Vietnam Roundup: Trade surplus, labour cooperation, aircraft shortage
Trade surplus hits $11.63 billion
Vietnam's trade surplus reached $11.63 billion in the first six months of 2024, with export turnover increasing by 14.5%. The domestic sector accounted for 28.1% of total export turnover, while the US remained Vietnam's largest export market. The need to improve policies, diversify markets, and leverage free trade agreements was emphasized for sustainable export growth, reports Viet Nam News.
Labour cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has emphasised the importance of promoting labour cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea to match their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He highlighted the need for Vietnamese workers in South Korea and urged for collaboration in training and employment opportunities in various sectors. The PM also emphasised the importance of ensuring Vietnamese workers abide by South Korean laws and enjoy their legitimate benefits, as reported by Viet Nam News. He called on Vietnamese workers to cultivate knowledge and skills during their time in South Korea and contribute to the development of both countries. PM Chính expressed confidence in the continued economic and labour cooperation between the two countries, driven by their strong partnership.
Addressing aircraft shortage
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has urged domestic airlines to address the aircraft shortage caused by the global recall of Pratt & Whitney engines. Vietnam Airlines has grounded several planes and expects the shortage to continue until mid-2025. Airlines are instructed to seek replacement aircraft and increase capacity on high-demand routes. They are also asked to ensure transparent and flexible pricing strategies and to strengthen the monitoring of ticketing systems. The recall has affected over 1,500 aircraft globally, according to Viet Nam News.
HPV vaccine for women
HCM City's City International Hospital (CIH) has donated 84 doses of Gardasil vaccine to women in Bình Tân District in HCM City, providing free vaccinations at their hospital. The vaccine is effective in preventing cervical cancer and other HPV-related infections. Cervical cancer is the third leading cause of death for women, and the hospital hopes to control and prevent the disease by donating the vaccine. With 4,000 new cases and 2,000 deaths from cervical cancer each year in Vietnam, the hospital is working to improve women's health, reports Viet Nam News.
TikTok to allocate $1 million to support SMEs
TikTok will allocate $1 million in ad credits to support SMEs in Vietnam, part of a $12.2 million investment in Southeast Asia, according to Viet Nam News. The company plans to offer training programmes and advertising credit support to help SMEs increase their brand recognition and reach new customers. Studies have shown that TikTok is an effective platform for generating a return on ad spend and influencing purchase decisions.
