Investment flow into Phu Quoc Island remains strong

KIEN GIANG – The investment flow into Phu Quoc Island off Kien Giang Province has stayed strong, with nine projects worth around VND2.6 trillion approved in the first half of this year, said the Management Board of the Phu Quoc Economic Zone.

Apart from these nine projects, which cover 64.38 hectares in the island district, the board proposed the provincial government of Kien Giang to give approval in principle to 16 other projects which need 476 hectares of land.

The board also suggested the provincial government scrap two projects occupying 28.7 hectares of land, and adjust 21 investment registration certificates.

With the updated figures, Kien Giang had approved 197 projects capitalized at VND218 trillion (US$9.6 billion) on Phu Quoc Island as of June this year, according to a report on first-half socio-economic performance of a working group in charge of studying mechanisms and policies for development of the island.

There are 265 valid projects covering more than 10,500 hectares as of now, of which foreign investors have 26 projects worth US$290 million while domestic investors have 197 projects worth VND218 trillion that have either obtained investment certificates or approved in principle.

Thirty-one projects which have been up and running cover over 2,000 hectares and have combined capital of around VND49.5 trillion. Besides, 24 other projects which need more than 1,700 hectares and roughly VND46 trillion are under progress now.

The report says nearly 988,000 tourists visited the island in the six-month period, up a staggering 44.1% compared to the same period last year, and this met 54.2% of the full-year target. Notably, 198,820 international visitors came to the island, up 77.7%.

In regard to agriculture, local farmers harvested 1,245 tons of pepper, up 2.05% year-on-year. In addition, the total output of seafood in the period totaled more than 99,500 tons (up 27.4% year-on-year), 49.6% of the full-year target. As a result, local farmers earned an estimated VND1.77 trillion.

Meanwhile, the value of industrial production was estimated at around VND2.58 trillion, increasing 12.2% year-on-year and fulfilling 61.1% of the full-year target.

The working group of Phu Quoc has been working with the provincial government to finalize a proposal for the special administrative and economic zone on Phu Quoc Island.

The group has been working with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, related agencies, and Kien Giang Province to draft the Law on Special Administrative and Economic Units which will be submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and the National Assembly for approval in the upcoming meeting.

See more: Why Investors Should Set-up Business in Phu Quoc?

Source: The Saigon Times

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Vietnam removes Hong Kong from steel dumping list

Vietnam has lifted anti-dumping duties on galvanized steel imports from Hong Kong, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Lao Dong newspaper reports.

The ministry issued two decisions on anti-dumping measures, namely Decision 3584/QD-BCT dated September 1, 2016 on temporary anti-dumping duties and Decision 1105/QD-BCT dated March 30, 2017 on anti-dumping duties on galvanized steel imports from China (including Hong Kong) and South Korea.

After a review, the ministry issued Decision 2754/QD-BCT on July 20, 2017 amending Decision 3584 and Decision 1105. Vietnam now removes anti-dumping duties on galvanized steel imported from Hong Kong in line with the Decision 2754.

Source: The Saigon Times

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Value of M&A deals forecast to reach US$5 billion this year

HANOI - Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions in Vietnam are forecast to reach about US$5 billion this year, down from US$5.8 billion in 2016 and US$5.2 billion in 2015, said Le Trong Minh, editor-in-chief of Dau Tu newspaper.

At a press conference held in Hanoi on July 20 to announce the upcoming Vietnam M&A Forum 2017, Minh said M&A transactions are facing numerous difficulties. Enterprises and the Government should find ways to increase both the quality and the number of deals.

According to an assessment of forum organizers, in 2016 and the first haft of 2017, the equitization of State-owned enterprises was not as good as expected.

In 2016, only 52 State enterprises went public, representing only 25% of the 2015 figure, and the number was 20 in the first six months of this year, or 76% of the same period last year.

According to a report by the Government, 96.3% of State enterprises have been equitized but only 8% of the State holdings have been offered to the public.

In 2016, retail was among the key sectors of M&A deals, accounting for 38.46% of total value. A notable deal took place in early May 2016, when Central Group from Thailand acquired the Big C supermarket chain from Casino Group at US$1.05 billion.

Earlier, another Thai group, TCC Holdings, spent US$800 million taking over Cash & Carry businesses in Vietnam from German retail group METRO.

In 2014-2018, M&A transactions in Vietnam may hit US$20 billion, Minh added.

M&A has helped diversify capital mobilization channels in Vietnam and boost economic restructuring and equitization of State-owned enterprises. In addition, corporate governance and the competitiveness of many local enterprises have improved thanks to M&A deals.

Vietnam M&A Forum 2017 will be held by Dau Tu newspaper on August 10 at GEM Center in HCMC. The forum will feature a specialized conference on M&A activities, a ceremony to honor the best M&A deals of 2016-2017 and a training workshop on M&A strategy.

See more: How To Conduct Legal Due Diligence for M&A in Vietnam?

Source The Saigon Times

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HCMC aims to have 100MW of renewable energy by 2020

HCMC expects to generate 100MW of electricity from renewable resources by 2020 as many investors have expressed their keen interest in this field in the city, according to the HCMC Department of Industry and Trade.

At a meeting with HCMC Party Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan at Go Cat waste-to-energy plant on July 19, an official of the department said that the city holds high potential to produce energy from sunlight, waste and wind. The World Bank, after conducting a survey of one million households in the city, has concluded that about 50% of roofs of houses can be fitted with solar panels.

Many enterprises also want to invest in solar power projects in HCMC after new policies on the the price of solar power were issued.

A financial investor in HCMC told the Daily that it will inject US$40 million into Hydraulic-Machine Co Ltd to develop the 20-MW Go Cat waste-to-energy plant in Binh Tan District.

The plant is expected to bring about great economic benefits as the investor can recoup investment within five years from both industrial waste treatment fees and electricity generation.

The amount of garbage discharged in the city increases 5% a year and many landfills have been full and closed.

In addition, the city can also develop a wind power plant in Can Gio District.

According to data of the Department of Industry and Trade, capacity of renewable energy in the city remains modest with 2.4MW from Go Cat plant, 1.5MW of solar power from buildings, households and enterprises and 2MW from a trial waste-to-energy plant in the Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex.

Source The Saigon Time

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