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AT A GLANCE

TECHFEST VIETNAM 2022 HELD BUSINESS INNOVATION
The National Innovative Entrepre- over the past two years, negatively affecting the development of the
neurship Day (Techfest Vietnam innovative startup ecosystem and limiting the ability to access inter-
2022) was launched on March 22, to national resources. However, he went on, there are still opportunities
promote innovative solutions from for the application of science, technology, and innovation. With the
startups amid strong technology development and to attract resources ecosystem attracting more than $1.5 billion last year, he noted the
from domestic experts, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and overseas potential and capacity of Vietnamese intellectuals, adding that this
Vietnamese. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Deputy Minister of needs to be encouraged to develop a new wave of innovation
Science and Technology Tran Van Tung said the Covid-19 pandemic contributing to economic recovery and development in the post-
has had a profound effect on all aspects of the economy and society pandemic era.

COVID-19 FIGHT NEW PREVENTION & CONTROL PROGRAM IN PLACE
A Covid-19 prevention and control program for 2022-2023 has to the vaccination. It will look to
been promulgated under Government Resolution No. 38/NQ- ensure sufficient vaccine supplies
CP signed on March 17. The program’s overall goal is to ensure and complete the vaccination of
effective control over the pandemic, contain any spread in the children aged 5 to 12 by September.
community, practice maximum protection of people’s health Vietnam will also work to improve the capacity of its healthcare
and lives, minimize severe Covid-19 cases and fatalities, and system, especially preventive medicine and grassroots healthcare,
boost socio-economic recovery and development. Among the increase investment in medical supplies and infrastructure,
detailed targets, the program aims that by the end of the first introduce appropriate treatment policies to those working in
quarter of this year, Vietnam will have finished administering preventive medicine and grassroots healthcare, and enhance
second vaccine doses to people aged 12 to 18 and a third dose to the quality of emergency aid and intensive care at all-level
people older than 18, except for those with a contraindication medical establishments.

CROSS-BORDER E-COMMERCE IN CROSSHAIRS TAX REGIME
Starting from March 21, cross- being found, the department will work with respective foreign
border e-commerce platforms tax authorities to enforce the country’s tax regulations and
can send tax returns via a new e- penalties, if applicable. The department said platforms are
portal, at http://etaxvn.gdt.gov.vn, supposed to meet their responsibilities on value added tax
or the Etax Mobile app managed and corporate income tax, based on revenue generated from
by the Ministry of Finance (MoF). According to a report released operations in the country. The new tax regime applies to
by the ministry, tax revenue from cross-border e-commerce and platforms operating in Vietnam without registered addresses
digital services reached over VND1.14 trillion ($49.9 million) in the country, individuals and businesses in Vietnam who
in 2020 and VND1.31 trillion ($57.4 million) in 2021. The conduct business with said platforms, tax and accounting
General Department of Taxation has been told to step up firms that represent said platforms under Vietnam’s legal
cooperation with foreign tax authorities to help platforms jurisdiction, and commercial banks and intermediary payment
follow Vietnam’s tax regulations. In the event of violations services employed by said platforms.

IUU FISHING EFFORTS MADE TO REMOVE “YELLOW CARD”
Vietnam has made great efforts over the last four years and more itoring systems (VMS) is an important
to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in order measure the EC recommends for the
for the European Commission (EC) to lift its “yellow card” imposed removal of its “yellow card”. As of
on the country. Technological solutions have been applied to last August, 26,915 fishing vessels in
increase supervision over fishing vessels, while the border guard Vietnam, or 87.45 per cent of the total, were equipped with a
force is closely supervising the movement of vessels at ports. At the VMS, whose signal is recorded by the surveillance system of the
same time, naval and coast guard forces have strengthened patrols Directorate of Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
in national waters, both to safeguard national sovereignty and Development. Of these, 3,000 vessels in 28 coastal centrally-run
protect fishermen and to promptly prevent, detect, and handle cities and provinces had satellite-based VMS under Movimar, a
violations by fishing vessels and fishermen. Installing vessel mon- cooperation project between Vietnam and France.

DEMAND FOR SKILLED WORKERS GROWING HUMAN RESOURCES
Ambassador of Vietnam to Sin- technicians or mid- and high-level managers in industries such
gapore, H.E. Mai Phuoc Dung, as electronics and semiconductors, information technology,
was quoted by the Vietnam banking and finance, energy, and the maritime economy, among
News Agency as telling a debate others. Foreign companies highly value Vietnamese workers for
within the framework of the their working ability and quickness in learning new skills.
Singapore Apex Business Summit (SABS) 2022 on March 23 However, he noted that Vietnam also faces challenges in having
that Vietnam has become an attractive destination for foreign a sufficiently-large skilled workforce to meet the growing demands
investors and multi-sector corporations in the country are of economic development, adding that skilled workers represent
growing stronger, so demand for highly-skilled and trained just 26.1 per cent of the workforce. He revealed that Vietnam
workers is increasing daily. Regarding future employment trends, aims to have 75 per cent of its workforce trained by 2030, of
the Ambassador went on, Vietnam has major demand for skilled which 40 per cent will possess certificates.

www.en.vneconomy.vn APRIL 2022 | VIETNAM ECONOMIC TIMES | 5