Titathy Nguyen, President of WEC Vietnam speaks at the press conference (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Vietnam to join 26th World Energy Congress

Vietnam will attend the 26th World Energy Congress themed “Redesigning energy for People and Planet” hosted by the Netherlands from April 22 - 25, heard a press conference held by the Vietnam World Energy Council (WEC Vietnam) in Hanoi on March 15. This is the time the WEC has invited Vietnam to participate in the event, which aims to discuss energy development issues in the future.

Titathy Nguyen, President of WEC Vietnam, stated that the press conference was organized to promote communications on the event and guide individuals and organizations in Vietnam to participate in a globally scaled program, thus accessing important global energy-related issues.

The goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 requires Vietnam’s high determination, great effort, and mobilization of all resources for investment in development and ensuring social welfare across sectors, she said.

Attending the 26th World Energy Congress, Vietnamese businesses will have an opportunity to access the latest trends in the energy sector and global financial resources, enabling them to develop solutions and products using cleaner and more efficient energy, Titathy Nguyen said, adding that this will help firms not only create new business opportunities but also enhance their international competitiveness and promote sustainable development.

WEC Vietnam took the occasion to launch a series of projects themed “Enternal green – Offsetting carbon footprint”.

Established in 1923, the WEC is a global energy agency recognized by the UN to represent all forms of energy and is also a strategic partner of a number of key organizations in the energy sector. The WEC has more than 3,000 member organisations including WEC National Committees in nearly 100 countries around the world. The WEC hosts the World Energy Congress triennially.

WEC Vietnam serves as a bridge for sustainable cooperation among energy-related organizations.

US volunteers and local youths at a ceremony inaugurating a charity house for a resident in Tan Phu Tay commune of Mo Cay Bac district, Ben Tre province (Photo: VNA)

US volunteers carry out social security activities in Ben Tre

Volunteers from the US engaged in practical social security activities in Tan Phu Tay commune of Mo Cay Bac district, the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, from March 11 to 16. Tran Kim Phang, Vice President of the Vietnam Youth Federation of Ben Tre, said on March 16 that 15 volunteers from the YMCA of Greater Houston and the YMCA Vietnam Social Co. Ltd built toilets for children at the Tan Phu Tay Primary School and a charity house for a disadvantaged family.

At the Tan Phu Tay Primary School, they built and upgraded eight toilets for 229 million VND (9,700 USD) to better serve over 600 students there. Meanwhile, the charity house for a local family, covering an area of 32 sq.m., was built for 81 million VND.

In addition, the volunteers took part in English exchanges and folk games with local students. They also presented stationery learning tools and 70 sets of English learning books to the school. Phang appreciated the US volunteers’ assistance, expressing his hope that the YMCA Vietnam Social Co. Ltd will help the Youth Union Committee and the Youth Federation of Ben Tre to connect with volunteers from around the world, including the US, to implement more social security activities and strengthen local youths’ friendship with international peers.

In 2023, thanks to the company’s support, many volunteers from the Institute of Technical Education of Singapore, the National University of Singapore, and the Singapore Management University came to Ben Tre to build schoolyards and classrooms in Ba Tri and Giong Trom districts at the total cost of VND 170 million.

Photo: VOV

Positive signs ahead for Vietnamese seafood exports to US

Vietnamese seafood exports to the United States during the opening two-month period of the year surged by 22.1% to US$188.5 million against the same period from last year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. As a result, the US currently represents Vietnam's second largest seafood export market behind Japan with US$196 million, accounting for 15% of the nation's total seafood export turnover during the reviewed period.

According to Do Ngoc Hung, Vietnamese Trade Counselor to the US, besides the challenges facing Vietnamese seafood exports to the US due to a general decline in purchasing power coupled with rising transportation costs, the country's aquatic products have great advantages in this North American market.

Specifically, Vietnamese shrimp is still popular in the US market thanks to its high processing content, focusing on value-added products. Furthermore, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) has recently issued preliminary conclusions of the 19th review (POR19) for Vietnamese frozen tra fish (pangasius) fillet exports during the period from August 1, 2021,to July 31, 2022.

According to the review, Vinh Hoan Joint Stock Company is entitled to enjoy a tax rate of US$0.00 per kilo, while five other enterprises are all subject to a lower anti-dumping tax rate of US$0.18 per kilo. In fact, the general anti-dumping tax duties that DOC has imposed on Vietnamese pangasius during the review stand at US$2.39 per kilo.

Do Ngoc Hung said these moves have opened up bright prospects ahead for pangasius exports in the highly lucrative market with export volume expected to rise due to the overall cost reduction. Moreover, pangasius enterprises have proved their capacity and experience in thoroughly preparing documents during PORs launched by the DOC, Hung added.

Polish Ambassador to Hanoi Aleksander Surdej addresses the event (Photo: VOV)

Largest watercolor painting exhibition opens in Vietnam

The International Watercolor Painting Exhibition (VietnamlnAcquarello 2024), the largest of its kind in Vietnam, opened on March 15 at the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam) in Hanoi. Addressing the opening ceremony, Polish Ambassador to Hanoi Aleksander Surdej emphasized that the Polish Embassy has always highlighted the importance of art, especially painting, as a powerful means in which to promote both art and cultural exchanges.

He revealed that the Embassy has organized several exhibitions showcasing the works of Polish artists in various places nationwide before such as the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts. He underlined the significance of arranging the event at the Temple of Literature as the site is imbued with a rich history and is meaningful to the Vietnamese people, thereby making it an ideal place to introduce the diverse colors of cultures.

On display at the event were artworks by 465 artists from 60 countries around the world, including 50 Polish artists. More than 200 watercolor paintings will be on display at the Temple of Literature from March 15 to March 28. Ambassador Surdej said the Polish Embassy will continue to coordinate efforts with organizations in the nation to host cultural exchange events moving forward, thereby further tightening the friendship between the two countries.