Vietnam News Today (Apr. 22): Vietnam to Benefit from Digitalization and Green Transformation

Photo: VOV

Vietnam to have opportunities from digitalization, green transformation: IMF

Vietnam’s economic growth is predicted to expand by about 6.5% this year based on numerous potentials, significant foreign direct investment, and ongoing efforts to improve the business environment and infrastructure.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast that Vietnam will have many opportunities from digitalization and green transformation.

Addressing a press conference on the Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific in Washington DC on April 18, IMF Asia and Pacific Department Director Krishna Srinivasan said Vietnam’s economic growth was likely to expand by about 6.5% based on numerous potentials, significant foreign direct investment, and ongoing efforts to improve the business environment and infrastructure.

According to the expert, growth surprised on the upside in the second half of last year, as robust domestic demand fueled activities, especially in emerging Asian economies. Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and, most notably, India recorded sizable positive growth surprises.

He stated that growth for the region reached 5% last year – much stronger than the growth of 3.9% in 2022 – and is 0.4% higher than what IMF had projected in the Regional Economic Outlook in October last year, cited VNS.

The fund projects the region to grow by 4.5% this year – an upward revision of 0.3% relative to October, saying that with this, Asia will contribute about 60% of global growth.

Srinivasan said that promoting growth would depend on each country individually. In China and India, the IMF expects investment to contribute disproportionately to growth. Meanwhile, in emerging Asia outside China and India, robust private consumption will remain the main growth engine.

He also mentioned the monetary policy challenge, recommending that governments should focus on consolidation to curb the rise in public debt and rebuild fiscal buffers.

Quang Ninh aims to become international tourism hub

Quang Ninh aims to become an international tourism hub and a world leading destination by 2050 through establishing the brand of Ha Long Bay – Bai Tu Long Bay as a landscape paradise and harmonizing the development of economic-social-environmental ecosystems, along with raising the quality of life of local residents to meet international standards.

Those are among important targets of the province’s tourism development scheme to 2030 with a vision to 2050, which is being finalized by the provincial People’s Committee.

Under the project, from now until 2030, Quang Ninh will continue to strengthen its role as a national tourism locomotive with tourism turned into a spearhead economic sector in connection with sustainable development of marine economy towards green growth. The province will strive to attract tourists all year round and become a destination not to be missed in Vietnam.

The province will focus on diversifying tourism products, expanding the tourist market, promoting cooperation in tourism development, improving local capacity in state management and implementation of tourism development policies. Priority will be given to the development of high-quality tourism human resources and digital transformation in the field, according to VNA.

Quang Ninh targets to become an international tourism hub and a world leading destination by 2050 (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Quang Ninh will consistently follow the policy of sustainable and inclusive tourism development on the foundation of green growth. The province aims to develop tourism in a professional, quality and sustainable manner, and link tourism development with preserving and promoting national cultural values and identities. The province also envisions unique tourism products with high added-value in different types of tourism and the formation of national tourism sites.

This year, Quang Ninh expects to welcome 17 million visitors, including three million foreigners. To this end, it is rolling out such solutions as attracting tourists from Northeast Asia and China, Europe, the US, and developing new markets such as India, Middle East, Russia and Australia through promotion activities.

The province will host 186 cultural and sporting events in 2024 to stimulate tourism, among them are many traditional events that have become trademarks of Quang Ninh such as Hạ Long Summer Tourism Week 2024, Bach Dang Traditional Festival, Quang Ninh Ethnic Culture Day, a culinary festival, a three-region circus gala, the OCOP summer 2024 fair, a national festival for music, the Quang Ninh Open golf tournament and the Ha Long Heritage Marathon. It also plans to offer 62 more new tourism products in 2024.

Vietnam wins two more 2024 Paris Olympics spots

Vietnam secured two more tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer after clinching medals at Olympic qualifications in Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Nguyen Thi Huong took silver in the women’s C1 200m of the 2024 Asian Canoe Sprint Championships that ended in Japan on April 21.

The multi-time SEA Games champion competed against rowers from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan (China).

She managed to finish second with a time of 49.351sec, leaving behind Mariya Brovkova of Kazakhstan in third place with a time of 49.423sec.

First place went to Nilufar Zokirova of Uzbekistan, clocking a time of 49.109 second, VNS reported.

Nguyen Thi Huong (first left) finishes second in the women’s C1 200m of the 2024 Asian Canoe Sprint Championships in Japan, claiming an Olympic spot for Vietnam. (Photo: Vietnam sport team)

In the women’s C1 200m category, only the gold and silver medalists are eligible for the 2024 Paris Olympics spots, meaning Nguyen Thi Huong of Vietnam and Nilufar Zokirova of Uzbekistan won the tickets.

The 2024 Asian Canoe Sprint Championships took place in Tokyo, Japan, from 18 to 21 April 2024, and served as the continental qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Meanwhile, Pham Thi Hue grabbed another Olympic spot after coming in fifth place at the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta in the Republic of Korea.

In the women’s singles scull, Hue competed against opponents from