Work starts on industrial zone in Long An

HCMC - Dang Huynh Industrial Zone Development and Management JSC on Wednesday broke ground for an industrial zone development project in Can Giuoc District in the Mekong Delta province of Long An.

The affiliate of Saigon Thuong Tin Real Estate JSC, better known as Sacomreal, has earmarked some VND500 billion to develop the Tan Kim Industrial Zone covering 80 hectares near Can Giuoc Town in proximity with Hiep Phuoc Industrial Zone in Nha Be District and Phu My Hung new urban town in HCMC.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, Thai Van Chuyen, general director of the company, said the industrial zone would serve companies active in garment, wood processing, household and cosmetics industries.

Chuyen said companies would be offered favorable conditions in terms of procedure and services such as legal and investment consulting as well as booking and auditing services when they set up shop there.

In addition, a residential project named Tan Phuoc is to be developed in the industrial zone.

The developer says some 20 hectares in the project will be used for the development of villas, row houses and apartments for future residents and for the relocation program in the province. Besides, the project includes schools, a clinic, shopping center and park.

Tan Kim Industrial Zone is scheduled for technical and infrastructure completion by late 2012.

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British University Vietnam wants to open branch in city

HCMC – The owners of the Hanoi-based British University Vietnam are looking at conditions to open a branch in HCMC, the top executive of the school said.

Sir Graeme Davies, vice chancellor and chairman of the British University Vietnam, told HCMC vice chairman Hua Ngoc Thuan during a courtesy call on Tuesday that he was looking for a site to open the branch.

At the meeting, the vice chairman suggested to Sir Davies that the city government has earmarked a 137-hectare area in the outlying district of Cu Chi District to develop a university area. “If you want to have a look, we’re ready to arrange a sightseeing tour. You will be guided by leaders of the project management board,” said Thuan.

According to Sir Davies, the British University Vietnam was established in September 2009 as a wholly foreign owned institution. This university has five faculties including International Management of Business Administration, Banking and Finance, Marketing Management, and Finance and Accounting.

Sir Davies, who accompanied His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Andrew to Hanoi to attend the anniversary of 1,000 Years of Thang Long – Hanoi, said the school’s grand opening was held in the capital city last week at the witness of the Prince.

“On this occasion, we are assigned by the Prince to launch his scholarship fund named the Duke of York Scholarship,” said Sir Davies, adding there would be three full scholarships in 2011 which costs US$30,500 each for Vietnamese students.

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City consumers benefit hugely from sales promotion month

Consumers buy fashion products at a supermarket in HCMC. Discounts for fashion products averaged out at 22% during September - Photo: Minh Tam

HCMC – Consumers in HCMC enjoyed nearly VND300 billion, or some US$15 million, under the form of discounts during September chosen as the Big Sale Promotion Month, the city’s Department of Industry and Trade said on Wednesday.

In its overview of the sales month released on Wednesday, the department said the total promotional value amounted to VND296 billion, a hefty increase of 120% against the similar activity last year.

As many as 608 traders with 2,200 outlets participated in the sales program, increasing by 22.7% and 38% respectively. Most of the participating traders are trade centers, supermarkets, and marketplaces.

The department in its report said sharpest discounts belonged to cosmetics-fashion at an average 22%, followed by digital equipment and ICT devices at 18.5%, tourism-hotel and foods and beverages both at 16.2%, and household appliances at 15.9%.

Many traders reported sharp increases in sales during the month.

Saigon Co.op with its stores chain Co.opMart saw sales revenue increase 40% against the previous month and 50% year on year, while BigC witnessed the number of shoppers increase a staggering 110%. Other less-known supermarkets also reported agreeable growth rates, at 15-25% at Maximark, and 30% at Citimart.

Electronics centers were also big gainers in the month. Thien Hoa Electronics Shopping Centers reported an increase of 120% against August and 136% against the year-earlier period.

A highlight of this year’s sales program is the attraction of green products marketed by Unilever, Vinamilk, Colgate Palmolive, and Kido JS Company.

Revenues of these enterprises introducing green products at Saigon Co.op’s chain were said to increase by between 30% and 40% during the week-long showcase.

The Sales Promotion Month is a regular activity organized by the city’s Department of Industry and Trade in collaboration with the Department of Culture-Sports-Tourism to boost sales in September, when retail revenues often plunge. The annual activity was first organized in 2005.

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New Metro wholesale center starts up in Binh Dinh

Randy Guttery (R), managing director of Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam, and guests take a tour of the newly opened Metro wholesale center in Binh Dinh Province - Photo: Minh Thuan

HCMC - German-invested wholesale chain operator Metro Cash & Carry on Wednesday opened its eleventh outlet in the central province of Binh Dinh as it is keeping expanding its operations countrywide.

The US$14-million Metro Quy Nhon center, covering over three hectares in Ghenh Rang Ward, Quy Nhon City, is the company’s second on the central coast after the one in Danang City with a total area of 5,600 square meters.

The store stocks more than 25,000 food and non-food items and targets business customers in Binh Dinh Province and neighboring provinces in central Vietnam, according to the company.

Hotels, restaurants, caterers, service companies and offices are the target customer groups of Metro Cash & Carry Quy Nhon, the company said, adding the new center employs 400 people.

“Small and medium businesses play an important role in the emerging economies like Vietnam,” said Randy Guttery, managing director of Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam. “The progress of our business in Vietnam proves that the B2B (business-to-business) cash & carry wholesale concept of Metro is unique to the country’s economy and its business communities.”

Metro Cash & Carry opened its first outlet in Vietnam in 2002. Its current 11 wholesale centers are located in HCMC, Hanoi, Haiphong, Danang, Can Tho, Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), Long Xuyen (An Giang), and Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh). There are also two distribution platforms with one in Binh Duong and the other in Lam Dong.

One more wholesale center is under way in Binh Duong Province and it is slated for opening this year.

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Asia travel industry has bright outlook: Abacus CEO

Abacus International President and CEO Robert Bailey at the media briefing for the 7th Abacus International Conference in HCMC on Wednesday evening - Photo: Mong Binh

HCMC – The sunshine is casting over Asia’s travel industry, giving regional travel agents confidence in continuing recovery and growth toward the end of this year and beyond, Abacus International President and CEO Robert Bailey said.

Bailey quoted the latest Abacus Asia Travel Sentiment Survey conducted by Asia’s leading provider of travel solutions and services as saying that up to 62% of travel agents anticipate a promising industry outlook for the next half year.

Bailey highlighted the survey findings at a media briefing on Wednesday evening ahead of the 7th Abacus International Conference 2010 that will kick-off in HCMC on Thursday. He said in a welcome letter handed to the Daily that the event would touch on rewarding topics, with the focus on the changes within Asia and how these changes will lead growth opportunities in this region.

Bailey said recent positive growth in travel bookings had fuelled optimism for the industry’s outlook and for Abacus as its total booking volumes to August recorded 11% year-on-year growth with the number of travelers rising by 15%.

“This trend is expected to continue into the first quarter of 2011. This has been a better than expected result from our earlier forecast of 3-5% in the first half,” Bailey said. He credited the growth to the pent-up demand for leisure travel as well as the return of corporate travel.

Bailey said China and India continued to lead Asia’s travel industry growth but stressed the important role of countries in Indochina. In his presentation at the media briefing, Bailey listed Vietnam alongside China and India as key markets in Asia Pacific growth spurt.

Bailey said Asia certainly remained the most dynamic region, as proved by a surge in international arrivals to Asia Pacific and the expected US$5.2 billion profits from carriers in the region this year.

Preliminary data from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) showed the number of international visitors to the region in July increased by 15% year-on-year and the January-July figure was up 12% over the same period last year.

Though corporate travelers remain cautious with their travel expenditure and leisure travelers continue to look for the best bargains, Abacus’ survey indicated travel agents still believed the corporate segment as having the most room for growth.

On another aspect, Bailey said mobile platform was standing out within the travel industry and its applications were rapidly being developed to meet the demand, particularly in Asia Pacific where there are over 450 million mobile Internet subscribers.

The dynamic online landscape in Asia, online and mobile solutions and applications for the industry, corporate productivity and opportunities in Indochina are among the topics on the table at the international conference. The event will end this weekend.

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Japanese company set to serve Vietnamese agriculture

The Japanese multinational Sumitomo Corporation on October 14 officially
opened a company in Ho Chi Minh City to provide products that serve
the agricultural sector.

The corporation’s
chairman Ray Nishimoto, representatives of the Japanese Consulate
General and others from relevant Vietnamese agencies and institutions
attended the event.

Currently, the company is
producing pesticides such as Padan 95SP, 50 SP, Validacin 3L, 5L, Sumi
Eight 12.5 WP, Dantotsu 16 WDG, 50 WDG, and Starner 20 WP, which
annihilates bacteria that cause rotten fruit and vegetables. These
products help farmers increase productivity, ensure product quality for
domestic and export markets, and contribute to building an advanced
agricultural sector.

According to Kimitoshi Umeda,
the corporation’s global marketing director, the Sumitomo Vietnam has
worked out policies on researching and developing products and waste
treatment that do not harm the environment.

In addition, the product price is suitable for Vietnamese farmers, he said./.

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Economic competitive index now in public eye

Cement, steel, chemical fertilisers, feeds and milk were listed as having relatively healthy competitive behaviours.

The assessment was reported by the Competition Management Department
under the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Hanoi on October 14 for
the first time.

However, some products of the
above-mentioned five industries, including imported powder milk and
construction steel, were criticised for unhealthy competitiveness due to
their misleading advertisements.

The report,
which covered 10 economic sectors, slammed five other industries, namely
aviation, banking, insurance, petroleum distribution and
telecommunication, for unhealthy competitive behaviour, citing abuse of
advertisements and discounts to gain market share.

Deputy Director of the Competition Management Department Vu Ba Phu
emphasised that the report aimed to establish and maintain a fair and
healthy competitive environment for all economic sectors in Vietnam .

The report was expected to increase awareness of competition policies and law among enterprise circles, Phu said.

Dr Dinh Thi My Loan, General Secretary of the Vietnam Retailers
Association, said the ranking was based on the impact of price changes,
consumer responses and concerns about the surveyed industries or
products.

Loan, however, said the report wording remained “soft and yet fully reflecting customer worries”.

Her view was shared by another expert, Vo Tri Thanh, Deputy Rector of
the Central Economic Research and Management Institute, who said the
report should be subjected to objective evaluation by experts.

The report, prepared under the sponsorship of the Beyond WTO
programme, will be released in HCM City on October 20, following its
Hanoi release.

The Competition Management
Department unveiled a plan to conduct research and supervise the
competitive structure of several other economic sectors for inclusion in
the annual report./.

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