Author: malaysiang

Hanoi: The Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are building steps to implement a project on enhancing the capacity of plastic pollution management in Vietnam.

It includes two component projects on strengthening plastic pollution control through promoting monitoring activities in Vietnam to provide information for the management and policy making process, and on intensifying plastic waste value chain management in target provinces with river basins through promoting circular economic models and innovative solutions to prevent plastic waste at source.

A wide range of activities are scheduled to be organised to increase the capacity of related parties at the national and local levels on monitoring plastic waste in rivers, and to improve public awareness on waste classification at source.

Statistics from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment show th
at Vietnam has about 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste discharged into the environment each year, of which only 10% is recycled and the remaining is buried or burned.

ISPONRE Deputy Director Nguyen Trung Thang said that monitoring plastic pollution needs more attention to limit the negative impacts of this type of pollution, and moving towards perfecting the green economic and circular economic models in Vietnam./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officially launched the Fertilize Right Project, at a workshop in Hanoi on April 9.

Led by the Plant Protection Department and implemented by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the four-year project is estimated to cost 4.4 million USD.

It will be carried out in the three Red River Delta provinces of Hai Duong, Thai Binh, and Nam Dinh and three Mekong Delta localities of Can Tho city and Dong Thap and Soc Trang provinces.

More than 2,600 individuals are expected to benefit from short-term training; and greenhouse gases such as CH4, N2O to reduce by an annual amount equivalent to 56,000 tonnes of CO2.

In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung stated that the project aims to promote sustainable and environmentally responsible agricultural production.

He expressed his hope that with technical support from USDA, IRRI experts and Vietnamese scien
tists, farmers in the participating localities will have an access to advanced techniques and precision agriculture practices, including optimised fertiliser use in rice cultivation, in order to replicate successful experiences nationwide.

Speaking at the launch workshop, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper stated that in 2023, the two countries upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, opening up new opportunities for agricultural cooperation for sustainable development. The US is the second-largest importer of farm produce from Vietnam, while Vietnam holds an important position in global food security.

The diplomat said he is confident that the project will provide technical support and training to rice farmers to improve their livelihoods, soil health and ensure food security.

The project activities are based on the “four rights” of nutrient management, namely right source, right rate, right place, and right time. These principles correspond to the “five rights” of fertilis
ation stipulated in Vietnam’s crop production law, which are right soil, right crop, right amount, right time, and right method./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The annual Report on Digital Transformation 2023 was launched by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) at a press conference in Hanoi on April 9, providing enterprises with an insight into the twin green and digital transition trend in the world.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Director of the MPI’s Enterprise Development Department Nguyen Duc trung said that the report is an update of the digital transformation in the world and Vietnam in particular, while highlighting the twin transition that has been carried out by enterprises across the globe.

With valuable information as well as digital and green transition stories, the report will help the business community make right choices during the process, he said, adding it is also expected to offer ministries, agencies and localities new approaches to support enterprises.

As part of the programme to support businesses to go digital during 2021-2025, various activities were implemented by
the MPI and competent domestic and international parties, with a focus being raising digital transformation awareness of enterprises across 63 cities and provinces.

Firms have understood the significance of digital transformation, with many proactively integrating digital transformation target into their development strategy as well as mobilising necessary resources for digital transformation projects, the report revealed.

It stated that the twin transition has become increasingly important on a global scale, with initiatives revolving around improving productivity and economic efficiency in a sustainable manner, enhancing climate change resilience, and cutting or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.

In Vietnam, digital technology and digital transformation are expected to be a motivation to bolster green economic transition and realise strategic targets on green growth.

According to Director for Sustainable Economic Development at GIZ Vietnam Dennis Quennet, although enterprises are well aware of digita
l transformation, they need supporting policies and programmes to make breakthroughs in the process in the coming time./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The ‘Million steps of kindness’ walk campaign held by the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC) and the Vietnam Youth Federation to call on the community to engage in physical activities to raise donations to the needy, has surpassed its goal, even 13 days earlier than the schedule.

The campaign, held in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954- 2024) and the Hanoi’s Liberation Day (October 10, 1954-2024), it was scheduled to last for 56 days, from February 25 to April 22 as it represented 56-day historic campaign of the Dien Bien Phu Victory that ‘resounded across the five continents and shook the globe’.

Initially, the campaign aimed to attract 70,000 people to walk and jog for a total distance of 700,000km and record their results via the app of V-Race.

So far, 78,500 people have joined walking and jogging for 1,698,000km, raising more than 7 billion VND (284,000 USD) to build seven kitchens for semi-boarding students in mountainous areas, provided sustainable livel
ihoods to 70 low-income families, essential goods for 700 disadvantaged households, nutrition advice and assistance to 7,000 children from poor families, and free health examination and treatment to 7,000 people in disadvantaged circumstances in the northern mountainous provinces of Dien Bien, Son La, and Thai Nguyen.

VRC President Bui Thi Hoa said the ‘Million steps of kindness’ campaign marks the start of a humanitarian journey nationwide appealing to people of all ages and from all social strata to engage in good deeds for the sake of the community.

She added that the participation by each person is not only a physical act for their health but also a demonstration of the continuation of the traditional kindness and heroism passed down from former generations.

She also asked individuals and organisations to continue support for the programme until April 22./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Kien Giang: Minister – Chairman of the Government’s Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs Hau A Lenh attended a get-together to celebrate the Chol Chnam Thmay festival of Khmer people in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang on April 9.

In his speech, the official extended greetings and best wishes to the Khmer ethnic community on the occasion of their traditional New Year festival, stressing that thanks to the attention from the Party and State, and sectors and local authorities, the material and spiritual lives of the Khmer people continue to improve, and rural areas gets a facelift.

He expressed his belief that the local Khmer people and monks will continue to uphold their patriotism, promote national solidarity, and embrace the spirit of self-reliance, diligence, and enthusiasm in their labour and production efforts to build prosperous and happy lives.

The official urged the community to make great efforts and stay united with other ethnic groups to complete socio-economic development goals of the lo
cality for 2024.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Luu Trung highlighted achievements by local officials, soldiers, and people, including the significant contributions by the Khmer people, and touched upon economic, cultural, social, defence and security situation, and key projects in the locality.

According to Danh Phuc, head of the provincial Committee of Ethnic Affairs, the rate of poor and near poor Khmer households decreased to 2.68%, and 4.08%, respectively.

Most Venerable Danh Dong, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha chapter in Kien Giang, expressed determination to continue promoting the spirit of solidarity and the tradition of patriotism, as well as developing the contingent of intellectuals among the Khmer youths, thus contributing to accelerating the locality’s prosperous development.

The same day, the Youth Union of the Mekong Delta province of An Giang also organised a gathering and gift-giving event for Cambodian and Lao students study
ing in the locality, as well as for Khmer ethnic youth union members on the occasion of the traditional festivals Chol Chnam Thmay and Bunpimay in 2024./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Thua Thien-Hue: About 80 children with cleft palate in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue and surrounding localities are to receive free check-ups and surgeries from now until April 18.

Volunteer doctors and nurses from Interplast – Germany and the Odonto-Stomatology Centre of Hue Central Hospital will conduct the operations.

Deputy Director of the Odonto-Stomatology Centre under the Hue Central Hospital Tran Xuan Phu said the centre has worked with many foreign doctors to offer free cleft palate surgeries, especially for children.

This is the sixth time Interplast has come to the Hue Central Hospital. Along with providing free surgery and check-up, the organisation also shares experience with young doctors and nurses of the hospital.

After six years of cooperation, the free surgery programme for children with cleft lip and palate birth defects has become a regular activity, creating a sustainable link between the medical teams. As a result, more and more children are getting rid of their impairment,
and returning to normal life with bright and confident smiles./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnam sent more than 35,900 labourers to work abroad under contracts in the first quarter of 2024, according to the Department of Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

Japan and Taiwan (China) continued to be the largest recipients of Vietnamese guest workers. Other markets included the Republic of Korea (RoK), China, Singapore, Romania, Thailand, Macau (China), Saudi Arabia and Hungary.

Last year, over 159,000 workers went abroad for employments, surpassing the yearly target by 33.3%, and the highest figure recorded over the past ten years.

Over the past time, the MoLISA has worked to send more labourers overseas under non-profit programmes as well as provide recruitment and related information for workers, especially those in communes with extreme difficulties. Besides, the ministry has promoted negotiations with its partners such as the RoK, Germany and Australia to expand markets in the coming time.

In 2024, the MoLISA aims to bring 125,000 worker
s abroad, focusing on key traditional markets such as Japan, Taiwan (China) and the RoK. The ministry eyes to have 120,000-143,000 people working in foreign countries every year, who send home total remittances of around 3.5-4 billion USD.

Most recently, the Government issued a plan to carry out a directive of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on enhancing the Party’s leadership on sending workers overseas in the new situation. Along with building strategies to bring Vietnamese labourers to work in foreign countries, the plan outlines solutions to raising awareness on law observance as well as coordination mechanisms to handle worker-related issues./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency