The strategic partnership between Vietnam and Germany has entered a new stage of development, Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said at a recent event in Germany.

More foreigners are buying apartments and investing in real estate in Vietnam, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, with most of them coming from mainland China, Japan, Singapore and the Republic of Korea.

Southern localities of Vietnam has been a major destination for investment from the Republic of Korea (RoK) in recent years, and local textile-garment and footwear industries have proved to be a magnet for an influx of capital from this country.

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry has recently unveiled that many steel firms from the Republic of Korea (RoK) are planning their investments in Vietnam.

Many banks have recently announced they will recruit a large number of personnel to meet their business expansion plans in 2019.

Vietnam needs a strategy to promote the development of private firms with a focus on quality, as their contribution to the economy remains modest, attendees heard at a conference in Hanoi on March 15.

Vietnam now ranks fourth globally, first in Southeast Asia and second in Asia in terms of exports of seafood, and its products are now available in over 170 countries and territories worldwide.

Samsung Vietnam (Samsung Vina) officially launched the Samsung Showcase, a technology exhibition and experience centre at the Bitexco building in Ho Chi Minh City on March 15.

Ba Huan Joint Stock Company and Japan’s Ise Foods Inc. on March 15 signed a cooperation deal on the production and distribution of fresh eggs.

The Philippines is a promising market for Vietnamese commodities thanks to its strong demand for Vietnamese goods, according to a Vietnamese trade official.

Vietnamese companies making eco-friendly straws have received many orders from other countries that have reduced the use of plastic straws or even banned their production.

Listed companies on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) reported their profits grew 11.4 percent year on year to reach 19.93 trillion VND (855.6 million USD) in 2018.

Vietnam shipped 719,259 tonnes of crude oil abroad for 337.3 million USD in the first two months of 2019, up 7.1 percent in volume but down 7.9 percent in value compared to the same period last year.

More and more Russian businesses want to study investment opportunities in Vietnam and attract Vietnamese firms to invest in Russia.

The Government is considering withdrawing a proposal from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to increase environmental taxes on fuel products to the maximum of 8,000 VND (0.35 USD), stating the move requires further consideration.

The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) launched the 11th edition of its annual Whitebook at a conference in Hanoi on March 14, focusing on the future of economic development in Vietnam.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) set the daily reference exchange rate on March 15 at 22,957 VND per USD, up 5 VND from the previous day (March 14).

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a meeting for Vietnamese and Russian businesses in Hanoi on March 14 to exchange cooperation opportunities in numerous fields.

The Vietnamese Government will create optimal conditions for US enterprises to invest successfully in Vietnam and is willing to listen to their recommendations to improve the local business environment, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Nguyen Van Binh, head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Economic Commission, has commended Russian gas group Gazprom for its contributions to Vietnam-Russia cooperative ties, especially in the energy sector.