The Ascott Limited, among the world’s largest international serviced residence owner-operators, has partnered with BIM Group to develop the first world-class condotel project in Quang Ninh Province under the brand Citadines.

 The number of new enterprises established in the country has gone up and the inflow of foreign direct investment into the country has increased, but the quality of national growth remains unaffected or diminished.

Vietnam-based mobile platform provider, Appota, announced on April 5 that it has successfully raised an undisclosed funding for its series C round from two investment funds from South Korea.

 Representatives from 21 commercial banks on Tuesday gathered in Ha Noi to discuss the interest rate, affirming that, so far, they are feeling no pressure on the issue.

 State Bank of Viet Nam plans to reduce the ratio of non-performing loans (NPLs) to below 3 per cent by 2020 under an action plan to implement a government resolution.

 Novaland Group (NVL) on Wednesday said it would not participate in the restructuring of Saigon Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank) as planned previously, Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) has reported.

 Viet Nam’s import value of animal feed and material for production of animal feed witnessed a year-on-year increase of 41.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

About 57.8% of enterprises in the manufacturing and processing industry are of the opinion that the business and production scenario in the second quarter will be better compared to the first quarter of this year.

 Vietnam’s GDP in the second quarter of this year is forecast to expand some 5.6 per cent, higher than the 5.1 per cent rate in Q1.

 On April 1, Bloomberg reported that Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia planned to partner up with two domestic firms to start an airline in Vietnam. However, available information draws questions over the plan’s legitimacy and feasibility.

 The fast-growing convenience store segment in Vietnam has been forecast to grow at 34.7% per year over the next several years, according to a study compiled by grocery research agency, IGD.

 Bad debt has re-emerged as an issue for the banking system as it might be three times higher than reported, says a Vneconomy report.

Over 37% of apartment units put up for sale on the HCMC market are situated along Metro Line No.1 which connects Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and Suoi Tien Park in District 9, according to real estate consulting firm Jones Lang LaSalle.

A project to develop a billion-dollar complex of universities in HCMC by Malaysia’s Berjaya Land Berhad has almost ground to a dead halt.

 Among other new policies, EVN permitted to raise capital from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals.

 Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia, plans to partner up with a domestic firm to start an airline in Vietnam.

 The Vietnam National Coffee Corporation (VINACAFE) will begin equitisation in the third quarter of this year, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan.

 Vietnam posts trade deficit of $1.9 billion in Q1

 The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has announced the suspension of imports of beef from the Brazilian meat-packers involved in the recent scandal will continue indefinitely.

 Vietnam should have savvy foreign direct investment (FDI) policies that direct capital to modern and environmentally friendly technologies and promote technology transfer to make local firms more competitive, experts say.