Vietnam Technology Startup Attracts Foreign Enterprises

Technology startup in Vietnam is increasingly attractive. Many foreign enterprises are interested in this area and showing their desire to set up business in Vietnam.

According to Mr Mitchell Pham, president of the New Zealand Technology Association (NZTech) – who is known to be the 1st native of Vietnam elected to become the chairman of NZTech, representing for over 400 technology enterprises New Zealand: “All trip participants were impressed with the development of science and technology in Vietnam. We are looking for specific opportunities for cooperation with Vietnam-tech enterprise”.

More information about the members of the delegation, Mr Mitchell Pham said that back to Vietnam this time, accompanied him are 6 young leaders of technology enterprises in New Zealand with a desire to learn and exchange with technology businesses in Vietnam, in order to create connection for long-term investment goals.

In terms of the favorable conditions, according to Mr Mitchell Pham, trade relations between New Zealand and Vietnam have the fastest growth rate in Southeast Asia with 120% in the period 2010 – 2015. Two-way trade of the two countries in 2015 has reached 1 billion USD.

Moreover, Vietnam is known as the country with the booming information technology market and the government is also trying to create more incentives for this sector. Meanwhile, technology businesses in New Zealand have experiences and large operating network, certainly the cooperation and investment in Vietnam will be intensified in the coming period.

According Chicilon Media, Vietnam technology market, especially Ho Chi Minh City is developing extremely powerful. Consumers is having trend to access to communication products and services via smartphones instead of traditional media such as TV, poster… Hence, this Company has strengthened their strategy focusing on channels to access information over the phone and access to a diverse range of partners such as the startup.

In parallel, the growth of mobile devices will continue in the coming years. Therefore, the approach to the users of mobile devices – who are moving to the final stage of the shopping journey and going to buy the product – becomes extremely important. Currently, marketing on mobile devices is evaluated as a simple marketing channels, rapid deployment and easy to access to customers.

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Quang Nam Province Welcomes Foreign Investors

In 2017, Quang Nam province is expected to continue to become the bright spot of the central region on investment attraction, welcoming foreign enterprises to come and invest in Vietnam.

In fact, Quang Nam province is an ideal destination for investors at home and abroad. There were presence and long-term commitment of the major investors such as Truong Hai Auto, Suntory – Pepsico, Vietnam Brewery VBL, Inax sanitary equipment, Groz-Beckert textile equipment and famous travel brands such as The Nam Hai, Montgomerie Links golf course, Victoria, GoldenSand, Palm Garden…

Compared to many localities, Quang Nam has great advantages in attracting investment. Firstly, the province has strategic geographical location with an area of 10,438 km2, located in the middle of Vietnam, belongs to the key economic zone in central Vietnam. The north bordering on Da Nang – the commercial, services and training centers of Central region; the south bordering on Quang Ngai province; the west bordering on Laos; located on the East – West Economic Corridor, convenient for road transportation to Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and sea transportation to other countries of the ASEAN region.

The strategic location, plus complete transportation infrastructure with many kinds of road, railway, airline, sea belong to the national and international traffic routes, creating favorable conditions for Quang Nam province to attract major investors in the world.

As reported by the People’s Committee of Quang Nam province, the province currently has 8 industrial zones and 50 industrial clusters. The industrial parks and industrial clusters are located on the main traffic routes, with large area. The infrastructure and telecommunications utility are fully meet the needs of investment projects. As for waste water treatment system, most industrial zones in the province of Quang Nam have wastewater treatment systems; solid waste treatment collection systems as prescribed.

In addition, the social infrastructure and other utility services such as schools, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, amusement parks in the province of Quang Nam are basically meet the needs of investors and citizens. As reported by the Department of Culture – Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province, there are more than 5,436 hotel rooms that satisfy international standard, including many major brands (concentrated in coastal areas), contributing to bring Quang Nam to become an attractive tourism destination of the central region.

So far, Quang Nam has attracted 126 FDI projects with total registered capital of 5.5 billion USD from investors from around the world such as Korea, Japan, Singapore, US, China, France, Germany, Italy…

In the long term, Quang Nam focus on attracting investment projects in economic sectors that the province has many advantages such as supporting industries (mechanical manufacturing, automobile, electronics…); processing industry of consumer goods, household goods, agriculture, forestry and fisheries products, construction materials; the agricultural sector (high-tech agriculture, cultivation and processing of agricultural products …); the field of tourism, services, urban (ecology urban areas, coastal and riverside luxury resorts, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets…), training of human resources; the investment, construction and trading of infrastructure of industrial parks, industrial clusters.

Another highlight of the investment attraction policies of the province is that the investors have the full right to choose and decide to implement the project in the appropriate investment model. Moreover, investors are given the investment incentives stipulated by the Government, including the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone and 15/18 districts in the list of investment incentives stipulated by the Government on the premises, corporate income tax and import tax…

According to the Public Administration and Investment Promotion Center of Quang Nam Province, the newly established enterprises from investment projects in difficult economic condition areas in Chu Lai Open Economic Zone; investment projects in the fields of high-tech agriculture, scientific research, technological development, education and training, vocational training, environment… will be applied the corporate income tax rate of 10% for 15 years since the taxable income arises; ; are exempt from corporate income tax for 4 years and reduce 50% of the tax payable in the next 9 years.

Enterprises investing in the industrial zones in such districts as Duy Xuyen, Dai Loc, Que Son and Phu Ninh are applied the corporate income tax rate of 17% for 10 years, are exempt from corporate income tax and reduction of 50% tax payable in the next 4 years.

Also, Quang Nam also apply competitive prices and depending on land investment sectors, projects may be exempted from land rent during 11 years, 15 years or during the term of the project. In addition to the general provisions, the large-scale projects with important implications and will be coordinated with your PPC investment research applied to the Government for specific policies.

Also, Quang Nam province also apply competitive land prices and depending on investment sectors, projects may be exempted from land rent for 11 years, 15 years or during the implementation of the project. In addition to the general provisions, for the large-scale projects with important implications, the Provincial People’s Committees will coordinate with investors to study and submit to the Government for specific policies.

According to the Quang Nam People’s Committee Chairman, in the trend of deeper integration, Quang Nam is constantly developing, changing appearance, became the land of potential and investment opportunities. Many synchronous solutions are being implemented to improve the investment environment, which focused on administrative reform. In particular, the introduction of the Public Administration and Investment Promotion Center of Quang Nam Province, with flexible and quick mechanisms, have demonstrated the determination to build friendly image of Quang Nam province, becoming the reliable destination for investors.

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Vietnam Welcomes Trillion Renewable Energy Projects

The number of renewable energy projects with total investment capital of about 1,200 – 1,400 billion VND is constantly increasing, confirming that investment in Vietnam renewable energy is an attractive trend.

Recently, the People’s Committee of Binh Thuan Province has handed the decision and received commitment to invest in renewable energy of 20 enterprises in order to diversify the form of energy production, step by step achieving the goal of becoming a large national energy center of the country in the next few years.

Currently, Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan are the two leading provinces in attracting investment in renewable energy because most of the area has an average radiation intensity of about 5 kWh per square meter, less rainfall and hours of sunshine always maintained at an ideal level.

Although the natural conditions are not as favorable as Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan, some neighboring provinces such as Khanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Binh Dinh… also attract many domestic and foreign enterprises committed to pour capital.

Most recently, Fujiwara (Japan) also received license to invest in solar and wind power plants in Binh Dinh with total capital of 1,446 billion VND. According to the investment registration progress, the project will be implemented right in 2017 and is expected to complete the first phase in the first quarter 2019.

Recently, more and more businesses outside the industry have not hidden their ambition to enter the renewable energy sector. According to Deputy General Director of Bamboo Capital, the company plans to raise 300 million USD through issuing bonds and certificates with rights to buy shares held in period from 2017 to 2020. In which, about 100 million USD will be poured into renewable energy projects.

According to this year’s plan, the company will promote the procedure to build a 140 MW solar power plant in Long An province. In addition, the company is seeking investment opportunity in solar power projects in Phu Ninh (Quang Nam) and Ninh Thuan, while taking advantage of international relations to attract capital and experiences from foreign investors.

Furthermore, Bamboo Capital expects to officially sell electricity and record revenue from the energy segment by 2018. By 2020, this segment will be able to deliver significant revenue streams to the company.

Explaining the fact that businesses are racing to plan, commit to invest and directly invest in renewable energy sector, the Renewable Energy Center (under The Energy Institute) thinks that it comes from many factors. First of all, the demand for energy is rising, while the supply of fossil fuels is becoming more expensive and exhausting.

In addition, the technology enters the ripe stage, making business easier to access, while reducing the difference in levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) compared to thermal power. A few years ago, the cost of producing wind electricity was about 3,500 VND per kWh and now it drops to 2,200 – 2,500 VND.

Moreover, the incentive mechanism for the development of solar power projects issued in April this year has also influenced the investment decisions of enterprises. Currently, the purchase price of electricity at the power point is 2,086 VND (equivalent to 9.35 cents/kWh).

In addition, investors are also entitled to many tax incentives such as import tax exemption for imported goods to create fixed assets, exempt from land use fees, land rent, water surface rent at the construction location, lines, substations connected to the grid. In the short term, it is likely that the Government of Vietnam will also consider increasing wind power prices to assist businesses, boosting investment to achieve a total capacity of 6,000 MW by 2030.

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US Investors Invest in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is an exciting investment destination with total FDI capital reached 40 billion USD. With many advantages in economic development and business environment, foreign investors have been coming to set up business in Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr Dinh La Thang, Party Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) has met group of United States (US) investors led by Mr Howard Lutnick, Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald Financial Group come to explore investment opportunities in HCMC.

Highly appreciated the US investors have chosen HCMC to invest in Financial Tower project, Mr Dinh La Thang committed that the city would create the most favorable conditions for US businesses as well as other international investors, bringing benefits to the enterprise and also the city.

At the same time, the city desires Cantor Fitzgerald Group and US investors will soon implement the Financial Tower project in Thu Thiem urban area, bringing Thu Thiem into a financial center in the region, attracting more investors and large financial corporations of the US and the world.

The city also believes that with the visit of US President Barack Obama to Vietnam, a new wave of investment from US will increase rapidly, especially when the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement takes effect.

With its dynamic, HCMC is training human resources to be able to meet the needs of development and investment.

According to Cantor Fitzgerald Group, the reason for choosing Vietnam as investment destination was calculated very carefully, because Vietnam is an important destination for the circulation of financial flows in Southeast Asia in the coming time. Moreover, Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant and dynamic place with strong entrepreneurship, especially among the young.

With great financial strength, the Cantor Fitzgerald Group wants to invest and along with HCMC to grow prosperously.

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US Investors Continue Pouring Capital into Vietnam

Vietnam has become an attractive destination for US investors, up to now, the United States ranks 9th among countries and territories set up company in Vietnam with foreign direct investment.

Dow Chemical, Coca-Cola, Uber… are well-known US companies that deploying expansion investment projects in Vietnam. In addition, such names as Exxon Mobil, Cargill, General Electric, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer… have become familiar, not only because of the huge capital brought into Vietnam, but also help to increase production capacity, contributing to Vietnam’s export growth.

Presently, thanks to the good relationship between the two countries, the investment and business environment in Vietnam has been improved. Many US businesses have signed large contracts with Vietnamese enterprises, concentrating on the fields such as oil and gas, information technology, animal feed and electronics.

According to information from the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham), many US businesses are working with the authorities to expand their projects in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the big names that have long presence in Vietnam also urgently deploy expansion plans. Cargill Vietnam Co., Ltd is expanding its operations in Vietnam, in addition to the successful field of animal feed production. It is expected that by the end of this year, Cargill will put into operation a 10 million USD warehouse at Phu My port in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province.

Cargill also plans to work with the Ministry of Transport on investment in the northern port project to expand its range of operations in many investment sectors in Vietnam.

Dow Chemical, a large US chemical company, after more than 20 years of operation in Vietnam, the company is intending to expand its operations in 2017. Dow Chemical is cooperating with many companies in Vietnam in the fields of agricultural chemicals, biotechnology and services. Furthermore, with long-term investment commitments, in addition to raising capital, Dow Chemical is ready to assist Vietnam in developing a national list of chemicals for research and development.

Statistics show that, up to May 2017, US businesses have invested in 834 projects in Vietnam, with total registered capital of 10.2 billion USD, ranked 9/116 countries and territories that have investment projects in Vietnam.

Moreover, according to an AmCham survey of 100 US companies in Vietnam, 72% of respondents said that Vietnam’s investment environment was improving, much better than Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei.

US investment capital flows into Vietnam are no longer tied up in some areas of high profitability as before. Presently, some conditional business areas such as casino, entertainment… are expected to attract more capital from US businesses.

For example, Time Warner Inc., the world’s leading media and entertainment company, is also looking for direct investment opportunities in Vietnam.

So far, most of the key businesses in Vietnam are having the presence of major US investors, typically oil and gas sector with famous names such as Exxon Mobil and Chevron; Boeing, ADC-HAS Airport in the field of aviation; Information technology with Microsoft, Intel, Apple, HP; Electrical appliances with General Electric, General Atlantis and AES…

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Jabil Expands Investment in Vietnam

Jabil Circuit, Inc has just broke ground to build a new factory in Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP), realizing the plan to expand investment in Vietnam.

The event marked the expansion of Jabil Group’s operation in Vietnam, with total factory area of 38,369 square meters. The factory is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017. The new facility will provide additional production and warehousing spaces to meet future large-scale manufacturing activities for products such as computer, storage, networking equipment, telecommunications, automation, digital housing, mobility, sale equipment, printing, industry and energy.

This expansion also marks Jabil’s a decade of development in Vietnam and a stepping stone for the future growth of the Group.

Jabil started operations at SHTP in September 2007, specializing in the manufacture of electronics and telecommunications equipment with an initial investment of only 30 million USD. However, in 2011, Jabil decided to raise capital to 100 million USD. And in 2015, Jabil once again announced the expansion of investment in Vietnam. According to the signed memorandum, Jabil plans to invest an additional 500 million USD to expand production in Vietnam with a facility of more than 93,000 square meters.

Currently, Jabil Vietnam employs around 4,500 people and aims to create over 3,000 new jobs for the province in the next five years. In addition, Jabil also plans to develop high quality human resources in Vietnam for future leadership positions through training and development opportunities.

Jabil is a product solutions company that provides electronic technology solutions including design, manufacturing and comprehensive manufacturing management for electronics and technology companies around the world. Providing complete supply chain management from facilities in 28 countries, Jabil offers comprehensive and focused solutions for customers in a variety of industries. In Vietnam, Jabil specializes in providing large-scale product solutions for sectors as industry, power, networking and telecommunications equipment, sales and printing equipment.

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Hong Kong Investors Explore Vietnam Infrastructure Projects

Hong Kong investors are promoting investment in southern provinces in the areas such as infrastructure investment, waste water treatment, waste and also learn about set up company in Vietnam.

Recently, about 40 Hong Kong investors and experts in investment and infrastructure development sectors have visited Ho Chi Minh City. Sharing the purpose of this business trip, Mr Vincent HS Lo – Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said that these investors are people who have a lot of experiences in the financial, consulting, architecture, energy, water and waste treatment, engineering and construction, law and accounting, transportation sectors…

Also according to Mr Vincent HS Lo, investors and businesses in Hong Kong are very interested in Vietnam infrastructure projects, especially the system of railway, road, airport and seaport.

Previously, during meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Transport in Hanoi, representatives of Hong Kong investors and businesses also expressed their interest in the North-South Expressway Project with a length of more than 1,300 km. A Hong Kong representative said that this project would help develop the strengths of a gateway to attract investment in large projects.

According to Hong Kong businesses, in addition to transport infrastructure, they are also interested in large-scale real estate projects in Vietnam. Mr Johnson Choi, Managing Director of Sunwah Group said that the company had many large investment projects in Vietnam, notably real estate projects. According to Mr Choi, among countries in Asia, Vietnam is considered as a potential country for real estate. Therefore, not only investing in projects in HCMC, Hong Kong businesses also pay attention to projects in Hanoi and the Central region.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, as of the end of the first quarter of 2017, Hong Kong is the sixth largest investor in Vietnam with more than 1,200 projects and a total registered capital of more than 17.57 billion USD.

Hong Kong’s licensed projects in Vietnam are quickly implemented. For example, the project of Worldon Vietnam Co., Ltd in Dong Nam Industrial Zone (HCMC), after being licensed to increase capital by 140 million USD in 2016, has nearly completed the Fashion Design and Production Center for high quality knitwear.

Or project of Nam Phuong Textile Joint Venture Co., Ltd., with registered capital of 120 million USD in Viet Huong 2 Industrial Zone (Binh Duong), has made new moves in the project implementation after starting work at the end of 2014. The project is constructed on an area of 12 hectares, operating in the field of weaving fabric, phase I has capacity of 36 million meters of cloth per year, mainly for export…

In 2016, Vietnam is Hong Kong’s largest export market in ASEAN with a total export turnover of 9.25 billion USD. In addition, Vietnam is Hong Kong’s third largest trading partner in the ASEAN region with a total bilateral trade reached 16.2 billion USD.

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