logo
Vietnam to establish first free trade zone in central region

Vietnam to establish first free trade zone in central region

The Star5 hours ago

FILE PHOTO: A vendor counts Vietnamese dong banknotes at Con Market in Da Nang, Vietnam, on May 2, 2023. The Da Nang free trade zone aims to serve as a key link in global and regional supply chains. - Bloomberg
HANOI: The Vietnamese government has approved the establishment of the country's first free trade zone in the central city of Da Nang, local media VnExpress reported Monday (June 16).
Covering an area of 1,881 hectares, the zone is expected to become a major economic, logistics and technological hub in the Asia-Pacific region, the report added.
In the long term, the Da Nang free trade zone aims to serve as a key link in global and regional supply chains.
According to the report, Da Nang is currently the only Vietnamese city that simultaneously hosts a high-tech park, a deep-water port, an international airport and a growing logistics network. - Xinhua

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Brunei strengthens broadcast, content industry
Brunei strengthens broadcast, content industry

The Star

time33 minutes ago

  • The Star

Brunei strengthens broadcast, content industry

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Bruneian talents get a boost through a joint production project with Indonesian digital media, Brunei's Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry (AITI) said on Monday (June 16). Such a significant achievement was made possible through the signing of an international memorandum of understanding (MoU) between AITI and one of Indonesia's mainstream digital media outlets in Jakarta, Indonesia on Monday. The MoU serves as a strategic framework to explore cooperation in the broadcasting and digital content ecosystem, AITI said in a press release. This project aims to enhance the technical expertise and creative skills of Bruneian talents through knowledge exchange, mentorship and practical experience, while promoting meaningful cultural ties between the two countries. It is hoped that the projects implemented under this MoU will serve as a strategic springboard for Brunei's content sector to gain international exposure, attract future co-productions and show a stronger presence in the regional creative economy. - Xinhua

"Nihao! China" in Kuala Lumpur highlights top Chinese tourist attractions
"Nihao! China" in Kuala Lumpur highlights top Chinese tourist attractions

Malaysia Sun

timean hour ago

  • Malaysia Sun

"Nihao! China" in Kuala Lumpur highlights top Chinese tourist attractions

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Xinhua) -- With thousands of visitors, the second edition of the "Nihao! China" Travel Fair (Malaysia) has highlighted the popularity of China as a tourism destination while also playing an important role in strengthening people-to-people exchanges. Held at the Pavilion Bukit Jalil Exhibition Center in Kuala Lumpur, the promotional event ran from June 13 to 15, covering 3,000 square meters and featuring more than 200 booths. It showcased top Chinese tourist attractions to locals and drawing huge interest from those seeking to visit the country. Among those present at the launching ceremony was Yeoh Soon Hin, deputy chairman of Tourism Malaysia, an agency under the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, who noted in his speech that cultural and tourism cooperation between Malaysia and China has grown increasingly robust and fruitful. For his part, minister of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia Zheng Xuefang said China has continued to optimize policies for inbound tourism in recent years. "As the benefits of these facilitation policies continue to unfold, more and more international tourists are choosing to travel to China, enjoy China, and love China," he said, adding that the international appeal and reputation of inbound tourism to China are steadily rising. Among members of the Malaysian public who came to visit the fair were Siti Sara Harun and Hafiz Ghazali. Siti, who had previously visited China's ancient capital Xi'an, is now looking to travel to another historical city. "It is very easy to get around, even in places that you would think are distant or rural. The cities are clean and neat, and e-payments are accepted almost everywhere," Siti said. For his part, Hafiz said he wanted to explore tourist spots across China via its vast high-speed rail network. "I have heard and read so much about it, and I want to see it firsthand. I'm sure that I will find a suitable travel package at the fair that will allow me to do this," he said.

Uncertainties over global seaborne trade
Uncertainties over global seaborne trade

The Star

time3 hours ago

  • The Star

Uncertainties over global seaborne trade

The Maersk Sentosa container ship sails southbound to exit the Suez Canal in Suez, Egypt, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. Photographer Stringer/Bloomberg PETALING JAYA: The ongoing Israel-Iran war and the impending US reciprocal tariffs will continue to keep the transportation sector on edge, adding further uncertainties to the equation. Given the 'fluid nature' of the geopolitical and trade-related developments, RHB Research is keeping its 'neutral' rating on the sector. It also retained its earnings forecasts for now, with the exception of Westports Holdings Bhd . In a note, the research house said the recent escalation in the Israel-Iran war has ramped up uncertainties over global seaborne trade, particularly key trade passages near regional flashpoints, namely the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Traffic at the Suez Canal had already slowed down even before the war broke out as shippers rerouted their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope due to the risk of being attacked by Houthi rebels. 'While the Strait of Hormuz remains open, we do not rule out the possibility of this passage being blocked if the war further escalates. 'If a blockade or a serious disruption happens, route diversions around the African continent might be considered by the shipping lines, which may result in port congestion across various regions due to longer travel times,' noted RHB Research. Being one the largest oil chokepoints, RHB Research said disruptions at the strait could also result in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates pipelines being used as alternatives. This is despite the fact that their combined capacity of 6.5 million barrels of oil per day (bpd) is far below Strait of Hormuz's oil flows of over 20 million bpd. 'Higher oil prices, coupled with potentially rising insurance premiums, could drive up freight rates.' On the transportation sector's first-quarter of financial year 2025 (1Q25) earnings, RHB Research said the results were generally in line with expectations, with Westports' 1Q25 performance meeting estimates. The port operator's performance made up 23% and 24% of the research house's and consensus full-year forecasts. 'Despite the upward earnings revision due to tariff hikes, this port counter is fairly valued – it is trading at its historical mean, with limited upside potential.' The tariff hikes refer to the 30% increase in container tariffs for Port Klang from July 1. This will be implemented in three stages – starting with a 15% upward revision effective until end-2025, followed by an 8.7% increase in 2026 and a final 4% upward adjustment for 2027 onwards to bring the effective hike to 30%. Beyond Westports, the logistics players' results disappointed in 1Q25. 'Within the logistics sector, we remain positive on Tasco Bhd , which is our top pick due to its diversified client base and business segments, which help maintain earnings stability. 'Additionally, the integrated logistics services tax incentives provide a buffer against challenges within the sector,' said RHB Research.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store