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The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Vietnamese textile, footwear exporters eye target markets
Vietnamese textile, footwear exporters eye target markets. - Photo: VNA/VNS HANOI: In response to shifting global trade dynamics and tariff challenges, Vietnam's textile and footwear sectors are actively diversifying their export markets, with a strong focus on destinations that have signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with the country. Truong Van Cam, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas), said many companies are currently prioritising the fulfilment of export orders. However, the industry is also in urgent need of detailed market information to accelerate exports to promising destinations such as Russia, Brazil, Chile, and the Middle East. Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, Vice Chairwoman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso), noted that changes in trade policy from the Unied States and the European Union are having a significant impact on Vietnamese exporters. To mitigate these effects, businesses are expanding into new markets in South America and the Middle East, where consumer demand is both large and diverse. This year, the footwear industry continues to target exports to Africa, Asia, Japan, Europe and the United States, while also taking initial steps to engage with major e-commerce platforms like Alibaba and Amazon to open new sales channels. Vietnamese textile, footwear exporters eye target markets. - Photo: VNA/VNS To support these efforts, the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade is helping firms participate in trade promotion activities to broaden their reach, especially in emerging and high-potential markets such as Latin America, Halal markets, India, Russia and the Middle East. A representative of the trade agency noted that most Vietnamese firms are small and lack the resources or experience to join large-scale promotion efforts or to adapt quickly to tariff shifts. Businesses are therefore urged to diversify exports and focus on target markets, optimising FTAs to reduce costs and boost competitiveness in countries like Canada, Australia, Japan, the EU, China, and Asean. The agency will continue supporting firms at major trade fairs such as Anuga in Germany, Sial in France, Canton Fair in China, World Food Moscow, and Trade Expo Indonesia, with logistical and financial backing. Do Ngoc Hung, Vietnam's Trade Counsellor in the United States, stressed the need for firms to improve competitiveness, diversify supply chains, and reduce dependence on single-source inputs. He also encouraged full use of new-generation FTAs and urged faster domestic consumption and new FTA negotiations, highlighting Canada as a promising market. Meanwhile, Vista Vice Chairman Cam suggested trade offices regularly update businesses on market trends, US consumer shifts, and trade talks to help exporters adjust strategies. - Vietnam News/ANN
The Star
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam warns of personal data 'black market', urges tough penalties
Minister Luong Tam Quang speaks at the NA session on Saturday. - Photo: VNA/VNS HANOI: The Ministry of Public Security on Saturday (May 24) called for strict penalties to prevent the emergence of a black market for personal data, warning that treating such data like ordinary goods could open the door to widespread cybercrime. Speaking during a National Assembly (NA) session, Public Security Minister Luong Tam Quang said the unauthorised trade in personal data had become a key factor behind large-scale fraud and asset theft cases uncovered by police. "Allowing the buying and selling of personal data is essentially allowing the trade of human rights and control over other persons' information," Luong told lawmakers. "Personal data is not an ordinary commodity; it's a special type of resource.' The comments came as legislators debated a draft Law on Personal Data Protection, which aims to plug legal gaps, strengthen oversight, and safeguard rights in the digital space amid rising concerns about data leaks and illegal usage. Several lawmakers noted that even seemingly harmless information, such as phone numbers or email addresses, could be collected and sold without consent, alongside more sensitive data like bank account details or medical records. The consequences, they said, were surging online scams and eroded public trust. NA Deputy Hoang Minh Hieu of Nghe An Province urged the Government to only define a list of 'sensitive personal data,' rather than both sensitive and basic data, saying this would make the law more practical and easier to apply. While most deputies agreed on the need to ban illegal data trading, some warned against sweeping restrictions. NA Deputy Nguyen Thi Viet Nga of Hai Duong said an outright ban with no reasonable exceptions could hinder enforcement and stifle emerging digital business models. NA Deputy Pham Van Hoa of Dong Thap echoed that view, arguing the law should only prohibit unlawful data transactions. "If it's my data, and I believe sharing it doesn't affect national defence or security, and it's not sensitive, then I should be allowed to sell it," he said. Quang, however, warned that lax internal controls in industries like banking, telecommunications, insurance, and electricity have enabled employees to extract accurate, real-time customer information and sell it to scammers. He said such practices fueled fraud schemes. "If we don't prohibit trading personal data like ordinary goods, and enforce strong penalties, we'll see the rise of black market activity with serious consequences for public safety," he said. The draft law has been updated to include provisions banning the use or sharing of personal data for unlawful purposes, including renting or lending data, or allowing one's own data to be used by others in illegal acts. - Vietnam News/ANN
The Star
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam boosts rice trade through 2030 with new measures
Packaging rice at a milling facility in Tien Giang Province. — VNA/VNS TIEN GIANG: To enhance rice exports through 2030, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has rolled out a series of new measures focused on stricter oversight, faster implementation of the national export strategy, and stronger trade promotion efforts. These solutions were introduced by the MoIT's Export-Import Department during a conference held in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang on Tuesday (May 20). Authorities are set to expand negotiations and trade deals with international partners while dismantling the logistical and regulatory snarls that have plagued the sector. Local authorities were advised to restructure production and develop value chain linkages among organisations, cooperatives, and rice exporters. Enterprises and traders were encouraged to upgrade deep processing facilities and equipment to churn out rice up to the exacting standards of discerning markets. The goal is to diversify export markets, reducing dependence on traditional buyers to mitigate associated risks. Luu Van Phi, director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, highlighted Tien Giang's strategic strengths in rice production, citing its strategic location and robust transport infrastructure, including extensive road and waterway networks. The province boasts around 200 major rice milling and processing facilities capable of grinding out three million tonnes of rice annually and generating an estimated US$100 million in export revenue. To ensure the sector's long-term growth, Phi stressed the need for exporters and traders to develop raw material zones, invest in factory upgrades, modernise production lines, enhance processing capabilities, and strengthen financial capacity. Building brand identity and gaining consumer trust in both domestic and foreign markets is seen as a critical step forward. Current rice export regulations, he added, need to be revised to better keep pace with the industry's evolving needs. High volume, low value According to the department, Vietnam exported over 3.43 million tonnes of rice in the first four months of this year, raking in nearly $1.8 billion, a 8.1 per cent jump in volume but a 13.3 per cent dip in value from the same period last year. The Philippines, as ever, remains Vietnam's largest rice buyer, making up 43.3 per cent of the export volume and 45.5 per cent of the value. The average export price stood at $515 per tonne, down 19.8 per cent year-on-year. While this significant decline might seem concerning, it had been anticipated by industry experts and businesses, especially amid growing global supply. Many Vietnamese exporters attributed the sharp decline in rice prices to the global market adjustment that began in late 2024. The lifting of India's export ban significantly increased supply and exerted downward pressure on prices. As India steps up exports to reduce record-high stockpiles, the global rice market is expected to remain in a low-price cycle in the near term – a development that poses challenges for Vietnamese exporters in terms of maintaining both profit margins and market share. - Vietnam News/ANN
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
UT Dallas breakthrough medical study could revolutionize spinal cord recovery
The Brief Researchers at UT Dallas have miniaturized an implantable device for spinal cord injury recovery. Paired with physical therapy, the device has shown significant improvement, with potential even for patients injured decades ago. The breakthrough challenges long-held medical beliefs, offering new hope for those with chronic spinal cord injuries to their neck. DALLAS - Researchers at UT Dallas say they've made a historic breakthrough in spinal cord injury recovery with a recent implant study. According to a Nature paper released on Wednesday by the researchers, a minuscule new implantable device paired with physical therapy has achieved significant recovery in clinical trial patients, including one 45 years post-injury. The groundbreaking technology is the next generation of Vagus Nerve Stimuli (VNS), which the UT Dallas Nature study says is 50 times smaller than traditional devices. The tiny implantable device, pictured below sitting on a penny, is used for a neurorehabilitation process called "Closed-Loop Vagus Nerve Stimulation," or CLV. The first in-human study of the treatment took place in North Texas. The researchers say their new VNS, when used in tandem with targeted physical therapy, led to significant recovery of hand and arm function in people with chronic spinal cord injuries in their neck. One participant included in the study sustained their injury over 45 years ago, they say. Participants in the study who received the miniaturized VNS were reportedly found to have a dose-dependent improvement in their recovery, meaning the more therapy given, the better. In addition, the researchers have found no ceiling to the recovery potential. The paper says clinical measures in the trial also improved identically to real-world function for the participants. Why you should care According to a Wednesday release from Dr. Jane G. Wigginton, emergency medicine physician and Chief Medical Officer for the Texas Biomedical Device Center at the University of Texas at Dallas, the discoveries laid out in the new paper challenge long-held medical beliefs. Wigginton says the study's findings show that recovery is possible for spinal cord injury patients even decades after losing motor function; a discovery that defies "medical dogma." Wigginton notes the North Texas achievement is a scientific success and a beacon of hope for patients all over the world. What they're saying "We're not just seeing gains on clinical tests — we're seeing patients fasten their own necklaces, zip jackets in seconds instead of minutes, and throw balls for their dogs again. These are the moments that change lives," Wigginton said. The Source Information in this article came from a UT Dallas Nature paper and UT Dallas' Dr. Jane Wigginton.
The Star
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Hanoi honoured as top cultural and artistic destination in Asia
A hop-on hop-off bus passes by Hanoi's iconic flag tower. — VNA/VNS HANOI: Hanoi has been ranked ninth among the world's 20 greatest cities for art and culture for 2025 by the UK-based Time Out magazine, making it the highest-ranked destination in Asia. The Vietnamese capital ranked ninth among the world's top cultural destinations, with Paris, Florence and Edinburgh taking the top three spots. At the same time, Hanoi emerged as Asia's leading representative, placed ahead of other major regional cities such as Beijing (11th), Jakarta (13th) and Delhi (14th). According to Time Out, Hanoi is the cheapest city for art and culture on the list, with 82 per cent of locals ranking it highly for affordability. 'Take its weekend walking streets – by far the most recommended of all the city's cultural offerings in our survey – where the roads of the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake are cleared of traffic to make room for street performances, traditional dance and live music. Several mentions also went to the grand, neoclassical Hanoi Opera House, as well as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.' Local writer Joey Gann was quoted in the magazine's article on the list as saying: 'In the Old Quarter, the group Dong Kinh Co Nhac breathes new life into ancient silk-stringed instruments, while across town at Hanoi Rock City, up-and-coming local bands command packed dancefloors. About 100km south in the mountains of Mai Chau, the 'rave in a cave' Equation Festival, now in its seventh year, is increasingly garnering international attention. "Hanoi's fashion scene is just as dynamic – designers like Kilomet109 and Subtle Le Nguyen are transforming ethnic minority textiles into globally revered couture, drawing on centuries-old silk traditions.' The list was compiled based on a global survey conducted by Time Out, gathering the views of 18,500 residents across various cities on their local cultural scenes. Each city was scored according to the quality and affordability of its cultural offerings. The top-scoring cities in each country made the longlist, after which Time Out's culture editors selected their favourites. In a separate recent Time Out survey, Nha Trang in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa was named one of the world's rising travel stars for summer 2025. Ranked 11th, it was praised as a stunning bay city with rich cultural traditions and a vibrant culinary scene. — Vietnam News/ANN
