Day: February 19, 2024

HCM City: Ho Chi Minh City delivered assistance worth nearly 1.3 trillion VND (53 million USD) to over 1.41 million people on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, its Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs reported.

Funding for the assistance comprised more than 12.7 billion VND from the central budget and 915.1 billion VND from the municipal budget and private sources.

Director of the department Le Van Thinh said that HCM City ensured a merry Tet for all, especially low-income earners, social policy beneficiaries, and those with disadvantages. They included more than 561,000 revolution contributors, people entitled to social protection, poor people, and children with disadvantaged backgrounds, along with over 138,000 civil servants and public employees.

Leaders of the city also visited and presented Tet gifts to 120 outstanding secretaries of local Party cells, 18 units, specific associations, and clubs of pensioners and war veterans, and 37 educational establishments for children
with disabilities.

District-level localities spent nearly 40 billion VND sourced from their budgets to present Tet gifts to nearly 45,000 revolution contributors, beneficiaries of social protection, poor people, less privileged children, and others with disadvantages. More than 667,000 gift packages worth over 326.7 billion VND funded by private sources were also handed over to people of target groups on this occasion.

Besides, municipal authorities also paid Tet visits to social protection facilities, drug detoxification centres, educational institutions for disabled children, and specific associations in some other localities like Lam Dong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai provinces./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Ban Chan Song La is not lonely. The media is still sitting down and waiting to make news.

After Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra received a suspended sentence The atmosphere at the house in the Charansanitwong area is still lively today. A lot of mass media Still settled in front of Chan Song La’s house. Waiting to make news Meanwhile Police Colonel Akarapol Chakkphet, Superintendent of Bang Phlat Police Station, traveled to the area in front of Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra’s house, asking for cooperation from the media. Keep it in the same direction. in order not to obstruct traffic

Source: Thai News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnam will investigate and evaluate biodiversity, aquatic resources, and the habitat of aquatic species in Vietnam’s waters, including deep sea areas, shallow waters, and underground water areas, under the national programme on protecting and developing aquatic resources until 2030 approved recently by the Prime Minister.

The programme requires that 100% of natural lakes, large reservoirs, and main river systems are investigated and assessed for resources and habitat of aquatic species.

Aquatic resource reserves are expected to increase by over 5% compared to the results of the investigation and assessment of aquatic resources in the 2016-2020 period.

Meanwhile, 100% of marine protected areas and artificial habitat areas for marine aquatic species will be managed and operated in line with provisions of the Law on Fisheries; and 60% of localities nationwide will implement co-management in protecting aquatic resources in association with building new-style rural areas and developing eco-tourism.

In
recent years, Vietnam’s aquaculture area and output have increased rapidly, creating good products serving domestic consumption and export as well. The aquaculture industry has contributed to increasing income and creating many jobs for farmers.

Statistics show that Vietnam produced nearly 9.27 million tonnes of aquatic products in 2023, and the country’s aquatic export earnings hit an estimated 9.2 billion USD in the year.

Aquaculture, including about 1.3 million ha of inland ponds and 9.5 million cubic metres of offshore cage farming, has a total output of more than 5.4 million tonnes.

However, aquaculture remains scattered, making it difficult to control the environment and diseases. Additionally, farming infrastructure in some places is still not inconsistent, failing to meet development demand.

With practical solutions, the programme aims to conserve, protect, use and regenerate aquatic resources and ecosystems reasonably and effectively.

Attention will be paid to enhancing legal regulations on mana
gement, protection and development of aquatic resources; completing and applying policies on changing and diversifying livelihoods for communities living in and around marine protected areas, and fishing communities in coastal areas.

Mechanisms and policies to mobilise and effectively use domestic and foreign resources in conserving, protecting, regenerating, and developing aquatic resources, and restoring aquatic ecosystems will be developed and issued.

The programme also underlines the necessity to support the implementation of co-management in protecting aquatic resources; enhance coordination mechanisms among authorised agencies to effectively inspect, control, detect and handle violations of the Law on Fisheries at sea and inshore areas; and attract international resources and cooperation in sharing experiences and training and developing high-quality human resources to serve the work./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

BANGKOK, The Department of Internal Trade has approved price increases for six producers of milk and dairy products.

These changes are set to take effect within 1-2 weeks, following the depletion of old stock.

The price hike affects six brands of popular fresh milk, including UHT milk, pasteurized milk, sterilized milk, and bottled milk in sizes ranging from 180-225 milliliters, with an average increase of 0.50 baht per bottle or carton.

Meanwhile, 1-liter fresh milk is adjusted upward by an average of 2.50 baht per carton or bottle.

This adjustment follows the announcement by the Milk Board to increase the price of raw milk from 20.50 baht per kilogram to 22.75 baht per kilogram, an increase of 2.25 baht per kilogram, to assist farmers, which consequently raises production costs for ready-to-drink. milk producers.

However, retail milk products will continue to be sold at their current prices due to existing inventory, with expectations of new prices being implemented within 1-2 weeks.

Meanwhile, the r
emaining 2-3 producers are still under consideration by the Department of Internal Trade. Once all necessary information is gathered, adjustments to prices according to production costs may be permitted.

Source: Thai News Agency

Kien Giang: Vietnam’s pearl island – Phu Quoc off the coast of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has recorded a surge in the number of visitors since late last year following a brewing tourism crisis.

Local streets, beaches, restaurants and entertainment zones were packed with tourists, both Vietnamese and foreigners, for Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.

The island hosted nearly 192,000 holiday-makers during Tet, including 51,929 foreigners, up 4.6% year-on-year.

An array of tourism products has been on the offer such as ‘Kiss the star’ show, Kiss Bridge and Fest Bazaar, attracting a huge crowd of visitors.

Truong Xuan Linh, a tour guide from Viet Phu travel company, said that the number of visitors to Phu Quoc increased dramatically in the runup to Tet, especially those from China, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand and the US who spend their vacation at beach resorts along Khem and Sao beaches, and explore local culture.

The provincial Department of Tourism reported average room occ
upancy at four- and five-star hotels was 60% during the Tet holiday which ran from February 8 to 14, while the rates event increased to a high of 90% in several lodging facilities.

Hotel booking volumes are expected to rise after Tet – the time when Phu Quoc has mild climate and calm waters.

Director of the provincial Centre for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Quan Xuan Lua said that Phu Quoc welcomes more than 2,000 foreigners every day, much higher than the figure recorded in Quarter 3 of 2023.

There is a daily flight from Kazakhstan to Phu Quoc until March, while several airlines of the Republic of Korea are operating or have reopened flights to the pearl island such as Korean Air, Jeju Air and Jin Air, she added.

Travel firms have attributed the bright spot in Phu Quoc tourism to local authority’s resolve to crack down on price gouging and improve tourism services.

According to Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phu Quoc city Huynh Quang Hung, apart from joining hands with enterprises and
local residents to roll out heavy tourism promotion programmes to popularise Phu Quoc as a friendly destination among visitors, the city’s authority has kept a close watch on the business of restaurants and service providers, and meted out punishment on any violations on price overcharging.

With a view to adding lustre to Phu Quoc island, the local tourism sector will continue working to creating new offerings, carry out tourism stimulus programmes, and ask service providers to fully list their prices, a representative from the Department of Tourism said.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Luu Trung has ordered the tourism sector to work closely with the Phu Quoc city People’s Committee to study the development of new tourism products, and enhance state management in the industry.

Additionally, in a bid for the tourism sector to carve out breakthroughs in 2024, he requested them to complete the project to branch out Phu Quoc city into a high-quality resort tourism centre and a nation
al and international sea tourism destination as approved by the Prime Minister./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Bangkok, OR joins hands with Suki Holdings, one of the largest and fastest growing drugstore network leaders and nanotechnology platform leaders in Japan. Move forward with the Health and Beauty business to strengthen the lifestyle. and expand the portfolio into businesses beyond oil. and expanding the customer base to groups that care about health and beauty Aiming to open the first branch in mid-2024.

Mr. Disthat Panyarachun, Chief Executive Officer of PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited or OR, and Mr. Katsunori Sugiura, representative of the Executive Chairman and Representative Director and President Sugi Holdings, one of the largest and fastest growing drugstore network leaders and leaders in nanotechnology platforms in Japan. Participated in signing a cooperation agreement to be a business partner in Tokyo, Japan. To study health and beauty market opportunities in Thailand Ready to select products of good quality, good value and unique characteristics to meet the needs of Thai consumers
today.

The health and beauty market in Thailand is the second largest industry in Southeast Asia. With a value of over 350 billion baht in 2022, along with health and beauty trends are becoming popular for today’s consumers. with consumers turning to take care of themselves more This is an important opportunity for OR to invest in this business in order to create a New S-Curve and expand its portfolio into businesses beyond oil. And expanding the customer base to those who care about health and beauty, OR has collaborated with potential business partners from Japan, Korea and Thailand to launch a new retail format (New Retail) by opening up a shopping experience that More comfortable Both in offline and online formats To present health and beauty products that are novel. Satisfying consumers and has a good price

Cooperation with Suki Holdings from Japan this time. It is considered an important starting point in OR’s journey towards becoming a leader in the health and beauty retail market. Suki Holding will
offer health and beauty products. as well as supporting Japanese knowledge and technology, while OR has strengths in business networks throughout the country. along with the Blue Plus loyalty program to strengthen growth in the Thai health and beauty retail market. OR and Suki Holdings have a business strategy and determination to deliver an experience that Good for Thai customers together Ready to plan to introduce new products from Japan. To the Thai consumer market within 2024.

Sugi Holdings is a company that operates with many subsidiaries such as Sugi Pharmacy, which has more than 1,500 stores throughout Japan, and Sugi Medical. Medical) that provides medical care services, etc., by Suki Holdings has a wide selection of health and beauty products, high quality and exotic for the Thai market. With the concept of being customer-centered with a vision of health services tailored to each individual consumer In addition, nanotechnology has been applied to increase product efficiency. This is considered an im
portant opportunity to make a difference and provide a new choice for consumers.

In addition, OR continues to seek business opportunities in the health and beauty sector. and continues to develop cooperation with potential partners With the intention of delivering quality health and beauty products to consumers. As well as continuing to strengthen the Lifestyle business.

Source: Thai News Agency

Hanoi: Millions of trees are expected to be planted across the country as part of the post-Lunar New Year tree planting festival, contributing significantly to the project of planting one billion trees by 2025.

During the Tet holiday (Lunar New Year) 2024, localities in central Quang Tri province launched a campaign to plant tens of thousands of trees.

In 2024, the province plans to grow 8,000-10,000 hectares of new production forest.

Over the past three years from 2021 to 2023, the province has planted millions of trees along roads, landfills and barren hills in areas with wind power projects in the mountainous district of Huong Hoa.

The prioritisation of tree planting at wind power projects aims to increase coverage and stabilise the ecological environment in areas affected by the construction of wind power projects, contributing to mitigating damage caused by natural disasters.

From 2021 to 2025, the province aims to plant 15 million trees.

Of which, 10.7 million trees will be planted in urban and ru
ral areas, while the remaining 4.3 million trees will be grown in protective forests, special-use forests and production forests to contribute to environmental protection, climate change adaptation and socio-economic development.

Vice chairman of the Quang Tri provincial People’s Committee Ha Sy Dong said that in implementing the Government’s project of planting one billion trees, the province has rolled out many solutions including enhancing awareness about forest management, protection and development, prioritising suitable tree species, applying advanced techniques in forest planting, and mobilising resources.

In neighbouring Thua Thien – Hue province, the locality strives to plant at least seven million trees, of which, 4.7 million trees will be planted in urban and rural areas, and 2.3 million trees will be planted in protective forests and large-scale timber production forests.

In three years from 2021 to 2023, the province has planted over five million trees.

In 2024, the province plans to grow 1.4
million trees, and in 2025, 1.3 million trees.

Millions of trees have also been planted in many other provinces and cities: 61 million trees in Lao Cai, 52 million trees in Phu Tho, 45 million trees in Long An, 37 million trees in Gia Lai, and 34 million trees in Nghe An.

Ministries, agencies, businesses and individuals have also actively participated in the tree planting movement.

According to the Forestry Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, nearly 770 million trees have been planted nationwide in 2021-23 period, reaching 121% of the plan.

The total funding for implementing the project over the past three years reaches nearly 9.5 trillion VND (387.5 million USD). Of which, State budget funds account for 23.8%, and the remainder comes from other sources.

About 492 million trees will be planted in 2024-25 to reach the goal of planting one billion trees by 2025.

However, implementing the project also faces some difficulties due to the increasingly limited land fund for affo
restation, which is often transferred to other uses for socio-economic development, as reported by the Forestry Department.

Conditions for afforestation, especially for planting protective and special-use forests, are becoming more challenging, particularly in areas with high and steep terrain prone to erosion.

Land allocation for coastal forest development has also become increasingly difficult.

Management, maintenance and development of urban green spaces have not been adequately addressed. The current urban green space area only accounts for about 1.2%, much lower than urban planning standards.

The development of greenery in some localities still lacks specific planning.

According to the Forestry Department, there is still no specific guidance on the use of budgetary resources to support decentralised afforestation, implementation procedures, or the required documentation for support requests.

The main source of seedlings is individual suppliers, or they are bought on the market, making it difficult
to control their origin and quality.

Dr. Ngo Van Hong from the Vietnam Afforestation and Reforestation Society Co Ltd said there needs to be close coordination among local authorities, forest rangers and forest owners to address the difficulties related to land issues, forest planting plan, tree species selection, acceptance, and forest management after planting.

This is a highly complex and costly process, and mistakes at any stage can affect the quality of the planted forest, even violating land and forestry laws.

In addition, policies should encourage people to plant and restore forests with native species to ensure long-term income for local residents while enhancing the forest’s resilience.

Transforming short-term planted forests into forests planted with native species for restoration purposes should be eligible for payment for forest environmental services.

Hong said that the carbon emission reduction programme and carbon credit exchange need to be concretised through specific indices or data, as
well as the exchange and trading process of carbon credits, to form a more specific and transparent system.

The establishment of regulations under which business entities are required to accumulate carbon credits and the possibility of exchanging carbon credits must be done, not necessarily through state agencies, but could be carried out through non-state organisations.

At the recent workshop on the three-year review of the project on planting one billion trees in 2021-25 held in Quang Tri province, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Quoc Tri proposed a comprehensive assessment of the project’s implementation results.

Tree planting should continue according to the approved plan; communication efforts should be made to ensure public understanding of the benefits and encourage participation in tree planting activities; and flexibility and proactivity are required in the implementation of tree planting activities.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also urged the Fore
stry Department and other relevant units to promptly apply the recommendations of local authorities.

The tree planting festival in the Lunar New Year of 2023 saw the nation prepare 170 million seedlings for planting thousands of hectares of forests and millions of scattered trees./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Bangkok, Economic and Business Forecast Center The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce assesses that the Thai economy in 2024 is in a downward spiral. Can be seen from the government sector who sets economic policy has lowered its forecast for the Thai economy this year to below 3 percent, but it is still not at a bad level. It is believed that the government will quickly find additional measures. Ready to analyze the export direction in 2024, there are positive factors, especially the economy. and world trade that tends to expand better will push Thai exports to grow at 2.5 percent.

Mr. Thanawat Phonwichai, President of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Advisory Chairman of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting revealed that in mid-March, the Center is preparing to revise the median estimate of the Thai economy this year again. At this time, it is still maintained at 3 percent. This is due to the main supporting factor in the export sector that will grow at 100 percen
t. 2-3 and travel Expect 35-38 million tourists because of the Thai economy. in the downtrend Can be seen from the government sector who sets economic policy has lowered its forecast for the Thai economy this year. Below 3 percent, but not yet bad. This does not include economic stimulus measures from digital wallets. Because exports are seen to shrink from the original forecast, it is therefore necessary for the government to accelerate this year’s economic growth to exceed 3 percent, so that it does not have to rely on measures. Digital Wallet

In particular, the expansion of policies to stimulate tourism continues. Promote exports to be more prominent Promote local government organizations Accelerate investment in infrastructure Including pushing state enterprises Invest in projects that use domestic raw materials To keep money circulating in the economy While waiting for the spending of budget funds, the latest developments Digital Wallet Measures It will be delayed for another 30 days, expected to start
in June. From the month of May It will have less effect on economic expansion as well.

In addition, the Center has set the framework for export figures in 2024 to be at 2-3% or a total export value of 290,562 – 293,099 million US dollars. From supporting factors including the trend of the global economy growing, the IMF recently raised its global GDP forecast to 3.1 percent from the previous 2.9 percent, as well as world international trade. It is likely to expand by 3.3 percent, similar to the value of the baht in the first half of the year. There is still a tendency to depreciate. It has a positive effect on the competition. The exchange rate as of February 15, 2024 is expected to average at 36 baht per US dollar. Meanwhile, world inflation has decreased. This will cause interest rates to fall. It is expected that many countries will reduce their policy interest rates. Make the world economy grow well and Thai exports to different countries Returning to expand better, including ASEAN, Japan, the European U
nion, including the United States with an export share of 17.1 percent. Exports are still expanding, and the Chinese market, although the economy has not yet recovered well, it is expected that Thailand will export to China to expand. Better than last year But there are still risk factors that need to be monitored from the lingering events in the Red Sea. As a result, freight costs will increase. The Chinese economy has not yet recovered. In addition, the value of the baht tends to strengthen in the second half of the year.

However, the top 10 star export products that are expected to be exported in 2024 include refined oil, telephones, equipment and components. Semiconductors, transistors and diodes, fresh and frozen fruit Electrical transformers and components Automobiles, equipment and components Electrical machinery and equipment, electrical circuit boards, wood and wood products and machinery while the top 3 rising products are tractors and special tires. Travel bags and other bags and fresh chilled and
frozen chicken

In addition, the center also evaluates people’s spending. On Makha Bucha Day this year There are 3 long holidays in a row. A survey of people’s activities this year found that most of them intended to make merit more than last year. After passing through the Covid situation And it’s still a long holiday. It is expected that there will be more than 2,432 million baht in circulation, an increase of 28 percent from the previous year. The intention is to make merit and pay homage to the Buddha. Increased from last year and the highest in history I intend to go to the candlelight procession as much as possible. Spend an average of 292 baht per person, followed by making merit. Spend an average of 677 baht per person, give alms to monks, spend an average of 393 baht per person, release birds – release fish – redeem animals’ lives. It is estimated that the average amount spent is 279 baht per person, etc.

Source: Thai News Agency