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| Vietnamese electrical carmakers VinFast on March 1 delivered its first 45 VF 8 City Edition electric SUVs to US customers. (Photo: VinFast) |
These initial deliveries are from the first shipment of 999 City Edition vehicles, which were shipped to the US in December last year. The version comes in both Eco and Plus trim with an EPA-rated range of 207 miles and 191 miles, respectively.
Other vehicles will continue to be delivered to customers at VinFast’s stores or through a home-delivery service.
Besides financial promotion for US consumers, VinFast also offers an impressive 10-year warranty for their vehicles and batteries, as well as mobile repair services, and 24/7 roadside assistance.
According to the website electrek.co, VF 8 City Edition is the version that VinFast exports exclusively to the US market. It integrates Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and smart entertainment and utility applications Smart Services. In addition, VF 8 City Edition will receive free software updates, and upgrade many other features and applications.
Binh Phuoc enjoys trade surplus of 220 mln USD in first two months
The southern province of Binh Phuoc enjoyed an impressive growth in export turnover in the first two months of 2023 with trade surplus reaching 220 million USD, VNA cited the report from the provincial Statistics Office.
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| Inside a cashew nut processing factory in the southern province of Binh Phuoc (Photo: VNA) |
In February, Binh Phươc’s export turnover hit 320 million USD, an increase of more than 39% against the previous month and rose 46.9% year-on-year.
Since the beginning of this year, the province’s export turnover came to 551 million USD, a hike of 6.4% compared to the same period in 2022.
Meanwhile, the province imported 290 million USD worth of goods in the two months, an upturn of 6.6% year-on-year.
The province also saw a slight increase at 0.76% in industrial production index in the period, of which, the processing and manufacturing sectors rose 0.64%, production and distribution of electricity, gas, hot water, steam and air-conditioning picked up 2.15%; and water supply, wastewater treatment and management activities expanded by 7.62%.
Notably, in February alone, some key industrial products saw good growth such as unprocessed lead product up 46%, poultry feed 22% and medical equipment 20%.
On the contrary, some products experienced sharp falls from 18% to nearly 40% included black Portland cement, footwear and furniture, among others.
To maintain economic growth momentum and bolster import- export activities in 2023, Binh Phuoc has implemented solutions in perfecting infrastructure, developing human resources while improving administrative reform, along with boosting trade and investment promotion and supporting enterprises.
Positive outlook for fresh banana exports to Japan
With Vietnamese banana exports to Japan making up less than 1% of the Far East nation’s banana imports, there remains ample room for the export of bananas as well as other fruits to this market in the future, according to industry insiders, said VOV.
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| Positive outlook for fresh banana exports to Japan (Source: VOV) |
Ta Duc Minh, Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Japan, revealed that some supermarket chains in Japan have unveiled plans to increase the import of Vietnamese bananas.
Most notably, Japanese enterprises are planning to focus more on importing Fohla banana varieties that have been granted organic certification.
Leading Japanese retailer AEON is in need of importing an unlimited quantity of bananas, provided that Vietnamese partners are able to meet stringent requirements in terms of quality.
At present, Vietnamese bananas are favoured by Japanese consumers thanks to their better quality compared to those imported from the Philippines. This is also the primary reason why several Japanese enterprises will move to increase their imports of Vietnamese bananas in the future.
According to the Vietnamese Trade Office in Japan, the country’s banana exports to the Japanese market reached over US$7 million last year, accounting for less than 1% of the Far East nation’s banana imports, thereby creating opportunities to increase market share within the demanding market.
The Vietnamese trade official therefore advised local banana exporters to ensure the implementation of synchronous linkages from growing, processing, preserving, transporting, and exporting as a way of further accelerating the export of fresh fruit and vegetables, including bananas, to Japan in a sustainable manner.
Furthermore, local businesses are required to ensure stable price and supply sources alongside meeting requirements relating to food safety standards and origin traceability, he noted.
Nearly 40 int’l delegations confirmed to attend Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival
According to VOV, a total of 37 international delegations have been confirmed to take part in the eighth Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival, which is scheduled to take place in Buon Ma Thuot city and several other places around the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak from March 10 to14.
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| Nearly 40 int’l delegations confirmed to attend Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival (Source: vov.vn) |
The event will witness the involvement of representatives of the Embassies of the United States, Australia, Mongolia, Morocco, Angola, and Saudi Arabia in Vietnam; as well as the Consulates General of India, Cambodia, Cuba, and Russia in Ho Chi Minh City, and the Consulate General of Laos in Da Nang.
Furthermore, the festival will be attended by Delegations of Authority from Orkhon of Mongolia, Mondulkiri of Cambodia, Jeollabuk of the Republic of Korea, along with Salavan, Champasak, Attapeu, and Sekong of Laos, as well as international press agencies and enterprises.
Two art troupes from Champasak of Laos and Jeollabuk of the Republic of Korea have also registered to take part in a street carnival to be held during the festival.
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| Photo for illustration (Source: congthuong.vn) |
As scheduled, international delegations will participate in a number of main activities, such as opening and closing ceremonies, a street carnival, a coffee exhibition, and a trade fair, along with an international trade connection, a workshop on the development of high-quality Vietnamese coffee, and art photo exhibitions on both Vietnamese coffee culture and world coffee history.
They will also visit the durian growing model in Cu M'Gar district and the coffee production and processing model at the Central Highlands Agro-Forestry Science and Technology Institute. Guests will also tour several popular tourist sites in the province, such as Yok Don National Park, Coffee World Museum, and the Ko Tam Ecotourism Area.
Themed "Buon Ma Thuot - Destination of Coffee worldwide", the festival aims to promote the Buon Ma Thuot coffee brand towards gradually turning the city into a worldwide coffee destination, as well as contributing to improving the values of Vietnamese coffee in the international arena.
The 2023 Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival also represents an opportunity for Dak Lak to introduce its image, potential, and strengths, while attracting more local and foreign investment into the business and processing of coffee and other agricultural products in the locality.