is forecast to continue supporting the growth of the local tourism.
In 2007, tourism contributed just 4.5 percent to Vietnam's GDP. By 2019, the proportion increased to 12.5 percent. This was due to a large number of foreign investors focusing their capital on the sector, apart from heavy industries and urban development.
According to Johnstone, the improved airport infrastructure system has paved the way for the Vietnamese aviation market's development. Aviation infrastructure is key to the successful expansion of local airlines and an ongoing promotion of tourism growth. In addition to its two important airports, Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai, Vietnam is building Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai, near Ho Chi Minh City, which is expected to become operational in 2026.
Johnstone said the upgraded infrastructure has helped shorten travel time, thereby helping visitors gain more experience./.