Vietnam Airlines to increase flights
HA NOI — Vietnam Airlines plans to increase its number of the Ha Noi-Tuy Hoa flights from three to five a week from March 28.
A 79-seat Fokker aircraft will ply the route. Flight times have yet to be announced.
PVD, Baker Hughes sign deal
HA NOI — PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Services Corporation on Tuesday signed a contract with the US's Baker Hughes Company to establish a joint venture company in the oil-drilling sector in Viet Nam.
The joint venture will have an investment capital of US$20 million, of which the PVD is stumping up 51 per cent.
Seafood producer earns certification
HCM City — Minh Phu Seafood Corporation has been awarded the Global Gap certification.
It is the first Vietnamese seafood producer to receive the certification.
Le Van Diep, Minh Phu deputy general director, said the company's shrimp exports leapt 31 per cent in volume and value in the first two months of the year against the same period last year.
Energy expo kicks off in Ha Noi
HA NOI — A number of large groups from nine countries and territories worldwide are showcasing their products at Enerexpo 2010, the first international exhibition on renewable and decentralised energy solutions, in Ha Noi.
The countries and territories participating at the three-day event, that started yesterday, include China, Demark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, the US and Viet Nam.
The event mainly introduces technologies and equipment on solar energy, wind energy, hydro-electricity power, bio energy, geothermal energy and the conversion and transmission of renewable energy.
Ha Noi proposes getting rid of IZs
HA NOI — The Ha Noi Department of Industry and Trade has proposed picking 26 industrial zones with 3,330ha of land out of zoned areas.
These industrial zones were in the city, including Cau Giay, Hoang Mai and Long Bien districts, and were not suited to the socio-economic development situation of the region.
City scraps 40 real estate projects
HCM CITY — HCM City authorities have revoked the licences of 40 foreign direct investment real estate projects worth US$1.77 billion.
Officials said the licences had been revoked because the projects were progressing too slowly.
In 2009, the city attracted 13 foreign-invested projects in 14 sectors, accounting for 66.39 per cent of all development projects in the southern hub.
There are currently 143 licensed development projects worth $9.61 billion in progress in the city. Of those, $3.61 billion has disbursed, accounting for 38 per cent.
City authorities are currently considering whether to grant licences to seven real estate projects valued at $3.7 billion.
ABC bancasurance earns $3.5 million
HA NOI — Agribank Insurance Company (ABIC) has announced the results of its pilot insurance programme for borrowers.
Three months after the bancasurance scheme was implemented, 23 ABIC branches have earned total revenue of VND6.7 billion (US$3.5 million).
MSB to apply new credit rating rules
HA NOI — Maritime Bank (MSB) said yesterday it had successfully adopted a new internal credit rating system.
With help from Ernst&Young Viet Nam, a leading auditing company, the new MSB ratings will include nine levels and will be applied on four groups of customer – business organisations, individuals, household businesses and financial institutions.
MSB said the new credit rating system would help the bank better manage credit risk.
It has opened the first 24/7 Cau Giay Branch which becomes the leading multi-functional retail bank in Viet Nam. — VNS