Vietnam is one of Asia’s five worst polluters of ocean plastic waste, according to international organizations. With 13 million tonnes of waste released to the ocean every year, the country ranks 17th in the world for ocean plastic waste pollution.
Although there are no official statistics on the amount and varieties of plastic in the Vietnamese sea and islands, plastic waste is easy to see in Vietnamese waters, with the country’s 112 estuaries the main gateways of plastic to the ocean. Vietnam News, a state-owned media reports.
Numbers from Vietnam’s Association of Plastic illustrate the scale of the problem. In 1990, each Vietnamese consumed 3.8kg of plastic per year, but 25 years later, the figure hit 41kg.
As many as 1,000 plastic bags are used each minute but only 27 per cent of them are treated and recycled.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) estimated that about 80 tonnes of plastic waste and bags are thrown away every day in Hà Nội and HCM City combined.
On the positive side, Vietnam has taken efforts to manage imported plastic scrap and monitor plastic production and consumption.
Director General of the sea and islands administration, Tạ Đình Thi, said in 2018, Vietnam proposed Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia and launched initiatives to foster global co-operation in plastic waste reduction.
A campaign launched by MONRE last year delivers the message that single actions are not enough to address plastic pollution but a series of actions like plastic recycling, saying no to single plastic use and seeking alternative energy solutions can help.
Nguyễn Thế Tuấn, head of Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, said the first priority was to review legal documents related to plastic waste’s risk management to complete legal framework on Vietnam’s ocean plastic waste combined with environmentally-friendly ocean growth strategy.
As 80 per cent of plastic waste comes from the mainland, management on plastic production and consumption is of importance, according to experts. Vietnam is trying to make changes, starting with changing public behaviour.
Nguyễn Thượng Hiền, head of solid waste management department of MONRE’s Vietnam Environmental Administration said that MONRE aimed to reduce 65 per cent of non-biodegradable plastic bags used at supermarkets and shopping malls by 2020 compare to 2010. By 2026, Vietnam targets zero non-biodegradable plastic bags.
The majority of solid waste in Vietnam is treated by burning or dumped in landfills. However, these methods are said to have low environmental and economic values because landfills cause land pollution while burning emits toxic air.
According to Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Trần Hồng Hà, Vietnam has studied methods to apply technology in making environmentally-friendly materials from waste.
“Technology application to limit landfills and take advantage of values from waste is an urgent task,” he said.
Vietnam has recently succeeded in turning waste to energy or organic carbon – a compound used to improve soil and applied in organic agriculture.
The energy generated from waste has been used for the national grid in HCM City. The organic carbon soil has been certified to have higher nutrition levels than cow and chicken manure, even two times higher than organic bio-fertiliser.
Nguyễn Gia Long, director of Hydraulic Machine Ltd Company and waste-to-energy inventor in Vietnam said the technology could be applied in the community and follows global green energy trend and has low investment in device and equipment and helps cut spending on hiring staff thanks to automation.
New Technology Company employs pyrolysis technology which uses heat to recycle plastic. Because plastic waste treatment and recycle sector plays a big role in environmental protection and renewable energy development, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tai, director of New Technology Company, said the State should grant preferential policies to individuals and organizations to encourage them to invest in solid waste recycling.
Vietnam benchmark rose for the second straight session and ended up 1.2% at its highest level since Dec 17, with real estate and consumer stocks leading the gains.
Vietnam was also chosen to host this month’s summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un.
Meanwhile, most Southeast Asia stock markets closed lower on Tuesday, as South China Sea tensions were seen as casting a shadow on U.S.-China trade talk progress, while Vietnam rallied for the second straight session to its highest level in nearly two months.
Washington and Beijing will commence high-level trade talks this week to negotiate an end to their bitter trade dispute.
Despite positive responses from both sides, the sailing of two U.S. destroyers near the disputed South China Sea, and China’s subsequent anger over the move appeared detrimental to negotiations.
The Indonesian index fell the most in the region, closing 1.1% lower in its worst session this year, weakened by a slump in financial and telecom stocks.
The country’s biggest bank by market value, Bank Central Asia, shed 0.6%, whereas Telekom Indonesia lost 2.8%.
The Philippine benchmark slipped 0.6%, dragged by consumer and industrial stocks. Meanwhile, the country’s trade deficit narrowed in December, as imports tumbled for the first time in a year.
The stock index has outperformed other exchanges in the region so far in 2019, gaining about 7.3%.
“We are mildly concerned about the surprise pullback in capital goods and raw materials. If this continues, this could show that recent aggressive tightening by the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) is starting to bite into investment appetite, hampering the nascent investment-driven growth story that we have witnessed of late,” ING said in a note.
VPBank (The Vietnam Prosperity Bank) was the only private Vietnamese bank named in the list of the world’s 500 most valuable bank brands for 2019, recently announced by Brand Finance.
According to the list of Brand Finance, VPBank ranked 361st on the list. State-owned VietinBank was number 242, up from the 310 in 2018. BIDV came in at number 307, up 44 places, while Vietcombank moved up 43 places to number 325. Topping the annual list was the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China with a congregate value of US$79.8 billion, up 35 per cent from the previous year.
In 2017, VPBank was named the Best Issuing Bank Partner for Women-Owned Businesses in the East Asian Pacific Region by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Over the last few years, Vietnam has become one of the top places for business expansion and investment among international investors and exporters alike for all the right reasons.
Ranked among the fastest emerging markets, Vietnam has one of the highest economic growth rates worldwide, increasing rapidly at an average rate of 7.2% annually. The country is also experiencing amazing industrial production growth. In fact, in the last decade, the average industrial production was approximately 12% per year. All this has contributed to the country’s high GDP growth of about 6.7%.
Other factors that have made many choose Vietnam as a top location for setting up business operations are:
The FDI flow in Vietnam was about US$35 billion, soaring up by 9% from last year.
The good infrastructure is another factor that has made Vietnam appealing for US and international firms to setup their operations here.
How to Expand and Setup Business in Vietnam?
Steps to Get Started
Setting Up Business in VietnamUnlike setting up business in Singapore, starting operations in Vietnam is quite complex for foreign business owners. Vietnamese business set up laws and processes are complicated, making it difficult for international companies to set up operations here. Therefore, it is highly recommended for a local company incorporation firm that is experienced and understands the Vietnamese company setup laws to assist you with the incorporation process.
If you’re an international entrepreneur thinking of setting up business in Vietnam, then here’s a quick overview of the business setup process:
In Vietnam, international business owners are allowed to both, own and operate their firms, either through direct or indirect foreign investment. Indirect investment refers to buying shares in the Vietnamese firms while firms that are either wholly foreign-owned or joint business ventures with local business owners are categorized as direct foreign investments.
Determining Your Business Structure
To set up a business in Vietnam, determine your business structure first. In Vietnam, there are 3 business structures available, which are:
100% foreign owned sole proprietorship
Joint-venture enterprise
Business cooperative owned and controlled by those who use the services
Please note that the Vietnamese government only encourages foreign investments in specific sectors like:
Items that are produced and manufactured for export purposes
Where technology and modern manufacturing methods & techniques are applied
R&D
Raw material processing
Efficient use of natural resources
Construction of establishments for industrial production and infrastructure facilities
Business owners are not allowed to set up operations that may in any way have adverse effects on the Vietnamese:
National security and defense
Historical and cultural preservation
Traditions and customs
Its natural environment
Required Documentation Foreign business owners must provide the following legal documents to establish operations in Vietnam:
Valid ID card or passport
Papers that prove financial solvency
Firm incorporation certificate
Firm charter/articles of association
Audited business financial statements for the past year
Follow Currency Restrictions To move money into Vietnam, it should either be deposited in a Vietnamese based bank account for foreign currency or converted into Dong. Foreign business owners operating in Vietnam must abide by and understand the significant restrictions that govern to the money movement in the country.
It provides values for key performance
indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, claims paid, commissions and
expenses, combined ratio, total assets, total investment income and net earned
premium during the review period (2012-2016) and forecast period (2016-2021).
The report also analyzes distribution
channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the
Vietnamese economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the
competitive landscape in the country.
The report brings together GlobalData’s
research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to
information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of
insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of
insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure.
This report provides in-depth market
analysis, information and insights into the Vietnamese life insurance segment.
Key insights and dynamics of the
Vietnamese life insurance industry. Comparison of Vietnamese life insurance
segment with regional counterparts, along with premium and claim trends.
A comprehensive overview of the
Vietnamese economy, government initiatives, FDI, country risk, and investment
opportunities.
Vietnamese insurance regulatory framework’s
evolution, key facts, taxation regime, licensing and capital requirements. Vietnamese
life insurance industry’s market structure giving details of retail and
commercial lines of business with market shares. Distribution channels deployed
by the Vietnamese life insurers.
Details of the competitive landscape,
M&A and competitors’ profiles. This report provides a comprehensive
analysis of the life insurance segment in Vietnam. It provides historical
values for the Vietnamese life insurance segment for the report’s 2012-2016
review period, and projected figures for the 2016-2021 forecast period.
It offers a detailed analysis of the key
categories in the Vietnamese life insurance segment, and market forecasts to
2021. It provides a comparison of the
Vietnamese life insurance segment with its regional counterparts.
It analyzes the various distribution
channels for life insurance products in Vietnam. It profiles the top life
insurance companies in Vietnam and outlines the key regulations affecting them.
Make strategic business decisions using
in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Vietnamese life
insurance segment, and each category within it. Understand the demand-side
dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Vietnamese life
insurance segment.
Assess the competitive dynamics in the
life insurance segment. Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in
key product categories. Gain insights into key regulations governing the
Vietnamese insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry’s
future.
For most businesses, recruitment proves to be a real challenge. With so many companies out there vying for the same jobseekers, what strategies can a business can implement to establish itself as the organization that everyone is dying to work for?
Hiring managers nowadays are increasingly turning to inbound hiring to automate processes that once ate up their schedules, but this innovation is just the first step in a larger trend toward enhancing your company’s recruiting efforts.
Offering the best salaries and ample opportunity for advancement simply isn’t enough to win the attention of today’s workers. Since people spend a significant percentage of their lives on the job, they want to work somewhere they can be proud of. That’s where employer branding — which focuses on a company’s values and culture — comes into play.
What Is Employer Branding?
In a nutshell, employer branding boils down to whatever you use to portray your company as an attractive place to work. This could be anything from a jobs page with videos of happy employees to a word-of-mouth reputation for great perks. This is how a company earns a reputation — positive or negative — within the job market and greatly affects the interest that jobseekers have in open positions. Employer branding can have far-reaching effects on a business and often begins at the executive level.
When employer branding is weak or non-existent, it naturally becomes more difficult to attract and retain talent. In contrast, great employer doesn’t just make it easier to recruit — it also serves as a balance of the rewards and benefits offered to employees, incentivizing them to operate at peak performance. Companies devoted to strong employer branding must demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of its workers from the start, and should continue working to not only serve customers, but also employees.
How Do You Do It?
Now that you have a clearer understanding of how employer branding can impact recruitment, we expect you’re wondering how you can take action now to ensure that your organization bolsters its own profile on the job market. So let’s delve into some key strategies you can use to do just that.
Offer something special to employees: If you hope to connect to prospective workers, you first need to give your current employees a great work experience. For some companies, this could be a beautiful office space, fun team building events, or impressive perks and benefits. Then, you can show off your great company culture and garner positive PR that will foster the employer brand externally.
Tackle cultural issues head-on: As anyone who has dealt with a tough Glassdoor review knows, lingering problems that threaten your company’s internal culture could eventually hurt your recruiting efforts. Empower your employees with a clear sense of purpose, a reasonable measure of independence within the workplace and the skills they need to thrive. It may be common sense to proclaim that your employees will respect a company that treats them right, but it’s true. If something stands in the way of that, don’t hesitate to take action.
Let employee advocacy take hold: Your employees are the best spokespeople you could hope for when it comes to recruitment. Just imagine the power in a staff that is so empowered and thrilled with their employer that they cannot help but share the positive experience they’re having. What a recruitment tool! Furthermore, reach out to your workforce for guidance in your recruiting efforts. Let them share their stories with you, and it could very well help you determine the best way to attract top talent to your company.
Create your brand: Now that you’ve proven you’re a great company to work for, it’s time to show it off. Create a brand identity and build out a company jobs page that shows off everything great about your company. Include photos, testimonials, and anything else that you think may attract great candidates. That way, every time a candidate applies, they see immediate evidence of your fantastic culture.
Brand New You
Once a company establishes itself as an entity that workers can be proud to call their employer, the results will inevitably follow. Employer branding may take a bit of work up front, but the power of creating a deeper identity for your company is well worth the effort when it comes to attracting new workers.
No matter how you’ve tailored the hiring process to your company, we cannot stress the importance of employer branding enough. By allowing prospective employees to know precisely what your company stands for, you’ll open yourself up to more willing applicants and, even more importantly, will be far more likely to attract the right individuals who match your company’s mission and cultural impact. It’s time to start now.
Moody’s CreditView provides global and regional insights on what trends and risks will shape the year ahead. To help you start the new year well-informed, Moody’s has compiled a selection of key forward-looking cross-sector research.
Highlights include:
Global credit conditions – tightening global liquidity, elevated trade tensions
Emerging markets – stable outlook amid higher rates and political tensions
Global sovereigns – stable outlook balances growth against rising economic uncertainty
Moody’s Corporation, often referred to as Moody’s, is an American business and financial services company. It is the holding company for Moody’s Investors Service (MIS), an American credit rating agency, and Moody’s Analytics (MA), an American provider of financial analysis software and services.
According to wikipedia.org, Moody’s was founded by John Moody in 1909 to produce manuals of statistics related to stocks and bonds and bond ratings. Moody’s was acquired by Dun & Bradstreet in 1962. In 2000, Dun & Bradstreet spun off Moody’s Corporation as a separate company that was listed on the NYSE under MCO. In 2007, Moody’s Corporation was split into two operating divisions, Moody’s Investors Service, the rating agency, and Moody’s Analytics, with all of its other products.
Residents in Mekong Delta provinces in southern Vietnam once again went through an agonizing journey back to Ho Chi Minh City as many routes were seriously overloaded and congested on Sunday, the last day of the Lunar New Year festival.
Public workers in Vietnam were given days off from February 2 to 10 to celebrate the Southeast Asian country’s biggest holiday and were scheduled to resume their work on Monday.
The post-Tet rush was no less appalling for the Mekong Delta residents, who previously also had to go through heavy traffic jams to return to their hometowns from Ho Chi Minh City to be with their families during the long break.
With the nine days of celebration ending on Sunday, it was time they embarked on another tough journey back to the southern metropolis for work.
The Mekong Delta consists of Can Tho City and 12 provinces.
While some decided to come back to the metropolis early in order to avoid traffic jams, the majority still waited until the last festive day to start the journey, and thus were inevitably caught in excruciating congestion en route to Ho Chi Minh City.
According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, gridlock occurred at such hotspots as Rach Mieu Bridge, which connects Ben Tre and Tien Giang Provinces, Dong Tam and Luong Phu Intersections in Tien Giang, and N2 Road in Long An Province.
Commuters, however, considered these locations the “easier parts” of their journeys, as the most severe bottleneck was at My Thuan, a 1.53-kilometer bridge linking Tien Giang and Vinh Long Provinces.
To make matters worse, a 29-seater passenger bus broke down in the middle of the bridge at around 9:30 am on Sunday, resulting in further congestion that lingered well into the afternoon.
Countless vehicles heading to the bridge were unable to move, forming a snarl-up that stretched as much as 40 kilometers. Other alternative routes were also jammed.
“It was horrific. It took me three hours just to travel from Can Tho to the end of My Thuan Bridge, while it normally takes more than an hour,” Nguyen Van Nam, a commuter, complained.
My Thuan Bridge was filled with vehicles as of 6:00 pm. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre
Dang Ngoc Chau, another resident, said he and his family members started leaving Ca Mau Province at 3:30 am.
After six hours, the family only reached Vinh Long Province, about 180 kilometers from Ca Mau, Chau continued, adding that it usually takes four hours to cover the distance.
According to Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Dung, deputy chief of traffic police in Vinh Long, congestion in the province was slightly alleviated as of 5:00 pm on Sunday, as vehicles started to be able to move at a slow pace.
Traffic police units exerted their best efforts to ease the situation but it did not appear to be effective.
As of 9:00 pm the same day, a large number of commuters could still be spotted along the Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City route.
Many motorcyclists decided to take a break at cafés and diners along the roads, while some even considered spending the night at local hotels.
With Valentine’s Day upon us, today may be the day that you find a future Mr. or Mrs. to boost your career.
According to a study published by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, people with supportive spouses are “more likely to give themselves the chance to succeed.”
After studying 163 married couples, psychologists found that subjects with supportive spouses were more likely to take on potentially rewarding challenges. Those who accepted challenges experienced more personal growth, happiness and psychological well-being just a few months later.
“We found support for the idea that the choices people make at these specific decision points, such as pursuing a work opportunity…matter a lot for their long-term well-being,” Brooke Feeney, lead author of the study and professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences , says in a statement.
Many successful people have discussed the importance of having their spouse by their side throughout their career trajectory. Former president Barack Obama attributes his political success to his wife.
“Obviously I couldn’t have done anything that I’ve done without Michelle,” Obama tells Oprah Winfrey in 2011. “You were asking earlier what keeps me sane, what keeps me balanced, what allows me to deal with the pressure. It is this young lady right here… Not only has she been a great first lady, she is just my rock. I count on her in so many ways every single day.”
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted the vital role his wife Priscilla Chan plays in his life in a 2017 Harvard commencement speech. The tech guru says Chan inspired him to volunteer his time and take on social work.
“Priscilla’s the most important person in my life so you can say, it’s the most important thing I built in my time here,” he says in the speech.
Of course, it’s not just women supporting their husbands. In a 2013 interview with Winfrey, Beyoncé says that her husband, rapper and mogul Jay-Z, is extremely supportive and helps her “on so many levels.”
“I would not be the woman I am if I did not go home to that man,” says the Grammy winning artist. “It just gives me such a foundation.”
According to the study, there are three key steps one can take to push their spouse to embrace new work opportunities: Express enthusiasm about an opportunity, reassure your partner and discuss the benefits of taking on a new role or challenge.
“Significant others can help you thrive through embracing life opportunities,” explains Feeney. “Or they can hinder your ability to thrive by making it less likely that you’ll pursue opportunities for growth.”
The real estate market remains strong in 2019 since the economy continues to grow robustly and there is a lot of investment flowing into infrastructure, thus attracting both domestic and foreign investors.
According to real estate and investment management services firm Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL), in 2019 the mid-priced and affordable segment will dominate the market.
In HCM City, the supply of finished apartments in all segments has reached 160,000 units, corresponding to a rate of 17 apartments/1,000 people.
“If this rate is high, we should invest in high-end apartments, but if this is low, we should focus on the mass housing market; this is the segment with real demand for apartments,” Stephen Wyatt, general director of JLL Viet Nam, said.
At the same time flexible workspaces are becoming more and more popular around the country, largely due to the limited supply of traditional office space in sought-after locations.
The market is still in its infancy though the first serviced office, Regus, has been operating since 1999.
Flexible space is often considered the answer to small companies and start-ups’ needs rather than traditional offices because of reduced costs due to sharing space and facilities.
With the strong growth in e-commerce, JLL predicted technology companies would continue to hunt for ideal office buildings and quickly become the main tenant category, providing an opportunity for investors who can build offices in time to keep up with demand.
For technology companies, their office location must be able to attract talent and have convenient transportation with live-work-play facilities integrated into the surrounding environment.
“The logistics industry will grow along with e-commerce,” Wyatt pointed out.
In Viet Nam, online shopping activities are increasing in step with the rapid growth of smartphones and 4G networks.
There is thus increasing pressure on logistics systems, supply chains, distribution and retail channels, and factories and warehouses.
Compared to other countries in its neighbourhood, Viet Nam’s logistics market is still in its infancy.
The final trend, a “hotel” lifestyle, is expected to be popular with millennials, or people born between 1980 and 2000.
People of this generation are unlikely to stay with their parents and prefer to have their own space.
Hanoi and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) remained among the global Top 10 most dynamic growing cities in JLL’s Short-Term City Momentum Index (CMI) 2019, which tracks socio-economic and commercial real estate growth in 131 cities over a three-year period.
Hanoi was ranked third while HCM City was ranked eighth, making Vietnam the strongest performer with two cities ranking the highest in ASEAN, said JLL.
In its report, JLL said that the two cities in Vietnam performed very well for socio-economic momentum, with fast-growing populations and economies.
“HCM City is generally viewed as the more business-friendly destination attracting more overseas investment along with a higher corporate presence, whereas Hanoi has lagged commercially but is a city that is swiftly evolving.”
On the real estate front, Vietnam has “a small real estate investment market struggling with issues such as low transparency and a limited volume of investment grade stock,” JLL added.
However, steps are being taken to improve transparency, such as enhanced access to the land registry, better valuation practices and increasing application of green building certification system, it said.
Two other ASEAN countries also made the top 20 list in JLL’s index. The Philippines was represented by Manila in 12th place and Thailand by Bangkok in 18th place.
According to JLL, the City Momentum Index looks at 20 indicators including recent percentage changes in city GDP, population, air passengers and corporate headquarters presence; projected percentage changes in GDP, population and retail sales; and recent levels of and changes in foreign direct investment, as a proportion of a city’s economy.
Other were recent and projected percentage changes in office net absorption, office rents, retail rents and hotel rooms; international retailer presence; and recent changes in direct commercial real estate investment volumes and real estate transparency.
Poised to become a developed nation by 2020, Vietnam is an open economy with trading flow of US$340 billion. The country’s foreign direct investment (FDI) sector accounts for approximately 22 per cent of its economy. PwC highlights five emerging sectors in the country with the greatest potential for growth and investment.
1. Business process outsourcing (BPO)
Information and communications technology (ICT) is a booming sector in Vietnam. In 2016, its revenue was estimated at US$59.9 billion. Within the ICT sector, business process outsourcing (BPO) is an industry that is poised for growth due to the country’s growing pool of skilled talent.
Tips on getting started
Set up, partner or acquire
Take advantage of government incentives available. For example, a preferential 10 per cent corporate income tax rate for 15 years is available for new investment projects which regularly employ more than 1,000 employees, and perform certain IT activities (including service of BPO). Partnering or acquiring local operations hungry for growth is another possibility.
Extend business services to support manufacturing activities
Vietnam is an emerging regional manufacturing hub and is ranked second in Asean in the sector, notably electronics. Major electronic groups the likes of Samsung, Intel, Panasonic and Microsoft are located there – an opportunity for companies in Vietnam to raise the value of their manufacturing operations to support services such as IT, logistics and e-commerce.
Potential hubs for BPO
Da Nang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are ideal locations for BPO operations. All three cities also offer special high-tech parks: Cau Giay Concentrated IT Park (Hanoi), Quang Trung Software City (Ho Chi Minh City) and Da Nang Hi-Tech Park (Da Nang). These parks house technology infrastructure (e.g. fibre optic internet), human resource training centres and many software and IT firms.
2. Solar and wind energy
Vietnam’s major sources of electricity generation are coal, hydropower and gas turbines. But there are issues in sustaining these sources, and the government plans to nearly triple renewable energy’s share of total electricity production by 2030. The country has favourable geography and climate to harness solar and wind energy.
67 per cent of land suitable (220,000 sq km) for solar photovoltaic system
Several coastal and mountainous regions for wind turbines
2,000 to 2,500 hours of sunshine annually – one of the highest in the world
5.5ms to 7.3ms average wind speed per year, suitable for modern wind turbines
Tips on getting started: Choose an appropriate investment method
Foreign investors may choose to either set up a 100 per cent foreign-invested company, enter into a joint venture, or a public private partnership in the form of build-operate-transfer projects (BOT). While BOT is most common in this sector, renewable energies may require a different approach due to the highly technical capabilities needed. Partnering with local players is an effective way for foreign companies to penetrate this industry by offering technology, expertise and capital.
Location
Vietnam’s southern region is suitable for solar projects due to its higher solar irradiation levels and relatively flat terrain. The coastal areas in the south central region and the mountainous regions of central Vietnam see higher average wind speeds – a more feasible option for wind projects.
3. Luxury hotels
Vietnam’s tourism revenue reached US$9.3 billion in 2016 and is forecast to double by 2027. Within tourism, the upscale and luxury hotel industry – those rated four stars and above – are relatively untapped and have the greatest potential for investment.
Tips on getting started: Joint ventures and partnerships
The high-end hotel market is mainly dominated by international brands, such as InterContinental Group and AccorHotels. Joint ventures with local developers are the typical mode of entry for foreign investors. Under such agreements, the local firms employ an international operator (e.g. Hilton Group) to manage their assets and land banks.
Tourist hotspots
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the main hotel markets as they see the highest number of tourist arrivals. There is plenty of capacity for more – both cities have lower numbers of new hotel rooms compared to neighbouring Bali, Jakarta and Manila despite seeing comparable tourist arrival numbers last year.
4. Modern agribusiness and food
Although Vietnam’s stature as a global agricultural exporter has increased, the quality of the sector’s growth in terms of productivity and value add overall remains low. Agriculture accounts for 20 per cent of exports – a large agriculture base with modernisation potential.
Tips on getting started:
Bridge the gaps
The current gaps in Vietnam’s agribusiness industry – low yield, labour intensiveness and reliance on relatively inefficient, traditional techniques represent opportunities for companies to capture the market by introducing inputs or processes that can facilitate efficient agriculture.
Forge partnerships
Partnering with local companies is another way to make headway into the market by bringing expertise and new technology to the table.
Introduce higher value added products into the market
There are opportunities in the sector for the production and distribution of premium agriculture and food products. Japanese company Kushima AoiFarm has begun production of Japanese sweet potatoes in Vietnam. With the aid of production technology from Japan, the first-year output is projected to be 1,250 tons.
5. Retail banking
Vietnam’s banking and financial services sector is relatively undeveloped but boasts potential. Within this sector, there is room for growth in retail banking, in particular payment cards and wealth management services. With a mobile penetration rate of 49 per cent in 2016, the country has a good base to make the transition to a cashless society.
Tips on getting started:Invest in domestic retail banks
The government is increasing the limits of foreign ownership in Vietnamese banks. Additionally, consumer finance also provides good opportunities, having been the fastest growing sector over the last few years.
Supply and develop IT systems to support e-payments and digital banking
Banks will need to invest more in their IT systems to support the growth of e-payment as their IT infrastructures are not expanding as fast as the e-payment market.
Invest in FinTech
Foreign investors have been investing in Vietnam’s FinTech companies as they are positioned to capitalise on digital payment growth. In 2016, the sector raised a total of US$129 million, accounting for 63 per cent of all start-up deals in the country.
Formula 1 chief Chase Carey says its involvement with the new Vietnam Grand Prix is no different to how it deals with other races but does point to key benefits the sport can gain from being part of the project “from day one”.
Last November, F1 announced a new Vietnam Grand Prix would join the race calendar in 2020, marking Liberty Media’s first new race since taking control of the sport two years ago.
Hanoi is set to host a city street race, marking the sport’s first-ever event in the country, with F1 taking direct contribution into the formulation of the project ahead of its April 2020 debut.
Last month promoters from 16 current races sent a joint message through the Formula 1 Promoters Association to Liberty Media to raise concerns about the sport and the direction it was heading.
F1’s chief executive Carey has played down those concerns and wants F1 to give every race equal treatment.
“We are working with all of them so I don’t think we’d end up saying we are dealing with that [Vietnam] any differently to how we’re dealing with other races,” Carey said in a Sky Sports interview. “We have to take ownership of all 21 races we have.
“Certainly being involved with Vietnam from day one enabled us to engage in a way that we hadn’t had the opportunity [before], on laying out the track and creating the race and event. It is a city race so that always has more dynamics, in terms of what a track is going to look like.
“When you have a track that’s already built a fair amount of the race is pre-determined. When you are putting it in a city you are creating a lot of it from scratch and from what exists.
“It did enable us to be more deeply involved in creating a race that we think will be a great race for fans in a place that will be a great experience for fans, the spectacle beyond the race, in a place that we think will capture their imagination. I don’t think it’s a completely different animal.”
Carey also revealed it is F1’s ultimate plan to have the same level of involvement with every Grand Prix promoter, including making sweeping changes, in order to improve the show element of the sport.
“Our goal is to work with every race that we have to make sure that whether it’s the race itself or the experience around the race, or the engagement with our partner, maximises the opportunity,” he said.
“Realistically, we’re working with all the races we have to make sure the races are everything they can be. Every time somebody says this track isn’t great for passing, my reaction is that we ought to make it good for passing. And if there’s an issue we ought to try and fix it.”
It’ll come with an updated version of Samsung’s new “One UI” interface over Android.
It’ll be surprising if the Galaxy S10 doesn’t come with the latest version of Android, Android 9.0 Pie. Bloomberg’s report, as well as Evan Blass’ claims, suggest that it will come with the latest version of Android.
Samsung’s phones usually sport a tweaked version of Android, with a slightly modified interface. That interface used to be called “TouchWiz,” but it has been called “Experience” for the past few years. Most recently, Samsung unveiled its new “One UI” interface that should feature in the Galaxy S10, considering Samsung will roll it out to the current Galaxy S9 and Note 9 lineup. Blass suggested the Galaxy S10 will roll out with the One UI.
Samsung’s upcoming One UI is designed to make one-handed use easier on the company’s larger phones, like the Galaxy Note series. It’ll also come with a Night Mode that turns the overall theme of the Android operating system and One UI to black, which should make it more comfortable to use in the dark.
Check out the latest leaks and rumors about the Galaxy S10:
There will be four models of the Galaxy S10, including the Galaxy S10 “E,” regular Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10 Plus, and a Galaxy S10 “X”
Samsung is supposedly planning to offer four variants of the Galaxy S10:
The Galaxy S10 “E” is said to be the less expensive model of the Galaxy S10 lineup, much like the iPhone XR is the less expensive version of the iPhone XS.
The Galaxy S10 will be the standard model.
The Galaxy S10 Plus will be similar to the standard Galaxy S10, but with a larger display, a few extra features, and potentially more spec options.
The Galaxy S10 “X” is apparently an ultra-high performance, everything-and-the-kitchen-sink type of phone that will have various extra features over the standard and “E” models.
Design
The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus, supposedly.
Galaxy S10 E: Thicker bezels than the rest of the lineup, much like the iPhone XR and its thicker bezels compared to the iPhone XS lineup. Several color options might be available, one of which appears to be a yellow option, as per the latest rumor.
Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, and S10 X: Bezels will be thinner than any previous Galaxy S device. Will be available in a pearly white or black.
Display
Galaxy S10 E: A 5.8-inch display that’s potentially flat with Samsung’s Infinity O punch-hole for the camera.
Galaxy S10: A 6.1-inch display with curved edges and Samsung’s Infinity O punch-hole.
Galaxy S10 Plus: A 6.4-inch display with curved edges and Samsung’s Infinity O dual punch-hole.
Galaxy S10 X: A 6.7-inch display with curved edges and with Samsung’s Infinity O dual punch-hole.
Cameras
Galaxy S10 E: A dual-lens system, with one likely for regular photos, and the other for zoomed shots. Single selfie camera.
Galaxy S10: A triple-lens system, with one likely for regular photos, the other for zoomed shots, and another for ultra-wide angle shots. Single selfie camera.
Galaxy S10 Plus: A triple-lens system, with one likely for regular photos, the other for zoomed shots, and another for ultra-wide angle shots. Dual-lens selfie camera, with one for normal selfies and the other for ultra-wide angle selfies.
Galaxy S10 X: A four-lens camera system, with one likely for regular photos, the other for zoomed shots, and another for ultra-wide-angle shots. (It’s unclear what the fourth lens could be used for. It’s pure speculation, but the fourth lens could be purely complimentary for portrait mode enhancements.) Dual-lens selfie camera, with one for normal selfies and the other for ultra-wide angle selfies.
Performance specs
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 from current-generation premium Android smartphones.
All Galaxy S10 variants are said and expected to come with the latest chip from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 855.
Galaxy S10 E: 128 GB of storage, 6 GB of RAM
Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus: 128 GB storage, 6 GB RAM and 512 GB storage, 8 GB RAM options.
Galaxy S10 X: 1 TB (1,000 GB) storage, 10 GB or 12 GB RAM. Potentially available on S10 Plus, too.
WiFi 6
Galaxy S10 dummies that are accurate enough for YouTuber MKBHD.
If the latest batch of rumors are to be believed, Samsung’s Galaxy S10 smartphone will come with “WiFi 6” support.
WiFi 6 will offer some general upgrades over the current AC WiFi standard. You can check out all the benefits of WiFi 6 here.
5G, the next generation after LTE
Only the Galaxy S10 X is said to come with 5G so far.
5G is a new wireless standard that promises extremely fast data speeds and potentially less congestion than today’s 4G LTE standard. That means 5G data speeds could still be fast even during times of peak data traffic.
So far, however, 5G availability is extremely limited and hasn’t been fully deployed by most carriers. If a 5G model is released, it’ll only fulfill its potential in a few cities where 5G is starting to roll out.
In-display fingerprint sensors
From the leaks and rumors, it appears as though all the Galaxy S10 variants will be getting in-display fingerprint sensors. There’s no sign of traditional physical fingerprint sensors on either the front or backs of Galaxy S10 devices, based on supposed photo leaks.
It’s said that Samsung’s in-display fingerprint sensor uses ultrasonic technology rather than the optical technology that the OnePlus 6T uses. Apparently, ultrasonic fingerprint sensors offer better reliability and accuracy.
3D facial recognition similar to Face ID on recent iPhones
Apple’s iPhone X devices use its special “True Depth” camera system to scan a user’s face and securely log them in.
A face scanner for unlocking the phone will be included in the Galaxy S10, potentially creating an opportunity for augmented-reality stickers, The Investor reported, citing Samsung’s partnership with Mantis Vision, a company that develops 3D-sensing camera technology.
Previous Galaxy S phones have featured iris and facial recognition technology, but they’re not as accurate or fast as Apple’s Face ID system. A better facial-recognition system on the Galaxy S10 would be a welcome upgrade.
Headphone jack?
This rumor flips and flops. Some say the Galaxy S10 won’t come with a headphone jack, others say it will. The latest rumor is suggesting that Samsung will keep the headphone jack.
A faster charging brick than most other smartphones
Most high-end Android devices come with fast charging bricks, and they mostly perform the same way across the board. For Android devices, fast charging has become the norm.
However, Samsung may be giving the Galaxy S10 a new fast charging brick that could charge the phone even faster. At least, that’s what a tweet from gadgets leaker @IceUniverse suggests — supposedly, Samsung’s standard 15W charging brick will “become history.” We’ll assume that the 15W charging brick will make way for a charging brick with even higher capacity, rather than going backwards to slower chargers.
Faster charging is certainly a worthwhile feature. Currently, the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition uses a 30W charging brick, which charges the phone at an incredibly quick rate. Other phones that charge at regular fast charging speeds seem slow after using the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition, and the extra time it takes to charge other phones is surprisingly noticeable.
It could even charge other devices wireless, just like Huawei’s latest smartphone
This is the Pixel 3 XL being wirelessly charged by the Huawei Mate 20 Pro underneath.
Samsung’s Galaxy S10 smartphones could have reverse wireless charging, according to XDA-Developers, citing an FCC filing of upcoming Samsung devices. On the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, reverse wireless charging lets you place another smartphone or device with wireless charging support to its back to charge wirelessly.
Reverse wireless charging on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is pretty slow, but it’s said to be faster on the Galaxy S10.
It’ll come with an updated version of Samsung’s new “One UI” interface over Android.
It’ll be surprising if the Galaxy S10 doesn’t come with the latest version of Android, Android 9.0 Pie. Bloomberg’s report, as well as Evan Blass’ claims, suggest that it will come with the latest version of Android.
Samsung’s phones usually sport a tweaked version of Android, with a slightly modified interface. That interface used to be called “TouchWiz,” but it has been called “Experience” for the past few years. Most recently, Samsung unveiled its new “One UI” interface that should feature in the Galaxy S10, considering Samsung will roll it out to the current Galaxy S9 and Note 9 lineup. Blass suggested the Galaxy S10 will roll out with the One UI.
Samsung’s upcoming One UI is designed to make one-handed use easier on the company’s larger phones, like the Galaxy Note series. It’ll also come with a Night Mode that turns the overall theme of the Android operating system and One UI to black, which should make it more comfortable to use in the dark.
Pricing
The current pricing rumors come from Gizmodo UK priced in GPB, which we’ve translated into potential USD pricing:
Galaxy S10 E:£669/$850
Galaxy S10:£799/$1,000
Galaxy S10 Plus:£899/$1,200
Galaxy S10 X: Unknow, but likely to be pretty high!
First it was a heart-wrenching tweet that he and his wife were getting a divorce after 25 years. Then a tabloid revealed that he’d been having an affair, releasing texts and photos of him and his mistress.
As if either of those weren’t distracting enough, now Jeff Bezos — the world’s richest man and CEO of Amazon — is accusing The National Enquirer in a blog post of trying to blackmail him by threatening to release more intimate photos of him unless he calls off an investigation into how that information was obtained in the first place.
But despite the all-consuming personal drama, analysts and experts don’t expect it to make much difference to Amazon itself, the company Bezos has steered from an online bookstore two decades ago to a worldwide juggernaut.
Amazon officially set foot in Vietnam market (VN), opening up great business opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to sell around the world.
On January 14, 2019, the Trade Promotion Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) signed a cooperation agreement with Amazon Global Selling. Director of the Trade Promotion Department, Mr. Vu Ba Phu said that the two sides agreed to coordinate the implementation of the main contents such as supporting Vietnamese enterprises; which prioritizes small and medium enterprises, access to the world market with Amazon.com; brand development of Vietnamese businesses and goods in the e-commerce environment of Amazon.com; training program for Vietnamese small and medium enterprises on e-commerce to promote trade, export goods and learn global sales skills on Amazon.com.
Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, estimates the impact on the company to be “0.000 percent.”
“I’m certain investors won’t care,” he said.
Others point out that Bezos has been able to balance his responsibilities at the helm of the world’s largest online retailer while also juggling his other pursuits: running a space exploration company and owning the Washington Post, one of the nation’s most influential newspapers.
“He’s extraordinarily driven,” says Chris McCabe, who used to work at Amazon and now runs ecommerceChris, a consultancy for Amazon sellers. “He knows how to delegate.”
Amazon has a steady line of longtime executives who are running each of its businesses, likely keeping investors calm.
Jeffrey Wilke, oversees the retail business, and Andrew Jassy runs the company’s fast-growing cloud computing business Amazon Web Services. Both of them have been at the company since the 1990s. And unlike other CEOs, Bezos doesn’t speak at conference calls with analysts and investors after the company releases its financial reports, leaving that to Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky, who has been at the company since 2002.
Still, that hasn’t stopped the Enquirer from casting doubts over whether Bezos can effectively oversee his company.
“All of these (text) messages raise serious questions about Bezos’ judgment as the CEO of the most valuable company in the world,” the tabloid said in a Jan. 24 article.
Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc. declined to comment on Bezos. The company’s stock did not take a big hit, slipping 1.6 percent at Friday’s close.
Meanwhile, the Enquirer’s publisher, American Media Inc., is disputing Bezos’ claims that it used extortion and blackmail in reporting its story, saying that it “acted lawfully.”
In his blog post Thursday, Bezos defended his ability to lead Amazon: “I founded Amazon in my garage 24 years ago, and drove all the packages to the post office myself. Today, Amazon employs more than 600,000 people, just finished its most profitable year ever, even while investing heavily in new initiatives, and it’s usually somewhere between the #1 and #5 most valuable company in the world. I will let those results speak for themselves.”
He also said he wants to focus on work, noting that the person he hired to handle the investigation into how his texts were leaked to the Enquirer will also be tasked with “protecting” his time.
“I have other things I prefer to work on,” Bezos wrote.
Bezos’ indiscretions are seen more as a personal matter rather than one to do with the company, unlike Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk, for example, whose behavior has caused the electric automaker’s stock to rise and fall. Musk was recently stripped of his chairman title and forced to pay a $20 million penalty to the Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly duping investors with tweets about a plan to take the company private.
“This is very much a matter of Jeff Bezos,” says Neil Saunders, the managing director at GlobalData Retail, of Bezos’ affair. “It’s not really anything to do with running with the company.”
David Larcker, a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, says it’s up to shareholders and the board of directors to decide just how engaged a CEO is in their work, and whether they should go. Bezos is both chairman of the board and the largest shareholder, owning a 16 percent stake in the company.
Amazon’s shoppers, meanwhile, are not likely to take notice.
“I think as long as people can get their Nespresso pods within 48 hours, they don’t care,” says Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at NYU Stern School of Business.
