Indonesian factory worker dies of bird flu

– An Indonesian factory worker died of bird flu, bringing the death toll in the country worst hit by the H5N1 virus to 112, a top health official was quoted as saying on August 3.

The 19-year-old worker, died last week in a hospital just west of Jakarta, Nyoman Kandun, the director general of communicable disease control at the Health Ministry, said.

Indonesia’s death toll of 112 accounts for nearly half the 240 recorded fatalities worldwide, according to news agencies.-

Malaysia plans to build its fourth cyber city

– Malaysia has a plan to develop Kota Samarahan into the country’s fourth cyber city in order to draw investments from companies having multimedia super corridor (MSC) status, local media reported.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Maximus Ongkili was quoted by Bernama News Agency as saying that the Sarawak State government was working closely with the ministry to develop Kota Samarahan like Cyberjaya in Selangor, Bayan Lepas High Technoloy Park in Penang and Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah.

He said that there were already companies with MSC status in Sarawak which were prepared to expand their operations to Kota Samarahan.

He added that the cyber city project for Kota Samarahan had been included in the mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, and the ministry was only waiting for the report from the state government on the project.

Kota Samarahan, which is about 30km from Kuching city, is also known as a knowledge city as the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Universiti Teknologi Mara campuses are located there, according to the news agency.-

Laos sets to earn 1 bln USD from exports by 2010

– Laos has set a target to earn around 1 billion USD from exports by 2010, said the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

To reach the target, the Lao government is stepping up efforts to attract foreign investment and encourage investors to focus on the country’s spearhead economic sectors. The Lao government has also created favourable conditions for exporting companies.

Laos has earned some 2.77 billion USD from exports in three years, accounting for 79.5 percent of the country’s five-year plan which will last till 2010.-

Hanoi trade fair to highlight Thai products

As many as 100 businesses from Thailand and their sale agents in Vietnam will showcase products at an annual trade fair slated for Hanoi from August 7-10.

More than 150 booths will feature a wide range of goods from machinery, industrial, electric and electronic products, auto, motorbike and bicycle spare parts, fruits, food, drinks, cosmetics, medical products, stationeries, products for children, jewellery to handicraft items.

A Thai art troupe and a delegation from the Tourism Authority of Thailand are expected to attend the event to promote tourism cooperation and cultural ties between the two countries.

The fair will be co-organised by Thailand ’s Ministry of Commerce and the Vietnam National Trade Fair and Advertising Company (Vinexad).-

July automobile imports drop sharply

Vietnam imported 3,000 completely-built automobiles in July, down 23 percent from the previous month mainly due to the higher import tariffs imposed on the products, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) reported.

July is the third month in a row to see lower automobile imports as a result of policies aimed at reducing traffic congestion and trade deficit as well as curbing inflation.

However, Vietnam’s seven-month automobile imports still recorded a 3.9 fold increase in volume and 3.65 fold rise in value over the same period a year ago, reaching 43,500 completely-built units worth 812 million USD.

Taking into account automobile parts and components for assembly, the country has so far this year spent around 1.82 billion USD on car imports.

Car traders forecast lower sales in the domestic market in the coming time due to the Finance Ministry’s decision in late July to raise car registration fees to 10-15 percent of the purchase prices.

The possibility of a further rise in import tariff on completely-built automobiles and recent petroleum price hikes are also factors that chill the market, they said.-

Southern province builds safe water system for ethnic minorities

Southern Binh Thuan province has earmarked 3 billion VND (around 182,000 USD) allocated from the State budget to help its Tanh Linh district develop safe water supply system for mountainous and ethnic minority areas.

Tanh Linh district will install a 4km water pipeline system to bring water from Lac Tanh town’s water station to 200 households of the Rai and K’Ho ethnic groups in Tra Cu village.

The total cost for the water supply system is estimated at 1.1 billion VND.

Another 2 billion VND will be allocated to mountainous Duc Phu commune to build a water station and a 3.8 km pipeline system for 145 households, including 59 ethnic minority households.

The projects are scheduled to be operational in late this year or early 2009 to help improve environmental conditions and reduce infectious diseases caused by unsafe water use.

So far, nearly 80 percent of ethnic minority households and those living in mountainous areas in Binh Thuan province get access to safe water.-

“Vietnam: Past and Present” workshop in Thailand

– Achievements brought about by the renovation process (Doi Moi) in Vietnam and the country’s policy for foreign investors were highlighted at a workshop in Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok on August 3.

Speaking at the “Vietnam: Past and Present” workshop, researchers on Vietnam and Thai businessmen spoke about Vietnam’s current economic development, especially the Vietnamese government’s efforts to curb inflation and overcome short-term economic difficulties.

Friendship and cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Thailand over the past 30 years have also been reviewed at the event, which drawed the participation of many Vietnamese overseas in Thailand.

The workshop was organised by the Vietnam-Thailand Culture Association.-

Foreign consultants offer ideas on Hanoi’s future urban scene

Hanoi (VNA ) – The Government elite sat down on August 3 to hear three foreign consultants present their ideas for a development plan for the expanded Hanoi .

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung chaired the meeting, which saw the presence of Deputy PMs Nguyen Sinh Hung, Pham Gia Khiem, Truong Vinh Trong, Hoang Trung Hai and Nguyen Thien Nhan.

The three consultants have been selected by a special council from 12 interested bidders.

The partnership of Japan ’s Arata Isozaki and the Netherland’s Metropolitan Architecture visions Hanoi as a multipolar city with a sustainable development.

The partnership of the Republic of Korea ’s Posco E&C and the US ’s Jina Architect and Perkins Eeastman based their vision on green corridors among urban developments, saying that the city should give 60 percent of its land for greeneries.

Meanwhile, the US ’s RTKL company presented a model of five satellite cities inside Hanoi which will be dedicated to different purposes.

According to Deputy Construction Minister Tran Ngoc Chinh, the PM will decide the final consultant based on the suggestions from the selection council.

As from August 1, Hanoi has seen its total natural area triple to 3,300 sq. km, and its population double to over 6.2 million after a National Assembly resolution took effect.

The resolution merge Hanoi with the entire neighbouring province of Ha Tay , the Me Linh district of Vinh Phuc province and four communes of Luong Son district of Hoa Binh province.-