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AT A GLANCE Congratulations on Canada Day

PM SIGNS PLANNING RESOLUTION MEKONG DELTA DEVELOPMENT
According to a resolution signed nections and the integration of urban-industrial economic
by Prime Minister Pham Minh corridors from Can Tho city to Long An province, along the
Chinh on June 18, the Mekong Tien and Hau Rivers, along coastal areas from Long An and Ca
Delta is to develop agricultural Mau provinces to Kien Giang province, and along economic
centers in association with spe- corridors from Long An to Kien Giang. Under the resolution, an
cialized farming zones and urban expressway network connecting Delta localities will be completed
areas. The region will receive priority to develop socio-economic by 2030, together with a network of seaports and international
infrastructure, including the development of infrastructure to border gates. Focus will also be given to developing digital infra-
adapt to climate change and the development of modern, smart, structure to build e-government and the digital economy. The
and synchronous information technology infrastructure in asso- resolution sets a target of the Mekong Delta posting annual
ciation with the growth of economic corridors, promoting con- average growth of 6.5-7 per cent in the 2021-2030 period.

VIETNAM - ROK PARTNERSHIP BOOK RELEASED ON 30 YEARS OF COOPERATION
A book on 30 years of socio-economic cooperation between that the book provides an insight
Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) has been published into the socio-economic partnership
by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) between the two countries over the
on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations past 30 years and provides an objec-
being established (1992-2022). The book is a collection of tive assessment of a better future for bilateral ties. Pointing to
research work by Vietnamese and South Korean professors and bright spots in economic cooperation between the two sides
researchers. Professor Lee Han-woo from Sogang University over the past 30 years, Professor Lee noted that two-way trade
was quoted on June 6 by the Vietnam News Agency as saying rose 150-fold and is expected to hit $100 billion next year.

US EXEMPTS TARIFFS SOLAR PANEL EXPORTS
In an effort to promote clean supply of solar modules to meet electricity generation needs while
energy, US President Joe Biden domestic manufacturing scales up. He also activated the Defense
announced on June 6 a 24-month Production Act (DPA) to boost solar panel production in the US.
tariff exemption on solar panels The White House emphasized that clean energy technologies now
manufactured in Vietnam and play an important role in reducing energy costs for homes, thus
three other Southeast Asian countries. The White House was quoted minimizing the risks to the country’s electricity supply. The US has
by the Vietnam News Agency on June 7 as saying that the tax set a target of tripling its domestic solar manufacturing capacity by
waiver applies to solar panels imported from Vietnam, Cambodia, 2024, from 7.5 GW to 22.5 GW; enough to enable 3.3 million
Malaysia, and Thailand, to ensure the US has access to a sufficient households to switch to solar each year.

AVIATION DEVELOPMENT NEW DIRECT FLIGHTS TO INDIA
Vietnam Airlines officially opened a direct route between Vietnam Minh City with New Delhi. Since
and India on June 15, with the first flight from Hanoi landing at the establishment of diplomatic rela-
Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi at 2.45pm tions in 1972, a strategic partnership
(local time). According to the national flag carrier, Hanoi - New in 2007, and a comprehensive strate-
Delhi flights are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and gic partnership in 2016, Vietnam and India have seen two-way
Fridays, while those between Ho Chi Minh City and New Delhi trade grow an average of 20 per cent annually. Prior to Covid-19,
are on Thursdays and Saturdays. Earlier, in December 2019, visitor numbers between the two reached 319,000 in 2019, up 35
Vietjet Air launched direct flights linking Hanoi and Ho Chi per cent against 2018.

VIETNAM NOMINATED IN 10 CATEGORIES WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS
Vietnam has made the shortlist Leading Beach Destination. Hanoi, meanwhile, was shortlisted
in ten categories at the prestigious as Asia’s Leading City Break Destination and Asia’s Leading
World Travel Awards (WTA) Cultural City Destination. The awards were launched in 1993
2022, according to an announce- to acknowledge excellence in the travel and tourism industry.
ment on June 6 from the Vietnam Heralded as the “travel industry’s equivalent of the Oscars” by
National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). The country was the Wall Street Journal, the awards are based on votes from
nominated for awards in the Asian region for Leading Desti- the public and travel professionals worldwide. Last year,
nation, Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination, Leading Vietnam was named Asia’s Leading Destination and Asia’s
Heritage Destination, Leading Cultural Destination, Leading Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination, while the VNAT
Nature Destination, Leading Youth Travel Destination, and was named Asia’s Leading Tourist Board.

4 | VIETNAM ECONOMIC TIMES | JULY 2022 www.en.vneconomy.vn