Vietnam strives to protect ozone layer: official

Vietnam has abided by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer since the nation ratified it in January 1994, stated an official from the Ministry for Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE).

The Deputy Head of MoNRE’s Hydrometeorology and Climate Change Department (HCCD), Nguyen Khac Hieu, said on the World Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer themed “Ozone layer protection: governance and compliance at its best” in Hanoi on Thursday.

Vietnam has issued policies and measures to strictly control the import-export of all substances that deplete the ozone layer and has prohibited equipment that uses chloro-fluoro-carbons (CFC), said Hieu, adding that the nation has eradicated 500 tons of CFC’s and 3.8 tons of Halon, which are substances that deplete the ozone layer, since January 1, 2010.

The World Bank (WB) and the HCCD have forecast that Vietnam needs about 20 million USD to completely stop the use of hydro-chloro-fluoro-carbons (HCFCs) over the next 15 to 20 years.

In Vietnam, these substances are mostly used in cooling systems, air-conditioning and seafood processing.

The HCCD has worked with the WB to draw up a HCFC national eradication plan under which the nation can reduce the use of this substance by 10 percent by 2015.

In the meantime, the MoNRE will propose a number of measures to the government to ensure that Vietnam meets the Montreal Protocol’s deadlines for eliminating HCFCs.

The Montreal Protocol stipulates that CFC’s and Halon had to be eradicated by January 2010 and HCFCs by 2040.

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Tourism forum focuses on sustainable development

The East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum (EATOF) wrapped up in Ha Long city, the northeastern province of Quang Ninh on September 16, affirming its commitment to sustainable development in the region.

The three-day EATOF 2010 reaffirmed the significance and role of the regional organisation in the new context, and stressed provinces’ commitments to fulfill their responsibility and rights as EATOF members.
At the closing ceremony, Quang Ninh province’s leaders transferred EATOF’s flag to Cebu province of the Philippines, the host of the next forum.

Themed, “For sustainable development in East Asia”, delegates discussed tourism-related issues with the aim of building a sustainable EATOF.

Within the framework of the forum, a travel fair was held with the participation of over 30 booths from member provinces promoting their images and tourist products.

Also, a series of workshops and bilateral meetings among EATOF took place, offering opportunities for cooperation, investment and tourism development in each locality.

Established in 1999, EATOF consists of Cebu of the Philippines, Chiang Mai of Thailand, Gangwon of the Republic of Korea, Jilin of China, Luang Prabang of Laos, Primorsky territory of Russia, Quang Ninh of Vietnam, Sarawak of Malaysia, Siem Riep of Cambodia, Tottori of Japan, Tuv of Mongolia and Yogyakarta of Indonesia./.

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Hessen considers VN-Germany university special project

Hessen’s Minister of Science and Technology Eva Kuhne Hormann ranked the Vietnam-Germany University as the German state’s special project while meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan in Hanoi on September 16.

This is the first public university to be developed overseas by a German state and a nation, she said, adding that the university’s council is scheduled to meet on November 4 for a final decision on implementation of development plans.

Deputy PM Nhan expressed his hope that the German partner will choose the best suitable model and project management for the university soon.

He said the World Bank accepted a preferential loan for the university’s development.

The Vietnam-Germany University launched its first course in September 2008 in Ho Chi Minh City, focusing on engineering and natural sciences.

The same day, a ceremony was held at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, to grant scholarships from the University Support Organisation (WUS) to 71 students in Hanoi and surrounding areas in the presence of Minister Eva Kuhne Hormann and the WUS President Kambiz Ghawami.

The scholarship recipients are among 165 academically excellent university students nationwide who registered outstanding achievements in their study during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Similar ceremonies will be held in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, central Da Nang city and Ho Chi Minh City in early next year.

Through WUS, Hessen’s Ministry of Science and Technology has granted scholarships to Vietnamese students over the past 15 years. Last school year, it provided 150 scholarships.

Under an agreement between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the Hessen Ministry of Science and Technology signed in September 2007, the German state welcomes 85 Vietnamese students to study at PhD level each year from 2008-2020./.

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Vietnam gives priority to social security

The government of Vietnam always considers social security as its top mission, and an important element for sustainable development of society, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung said.

The Deputy PM affirmed at the 26 th meeting of the ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA) board opened in Hanoi on Sept. 16 that the passing of Laws on Social Insurance and Health Insurance and the application of the unemployment policy in 2009 were clear evidence of the government’s commitment to develop a robust social insurance system.

The workshop, hosted by Vietnam Social Insurance, drew nearly 100 delegates, including 60 foreign representatives coming from 21 official member organisations of eight ASEAN countries, two observer countries of Cambodia and Myanmar and visitors from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Republic of Korea’s Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service (COMWEL) and German State Pensions (BfA).

ASSA, which represents health insurance and social insurance agencies in ASEAN countries, plays an important role in implementing social security as a pillar of the ASEAN community, the deputy PM said.

Restoring the economy and developing and ensuring social security in a sustainable way are the top priorities of ASEAN countries, Deputy PM Hung said.

To ensure social security for all the people in the region, ASSA members need to boost cooperation, exchange experiences and work out measures to overcome challenges posed by unemployment and an ageing population, and also provide better health services.

A workshop on reclaiming outstanding social insurance debts with the aim of sharing experiences on the matter was held within the framework of the meeting.

On the occasion, Vietnam Social Insurance’s General Director Le Bach Hong took over ASSA President for the 2010-2011 period.

Vietnam Social Insurance become a member of ASSA in 1998 and had first undertaken ASSA’s presidency during the 2002-2003 term.

The 27th ASSA meeting will be held in Singapore next March.-Enditem

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Vietnamese people’s reading habits decline

Vietnamese people’s reading habits are on the decline, according to participants in a recent workshop on the need to develop a stronger reading culture in Vietnam.

At the workshop held in Ho Chi Minh City on Sept. 16, the Publication Department reported that last year, nearly 24,600 book titles with over 273,500 million copies were published, a year-on-year rise of 7 percent.

However, there was no outstanding book title with dozens of thousands of copies in the market as before, according to Quach Thu Nguyet, former Director of the Young Publishing House.

Philosophic scholar Bui Van Nam Son said the situation in Vietnam is the same as other countries in the world. At present there are so many recreation programmes, movies, games and lots of work that affect people’s reading habits.

Meanwhile, school libraries, which can have a great influence on students’ reading habits, are short of funds for new books and their poor infrastructure make them fail to attract youth readers, according to workshop participants.

To boost the reading culture in Vietnam, writer Nguyen Ngoc suggested families have their own bookshelf, as the family home is an ideal place to create reading habits for everyone.

The education sector also plays an important role in nourishing student’s reading habits, scientists said, stressing the necessity of refreshing the contents of literature subjects taught at schools.

According to the delegates, it is necessary to improve the quality of libraries at schools and at district and municipal levels and strengthen State management of the publication and quality of printed information.

They also suggested a day to encourage Vietnamese people to read books, which may coincide with World Reading Day, March 24./.

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Access to microfinance helps poor groups

A workshop was held in the northern midland province of Phu Tho on September 16 to implement a microfinance support programme, helping promote better access to sustainable, affordable and diversified financial services by low-income groups in Vietnam.

The project, funded by Cordiad from the Netherlands with technical assistance from the International Labour Orgainisation (ILO), will build institutional and operational capacity of microfinance stakeholders through the establishment of a network of qualified training providers, and the strengthening of the representation roles of the microfinance working group.

It will also improve access to savings products for low-income groups and promote microinsurance initiatives for the low-income population.

The project emphasises linking training institutions with resource trainers/practitioners in the area of microfinance, exploring innovative channels for distributing savings and insurance products to a greater number of poor in rural and remote areas, and enhancing the financial capabilities of low-income groups to enable them to make informed choices on money matters.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam spoke highly of the project in helping the ministry to make policies relating to poverty reduction and risk mitigation.

“Through the project, we do hope that concerned line ministries and agencies will recognise the importance and ways for effective cooperation between policy makers, microfinance service providers and social organisations for the best interest of Vietnamese people, especially low-income groups,” he said.

Rie Vejs-Kjeldgaard, ILO country director, said the project continues to demonstrate the strong commitment of the ILO in assisting the government of Vietnam in developing effective social protection policies under the framework of Decent Work for All.

Microfinance has developed gradually during the past 20 years, reaching over six million low-income people in all provinces of the country.

However, the microfinance sector in Vietnam has not fully realised its potential for fostering economic and social development in comparison with other regional countries, since there is no leading training institution in the sector./.

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3,000 people to walk for Hanoi’s millennium

Over 3,000 representatives from Hanoi-based businesses and organisations will walk around Hoan Kiem Lake on September 26 to mark the 1000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The event is being jointly held by UNESCO’s Corporate Culture Centre, the Hoang Dung Media Company, the Mekong Trading Joint Stock Company and Vietnam Synergy Ltd.

The participants will include Party and State officials, representatives from the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, Vietnam’s Union of Science and Technology, the Vietnamese Association for Encouraging Study, the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxide, the Vietnamese Family Planning Association, the National Fund for Vietnamese Children and several media agencies.

It is also a chance for Hanoi’s businesses to show how responsible they are on the environment, express sympathy to Agent Orange victims and disadvantaged children as well as express a determination to build and develop sustainable businesses during international and regional integration./.

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