USABC holds consultation with ASEAN ministers

Washington (VNA) – The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) has held an annual consultation with the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) in Singapore , with the view to discuss trade and investment issues, the Washington-based body said.

The Council delegation, led by its Vice President William Marmon, is comprised of representatives from groups such as AIG, APCO Worldwide, Cargill, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, GlaxoSmithKline, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Philip Morris International, and UPS.

During the meeting, USABC members called upon ASEAN and its member countries to create a more conducive business environment in order to stimulate growth and investment in the region. They also called for further ASEAN integration process as it is the key to provide the regional economies of scale and efficiencies that investors require to commit significant funds to the region.

“The ASEAN region represents a tremendous opportunity for US multi-nationals, and ASEAN officials are increasingly sensitive to what they need to do to facilitate investment from the US ,” Marmon said in the Council’s press release issued on September 9.

In addition to the annual consultation with the AEM, the Council delegation held bilateral meetings with economic ministers from Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia, and held a separate discussion with ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-

Mongolian parliament elects new prime minister

Hanoi (VNA) – Chairman of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP) Sanj Bayar was approved as prime minister of the new government by the Mongolian parliament on September 11.

The newly-approved PM said he would give top priority to boosting the national economy and improving people’s living standard.

He will submit the list of members of the new government to the parliament soon.

The MPRP holds a narrow majority with 42 of the 76 seats in the parliament following the parliamentary elections on June 29.

The opposition Democratic Party holds 25 seats, while the Citizens Will-Republican Party and an independent candidate get one seat each. The results for the remaining seats have not been published yet, according to news agencies.-

Cambodia up 15 places in WB business ranking

Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodia has moved up 15 places in a World Bank (WB) report, Doing Business 2009, published on September 10.

In 2007, Cambodia ranked 150 out of 181 economies worldwide, while this year the country rose to 135 out of 181 economies, according to the report.

The report explained that Cambodia’s significantly higher standing is the result of reforms that make it easier for businesses to get credit and to close a business.

While much progress remains to be done in several areas, the report names Cambodia as the world’s top reformer in easing access to credit.

These positive results showed that important reforms are being introduced leading to substantial improvement in Cambodia’s ranking this year, said Stephane Guimbert, Senior Country Economist for the World Bank in Cambodia.

The rankings are derived from reviews of laws and regulations, and in-depth interviews with business service providers such as accountants and lawyers.

Doing Business surveys do not assess such areas as macro- economic policy, quality of infrastructure, currency volatility, investor perceptions or crime rates.-

Thai ruling party re-nominates Samak for PM post

– Thailand’s ruling party nominated Samak Sundaravej to return as prime minister on September 11, two days after the Constitutional court forced him to resign over ruling that he had violated the constitution by being paid to host television cooking shows while in office.

“A majority of the People Power Party (PPP) supports Samak as candidate for prime minister,” a PPP spokesman was quoted by news agencies as saying.

Former PM Samak said that he accepted the nomination in order to protect democracy in the country.

However, protesters occupying Thailand’s house of government said on September 11 that they would not accept any candidates from parliament’s dominant PPP as a replacement for disqualified PM Samak.

On the same day, Army Commander General, Anupong Paochinda, urged the caretaker government to lift a state of emergency that former PM Samak had imposed on September 2. He added that he had conveyed that view to the interim leaders.-

Japan helps Laos build irrigation system and rural road

Vientiane (KPL) – Japan has pledged to grant 100,000 USD to help Laos build an irrigation system in Bokeo province and a rural road in Savannakhet province.

The grant, agreed earlier this week, is under the scheme of Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project, the Lao news agency (KPL) reported on September 12.

Houaisai district in Bokeo province, which benefited from the grant, also received assistance worth 44,000 USD from Japan for the construction of a primary school in 2005, Bounmy Souvannalangsy, Head of Agriculture and Forestry Division of Bokeo province, said. –

Holcim Vietnam involves in sustainable development

Hanoi (VNA) - Holcim Vietnam Ltd. will provide around 1 million USD to preserve and restore the ecological system of the limestone mountain in the Mekong delta province of Kien Giang from now until 2012.

The project is part of its pledge to pursue a sustainable development strategy by sponsoring community projects and technology research and development for the purpose.

Holcim Vietnam Ltd. has announced an annual provision of 60,000 USD from now until 2010 to two local projects. They include a project for preserving natural grass fields in the Mekong delta and raising the living conditions of Khmer ethnic people in Kien Giang province’s Kien Luong district and the other to conserve red-headed cranes and the wetlands in Ha Tien.

Holcim Vietnam Ltd. is a joint venture (JV) between Holcim Group of Switzerland and Ha Tien 1 Cement Company, a subsidiary of the Vietnam National Cement Corporation.-

Nation pushed for better climate change settlement

Vietnam needs to fully tap its internal strength to cope with emerging urgent issues caused by climate change, heard a seminar in Hanoi on Sept. 11.

The workshop, co-hosted by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) and the Centre for Environment Research Education and Development (CERED), focused on climate change and the role of civil social organizations in this regard.

“Beside cooperation and help from international friends, only Vietnamese people can successfully address Vietnam’s climate change-related issues,” said CERED Director Dr. Nguyen Huu Ninh.

Participants spoke of civil social organisations’ role in response to climate change as well as initiatives aimed at setting up a network of Vietnamese civil social organisations to solve the issue.

VUSTA’s International Cooperation Department Director Nguyen Manh Cuong said VUSTA realised the necessity to build a common forum for its members to exchange information and incorporate the climate change-related issues into their operations.-

Civil societies to help cope with climate change

– Developing a network of civil societies to brace for climate change is a recommendation made by a seminar held in Hanoi on September 11.

Such a network will make a practical contribution to the efforts to prevent the severe consequences predicted to occur due to climate change, the participants said.

According to a UN report, Vietnam will be among the countries to be worst hit by climate change.

Scientists say if the sea level rises by 45 centimetres in 2070 as forecast, the country will have 0.25 million ha and 1 million ha of land in the Red River and Mekong deltas respectively inundated.

In addition, another 1.2 million ha of land will be contaminated by salt water, and 230,000 ha of mangrove forest will be absolutely destroyed.-

Health project benefits migrant workers

Thai Binh (VNA) – A two-year project funded by HealthBridge Canada in Vietnamhas remarkably increased health knowledge for female workers in northern Thai Binh province before they are sent to work abroad.

At a Sept. 9 meeting to review the “Safe return: Health protection for workers away from home” project, HealthBridge Canada officials and Thai Binh authorities agreed that the public and local authorities have become aware of issues relating to labour export, including workers’ life and health and the impacts of labour export on the life of migrant workers’ families and community.

The 500 million USD projects has also improved the capacity of officials in charge of labour export management and support for overseas workers. Many workers have been given training on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and sexual related diseases as well as worker’s rights before being sent abroad.

Information exchange and cooperation among organisations and agencies concerning migration and overseas workers has become better thanks to the project.-

Vietnam to get first bio-tech centre

Dong Nai (VNA) – The southern province of Dong Nai has begun construction on a 200-hectare applied bio-technology research centre, the first of its kind in Vietnam, with a total capital investment of 530 billion VND (32 million USD) in Cam Duong Commune, Cam My District.

The centre will be used to expand applied biotechnology researches to improve techniques on breeding high-quality plants and animals.

Researchers at the centre will expand biotechnology towards the diagnoses and treatment of diseases, preventive health, and environmental protection.

Moreover, scientists at the centre will look for ways to apply technology to agricultural production and develop networks connecting the business and farming communities to new cutting-edge researches.

Construction of infrastructure facility is scheduled to complete by 2010 to jumpstart the applied biotechnology research towards the development of various plants and animals.

The centre plans to build and develop biotechnology enterprises in order to provide products and service by 2020.-