UN meeting looks to accelerate trade facilitation agreement
The implementation of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement was a focus of discussions at the on-going UN high-level meeting on improving cooperation on transit and trade facilitationi.
Hanoi (VNA) – Accelerating theimplementation of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement and the UN Customs Conventionon International Transport of Goods was a focus of discussions on March 8 at theon-going UN high-level meeting on improving cooperation on transit and tradefacilitation in Hanoi.
The high-level meeting forthe Euro-Asia region on improving cooperation on transit, trade facilitationand the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is taking place inVietnam’s capital city from March 7-9.
Mahmoud Mohieldin, World Bank Group Senior VicePresident for the 2030 Development Agenda, United Nations Relations andPartnerships, held that it is necessary to increase cooperation right within acountry, saying the lack of exchange and coordination among domestic agencieswill slow down trade facilitation and affect communities in society, especiallythe business community.
The WTO trade facilitation agreement took effecton February 22, 2017, marking an important milestone in the global tradesystem, he said.
The agreement allows countries and internationalorganizations and experts to design numerous programmes to promote nationaltrade in member countries with the ultimate goal of poverty elimination andprosperity, he added.
Counselor Raul Torres from the WTO DevelopmentDivision said so far 17 landlocked countries have ratified the agreement –which includes measures to promote free transit, border gate cooperation, andinformation technology for nations without seas.
The utilization of this agreement will helpcountries pursue sustainable development, promote trade, and develop privatecapability and international integration.
Regarding the Customs Convention on InternationalTransport of Goods (TIR), Jens Hugel, Head of Goods Transport and SustainableDevelopment under the International Road Transport Union, said the TIR benefitsnot only landlocked and developing countries but also under-developed ones.
André Sceia from the TIR Secretariat and theSustainable Transport Division of the UN Economic Commission for Europe,recommended countries promote harmony in customs clearance procedures atnational border gates.-VNA
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has highlighted Vietnam’s commitments to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at a UN meeting in Hanoi on March 7.
Delegates to the UN high-level meeting for the Euro-Asia region on improving cooperation on transit, trade facilitation and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development will seek how to work together to facilitate international trade on their second day in Hanoi on March 8.
Outcomes of ABAC III will shape ABAC’s final policy recommendations to be submitted to the ABAC-APEC leaders’ dialogue, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this November.
This is the second year the magazine has released the ranking, which is based on total revenue and key financial indicators of enterprises from seven countries in the region: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
At the summit, publishing, tech, and media sectors will discuss emerging trends, business models, and sustainable solutions for digital publishing development in Vietnam.
This year’s “Vietnam Goods Week” marks a significant milestone as it is being held simultaneously for the first time in four locations across Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China), Cambodia, and Malaysia, from June 19 - 22.
According to NordCham Vietnam Chairman Thue Quist Thomasen, the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses to contribute to green and sustainable growth.
The analysis from an investment perspective shows that the economy’s growth has been heavily capital‑driven, yet efficiency remains low as reflected by Vietnam’s Incremental Capital-Output Ratio (ICOR) being significantly higher than global and regional averages. This underscores the imperative to enhance capital‑use efficiency.
Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha urged countries to work together to remove supply chain bottlenecks, expand market access, strengthen cooperation in smart customs procedures, mutually recognise technical standards, and eliminate unnecessary protectionist barriers to boost trade and investment.
The event has gathered over 400 exhibitors from 16 countries and territories, with more than 980 booths showcasing a wide range of products and technologies in automotive components, electronics, repair and maintenance, bodywork, accessories, and customisation.
The latest order follows Vietjet’s commitment for 20 additional A330neo aircraft last month, bringing the airline’s total widebody aircraft on order to 40.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang acknowledged the target represents an important milestone for socio-economic development as well as a demonstration of the country’s aspiration for robust economic growth.
The price of E5 RON92 petrol is now capped at 20,631 VND (0.79 USD) per litre, up 1,169 VND from the previous adjustment, while RON95-III costs no more than 21,244 VND per litre, up 1,277 VND.
While German consumers are familiar with Vietnamese products such as coffee, seafood, tea, and spices, many other quality items remain relatively unknown in the market. The Selgros event not only helped introduce Bac Giang lychee to German consumers but also provided them with the opportunity to experience other Vietnamese agricultural products.
The article by Cuba’s Inter Press Service detailed how Vietnamese private enterprise Agri VMA leased 1,000 ha of land in Los Palacios district, Cuba’s westernmost province of Pinar del Río, for rice cultivation over a three-year period. The project’s first harvest in 2025 recorded an impressive yield of 7.2 tonnes per hectare, far exceeding the local average of 1.6 tonnes.
During the visit, office representatives held a working session with the Tipaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry and met with several prominent local businesses operating in key sectors including industry, agriculture, fisheries, food processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and plastics.
A Nordic delegation to Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 in September will feature leading names in retail, consumer goods, logistics, and sustainable manufacturing, including global fashion giant H&M, offering fresh prospects for partnerships in fashion, textiles, and green supply chains.
With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applicable for commercial banks during the day is 26,276 VND/USD and the floor rate 23,774 VND/USD.
Effective from the date of signing on June 18, the decision halts procedures outlined in the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the governments of Vietnam and Laos on the initial implementation of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement at the Lao Bao–Densavan border gate.
The event aimed to update businesses on new regulations and compliance requirements regarding US tax, trade, and customs policies, while offering practical solutions to facilitate exports amid shifting trade dynamics.
The festival marks a significant milestone in promoting the brand, value, and legacy of traditional fish sauce - a product deeply rooted in the island’s identity and history spanning over 200 years.
Illustrative image (Source: internet)
