Hanoi to auction land-use rights for new development projects; Credit payments edge up in cash-only society; VN firm builds floating unit to serve oil field; Vietnam wants to sign TPP soon; Vietnam, US trade sets new record

VietNamNet Bridge – Businesses are eyeing real estate, securities, pharmaceuticals, and exports as the most attractive investment fields in 2014.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Although foreign investment in real estate increased in terms of the number of projects in 2013, the actual cash value invested was much lower than in previous years, leaving many claiming

Only one real estate project has been transferred to a foreign investor so far, while the foreign direct investment (FDI) in the real estate sector has decreased.

 Plans to disburse housing package; Da Nang-Kawasaki shipping route set to be opened; January sees 10 percent fall in farm exports; Remittances revive real estate; Fund management firms suffer losses; January’s FDI slides 52.4%

 VietNamNet Bridge – As the economy recovers and the government issues new policies to develop the stock market, the shares of companies in certain sectors are predicted to gain.

State Audit announces 2014 shortlist; Positive signals for shrimp exports to Japan; Vinacomin’s power plan goes into overdrive; Formosa eyes import tax break; Ground breaks at new titanium plant

 Viglacera construction materials firm to go public; Leading cement corp. targets 30 trillion VND in revenue; Buyers more confident in made-in-Vietnam goods; Vietnam welcomes US investor in silk industry

 VietNamNet Bridge – Real estate inventory has decreased more than 26 percent compared with the first quarter 2013 quarter, mainly in the segment of small and medium sized apartments, said Minister of Construction Trinh Dinh Dung.

 Early start urged for new airport; Cement sector grows while steel market stagnates; Exporters target EU quality standards; HCM City has 26,000 new businesses in 2013; Vietnam looks to attract ODA capital to agriculture

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many electronics stores in Vietnam are facing the risk of bankruptcy after a period of rapid expansion and competition.

 Banking sector tops list of 1000 biggest tax payers; US$400 mil tyre factory inaugurated in Tay Ninh; Vietnam’s exports up 13 notches in WTO ranking; November’s industrial production up 5.7%

The Ministry of Construction and the State Bank both have loosened the requirements on the borrowers of the VND30 trillion package in an effort to speed up the disbursement. However, the power is in the hands of commercial banks.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The real estate market has been largely stagnant. While many real estate companies are looking for ways to get out of the market, many large investors want to join in. The Vietnam Business Forum reports.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Inventories at the end of September fell more than 20 percent compared to the first half of the year; the estate market has had positive signs, according to the Ministry of Construction.

It is a growing tendency that foreign names are given to the real estate projects in Vietnam. However, the Ministry of Construction may stop the trend by setting up a regulation that the projects must have Vietnamese unabbreviated names.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Though admitting that the Vietnamese real estate market has great potentials, Japanese property firms still keep hesitant with the investment opportunities in the market.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese, who always want their immovable properties to be their permanent assets, would not be interested in 49-year-ownership houses.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A number of banks have unveiled real-estate loan packages targeting feasible property projects and mortgages to intensify credit growth.

 Five Vietnamese enterprises roll out co-branding card; Large investors favored on Phu Quoc; Footwear export orders up 10-15%; Vietnam, Japan cooperate in six key industries