Nokia to unveil Windows 8 smartphone in Sept: report

The Helsingin Sanomat daily did not cite any sources but said the beleaguered Nokia could also unveil its first tablet computer at the event.

The Finnish company's new strategy is phasing out its Symbian smartphones in favour of a partnership with Microsoft.

That alliance has produced a first line of Lumia smartphones, which Nokia is counting on to help it survive in a rapidly changing landscape marked by stiff competition from RIM's Blackberry, Apple's iPhone and handsets running Google's Android platform.

That took a hit when Microsoft warned that existing Lumia handsets would not be able to run its Windows 8 upgrade.

The company, which in 2008 enjoyed more than 40 percent of the global mobile phone market, was already struggling to maintain its leading position when it entered the Microsoft partnership.

Nokia no longer provides its global market share figures, but has reportedly now seen the number drop below 20 percent.

Finnish telecom giant Nokia and Microsoft plan to unveil a smartphone equipped with the US software giant's Windows 8 operating system in New York on September 5, a report said Wednesday.

NA says illegal mining out of control

A view of the Vi Xuyen iron ore processing factory in northern Ha Giang Province. A recent report says that inspection of government mechanisms to protect the environment are not observed by many operators, particularly those working illegally. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Tam

HA NOI — Top lawmakers have agreed that stronger and more realistic measures are necessary to complete the legal framework required to shore up activities related to natural resources exploitation in accordance with environment protection.

During the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee's discussion session in Ha Noi yesterday, NA deputies urged for measures to enhance the quality and effect of supervision on the implementation to meet the management requirement, and prevent and punish any violations.

A report heard at the session regarding the implementation of policies and laws related to natural resources exploitation showed that the inspection and supervision on losses of resources and environmental protection had not been paid enough attention. Meanwhile, the exploitation technology was said to be obsolete, awareness in work safety low and violations on environment regulations were high.

According to the report, the number of enterprises involved in mining had increased from 427 in 2000 to nearly 2,000 currently.

Most of the enterprises, especially the large-scale ones or joint-ventures with partners from developed countries, were reportedly performing well in the implementation of policies and laws.

However, the report pointed out some shortcomings of the implementation, including the lack of synchronisation between exploitation planning and local socio-economic development, the shortage of evaluation on environmental impacts and the lack of pledges on environmental protection.

One of the most concerning issues came from the issuance of licenses on exploitation and processing. A report showed that from 2005 to 2008, people's committees in central-Governmental cities and provinces had issued nearly 3,500 licenses for exploitation, seven-fold higher than the total number of licenses issued by the Government in 12 years.

The protection of unexploited natural resources and the set-up of a non-exploitation zone had also not received enough attention.

During discussions, NA deputies also asked for clarification regarding the role of the State and the responsibilities of relevant ministries and sectors in managing the exploitation.

In the morning session yesterday, the deputies discussed the revised Law on Tax Management and the draft Law of National Reserves.

After hearing the report on the revision of the tax management law by the NA's Committee on Finance and Budgets, the deputies discussed the responsibilities of tax management agencies in tax refunds, the role of the National Assembly in regulating the deadline of tax payments and the enforcement of the law.

Regarding illegal tax declarations or late tax payments, the deputies said that the current fine of 0.05 per cent a day, which equates to 18.25 per cent a year, was too low, and would lead to losses in the State budget.

The deputies also agreed that one of the major reasons for revising the law on tax management was to deal with the loss of revenue.

They urged the National Assembly to take charge of tax exemptions, while the extension of tax payments should be for the Government, which meant the Prime Minister would have the right to extend tax payments for every individual case, including groups, corporations, and enterprises.

Concluding the session, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said that the revision of the tax law must balance the targets of creating favourable conditions for tax payers and tax collectors, as well as tightening the inspection and supervision to prevent violations on tax regulations.

"Simplicity and transparency will help avoid wrongdoings in tax management," he said. — VNS

Growth is tied to innovation

Some local newspapers have painted a gloomy picture of Viet Nam's so-called decline on the World Intellectual Property Rights (WIPO) index. They pointed out correctly that the nation had been listed 76th out of 141 countries in its global rankings.

While the ranking is, indeed, 25 positions lower than last year, according to WIPO analysts, it does not indicate the country is under-performing in terms of creativity and innovation. They said the change was due to the addition of new economies and other adjustments to the index's framework.

But as the nation moves towards middle-income status, being placed at the bottom half of the global rankings is worrisome. It is beyond Viet Nam's wildest dream to catch up with its neighbour, Singapore, ranked third globally. And it is far from Malaysia (32nd) and Thailand (57th).

How far does Viet Nam have to go to be judged a success in creativity and innovation? Of course, it's impossible to measure, but by looking at the current performances in education, training, science and technology, there is not much room for confidence.

Some think that gaining a place at university is a hard-won effort, and truly it is because, while some universities require a minimum score for three subjects of 24-25 points, at others, entry is too easy. For example, the passing point to a few universities – mostly private – was a low 13 this year, which means three or four out of 10 points for one subject is enough to make the university dream come true.

Worse, some students are even invited to join a university or college without sitting for an entrance exam. The names of the establishments are new, indicating their thirst for new students – or money, to be precise.

Undoubtedly, the quality of their training promises little in the way of a rosy future for national innovation. Some would argue that the number of these universities are too few to worry about. Probably true. Yet the number of doctorate holders and professors versus the few internationally-recognised scientific papers or patent applications can be viewed as alarming.

According to Nguyen Van Tuan from the Sydney-based Garvan Institute, international standards require each professor or associate professor to produce at least one peer-reviewed scientific paper. If this was applied in Viet Nam, the country should have had at least 8,000 such papers by 2009. But Tuan said the figure for Vietnamese papers published in international journals was about 1,000 at the time – one-third of those from Thailand and a sixth of those from Singapore.

According to an article published last month on e-newspaper VietNamNet, Viet Nam had only five patents granted in the United States between 2006-10, and none in 2011 – yet it has 9,000 professors. The number granted, as pointed out in the article by two Ph.Ds, was "an important and objective index to judge a country's scientific achievements". Viet Nam's total was disturbing, especially when compared with seven in Indonesia, 53 in Thailand and 647 in Singapore in 2011.

But, let's not under-estimate the country's capabilities. Viet Nam has had an amazing number of student champions at international competitions, for instance, at the Olympiad in maths, chemistry or informatics every year.

The country does have world-recognised talents, for example, 40-year-old Professor Ngo Bao Chau, winner of Fields Medal 2010, often described as the Nobel Prize of Mathematics. Other Vietnamese professors of note include Trinh Xuan Thuan, a writer and astrophysicist, who won this year's Cino Del Duca World Prize from the Institute of France for his efforts to popularise science; and Hoang Tuy, a mathematician named in September 2011 as the first recipient of the Constantin Caratheodory Prize from the International Society of Global Optimisation for his pioneering work.

Why can't these figures be multiplied? Looking at what our children are taught at school, the explanation is simple. At either State or private schools, children are asked to learn by heart or repeatedly do sums before exams. In the end, most of them get high marks or at least, are not failures.

Looking at payment and incentives made to scientists, all would agree that they are insufficient to lead a conservative life let alone to devote time to developing breakthroughs or new technologies. A recent conference in Ha Noi heard that a professor or associate professor in agriculture received VND5 million (US$240) a month and a PhD VND4 million ($195). Not much of an incentive to do anything!

But why does innovation matter? Ben Verwaay-en, chief executive of Alcatel-Lucent said: "Innovation is a crucial element of competitiveness. For organisations, companies, and countries to remain competitive and to grow, they must innovate."

Viet Nam must grow and become more competitive! I pin my hopes on the world's leading scientists who have gathered in HCM City this week for a three-day international conference on advances in computational mechanics. Many of them are Vietnamese. I also pin my hopes on reforms that would enable children to have a more innovative and creative education instead of learning by rote. — VNS

by Thu Phuong

Duan rides to third stage of cycling tour

Finishing line: Le Van Duan of Eximbank HCM City 1 claims the third stage of the Mekong Delta Cycling Tournament yesterday.

HCM City — Le Van Duan of Eximbank HCM City 1 won the third stage of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta Cycling Tournament yesterday, while his teammate Dinh Quoc Viet retained the yellow jersey.

The 137km stage from Cao Lanh City to Soc Trang City saw great efforts by cyclists from Eximbank HCM City to maintain their position in the individual and team rankings. After the first 15km, eight cyclists broke away from the pack, and opened up a lead of two minutes.

With 40km to go, cyclists from Eximbank HCM City reeled in the leading group, and they headed for the finish together where Duan crossed the line first in a time of 3:25.06. Nguyen Van Tai of Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap 1 and Nguyen Thanh Tam of An Giang Plant Protection 1 came in second and third.

Finishing the stage in the leading group, Viet retained the yellow jersey with an overall time of 8:01.12, followed by Trinh Phat Dat of An Giang Plant Protection. Tai's second place finish was enough to push him up to third in the overall standings.

The team competition remained unchanged, with Eximbank HCM City 2 in first place, followed by the two teams from Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap.

Cyclists will compete on the 120km fourth stage from Soc Trang City to Ca Mau City today. — VNS

‘Provincial unity can clear goods backlog'

A worker operates a steel tube and frame production line at Bac Viet Steel JSC in Que Vo Industrial Park, northern Bac Ninh Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Tran Viet

HA NAM — Fourteen provinces in Song Hong (Red River) Delta and the northern central region need to boost their co-operation to solve high inventories and create a larger market, said deputy minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa.

Speaking at a meeting on industrial and trade activities of the provinces last week, Thoa noted the importance of co-operation in designing mechanisms and policies to attract investment, while also making use of their advantages and potential to complement each other.

At last year's meeting, the provinces signed a co-operative agreement to promote industrial and trade activities, however, practical moves have not been as effective as expected.

According to the ministry's Agency for Industrial Promotion, last year the region had a total industrial value of over VND442 trillion (US$21 billion), nearly 21 per cent higher than that in 2010. The region contributed 35.57 per cent of Viet Nam's industrial production value, making it the second biggest region, just behind Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region.

Total retail and services revenue in the whole region was nearly VND572 trillion ($27.3 billion), 26 per cent higher than that in 2010. In the first seven months of this year, regional retail and services revenue totalled VND390 trillion ($18.5 billion), 23.8 per cent higher than at the same period last year.

Notably, many cities and provinces in the region have seen increases in industrial production much higher than that of the national average of 4.38 per cent, including Bac Ninh with 28.2 per cent, Ha Nam with 13.3 per cent and Nam Dinh with a 14.35 per cent increase.

However, despite the growth in industrial production, and retail and services, several key products such as auto assembling, bricks and wood processing have been on the decline.

Moreover, value added to industrial products remained low and logistics have yet to meet demand.

Also at the meeting, representatives from provincial departments of Industry and Trade voiced their concerns over capital shortage, naming it the biggest difficulty currently facing enterprises.

The head of Bac Ninh Province's department of Industry and Trade, Vu Duc Quyet, said that enterprises had faced difficulties in accessing loans in the past and that high interest loans had contributed to increasing prices, resulting in high inventories.

His counterpart in Nam Dinh Province, Tran Le Doai, said that one-tenth of 4,000 enterprises in the province had claimed bankruptcy and stopped operations since the beginning of this year.

As most of them were small and mid-sized companies with diminutive equity, they could not afford the high interest, he said, adding that these enterprises were short of the capital required to continue production.

To help solve the shortage, Thai Binh Province paid half of the interest for enterprises in trade villages while the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Hai Duong and Bac Giang conceived a model to connect farmers, producers and distributors.

However, deputy minister Thoa criticised the isolatory feel and lack of scope of these efforts, urging more comprehensive and collaborative undertakings at regional level.

She also said that the ministry would continue to conduct trade promotional campaigns in Europe and Japan to help expand the market, as well as urging the provinces to implement policies that raise added value and reduce the production of high-energy goods that consume too many resources. — VNS

Viet Nam, Japan strengthen economic, investment ties

HA NOI — Viet Nam will continue working with Japan to deepen bilateral cooperation in all areas, specifically economics, trade, investment and development aid.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the affirmation while receiving visiting Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano in Ha Noi yesterday.

At the reception, the PM spoke highly of the outcome of talks between Yukio Edano and the Vietnamese ministers of Industry and Trade, and Planning and Investment.

Dung suggested Japan create conditions for Vietnamese goods to penetrate into its market, help Viet Nam develop industries, particularly support industries, and increase development aid for Viet Nam's infrastructure sector.

He also said that Japan should speed up the implementation of major projects already agreed by the two sides, including the building of the Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plant and the development of the rare earth industry in Viet Nam.

The PM affirmed that the Vietnamese Government will provide favourable conditions for Japanese businesses to increase investment in Viet Nam as well as cooperation through the public-private partnership (PPP).

For his part, Minister Yukio Edano said that relations between the two countries had developed positively in various aspects, bringing about practical benefits to both sides.

During his visit, he said the two sides had agreed to enhance cooperation, mentioning Japan's support in accelerating Viet Nam's industrialisation process.

The Japanese minister affirmed that Japan will work to facilitate the export of Vietnamese goods to its market, team up with Viet Nam in developing support industries and effectively implement major projects agreed by the two countries' high-ranking leaders.

The same day, Edano attended a public-private policy dialogue between Viet Nam and Japan in Ha Noi, which, economic experts said, not only helped Viet Nam perfect its policy framework but also assists Japanese investors in implementing their projects more effectively in Viet Nam.

According to Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh, international donors have continuously assisted Viet Nam in building a public-private policy framework in accordance with international practices and the country's situation.

Among those, Japan, which boasts a great deal of experience in implementing PPP, is considered Viet Nam's leading partner, he stressed.

Edano said that Japan is ready to cooperate with Viet Nam in the areas of infrastructure, airport and road construction and electricity production to contribute to the Southeast Asian country's industrialisation process. — VNS

Viet Nam grows enough sugar for domestic needs

HA NOI — For the first time in many years, Viet Nam has produced sufficient sugar for domestic demand, said Doan Xuan Hoa, deputy head of Agro-forestry Processing and Salt Industry Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

In addition, Vietnamese sugar producers have exported 200,000 tonnes of sugar so far this year, added Hoa.

Increased coverage, productivity and output for the 2011-2012 crop have resulted in an abundant supply of sugar in the market.

Viet Nam planted 284,000 ha of sugarcane for this year's crop. With productivity of 61.7 tonnes/ ha, the country has so far this year obtained an output of 17.5 million tonnes. As of now, all 39 sugar plants across Viet Nam have processed 14.5 tonnes of sugarcane and produced 1.3 tonnes of sugar.

Sugar producers paid farmers VND0.95-1 million per tonne of sugarcane.

Director General of Bien Hoa Sugar Company Nguyen Van Loc warned that if sugar continues to be imported illegally, sugar producers will have to adjust their sugarcane buying price to minimise their loss risks. However, if doing so, producers will face a dilemma: if they lower their buying price too much, farmers might switch to other, more profitable crops and leave producers scrambling to find new sources for raw sugarcane.

MARD forecasted that in the 2012-2013 crop, Viet Nam will plant 300,000 ha of sugarcane with an estimated output of 18.9 million tonnes. As a result, Viet Nam will be able to produce nearly 1.6 million tonnes of sugar. Domestic demand is estimated at about 1.4 million tonnes of sugar, so there will be a surplus of 200,000 tonnes of sugar.

MARD Deputy Minister Diep Kinh Tan said that next year the sugar business would be very competitive as a result of the global economic crisis. He also reminded the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the wide gap in selling prices between sugar plants and sugar traders. — VNS

Vietnam becomes world’s largest coffee exporter

Vietnam has surpassed Brazil to become the world’s largest coffee exporter, according to statistics recently released by the International Coffee Organization (ICO).

The country shipped a total of 14.325 million bags of coffee in the first six months of this year, 13.63 percent higher than the export turnover of Brazil, the ICO said in its June report on the world coffee exporting market. (1 bag weights 60 kg)

Vietnam’s coffee export turnover in June dropped by 23.15 percent month on month to 2.07 million bags, but the country remained the top exporter for the fifth consecutive month.

Honduras made an unexpected increase as it outgrew other strong rivals such as Indonesia, Colombia, and India to take third place.

Global coffee export in June stood at 9.58 million bags, a 5.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to ICO.

However, global exports in the first nine months of the 2011/12 coffee year, which lasts from October 2011 to June 2012, saw a slight decline of 0.3 percent, fetching 81.16 million bags.

Ethnic people need training, education and healthcare

HA NOI – Nearly 90 per cent of ethnic people of working age are untrained.

This is one of the main obstacles limiting the development of mountainous areas, said Ksor Phuoc, president of National Assembly's Ethnic Council today.

Phuoc was speaking at a forum to develop human resources among tribal people and those living in mountainous areas over the next eight years.

The meeting involved policy makers and experts from international organisations.

Phuoc said improving the quality of human resources in ethnic areas was a key step in meeting requirements for national development.

Statistics from the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs revealed high illiteracy rates existed among ethnic people, especially in the northern uplands (12.7 per cent) and Central Highland areas (11.3 per cent). Most students leave school when they are 15 – or even before.

In ethnic and mountainous areas, 70 per cent of people work on farms. The rest work in industry, services and the trading sector. This compares to the rest of the nation, where 51.9 of workers are on farms.

Not only are ethnic people untrained and illiterate, but they also have limited physical strength.

There is high rate of ethnic children with malnutrition, especially northern upland areas with 26 per cent of children and central highland areas with more than 27 per cent. Meanwhile, the average rate of the country is nearly 20 per cent.

The death ratio of children under one year old is also high. In some northern and central highland provinces, the death is double or triple the national average rate. At Lai Chau is it 47.7 per cent, Dien Bien 39.7 per cent, Ha Giang 37.5 per cent and Kon Tum 38.2 per cent.

Life expectancy of ethnic people is also several years lower than the national average of 72.8 years.

Dr Phan Van Hung, Deputy Minister and vice-chairman of the Committee for Ethic Minority Affairs said the high poverty rate among many ethnic groups was mainly to blame for the high rate of malnutrition and high illiteracy.

Pratibha Mehta, United Nations Resident Co-ordinator, said while ethnic groups constituted only 14 per cent of the population, they comprised half of those living in chronic poverty.

Hung said nearly 50 per cent of people in ethnic areas were living under the poverty line and had little access to health care. He said many children were not fully fed and became thin, weak and vulnerable to disease.

Many also had to drop out of school to work for their families. – VNS

Venezuela wishes to cement ties with Viet Nam

HA NOI – Venezuelan Foreign Relations Vice-Minister for Asia, the Middle East and Oceania David Nieves Velasquez Caraballo has affirmed that his country attaches importance to and wants to boost relations with Viet Nam.

The diplomat made the statement at a courtesy visit to Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, a political consultation with Deputy FM Le Luong Minh and a meeting with President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Vu Xuan Hong in Ha Noi yesterday.

At the events, both sides discussed measures to promote comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

The Vietnamese side congratulated Venezuela on its recent socio-economic achievements and its official admission to the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), and highly valued Venezuelan's role in regional organisations, including the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Bolivarian Alternative of the Americas (ALBA).

The two sides spoke highly of the strong developments of their bilateral friendship and all-round cooperation, especially in politics-diplomacy, trade-investment, energy-oil and gas, and education-training.

The Venezuelan guest agreed to speed up the implementation of cooperation documents and the signing of new agreements, expand bilateral cooperation in potential fields such as construction, agriculture and education.

The two sides discussed an action plan to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of their bilateral diplomatic ties which will come in 2014.

They agreed to enhance coordination and support each other at international organisations and multilateral forums to which both countries are members, especially the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement and the South-South cooperation forum.

Hosts and guest also reached consensus on further promoting the Southeast Asia-Latin America cooperation through existing mechanisms. - VNA

‘Target Ukraine' exporters told

Workers at Phong Phu Garment and Textile Co make garments for export. Viet Nam exports mainly farm produce, garments and footware to Ukraine. — VNA/VNS Photo Ho Cau

HA NOI — Enterprises should pay more attention to Ukraine to increase trade and investment between the two countries, according to Viet Nam's Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The ministry said the Ukraine was an emerging market with a high consumption and diversification of demand, but Vietnamese enterprises had not paid attention to trade promotion activities and failed to capitalise on the Ukrainian market's potential.

Enterprises should actively promote trade activities between Viet Nam and Ukraine to gain further access to the market in the future, the ministry said.

Export value between the two countries increased year-on-year by 68.1 per cent to US$194.5 million in 2011, and in the first half of this year, it gained 47.05 per cent to $96.62 million.

According to many local enterprises, Viet Nam exported mainly farming products, footwear, and textiles and garments to the Ukraine, the ministry said.

Another advantage is that about 10,000 overseas Vietnamese live and work in the Ukraine, providing a bridge between the two countries and contributing to wealth generation on both sides.

Additionally, Viet Nam and the Ukraine have signed 20 economic and trade co-operation agreements which were a great foundation for the development of trade and investment between the two countries in the future, the ministry said.

However, many enterprises from Viet Nam and the Ukraine were struggling to gain a foothold in their respective markets, the ministry said. Language barriers, cultural awareness, legal information, consumption demand and the physical distance between the two countries had forced costs up and turnover down.

To support local enterprises' trade activities in the Ukraine, the ministry plans to implement trade promotion programmes and market research, as well as organise exhibitions and trade fairs in the Ukraine and open branches and representative offices in the country.

The ministry also said an international trade exhibition to be held in Kiev from September 16-22 would be a good chance for Vietnamese enterprises to find trade opportunities.

Businesses from several countries in Asia and Eastern Europe, including Viet Nam and the Ukraine, are expected to participate in the exhibition at the Rainbow Trade Centre.

The fair will showcase a wide range of goods including agricultural products like tea, coffee, seafood and processed foods, consumer goods, textiles and garments, furniture, cosmetics, medicine, electrical goods, household appliances, and construction materials. — VNS

VN learns workers also march on their stomachs

Workers select food at the Mong Duong Coal Joint Stock Company's canteen in Quang Ninh Province.The company provides nutritious meals, but millions of other factory workers often eat unhygienic and poorly prepared food. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Ha

BINH DUONG — Health authorities and nutrition experts are calling for factories in industrial zones and export processing zones to improve the quality of workers' meals as the number of collective food poisoning cases continues to rise.

Participants at the conference, organised yesterday by the Health Ministry's Viet Nam Food Administration, agreed that millions of workers across the country had been suffering from unhygienic meals, which did not provide them with enough nutrition to handle long working hours and affected the general quality of the labour force.

According to Tran Quang Trung, head of the National Food Administration, there were 927 food poisoning cases between 2007-11 nationwide, affecting roughly 30,700 people, including 229 deaths.

Between 2007-11, 72 collective food poisoning cases at public canteens in industrial and processing zones were reported nationwide, affecting 7,000 workers and hospitalising about 6,600.

Most of the cases at factories resulted from low quality ingredients and unhygienic processing and storage procedures that did not meet safety standards.

According to Nguyen Hung Long, deputy head of the National Food Administration, workers' meals were often extremely cheap.

Long said the administration had worked with the National Nutrition Institute to survey workers' meals and found that most did not provide sufficient nutrition.

Nguyen Van Dat, head of the food administration in southern Binh Duong Province, said the agency surveyed 50 businesses in the province from 2010-11, and found on average that only VND15,000 (US$0.75) was spent on each meal.

"We know that some businesses offer meals at VND7,000 ($0.35) but we don't know what they can eat for that small amount," he said.

According to Le Bach Mai, deputy head of the National Nutrition Agency, workers' meals in industrial and processing zones generally only provided 90 per cent of the energy needed for female workers and 77 per cent for male workers.

In addition, most of the calories supplied came from starchy food, mostly rice and potatoes.

If this continued, the problem would especially affect pregnant female workers, she said.

Health authorities said at the conference that they were working with industrial and processing zones and other relevant agencies, particularly the Labour Federation and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, to set regulations related to standards for workers' meals. — VNS

Equality and the family dilemma

I’ve always thought Vietnamese women were strong. In the U.S., you rarely see women carrying a basket full of bricks on their heads, or pushing around carts full of garbage. Those difficult jobs are left for men back home.

In Vietnam I see it all the time. I’ve heard many stories about Vietnamese women war heroes.

The new generation of women have not lost this strength, I’m sure because I have seen it. But it seems that in modern society it shows up in different ways.

I’ve taught in Hanoi, as so many other foreigners have. And also learned a few things from my students. One of the things I learned is the difference between the roles between sexes. In one way, they seem to be much more strict than what I’m used to.

For example, yesterday a female friend of met me at my house for coffee. As we were leaving my house we decided that it would be best to take one motorbike. Since mine was already parked inside, we took hers. She drove. I was on the back.

As we approached the street, the woman who sells tea near my house made fun of me for being driven on the back of a motorbike by a girl.

But my feeling is that the attitudes towards such things are changing quickly.

While I was teaching, I met a number of bright, capable, strong-minded young ladies. I’m sure many of them will become very successful. I wouldn’t doubt that one of them could be Prime Minister one day.

This is a great thing, in my opinion.

On the other hand, as women start to become more financially successful, more independent and more self-assured, it will inevitably change Vietnamese society. Some of these changes will not be welcomed by everyone.

For example, it is a simple historical fact that around the world, once women begin to make more of their own money - maybe even more than their husbands - the divorce rate will go up.

A woman who is financially independent is much less likely to put up with a husband who does not treat her right. If she feels that she has the option to leave, she is much more likely to do so.

I know that The Family is, and has been, the cornerstone of Vietnamese society. But it seems to me that progress and development, things that everybody seems to want, will change the Vietnamese Family.

____________________

One of the most intelligent, young students I’ve ever had once told me that, although she loved her family, she also felt it was like a prison.

Now I’m not saying that all, or even most, women feel this way. But as the economic realities change in Vietnam, it will definitely have an effect on the Vietnamese family.

“Economic Development” and “Women’s Equality”: both sound good. I doubt many people would argue with that. But, unless this country is different than every other nation in the world, the “Vietnamese Family” will ultimately change along with the first two.

Of these three, which is most important?

China, Koreas are big winners in London

China proved they've arrived as a genuine Olympic super-power, and both Koreas impressed -- but Japan were top of the flops among Asian countries at the London Games.

China's Sun Yang poses on the podium with the gold medal after winning the men's 1500m freestyle final at the London Olympics on August 4.

China may not have repeated their feats of Beijing 2008, when they topped the medals table for the first time, but with 38 golds their presence in the top two, behind the United States, was never in doubt.

South Korea were the only other Asian team in the top 10. North Korea, finishing 20th, had their best Games in 20 years, Hong Kong celebrated cycling silver and Singapore won their first individual medal in 52 years.

India couldn't follow Beijing by claiming their second individual gold, but they finished with two silver medals and four bronze -- their highest individual total.

Much as expected, China's divers and badminton and table tennis players missed just two gold medals between them, and their weightlifters hoisted five titles at London's ExCeL.

But China's shooters were off-target compared to Beijing, winning only two golds, and their gymnasts dropped from seven victories in 2008 to three on the London apparatus.

China's track hopes went up in smoke when 110m hurdler Liu Xiang, the 2004 champion, heart-breakingly limped out of the heats for the second Games running with a career-threatening Achilles tendon tear.

But his brave hop down the track to the finish line, symbolic kiss of the last hurdle, and embrace by his waiting competitors, was one of the Games' most memorable images.

Meanwhile Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen, 16, led China to their best performance in the pool, claiming two wins and a world record each as the team broke through with five titles in one of the Olympics' top-tier events.

Sun became China's first male Olympic swimming champion in the 400m freestyle, and then broke the 1500m world record for the second time in a year.

Ye set a new mark in the women's 400m medley and also won the 200m medley, while Jiao Liuyang won the women's 200m butterfly. Unproven doping speculation surrounding Ye was angrily dismissed by Sun.

"People think China has so many gold medals because of doping and other substances, but I can tell you it is because of hard work," said Sun.

"It is all down to training and hard work that we have results. Chinese are not weaker than those in other countries."

China, South Korea and Indonesia were also embroiled in one of the Games' worst scandals, when eight badminton players were disqualified for trying to lose group ties to secure easier quarter-finals.

South Korea's peerless archers, included the legally blind Im Dong-Hyun, hit the bull's-eye with three out of four gold medals, and their shooters added three more at the Royal Artillery Barracks.

They had two more in judo and two in fencing -- but none for Shin A-Lam, whose tearful, hour-long protest over her loss in the women's epee semis won sympathy and media coverage, but no Olympic medal.

North Korea's Games made an unpromising start when their women's footballers were pictured next to the South Korean flag on a stadium big screen, prompting a lengthy protest.

But tiny, 1.52m (five foot) weightlifter Om Yun-Chol put them on the gold trail when he lifted three times his bodyweight to win the 56kg category with a world record-equalling 293kg.

Kim Un-Guk and Rim Jong-Sim also lifted their way to gold at the ExCeL venue, while An Kum-Ae got judo gold on the opening weekend as North Korea matched their best ever haul of four titles at Barcelona 1992.

Japan, who are bidding to host the Games in 2020, had high hopes of emulating their record total of 16 gold medals. But after a near-wipeout in the judo, they ended with just seven.

South Korea rubbed salt into the wound when they beat Japan, their fiercest rivals, 2-0 for men's football bronze.

South Korea's Park Jong-Woo celebrated by waving a politically sensitive banner laying claim to an island group claimed by both countries. He was later barred from collecting his medal.

Sarah Lee Wai-Sze pedalled to Hong Kong's first cycling medal, bronze in the keirin, and China-born Feng Tianwei ended Singapore's half-century wait for an individual medal with bronze in the women's table tennis.

Malaysia got their first diving medal after Pandelela Rinong's bronze in the 10m platform, and there was a wave of sympathy for badminton star Lee Chong Wei, who fell just short of claiming the country's first gold.

Indonesia won two weightlifting medals, but nothing in badminton for the first time in 20 years, and Thailand had medals in boxing, taekwondo and weightlifting.

HCMC gas stations stop selling, wait for price hike

Many gas stations in the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City are suspending operations as they are expecting a price hike to be realized soon.

A "out of stock" sign is showed at a gas station located on Nguyen Kiem Street in Go Vap District.

As of 5:30 pm on August 11, 2012, a "power outage" sign was still hung at a gas station under Military Petrochemical Joint Stock Co (MIPEC) located on Nguyen Oanh Street in Go Vap District.

According to some local residents there, the station has stopped selling for two days, stating that it is running out of fuel.

An employee at a nearby mobile phone shop said there was a fuel tank truck dropped by the station to feed it in the morning. After the trucked left, the station resumes operation for a while, but it stopped again after filling some taxis.

Around 3:00 pm on the same day, a gas station under Southern International Petroleum Co on Nguyen Kiem Street in Go Vap District also suspended from operation.

However, after being taken pictures by Tuoi Tre, it resumed operation.

According to some people in the area, the station stopped selling from Friday afternoon.

These are not isolated cases, as a series of gas stations in HCMC, especially in suburban areas like those in district 9, Thu Duc, Binh Tan, and Binh Chanh, also simultaneously stopped selling starting Saturday, announcing publicly that they had run out of stock.

On Friday, many petroleum wholesalers sent their new price registration to the Ministry of Finance, with the newly registered price increasing by VND1,200-1,400 per liter and VND600-700 per liter for A92 per A95 gasoline and for diesel respectively.

Many of them said the world oil price has risen sharply in recent times, but they have to wait until Friday to submit the price hike plan in accordance with a regulation.

The minimum interval between two successive price increases is ten days, according to Decree No.84 on petroleum product pricing mechanism.

The director of a business said the A92 gasoline price in the reference market of Singapore on Thursday surged to $127.63 per barrel, making the price of imported A92 increased $11.49 per barrel, 9.9 percent hike compared to that in the last domestic oil price increase on August 1, 2012.

However, business insiders said maximum price difference between the local and international A92 is about VND1,100 per liter. The VND1,400 price hike plan may depend on the differences in import sources.

Still predictable?

Saigon Securities Inc (SSI) and Ho Chi Minh Securities Co have predicted that the retail petroleum prices may be increased soon.

SSI said A92 gasoline world price has increased to $120.6 per barrel, up 20.6 percent compared with the price on July 7, 2012 in the August 06 trading session.

“If we calculate the average price within 30 days, petroleum enterprises can maintain break even or slight loss. However, they may lose about VND1,300 per liter if calculating it in 10 days.”

“Thus, the researching department of SSI confirmed that in the next 10 days, petroleum price may be adjusted upwards one more time.”

The Ministry of Finance said that domestic petroleum price would continue to be raised if world petroleum price increase.

In addition, it is unlikely that the ministry will reduce petroleum import tax as this may affect the state budget revenues, but it can consider adjusting contribution amount for the price stabilization fund, SSI said.

SSI also said that the petroleum price increase will not affect much CPI in 2012. However, it will cause pressure on growth expectation for this year and weaken domestic purchasing power.

HSC has also given the same forecast, stating that in accordance with the Decree No.84, local petroleum wholesalers are suffering a current loss of VND430-630 per every liter of petroleum products sold.

The loss rates may surge to VND600-1,200 per every liter of petroleum products sold if the average base price is compared with that in 10 days earlier.

Therefore, HSC said that it is quite likely that local fuel prices will increase in the next 10 days.

Petrol prices experience third increase in less than a month

Petrol prices has officially been raised by VND1,100 per litre from 5pm today (August 13), while oil prices also increase between VND500-800 per litre.

 

This is the third rise within less than a month after increases of VND300-400 per litre of petrol or oil on July 20 and the rise of between VND500-VND900 per litre of petrol or oil on August 1.

According to a representative from Petrolimex, the corporation raised the price of A92 petrol to VND23,000 per litre from a previous VND21,900. Diesel prices have increased to VND750 per litre, kerosene VND800 per litre and mazut VND500 per kilogramme.

Many other petroleum traders have yet to announce their specific adjustments.

Petrol wholesalers approached the Ministry of Finance several days ago seeking approval for an increase of VND1,400 on petrol and a rise of VND600-800 per litre of oil. They said that world oil prices had sharply increased to around USD128 per barrel on August 8, jumping from USD110-117 per barrel in July. In addition, Dung Quat Oil Refinery has halted operations for technical problems, leaving local petrol business seeking supplies from other sources, such as Singapore, South Korea, China, Taiwan and the Middle East.

However, Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Company, the manger of Dung Quat Oil Refinery, said the a-week operation halt would not affect the domestic petroleum supply because presently the refinery only produced around 100,000 tonnes of different products, including liquefied gas, fuel oil, petrol and oil.

Vietnam nominates deputy minister as ASEAN secretary general

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh who has been named as Vietnam's candidate for the rotating ASEAN secretary general's post for 2013-17

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh who has been named as Vietnam's candidate for the rotating ASEAN secretary general's post for 2013-17

Vietnam, which gets to nominate the ASEAN secretary general for the 2013-17 term, named Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh for the post at last month's ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cambodia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said Thursday.

Nghi told a press briefing in Hanoi that other ASEAN members' foreign ministers had supported the nomination and would submit it to their governments for approval at the 21st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh this November.

Also at the press briefing, Nghi was asked about Vietnam’s reaction to reports that China had sent a large number of fishing vessels to fish on the East Sea.

“All activities in the East Sea must be in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the spirit of the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and on the basis of respect for the sovereignty and sovereign and territorial rights of all countries.”

Success & shortcomings

PROFESSOR NGUYEN QUANG THAI FROM THE VIETNAM ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION

Photo: Viet Tuan.

Vietnam’s economy hopes to face fewer difficulties in 2012 than in 2011 but a number of challenges remain, writes Professor Nguyen Quang Thai from the Vietnam Economic Association (VEA).
2011 and its many challenges is now behind us. The global economy has suffered from serious economic crisis with imperfect global institutions. Negotiations among the major powers, with the participation of global financial institutions, to stabilise economies have achieved modest but temporary success.
Global climate change has also created a number of obstacles to development in many countries and in the world as a whole. In this context Vietnam’s economic successes need to be noted.
Inflationary storm
Inflation in 2011 remained high, because economic development has primarily depended upon investment and there has been an inefficient use of capital over the last decade. Easy credit led to a continued increase in money supply in the economy.
According to the Asia Development Bank (ADB), money supply (M2) in 2010 rose by as much as three-fold over 2006 and nearly ten-fold over 2001. High inflation caused difficulties for much of the population, especially for medium- and low-income earners. That was the biggest problem for the economy in 2011.
Vietnam’s banking system is also too weak. Credit over GDP was much higher than in other countries in the region, estimated to be as high as 131.5 per cent in 2010. Small banks with liquidity shortages had to become involved in a race to attract deposits. Before the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) applied a deposit interest rate ceiling of 14 per cent there were some periods when rates reached as high as 20 per cent.
The race to attract deposits at high interest rates had a negative impact on businesses, which in turn were incapable of repaying their debts, leading to an even more serious situation as regards bank liquidity. That was the second biggest problem for the economy in 2011.
Policy impacts
The government’s Resolution No 11, issued in February, has been realised with the aim of curbing inflation and ensuring macro-economic stability and social welfare along with a series of policies such as monetary tightening via cutting public investment and limiting credit growth, especially credit for non-production areas.
The results are clear. The CPI, after peaking in April, slowed down rapidly and was less than 1 per cent in August. Hopefully, with the persistent implementation of Resolution No 11, inflation will come down to single digits in 2012.
Another important success that should be referred to is the waking up of the banking system. The process has been carried out through a series of solutions, especially when the SBV decided to impose a deposit interest rate ceiling of 14 per cent.
A number of weak commercial banks saw their poor liquidity exposed and so were placed under special control. The restructure of banks has been boosted, with the merger of three commercial banks: the De Nhat, Tin Nghia and the Saigon Commercial joint stock banks.
The government’s three-pronged economic restructure, along with restructure of the banking system, includes restructuring State-owned enterprises (SOEs) and public investment. The restructure of public investment is part of the continuity of implementing Resolution No 11 but with an appropriate mechanism to raise the efficiency of projects allocated public investment from the government.
The restructure of SOEs has also begun, with publication of the management and financial status of State-owned economic groups and corporations. The remaining 1,309 SOEs are either being re-arranged or will be equitised.
In the social sphere many jobs have been created and the living conditions of low-income earners have improved. The agriculture sector has taken off, with a good harvest and better prices, therefore allowing it to play a role in stabilising the economy and growth.
Trade recorded encouraging results, with total revenues of $96 billion and the bridging of the trade deficit down to $10 billion. Thanks to the tightening of fiscal and currency policy an economic slowdown has been avoided, though many enterprises still face difficulties from high lending interest rates.
More alarming was the policy of decentralisation, which led to scattered investment and low efficiency. Moreover, due to the domination of certain interest groups, some policies in 2011 were not realised to the extent expected.
Solutions for 2012
At the beginning of 2012 the government worked out a number of solutions. Firstly, focusing on curbing inflation and ensuring macro-economic stability, realising the cautious, flexible and efficient tightening of fiscal and currency policy, strengthening the control and supervision of prices, organising the domestic market and boosting exports and curbing imports to reduce the trade deficit, pulling credit growth down to between 15 and 17 per cent in 2012, raising total payment tools to around 14 to 16 per cent, and reducing interest rates to a reasonable level to conform with macro-economic development. Appropriate measures need to be taken to lower spending and raise revenue collection, so as to reduce the State budget deficit to below 4.8 per cent of GDP.
Secondly, focusing on economic restructuring and renovating the growth model in order to raise the efficiency and competitive edge of the economy, especially on restructuring public investment and the financial and banking system, mainly targeting the commercial bank system, and restructuring SOEs.
Thirdly, raising the quality of human resources and applying science and technology. Fourthly, ensuring social welfare and providing healthcare and better cultural and material lives for the people and realising the poverty elimination scheme.
Three other measures include (i) dealing with natural disasters and climate change, and protecting the environment; (ii) perfecting the legal system, boosting administrative reform, raising the efficiency of State management, exercising thrift, and fighting waste and corruption; and (iii) strengthening national defence and security, ensuring law and social order and enhancing the efficiency of diplomatic activities.
In a brief report recently released on the economic situation in a number of countries in Asia, including Vietnam, analysts from JPMorgan remarked that Vietnam’s tightening of fiscal and currency policy has brought about initial results, helping to slow down inflation and the trade deficit.
On this basis the report says that Vietnam’s macro-economic situation will improve in 2012, inflation will continue to come down, the balance of payments will have more backing and foreign reserves will increase.
According to JPMorgan, another positive factor is that existing interest rates of 14 per cent will attract depositors. As a result, the report says, risks to Vietnam’s foreign reserves will only be seen if the government liberalises policy before conditions allow.
The report also remarked that the quality of bank assets in Vietnam is one of the issues requiring closer attention. However, the danger of a crisis in Vietnam’s banking system at this point is relatively low.   

V-League title race hots up with three teams in the running

HCM CITY — The V-League title race is likely to take another twist tomorrow when top teams perform in the 25th and penultimate round of the Eximbank V-League 2012.

The V-League title race has become all the more exciting as a two-team race changed into a three-horse race after Ha Noi and Da Nang drew at home last weekend, allowing third-placed Sai Gon Xuan Thanh to reduce the gap.

The three top teams are separated by only one point, and all of them have equal chances to take the title.

Ha Noi T&T, leading the table with 46 points, will take on Hoang Anh Gia Lai on the latter's home turf, Hang Day Stadium.

Despite being rated higher, the 2010 V-League champions will have to battle to beat the visitors.

Da Nang, second with 45 points, also enjoy a home advantage, taking on relegation-threatened Dong Thap at Chi Lang Stadium.

However, it is clear that Da Nang will face a determined performance from Dong Thap, which cannot afford to lose the match.

Sai Gon Xuan Thanh, third with 44 points, will face Becamex Binh Duong.

It could be the decisive match for Xuan Thanh because Binh Duong can beat any team when they are in form. A loss could cost Xuan Thanh the title.

On the other end of the table, Kien Giang have an excellent opportunity to earn three points to stay in the V-League when they visit already-relegated Hai Phong.

Also, it will not be easy for Khanh Hoa to free themselves from relegation worries when they visit Thanh Hoa, which is playing well at home.

In other matches, Song Lam Nghe An will face Ninh Binh and Navibank will take on Ha Noi FC. — VNS

Indices fall on slower trading

HA NOI – Stocks opened the new week's trading in the red with trading values decreased sharply on both exchanges.

On the HCM City Stock Exchange, the VN-Index closed this morning at 424 points, off 0.37 per cent from the previous session, with value of trades totalling just over VND253 billion (US$12 million).

Losers tripled gainers, led by blue chips.

Shares tracked by the VN30 lost 0.29 per cent to 505.11 points. Insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), food processor Masan Group (MSN), property developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG), PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) and Sacombank (STB) all fell from 1-2 per cent.

With nearly 2 million shares changing hands, Tay Bac Minerals Investment (KTB) was the only stock seeing trades in excess of 1 million shares, becoming the most active share this morning, despite plunging to the floor price of VND8,900 ($0.42) a share.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index also declined 0.8 per cent to 69.78 points by the end of this morning.

Decliners outnumbered advancers by 123-46.

Trading was sluggish when just nearly 20 million shares, worth VND206.2 billion ($9.8 million), were exchanged.

Habubank (HBB) was still the most active code on the Ha Noi bourse this morning with nearly 3 million shares changing hands, closing flat at VND5,100 ($0.24) a share. HBB will be delisted from August 17.

The market will resume at 1pm. – VNS

Banks want to boost ATM fees

People withdraw cash from Vietcombank ATMs in Ha Noi. Six major banks – Agribank, Vietinbank, Vietcombank, Dong A Bank, BIDV and Techcombank – own 8,200 ATMs, accounting for 70 per cent of the total nationwide. — VNS Photo Truong Vi

HCM CITY — Banks want to raise fees on per inter-bank ATM transaction from VND3,300 to VND5,500 in order to make up for major bank losses incurred by sharing card services with small banks.

The State Bank of Viet Nam has given the green light to banks to charge fees on all internal ATM transactions beginning in 2013.

However, many major banks also want the central bank to increase fees on inter-bank ATM transactions.

The head of a major bank's transaction office in HCM City, who declined to be named, said it was necessary to increase fees on inter-bank ATM transactions because the costs for building and operating facilities for ATMs reached hundreds of millions of dong.

Expenses include the purchase of ATMs, installations and rental of space.

ATM owners also have to pay millions of dong to operate the machines per month, including payments for space rental, security fees and electricity charges.

"This is the reason why many small banks do not have enough money to build many ATMs, although they have issued so many cards. Consequently, cardholders of small banks have to use ATMs of major banks to carry out their transactions," he told Tuoi Tre newspaper.

One bank has issued 80,642 cards, but built only 20 ATMs, while another has issued 64,277 cards but has only 10 machines.

With the current fee of VND3,300 fixed per inter-bank transaction, the money is not enough for ATM owners to cover additional services if they have to serve thousands of cardholders from other banks, according to independent market watchdogs.

According to figures from the Smartlink Card Service Joint-Stock Company, by late 2011 Viet Nam had around 15,000 ATMs, with nearly 40 million ATM cards in usage, resulting in total transactions worth US$32 million.

At present, only six major banks, Agribank, Vietinbank, Vietcombank, Dong A, BIDV and Techcombank, own 8,200 ATMs, accounting for 70 per cent of the total.

However, most banks have not earned profits from card services.

Phi Thi Phuong, head of the card-service office of the Export – Import Joint Stock Commercial Bank (Eximbank), said the bank had installed 300 ATMs in the last 10 years but had not made any profit from this kind of service.

Phuong told the Viet Nam News Agency that all banks, however, were still providing card services because benefits were expected in the future, particularly in retail sales.

The deputy director of another major bank in Ha Noi said that major banks could not support small banks'use of ATMs any longer.

Small banks should invest more to build their own ATMs, or increase fees for inter-banks ATM transactions, he added. — VNS

HCM City determined to fight drugs crime

HCM CITY - HCM City authorities hope to reduce the rate of people relapsing into illegal drug use, as part of efforts in the city's ongoing battle against drugs crime.

The city's plan to fight illegal drug use by 2020 with a vision to 2030 was launched today by the HCM City People's Committee.

Authorities aim to reduce the rate of relapse among former drug addicts from the current rate of 17 per cent to 10-15 per cent.

Work on fighting drug crime will continue to see police make drug busts, especially on traffickers of hard drugs such as heroin.

According to Deputy Chief of HCM City Police Ngo Minh Chau, 1,600 traffickers and 6.5kg of heroin as well as more than 27kg of ecstasy were seized during the first six months of the year.

The foreign traffickers recruit Vietnamese women to transport large amounts of ecstasy by plane from Africa, Afghanistan and the Golden Triangle into Viet Nam and from Viet Nam to other countries, he said. Local police have also discovered ecstasy production in the city area.

Chau said police officers face a tough battle as some criminals involved in the production and transport of illegal drugs used high powered weapons to resist police.

Authorities also face a tough task as the numbers of heroin users in the city are rising, and this trend also includes increasing cases of HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS infections are rising as the number of people using heroin increased by 7.7 per cent during the first six months of the year, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

There are now about 170,000 heroin addicts across the country. The figures were released at a conference on curbing illegal drug use in southern provinces held last week in HCM City.

Conference participants also heard that HCM City recorded 49.3 per cent more heroin addicts during the first six months of the year when compared to the same period last year. Elsewhere, in Can Tho City, half of all heroin addicts who underwent detoxification programmes lapsed back into heroin use, while the number of new addicts accounted for just 35 per cent.

Treatment offered by public rehabilitation centres is seen as an effective way for heroin addicts to free themselves of the drug. Attending the centres, the addicts also receive vocation training as well as knowledge on culture and lifestyle.

However, according to the ministry's source, heroin addicts remain hesitant to come to the centres. Some people even wanted to escape from the centres due to the harsh programmes and sometimes unfriendly relations between staff and addicts.

According to Do Thi Ninh Xuan, Deputy Head of the ministry's Department for Fighting Social Crimes, Long An Province's Labour and Education Centre was among the top centres that tailored its training programmes according to learners' needs. As a result, 95 per cent of the centre's members undertook training programmes, including classes on welding techniques and motor repairs. Two thirds of them received certificates of distinction.

Meanwhile in HCM City, ward and district authorities are encouraged to team-up with rehabilitation centres so that the drug users could receive help from local authorities to reintegrate into the community after being rehabilitated.

Nguyen Van Minh, Deputy Head of HCM City's Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Department, urged the centres to plant trees and create fish pond in the centre complexes. In addition, he suggested centres regularly hold entertainment activities, sports and artistic performances to make trainees feel more at home.

He said the city planed to diversify rehabilitation models. Some public and private centres, therefore, would be selected to become service centres, while new community-based centres will also be built.

Nonetheless, the idea to build rehabilitation centres at wards and communes encountered difficulties since few wards and communes have funds for this. In addition, few doctors are willing to work at the commune's centres.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam said health and public security sectors play important roles in building community-based rehabilitation centres.

The Deputy Minister said the police should be in charge of managing these trainees, with the local heath sector taking care of the addicts' health and the social welfare sector in charge of vocational training and production loans and jobs creation.

Sharing the view, deputy head of An Giang Province's Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Department said that local authorities play a crucial role in preventing former addicts relapsing into drug use.

A representative from Tien Giang Province called on police to more seriously fight drug sales, otherwise authorities efforts would be meaningless. – VNS