Vietnam is now one of the 10 most attractive software processing markets in the world, according to an assessment by US consultancy group A. T. Kearney. Kearney said in its 2009 report that the country’s software processing industry is growing vibrantly. The assessment was based on a survey of 50 countries that evaluated the services, information technology support, customer care centers, human resources and business environments in each country. Vietnam’s position was up nine grades compared to the group’s rating in 2007. India still tops the list, followed by China, Malaysia and Thailand.

A seminar to explore the opportunities for trade and investment co-operation in the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary was held in Da Nang city on June 4. At the seminar, Martin Vlastnik, first economic and trade secretary of the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Wojciech Gerwel, economic counselor of the Polish Embassy and Szabo Zoltan, trade counselor of the Hungarian Embassy introduced their potential, prospects, and opportunities for trade and investment co-operation as well as preferential policies for businesses. They analyzed the impact of the current financial crisis on bilateral relations with Vietnam and proposed measures to remedy problem.

In recent years, trade and economic relations between the Czech Republic and Vietnam have maintained stable growth, said Martin Vlastnik, an official from the Embassy of the Czech Republic. Two-way trade turnover increased from US$92 million in 2006 to US$155 million in 2008. It is estimated to reach US$73.9 million by the end of the second quarter of this year. Vietnam exports garments, seafood, footwear and rubber to the Czech Republic. Currently, the Czech Republic has 9 completed ODA projects worth US$8 million and other 13 ongoing ODA projects capitalised at US$12.1 million in Vietnam.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) will not force any enterprises, either foreign-invested or domestic, to sell foreign currencies to commercial banks, Deputy Governor of SBV Nguyen Van Binh affirmed. The deputy governor stated the above during the Vietnam Business Forum in HCM City on June 1 on the threshold of the mid-year Consultative Group Meeting. Binh’s words were the official answer to the proposal by foreign-invested enterprises that the government not force businesses to sell foreign currencies to banks. Prior to that, local newspapers reported suggestions by some economists that the government set up a regulation on forcing enterprises with foreign currencies to sell them to commercial banks in order to help settle the foreign currency supply shortage.

Vietnam is ranked 39^th among the safest places in the world, according to the 2009 Global Peace Index (GPI), an annual ranking of the world’s nations on their peacefulness. It is composed of 23 indicators, including foreign wars, internal and external conflicts, and respect for human rights, the number of murders, and the number of people in jail, the arms trade, and degrees of democracy. Iceland lost its title as the most peaceful place in the world rated fourth in the top five most peaceful countries including New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Austria. Meanwhile Iraq remained on bottom of the list below Afghanistan and Somalia. In the Asia-Pacific region, Malaysia captures the 26^th spot while Indonesia (67^th), the Philippines (114^th), Thailand (118^th) and Myanmar (126^th). The United States ranked 83rd due to its high prison population and heavy military spending.

PetroVietnam, has made three oil and gas discoveries so far this year, the country’s government has said. The three fields, Hai Su Den-2X, Thien Ung-3X, and CC-2XST, are all located offshore, the government said in a statement, without providing further details of the finds. PetroVietnam’s crude oil exports in the first five months of 2009 jumped 16 per cent from a year earlier to 7.02 million tonnes but lower oil prices led to a fall of 44 per cent in revenues at just US$2.57 billion (S$3.71 billion), the government added. PetroVietnam has been stepping up exploration efforts both at home and abroad as it moves to secure more oil reserves to meet rising domestic energy demand.

The Military Telecom Corporation (Viettel) said on May 29 that it had completed the installation of a broadband network connecting educational insituations in the city. Completion of the network, which started in November 2008, helps to connect 1,380 schools, colleges, universities, vocational schools and other educational facilities across the city to support teaching, studying, scientific research and management. Viettel has provided free modems, installation and connection service for all schools except for colleges and universities, which are getting discounts of 70% in monthly Internet usage costs.

The VietUnion Online Service Joint Stock Co and four Vietnamese banks signed an agreement on June 2 on the use of the company’s e-wallet service Payoo. VietUnion company signed the agreement with Agribank, VietinBank, Sacombank and NaviBank. The Payoo service, which has been running on a pilot basis by the State Bank of Vietnam, will allow consumers to shop online without submitting credit card details or personal bank information. Administered by VietUnion, the service co-operates with the four banks as well as more than 100 companies. A fixed sum of money from the customers account from the four banks will be transferred to their Payoo e-wallet account.

Foreign investors were net buyers of VND4.9 billion ($288,000) of Vietnamese stocks Thursday out of a total VND1.96 trillion traded, the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange said. Volume traded totaled 58.4 million shares, with foreigners accounting for 4.2% of that volume, the stock market operator said. In the month to date, foreign investors have been net buyers of VND148.5 billion of Vietnamese stocks.

The exhibition “Vietnam Auto & Petro 2009” will take place at the Saigon International Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City from September 3 - 6. Also, the exhibition will be held at the Vietnam Exhibition and Fair Centre in Hanoi from October 27 - 30 in combination with the 15th Asia Pacific Automotive Engineering Conference (APAC 15) at Daewoo hotel from October 27 - 30. Vietnam Auto & Petro 2009 directs to imported automobile market with famous brands like Nissan, BMW, Audi; specialised lines of automobiles, motorbikes; supporting industry for automobiles; fuel and so on.