Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh and UK Secretary of State for International Trade Elizabeth Truss sign the minutes on the conclusion of negotiations over the UKVFTA on Dec 11. VNA/VNS
HANOI (Vietnam News/ANN): Representatives from Vietnam and the United Kingdom signed a free trade agreement between the two countries in London on Dec 29.
The two countries’ ambassadors were authorised to sign the deal as leading officials of the Vietnamese Government and Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh were unable to travel to the UK to sign directly amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
HANOI (Vietnam News/ANN):Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has signed a decision to establish the Vietnam Stock Exchange (Vietnam Exchange), headquartered in Hanoi.
7:46 PM MYT
BANGKOK (Vietnam News/ANN): Thai Vietjet will provide weekly semi-commercial flights from HCM City to Bangkok every Friday starting Jan 8,2021.
The flights are expected to partly contribute to recovering the travel and trade between the two countries after a long suspension since March this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic while providing convenient and valued choices for passengers returning home during the travel restricted period.
Passengers, either Thai citizens or foreigners, who travel from HCM City to Bangkok are advised to visit skyfun.vietjetair.com to search and book for needed flights.
Travel instructions, including required documents and quarantine conditions by Thai authorities, are also provided in simplified version during the booking process.
Customers in mask shopping at a supermarket in Hanoi. VNA/VNS
HANOI (Vietnam News/ANN): Vietnam this year has achieved a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 2.91 per cent, an impressive figure despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). This year s GDP growth rate was the lowest during the 2011-20 period due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Vietnam s growth remains among the world’s highest, GSO director general Nguyen Thị Huong told the press on Sunday (Dec 27).
Vietnam s growth rate being among the highest in the world is testament to the determination of the Government as well as efforts by people and the business community to effectively realise the dual goals of pandemic prevention and economic recovery, Hương said.
A rolled steel production line at JFE Shoji Hai Phong Steel Co Ltd in VSIP Hải Phòng industrial park. VNA/VNS
HANOI (Vietnam News/ANN): Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam has not stopped its efforts to achieve the dual goals of improving the business environment and enhancing national competitiveness, an official has said.
“The Government has been determined to improve the business environment, enhance competitiveness, promote innovation, and towards sustainable development, ” Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam said in the Government conference with localities in Hanoi on Monday.
Reform activities must be a focus, he said.
Đam said Vietnam had stuck to the indexes of UN system agencies and prestigious international organisations like the World Bank and World Economic Forum, adding it would use more short term and fundamental factors related to the business environment such as indicators on human resource development, e-Government development, and innovation capac