Coffee farmers to join e-trading floor

Vietnamese coffee businesses and farmers have agreed to begin trading on the direct farm produce trading floor, which is scheduled to open in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak , the country’s coffee capital, on Dec. 12.

Nguyen Tuan Ha, Director of the Dak Lak Coffee Trading Floor, stated that the floor’s operation will be aimed at establishing a transparent and dedicated market for domestic and foreign organisations and individuals involved in coffee trading, bringing it in line with current world trends.

An estimated 100 businesses will be represented on the trading floor.

Ha added that there will be a total storage capacity of 30,000 tonnes of coffee at the trading floor, which will be available for farmers to consign their products ahead of any transactions.

According to the Vietnam Cacao and Coffee Association, Vietnam is expected to earn 2 billion USD from coffee exports as the price of Vietnamese coffee has been rising steadily. The country exported 1.6 billion USD of coffee during the first nine months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 10 percent, despite export volume decreasing by 22 percent.

However, farmers and businesses have been worried by fluctuations in coffee prices. In the past, coffee farmers suffered losses when coffee prices dropped and frequently cut down their coffee plants, leaving them with no produce for sale when the prices rose again.

To remedy this situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development approved a strategy to maintain coffee acreage at around 500,000 ha, helping to focus on improving quality, boosting consumption and ensuring sustainable development of these key farm products.

Coffee is Vietnam’s second-largest grossing agricultural product after cotton. Trade turnover of coffee on the international market reaches 10 billion USD annually.

Vietnam is the second-largest coffee exporter in the world. In particular, the country leads the world regarding the quality of its Robusta coffee.-

Microsoft Vietnam assists SMEs in legalising software

Microsoft Vietnam has launched an open license publication (OLP) programme to help small- and medium-sized enterprises legalise their Windows software applications during the fourth quarter of 2008.

With the exception of the Windows operating system, it will be possible to transfer other Microsoft products purchased under the open license publication from one computer to another whenever an enterprise upgrades or replaces its old PCs.

According to a report published recently by the Software Business Association, Vietnam’s copyright infringement rate has reduced from 88 percent in 2006 to 85 percent in 2007. However, the country still suffers losses of 200 million USD per year as a result of copyright infringements.

Microsoft is planning to publish additional information relating to the OLP in the near future to help businesses improve their understanding of Microsoft’s licensing mechanisms.-

Vietnam – a potential market for RoK businesses

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Seoul Businesses Association (SBA) jointly held a meeting in Hanoi on Oct. 2 to seek further opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea ’s enterprises.

Addressing the funstion, Deputy Head of VCCI’s International Relations Department, Pham Quang Thinh, praised the excellent prospects of the two countries’ cooperation in economic, trade and investment areas in the future.

He said he believes that Vietnam will continue to be a potential and sustainable market for RoK’s investors and businesses and that the SBA would help to attract more businesses wishing to invest in Vietnam and import its products.

The move will contribute to promoting relations on trade, import-export and investment that the two countries’ governments attach great importance to, he added.

The RoK is one of Vietnam ’s leading partners and its cooperative and trading relations with Vietnam have been steadily developing over recent years.

In the first six months of 2008, the RoK’s recorded a total of 3 billion USD in exports to Vietnam , with total imports from Vietnam reaching 1 billion USD.

By the end of 2007, the RoK took the lead among 55 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 5.3 billion USD.

The RoK’s business delegation attending the meeting includes providers of online gaming software, security devices and solutions and pharmaceutical products.-

Kinh Bac Fair 2008 showcases local wares

Bac Ninh (VNA) – The 2008 Kinh Bac Fair opened in the northern province of Bac Ninh on Oct. 2 with more than 100 stalls.

The seven-day fair features products of businesses from the host province and other localities, including Vietnam ’s HCM City , Hanoi , Thai Nguyen, Hue and China ’s Guangzhou province.

The products on display are predominantly consumer goods, garments and textiles, footwear, home decorations, cosmetics, education and sports equipment.

At the fair, a special stall has been set aside to help visitors distinguish between genuine and fake goods.

In addition to promoting trade, the event represents an opportunity to market the famous beauty spots and tourist festivals of Kinh Bac, or North of the Thang Long Imperial City.-

Vietnam faces shortage of network security experts

Hanoi (VNA) – While the information technology industry is developing strongly and network security is becoming more of a necessity, Vietnam’s human resources in the field of network security are yet to meet public demand in both quantity and quality.

Even if each individual agency requires just one network administration and security expert, the country is estimated to lack tens of thousands of qualified people in this field.

According to recent research on expert demands and an IT human resource shortage in the Asia-Pacific region conducted by the market study company IDC with the assistance of Cisco Systems, Vietnam currently lacks about 800 professional internet experts. This figure is expected to increase to 1,900 people by the end of 2009.

This shortage is attributed to the fact that Vietnamese universities do not currently offer degrees in information security and, as a result almost all IT graduates do not have the skills to meet businesses information security demands.

To address this problem, many IT training centres have actively launched internet security courses. The Hanoi University of Technology’s Bach Khoa Internet Security Centre (BKIS) is now offering training courses for all members of the public, instead of only for officers of Ministries of Defence and Public Securities as before.

The Hanoi-Aptech Centre has officially launched an advanced network administration programme for those who want to become senior internet security experts in large organisations and business enterprises.

The establishment of the Vietnam Information Security Association (VNISA) and VNISA’s southern branch recently, which aim to offer information security training to the staff of organisations and businesses, as well as individuals, is considered one of the effective measures being taken to address the shortage of internet security professionals.

In order to raise awareness of the importance of information security among enterprises, VNISA will organise the 2008 Vietnam Information Security Day in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on November 11. The event is expected to strengthen the contact between the State, society and enterprises in this field.

According to BKIS, in 2007, Vietnam had over 33 million computers infected with viruses and hundreds of websites hacked, causing a total estimated loss of 2.3 trillion VND (140 million USD).-

Honour to elderly to mark International Day

Hanoi (VNA) – To mark International Day for Elders, the president of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Huynh Dam, on Oct. 1 presented gifts to two centenarians from Hanoi – and wished them good health.

The two veterans were Madame Pham Thi Hien, 105, and Mr Pham Quang Giang, 104.

President Dam said the Fatherland Front was grateful for the contribution of senior citizens to the cause for national independence and growth.

Elderly people living in rural areas in Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho and Vinh Long provinces received gifts and free medical treatment from local authorities as part of celebrations of the international day.

More volunteers are taking care of elderly people in their homes under a programme run by the National Committee for the Elderly and the Centre for Research and Assistance for the Elderly.

As one-third of older people in Vietnam are poor, the national homecare programme has received widespread support.

About eight million people in Vietnam are 60 years and older – almost 10 percent of the population. By 2014, the group is expected to grow by 20 percent.

The first phase of the home-care programme began in 2000 and ended in 2006. The second phase will conclude in 2009.

Volunteers receive training in taking care of elderly people from the National Research Centre on the Elderly.

The first model project began in Thuy Nguyen district in Hai Phong – and in Hai Duong province’s Chi Linh district.

Since 2000, the model has been replicated in 11 provinces and cities nationwide.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Trai, director of the elderly research centre, attributed the success of the programme to the support of the local authorities.

Nguyen Thi Tu, one volunteer in Thuy Nguyen district, said the programme had helped to foster better relations among community members and improved people’s lives.-

Japan offers learning equipment to HCM City university

Hanoi (VNA) – The Japanese government has handed over a 67, 300 USD multimedia room to the Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy to help with Japanese – language training.

The room is part of Japan ’s small-scale non-refundable aid programme on culture, which was launched in 2000, said Japanese Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Mizuki Ikuo at the hand-over ceremony on October 2.


The Japanese government has so far financed six projects in the field of education in southern cities and provinces totalling 246,700 USD.-

Naval forces rescue Indonesian vessel and crew

Naval forces in Military Zone C helped to bring the distressed Indonesian vessel Yinson Power 2 safely into central Da Nang bay on Oct. 2.

While en route from Hong Kong to Malaysia, two Indonesian ships found themselves in distress after being battered by big waves and bad weather whipped up by Typhoon Mekkhala. The heavy storm disabled Yinson Power 2’s engines and sank the other vessel, the ‘Yinson Power 1’.

An SOS signal was broadcast from the distressed ship on Sept. 30 and immediately, two naval ships, Van Hoa 714 and Van Hoa 715, of Military Zone C, set out to provide emergency rescue.

With the further assistance of naval ship HQ 629, the Indonesian ship, with eight sailors on board, including one dead crew member, was brought ashore.

The master of the stricken vessel, Captain Lohanes Parera expressed his deep gratitude to the Vietnam Naval Force for their timely intervention and rescue.-

PM receives Episcopal Council President

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received representatives of the Vietnam Episcopal Council (VEC), headed by President Bishop Nguyen Van Nhon, in Hanoi on Oct. 1 on the occasion of the closing of the council’s second annual conference.

After hearing opinions voiced by VEC’s representatives on social issues in an open and cordial atmosphere, PM Dung expressed his pleasure to see that the solidarity existing between Catholics and other strata of society has been consolidated and developed over recent years.

He also praised the Catholic community for their contributions to the country’s achievements over recent years, as well as during the first nine months of 2008.

The PM said he is content with the obedience and respect shown to the law by the great majority of Catholic people, evidenced by the carrying out of good deeds for both personal and religious reasons and the fine relationship between the local authorities and the parishioners, Catholic priests and the VEC in working for the best interests of the country.

He also expressed his determination to cultivate and consolidate the national unity bloc, good relations between non-Catholics and Catholics and solidarity among those of different religions.

The State policy that aims to uphold good relations between the State and religious organisations, including the Vietnam Catholics Church and the VEC is a full manifestation of State responsibility and affection towards those holding religious beliefs in Vietnam , PM Dung said.

The PM reiterated Vietnam ’s policy of freedom of religion and belief, which aims to meet the legitimate rights and interests of religious devotees.

This policy has been ensured by law and followed on the basis of respect for the law, he said, adding that any acts misusing the right to religious freedom to violate the law are unacceptable.

All Vietnamese religious followers are first and foremost Vietnamese citizens. A good religious follower must also be a good citizen, PM Dung stressed.

He availed himself of the meeting to inform the Catholic dignitaries of the State’s views regarding land issues, noting that Vietnam’s constitution and current laws state clearly that land belongs to the people under the unified management of the State.
The right to own land as private property is not recognised in Vietnam ’s constitution and current laws, PM Dung stressed.

In addition, according to the 11 th National Assembly’s Resolution No. 23, the State neither consider any claim for land return nor review guidelines and implementation of any policies relating to land and houses which were put under the State’s management, allocation and utility as decided prior to July 1 st , 1991, the Government leader noted.

“It is absolutely unacceptable when someone regards the land laws as incomplete and twists them,” PM Dung said.

He emphasised that the allocation of land to any religious organisation for religious purposes must be performed in line with the law with regard to the proposal submitted by that organisation, as well as existing policies on land and religion and local land reserves.

PM Dung citied a number of localities, where this has been implemented well, including Ho Chi Minh City, which has allocated land to the municipal bishopric to build a centre serving its activities.

He mentioned the central highlands province of Dac Lac where more than 11,000 sq. m of land were handed over to the Buon Ma Thuot bishopric, the central city of Da Nang’s allotment of 9,000 sq. m of land to the Da Nang bishopric, and the central province of Quang Tri’s allocation of over 15 ha of land to the La Vang parish as some examples.

According to the PM, the northern province of Nam Dinh has assigned the land area surrounding Khoai Dong church to Bui Chu bishopric, whilst the central highlands province of Lam Dong has assigned 10 ha of land to the provincial church to build a centre supporting its religious activities.

In addition to these cases, many others were also addressed on the grounds of cooperation between local churches and administrations in the spirit of dialogue and a high sense of community responsibility being taken into account, PM Dung said.

He criticised acts that breach the law, including gathering en masse to claim land, installing statues, crosses, and huts, destroying public assets, and clashing with on-duty officials at the Thai Ha parish, 178 Nguyen Luong Bang street and 42 Nha Chung in Hanoi in recent time.

The PM praised the Vietnam Episcopal Council for not advocating to carry out such deeds and urged the Episcopal Council to make decisions to put an end to such acts and to prevent reoccurrence of wrongdoings.
“If those activities do not come to an end, they will have an adverse impact on the good ties between the State and the Church and the relationship between Vietnam and the Vatican , which has been progressing positively,” PM Dung said.

PM Dung said he regretted that Hanoi archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet has recently committed erroneous deeds, such as instigation, organisation and even support for law violations by a number of priests and parishioners at 42 Nha Chung street and 178 Nguyen Luong Bang street in Hanoi .

Archbishop Kiet showed lack of respect and cooperation with the Hanoi administration to conduct dialogue for appropriate solutions, PM Dung said.

He stressed that Kiet’s words challenged the State, hurt the nation, and disregarded the country’s position and the status of Vietnamese citizens in their interrelation with the world.

Archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet should reconsider his behaviors to correct himself and take practical actions to overcome those wrongdoings, PM Dung said, asking the Vietnam Episcopal Council to give more assistance to archbishop Kiet, particularly in abiding by the law, for common interest.

PM Dung spoke of the goodwill of the Government and the centrally-run State agencies and local authorities, saying they are willing to converse with the Catholics, not advocate the use of forces, to settle the recent violations of law at 42 Nha Chung and the Thai Ha parish.

“However, for acts against constitution and law, any countries must employ necessary measures to protect their constitution and law,” PM Dung stressed.

Representatives of the Vietnam Episcopal Council thanked the PM for receiving them and expressed aspiration of Catholic followers to continue to stand side by side with the nation in building the country.

The PM said he expected archbishops, priests, clergymen and Catholic followers to join hands in building Vietnam into a prosperous and strong country.-

Eighth plenum of Party Central Committee opens

Hanoi (VNA) – The Communist Party of Vietnam’s 10th Central Committee opened its eighth plenary session in Hanoi on October 2, focusing their discussions on socio-economic situation and state budget in 2008 and development plans for the next year.

Opening the three-day plenum, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh highlighted socio-economic achievements between late 2007 and now, including the improvement in the macro economy, a slowdown in the inflation rate and a high export value growth rate which has nearly doubled the set target.

He also said political stability and social welfare and order have been ensured during the period in addition to positive results made in foreign relations.

The party leader said, however, various shortcomings and weaknesses remain in socio-economic development, urging the participants at the plenum to point out the causes of the weaknesses, particularly in the leadership and management, to draw experiences for their future work.-