HCMC asks for military land to be reviewedThe Ministry of Defence promised to hand over military-owned land to the south of HCM City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport, if required by the Government. HCM City authorities recently asked for joint-ministerial collaboration to review all military-controlled land currently being used for commercial purposes. This land is primarily used for military purposes – camps and barracks, deployment of defence systems, training grounds and historical landmarks. HCM City authorities have asked the MoNRE and the MoD to direct units and agencies to review the commercialisation of military land within HCM City, and submit their findings to the Government. Any wrongful use of military land, illegal renting of military land, or infringement of military land due to lax oversight would be “strictly dealt with” and the leaders of those areas would be held accountable, he said.

HCM City needs huge capital for flood-prevention programmesVietNamNet Bridge - As the local budget is limited, HCM City authorities have called for investment in 17 anti-flood projects under different investment modes. To date, only three canal dredging projects, three waste water treatment plants and 4,100 kilometers out of 6,000 kilometers of outlets have been built. “We are calling for investment in urban environment and waste water treatment projects under the mode of BLT (build, lease, transfer) and BTL (build, transfer, lease). Meanwhile, attendees at a conference held by the HCM City authorities in mid-August expressed their concern about the efficiency of anti-flood projects. HCM City Vice Mayor Tran Vinh Tuyen said it is necessary to find the exact causes of flooding.

New regulation adjusts limit on foreign investment in educationVietNamNet Bridge - Some limitations on foreign investment in education have been removed with the release of a new decree. As a result, Vietnamese students have to queue for their turn to enter some prestigious foreign-invested schools. Foreign investors complain about the complicated procedures they have to follow when setting up new education establishments, regardless of whether it is a branch of foreign language center or a large university. New regulationThe Decree 86 which took effect in early August lifted the limit on the number of Vietnamese students in foreign-invested education establishments from 10-20 percent to 50 percent. The establishments have to experience two-step procedures – obtaining investment registration licenses and education operation licenses, while other establishments, from nursery schools to universities still have to follow three-step procedures.

Scientists invent icemaker that uses sea waterVietNamNet Bridge - Scientists at the Hi-tech Development Center, an arm of the Vietnam Academy of Science & Technology, in an effort to help fishing boats reduce post-harvesting losses due to the lack of preservation equipment, have invented a machine which can make ice from sea water. The icemaker that uses sea waterThis is the first product researched and built to suit the conditions of fishing boats in Vietnam. Meanwhile, making ice from sea water can help reduce production cost, because fishermen don’t have to carry ice from mainland. The input material water to make ice is 3 percent salt water, or sea water which is pumped into a periodic tank. The volume of water to be pumped depends on the density or temperature of the ice products required.

Convenience store openings increase steadilyVietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnamese retail market, which had record-high revenue of $69.45 billion in the first half of the year, is witnessing a rush of convenience store openings. The retail market maintains the growth rate of 10 percent per annumThe retail market has maintained a stable growth rate of 10 percent in recent years, an attractive figure in the eyes of international retailers.The growth rate tends to increase steadily. GS25, a newcomer in Vietnam, plans to open 50 shops in Vietnam this year, mostly in HCMC, before it marches towards Hanoi by early 2020. GS25, a newcomer in Vietnam, plans to open 50 shops in Vietnam this year, mostly in HCMC, before it marches towards Hanoi by early 2020. Saigon Co-op, the largest Vietnamese owner retail chain, recently launched a 24 hour retail service under the brand ‘Cheers’.

By Dr. Andres Sosa*Having flat feet means that your feet have low or no arches and press almost completely flat against the ground. Are flat feet a real problem? However, flat feet can sometimes be associated with stiffness or pain in the feet, ankles, legs, knees, hips or lower back. Most people simply inherit flat feet from their parents but occasionally, flat feet can be also the result of:- Feet bones not forming properly in the womb. It is important to understand that these actions won’t change the shape of the feet, but may help relieve some of the symptoms associated with flat feet.

SBV to divert more credits to eco-friendly projectsThe State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has issued Decision No.1604/QD-NHNN, approving a scheme on developing green banks in the country by using credit to back eco-friendly projects, with the aim of raising awareness of local banks on the social responsibility in fighting climate change, reported the local media. SBV to divert credit fund to eco-friendly projects. SBV will issue a list of green projects that use clean and renewable energy. In addition, all financial institutions should be able to evaluate the social and environmental risks and should apply environmental standards to green projects that obtain loans from banks. Commercial banks that lend a high proportion of green credit will be given priority when seeking preferential loans from international organizations or from SBV’s partners.

According to a new report released by the VGCL, the current minimum wage can meet only 93% of the minimum living standard. Meanwhile, as per Resolution 27-NQ-TW issued recently, only two years remain for the wage hike so that by 2020 the region-based minimum wage must meet the minimum living standard. In Vietnam, the minimum wage still cannot meet the minimum living standard of workers despite its fast hikes. In the 2010-2011 period, when inflation was high, the region-based minimum wage could meet only 47% of the minimum living standard of workers. The minimum wage reflects the humanity of the State and is an instrument for rectifying defects of the labor market and ensure the minimum living standard for workers.

Vietnamese students shine at int’l robotics competitionA group of four Vietnamese students brought home a bronze medal for their impressive robotic design at the “2018 FIRST Global Challenge” international robotics competition in Mexico from August 15-18. Four Vietnamese students brought home a bronze medal at the “2018 FIRST Global Challenge” international robotics competition.Besides the medal, the Vietnamese team attained remarkable achievement when it ranked 12th out of 165 teams joining in the event.Within three completion days, the FPT high-school students gained 6,350 points after eight games in the qualifying round with seven wins. The Vietnamese juniors, who were teamed up with students from Estonia and Eritrea in the playoff, lost to those from the UK, Georgia and Qatar.Head of the Vietnamese delegation Le Ngoc Tuan lauded the Vietnamese students’ efforts to improve their ranking, which was at 58th place out of 175 teams at the previous event organised in the US.FIRST Global Challenge is a non-profit organisation established in 2009 which aims to inspire science and technology leadership and innovation in young people from all nations in order to increase understanding.It invites each country to send a team to compete in the robotics Olympics, which takes place in a different nation each year. Themed around the 14 grand challenges of Engineering identified by National Academies of Engineering, each year a different Grand Challenge takes centre stage in an effort to foster understanding and cooperation among the youth of the world as they use their abilities to solve the world’s problem.The theme for 2018 is “Energy Impact”.-VNA

Blockchain ecosystem support centre launched in HCM CityAll In Station, the first blockchain ecosystem support centre in Vietnam, was officially put into operation on August 18 in Ho Chi Minh City. Linh said blockchains and startups have a lot of potential to grow in Vietnam but they need a proper recognition and connection. AIS aims to connect networks and give policy support the formation of blockchain and startup ecosystems, he noted, adding that AIS's activities were designed to create long-term benefits for its members. AIS is also expected to provide a Startup Portal platform where everyone can find information and evaluations on startup, thus providing objective information for management agencies to build legal frameworks of blockchain, he said. Blockchain is defined as the technology for storing and transmitting information and data by blocks linked together and expanded over time.

ASIAD 2018: Vietnam beats Japan, topping Group DVietnam’s football team secured the top place of Group D at the 2018 Asian Games (ASIAD) after beating Japan 1-0 in the third match in Indonesia on August 19. Vietnamese footballersThe last group stage match between Vietnam and Japan took place at the Wibawa Mukti Stadium in West Java, Indonesia. A lapse in Japan's defense was seized by midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai to put Vietnam ahead right in the third minute. Half an hour into the game, Vietnam has apparently launched more and stronger attacks. Before the match with Japan, Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai said: “We are ready for the game with Japan.

Vietnam innovation network programme launchedThe Programme of Connecting Vietnam Innovation Network 2018, which gathered hundreds of talented Vietnamese in the fields of science and technology, was launched in Hanoi on August 19. The Programme of Connecting Vietnam Innovation Network 2018 was launched in Hanoi on August 19. The event was jointly held by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education and Training. Currently, the ministry is working with relevant ministries and sectors to build a national strategy on industry 4.0, which comprises the establishment of innovation centres, and mobilisation of experts and scientists, he said, adding that the innovation network initiative has lured the participation of more than 100 overseas Vietnamese scientists so far. The launching ceremony was followed by a dialogue on connection of science and technology community, and policies on innovation network connection in Vietnam.-VNA

Vietnamese startups struggle to seek capitalVietNamNet Bridge - Consultants say that even startups with high capability and good business ideas are finding it difficult to call for investment. According to TechInAsia, in 2016, startups in South East Asia attracted total investment capital of $2.6 billion. Sixty percent of startups have initial investment capital of less than VND1 billion, a modest amount of capital. Regarding capital sources for startups, consultants named venture funds, angel investors and private investors. In fact, there are many examples of startups gaining big successes overseas though they could not call for big capital.

PM pledges support for overseas Vietnamese scientistsPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has promised to create favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese scientists to participate in scientific and technological projects at home so that they can make contributions to the country’s socio-economic development. In a meeting on August 19 with overseas Vietnamese talents in science and technology who came home to attend Vietnam’s innovation network programme from August 18-24, Prime Minister Phuc thanked the scientists for their interest in developing science and technology in the homeland. The Government will focus on cooperation, investment, technology transfer, and human resource training, and continue developing innovation eco-system to ensure that overseas Vietnamese scientists can contribute to the nation’s development, he said. Pledging to accompany the government in the era of industry 4.0, which converges labourers 4.0 and culture 4.0, the scientists said that they want to coordinate with domestic colleagues in specific projects and programmes. More policies should be put in place to lure additional overseas Vietnamese intellects to devote their talent to the country, they said.-VNA

Rick Marchese - Representative, Alliance of M&A Advisory GlobalThe M&A market in Vietnam is growing very quickly and becoming more mature. M&A transactions are mostly based on the availability of capital in the market, so I think investors will need to become more comfortable with the stock market. Right now, the M&A market is picking up, so we can expect it to go down again one day. This is because the market can go down and when it does, people are tighter with their money and the M&A market will probably slow down. I think Vietnamese companies can also have more access to European consumers, which would be a great development.