Many automobile makers have announced plans to increase investment for vehicles manufactured or assembled in Vietnam as stricter import rules continue to prevent them from shipping completely built-up products to the Southeast Asian country. Vietnam’s car imports have dropped significantly since the government’s Decree 116, which requires all models of imported vehicles to obtain a Vehicle Type Approval certification issued by authorities in the exporting country, took effect on January 1. Few shipments have since been eligible for customs clearance to Vietnam as most countries that sell cars to the nation do not use such a document and it will take time for exporters to enact measures to meet those requirements. In the week ending February 1, only 23 automobiles, including 20 tractor trucks and three cars with fewer than nine seats, were imported into Vietnam, a clear example of Decree 116 impacts. In the same period, Vietnam imported nearly US$15.2 million worth of automobile parts and components, compared to the mere $1.66 million value of the 23 car shipments. While automobile producers have announced that they would cease exports to Vietnam for good and called on relaxing the regulations, they have also silently prepared to boost their assembly operations in the country as a temporary solution to the issue. Workers are seen at a car assembling plant in Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre ‘Last resort’ Toyota Vietnam is considering a plan to assemble several product lines, particularly the Fortuner, in Vietnam instead of Indonesia if the situation in the wake… [Read full story]
Tightened regulations on the import of orphan drugs – medicines developed specifically to treat rare conditions – have left patients and hospitals in Vietnam short on the medications.
Local drug importers have said that the new regulations require companies to provide papers that are already redundant and almost impossible to obtain, leaving them with no choice but to suspend the importation of orphan drugs despite domestic demand.
Experts have warned that the drug shortage could worsen if no adjustments are made to the current regulations, meaning patients with rare medical conditions will continue to suffer.
Red…... [read more]
NDO/VNA – The Angolan Embassy in Vietnam on November 11 held a ceremony to mark the 40th anniversaries of National Day of Angola (November 11, 1975) and diplomatic ties between the two countries (November 12). Addressing the ceremony, Angolan Ambassador Joao Manuel Bernardo said since 1975, Vietnam and Angola have signed 16 co-operation agreements, including an agreement on visa exemptions for diplomatic and service/official passport holders and another on social security and order. Bilateral trade reached US$116 million in 2014, he said, adding that Angola mainly imports rice, garments-textiles, fertilisers, footwear and machinery from Vietnam while shipping to Vietnam gas,…... [read more]
HA NOI (VNS)— Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong expressed hope that relations between the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) and Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) would flourish and the two countries' co-operation would intensify. At a reception yesterday for President of PCdoB Renato Rabelo on the occasion of his official working visit to Viet Nam, the PCdoB leader said he hoped the solidarity, friendship and co-operation between the two parties, countries and people would continue to bloom. He highly appreciated Viet Nam's socio-economic achievements in the past years as well as its higher status in the region and…... [read more]
While receiving new Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Trung on Thursday, Mozambican President Emilio Guebuza said Mozambique wishes to boost mutually beneficiary ties with Vietnam. The Mozambican President made the declaration at a reception held in Maputo on February 19 for Trung who presented his credentials. The President said he hopes that the ambassador will serve as an effective bridge for further developing the traditional friendship between the two countries and peoples. He also highly valued the unyielding spirit of the Vietnamese people during their struggle for national independence in the past as well as their achievements gained in the current…... [read more]
Vietnam tightens seafood import standards By Ngoc Hung - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will look into food hygiene and safety standards of countries exporting seafood to Vietnam, said Deputy Minister Luong Le Phuong. Initially, inspections of seafood products from South Korea, China and Canada would be conducted. This is part of the Circular No. 25/2010/TT-BNNPTNT on food hygiene and safety control for imported products of animal origin. The circular, released by the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (Nafiqad), will take effect from Wednesday. “Vietnamese exporters for many years have to follow…... [read more]
