Focus
Tet celebrated in Turin
On the occasion of the Vietnamese New Year (Tet), the Viet Nam's Honorary Consulate in Turin held a reception which was attended by many Italian friends and entrepreneurs. Among the participants were Mr Giovanni Maria Ferraris, Head of Cooperation and International Relations of Turin, Mr Davide Gariglio, ex-Presiden of Piedmont Regional Council and candidate for mayor of Turin.
The Honorary Consulate, Mrs Sandra Scagliotti, gave beautiful words to the country of Viet Nam which has attractive scenery and abundant pool of cultural traditions, especially the long-standing Tet holidays. Mrs Scagliotti repeated her unforgettable impressions and memories about Vietnamese people that she and many other Italians have been fond of.
At the reception, the Vietnamese Ambassador, Mr Dang Khanh Thoai, spoke about the achievements that Viet Nam has gained in terms of external relations, socio-economic development. The Ambassador affirmed that a fruitful relationship between Viet Nam and Italy has been fortified by top leaders of the two countries and he believes that there will be practical activities taken place to realize the leaders' commitments.
Turin is a big industrial hub of Italy, so far this is the only place that has a Honorary Consulate of Viet Nam. Recently, the University of Turin has launched a course on Vietnamese language.
The participants of the receptions enjoyed some Vietnamese traditional foods and a jazz performance celebrating the Vietnamese New Year.

Rubber
Viet Nam Rubber Group plans to grow up
Viet Nam Rubber Group (VRG) was established in 1995 as the biggest rubber producer in Viet Nam. It is responsible in providing technical, advisory and consultancy services to the rubber industry, controlling and monitoring the quality of rubber, rubber planting materials and rubber products, developing, transferring, exploiting and promoting research findings, selling and exporting crude natural rubber, supplying, importing inputs, exporting machinery and spare parts.
VRG has 27 subsidiaries that are managing over 155,000 hectares with total latex output of 330,000 tons per year. The group has an annual growth of about 15% earnings from more than 30 processing factories with advanced technology.
This year, the group will plant 30,000-40,000 hectares of rubber trees more, expecting to harvest 770,000 tons of latex, and to notch up $1.5 billion from exporting 750,000-780,000 tons. The cultivation is part of the group’s plan to expand local rubber acreage to 800,000 hectares by 2015. The group is also planning to boost overseas investment to develop 100,000 hectares of rubber in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
Viet Nam, a key rubber exporting nations in Southeast Asia, exports around 1.3 million tons per year.

Pharmacy
Bidiphar leads pharmaceutical market with diverse range of products
Bidiphar is famous in the Vietnamese pharmaceutical industry for its large investment in developing modern production technology and automation. Currently, Bidiphar has 11 production lines, a storage system and a laboratory, all matching quality management system ISO 9001:2008. All production lines were closed, continuous, sterile ensure high resistance to cross-infection between the production area to the environment outside is made very serious science and GMP standard.
Bidiphar products include powder, drug nuggets, oral liquids, creams, ointments, eye drops, injectable solution, the drug infusion, the drug tablets, including members, drug capsules, east injections, dry powder injection phase; mineral water, soft drinks nutritious and medical equipment. Their curing effects range from cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, neuro-muscular, reproductive systems to antibiotics, analgesic, antipyretic, vitamins and minerals, allergy and immune drugs.
Bidiphar continuously expands its business with new factories and a growing distribution network.

Handicrafts
KG Handicraft exclusively shows beauty of hand-made items
KG Handicraft is a big manufacturer and exporter of handicraft in Viet Nam. It supplies products from bamboo, rattan, sea grass, water hyacinth, banana, wood, paper, cotton. With branches located in the craft villages of Nam Dinh Province, KG is always committed to bring products matching most of the taste of customers.
Its products are very diverse and rich of colors and styles. The main products include:
- Bamboo products: vases, boxes, trays, bowls plates, baskets
- Products made by rattan, sea grass, water hyacinth, banana sheath: bags, hats, trays, baskets
- Pottery and ceramics: flower pot, vase, bowls, spoons
- Lacquer and wooden products used for decorating
KG would like to become a trustworthy partner to all customers in the world market. It also welcomes all partners to enter into a joint-venture or any form of doing business and cooperation.

Construction
Hai Long's temper glass reinforces safety
After 10 years of establishment and development in the field of safety glass, Hai Long has obtained the trust of customers in the crowded home and abroad. Products with the brand Hai Long Glass have been present in many works throughout the regions of Viet Nam.
The company now is producing temper glass, sound-insulating glass, glass heat-resistant paint, curved glass, reflective glass, low-e glass, anti-breaking glass, automotive glass barrier, vessels glass, safety glasses.
Hai Long is constantly striving to become a brand of global reach.

Mechanics
Viet Anpha provides electrical solutions
With many years working on industrial electricity field, and providing services relating to electricity for your whole project, Viet Anpha designs, provides materials and devices for building up complex systems, including electrical and automatic control system, air condition system, ventilation system, fire alarm system, communication system, anti-lightning system and elevator system.
Viet Anpha is not only a electrical contractor, but it also provides solutions for customers.

Investment
Fund plans to sell government stake in 170 firms
Viet Nam’s sovereign fund, the State Capital Investment Corp (SCIC), plans to sell stakes in 281 state-owned companies, including the entire government stake in 170 firms.
Lai Van Dao, SCIC’s CEO, said the corporation will also diversify its portfolio and asset classes this year.
Last year SCIC offloaded the government’s stake in 97 firms for VND642 billion (US$32.9 million) compared to their book value of VND278 billion.
The corporation’s portfolio has shares in 538 enterprises in its. Last year it reported a pretax profit of VND2.445 trillion on revenues of VND2.753 trillion. (VnE)
 
Agro-industry
Flower exporters eye greater share of world market
Viet Nam hopes to increase its share of the world flower market, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The biggest import markets are China, Japan, Singapore, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, and the Ministry said Vietnamese exporters can take advantage of lower transport costs thanks to the geographical proximity and improved preservation facilities.
Viet Nam also has long-term plans to enter the North American and the European markets.
The Ministry has urged flower growers to use advanced technologies to increase productivity, improve quality, and minimize costs.
According to the Da Lat Flower Association, the area under flowers and output have been constantly increasing while exports have remained unchanged. It blamed this on the small scale and unplanned nature of farming as well as the failure to improve quality.
Viet Nam’s exports were worth $60 million last year, with the Da Lat region accounting for the biggest share. (VNN)