Workshop on Testing financial behavior theories in Vietnam's stock market

On 6 July 2011, VDF’s finance research held the workshop “Testing financial behavior theories in Vietnam’s stock market”. Mrs Tran Thi Thanh Tu (VDF researcher) and Mr Pham Viet Hung (VDF’s collaborator) represent the group to presented : (1) Characteristics of Vietnam’s Individual investors through VDF’s survey; (2) Results in testing some financial behavor theories in Vietnam’s stock market; (3) Limitations and next research direction. Experts from Central Institue for Economic Management (CIEM), Commercial Banks, Enterprises and lecturers from Falculty of Banking and Finance, National Economics University gave their comments on the findings of the research. This discussion have drawn some policy implications to the Government and the State Security Committee in developing the stock market SlideV

Seminar on Attracting Japanese SME to Industrial Parks

On 22 June 2011, VDF, JICA and MPI co-organized a seminar on attracting Japanese SME to industrial parks for development of supporting industries in Vietnam. The seminar started with the presentation by Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Vice General Director of Kinh Bac City, introducing Que Vo IP and its VN-JP Supporting Industries IP. The second and third presentations delivered by Mr. Kyoshiro Ichikawa (IBC) and Mr. Ryoichi Nakagawa (BTD Japan), discussed on opportunities and challenges of Japanese SME to invest in Vietnam's supporting industries. The fourth presentation made by Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Thuy (VDF), provided best practices in Asia, including Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate and Hsinchu Science Park, in attracting SME's investment. Messages from the seminar were that to attract Japanese SME, IP developers should benchmark themselves with best practices to strenthen their attractiveness and marketing capability; information on local market and post-investment services should be improved; and besides investment incentives, the government should also ensure proper support services and good governance. KBCSlides (PDF17MB), IBCSlides (PDF223KB), BTDSlides (PDF1.4MB), VDFslideV (PDF6MB) VDFslideE (PDF6MB)

  Factory visit to Goshi-Thanglong

VDF supported Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade (DOIT) to organize a factory visit to Goshi-Thang Long Auto Part Co., Ltd (GTA) on 17 June 2011. More than 20 Hanoi's mechanical companies participated in this event, including Vinaxuki, Sino, Ha Dong Song Cong... Visitors were impressive on GTA labors' working behavior, production line arrangement, and workshop design... They also had a chance to discuss with Vietnamese middle managers about 5S, kaizen, monozukuri activities, production management, quality and NG goods control at GTA. Visitors highly appreciated organizers' effort to make this event and wished to have similar visits to other Japanese companies.

ADB Annual Meeting Seminars

In 3-6 May, 2011 the Asian Development Bank held its 44th Annual Meeting in Hanoi. Prof. Ohno of VDF was the keynote speaker at Vietnam Business Summit where he discussed the risk of middle income trap and importance of policy learning for Vietnam. DPM Hoang Trung Hai, MPI Minister Vo Hong Phuc, Finance Minister Vu Van Minh, SBV Governor Nguyen Van Giau, and ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda also spoke. Prof. Ohno was also a panelist at another ADB seminar on Middle Income Asia, together with Prof. Robert Mundell (Columbia U.), Prof. Dwight Parkins (Harvard U.) and Prof. Ravi Kanbur (Cornel U.) ADB is turning to middle income issues as many of its member countries are graduating from low income. Vietnamese audience and media were also interested in current inflation and how government should cope with it.   ohno's speech slides

Policy study mission to Taiwan

On 21-25 March 2011, GRIPS Development Forum and VDF visited the Republic of China to study its policy making method. In Taiwan the powerful Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) manages industrial policy. The main policy tools include "industrial projects" commissioned by MoEA, research institutes that design and implement policies, science parks and EPZs, and SME support. Taiwan has eliminated all incentives except for R&D and set uniform corporate income tax of 17%. To diversify from electronic hardware contract manufacturing, innovation and soft power are promoted.   mission report slides

WS on Derivatives Market Development in Vietnam

On 14 Apr 2011, State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) in coorperation with Lux-Development (Luxembourg Agency for Development Cooperation)  organize+d a conference about “ Derivatives Market Development in Vietnam” in Melia Hotel. The conference objectives are to get substantive discussion among industry, international experts, SSC and depository of key issues relating to the development of the derivatives market in Vietnam. Mr. Robert Singletary, legal expert of Lux-Development, Mr. Hannes Takacs, the Director of CAPMEX (Vice Chairperson Prague Stock Exchange Chamber) presented about derivative issues, pilot program and international experiences. From aspect of industry perspective, Mr.Dan Svensson, Director of Dragon Capital in Vietnam, discussed about what is happening in Vietnam industry regard to derivatives today. As a researcher of Vietnam Development Forum, Ms Nguyen Thi Minh Hue made a speech and actively discussed with the experts and  leaders of the SSC about the program priorities for strategy and roadmap for development of derivatives market in Vietnam.

VDF visits KOICA

On 28 Feb 2011, VDF visited the Hanoi office of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to learn about its Knowledge Sharing with Vietnam project. With DSI/MPI as main counterpart, KOICA works with many ministries and institutes. 13 topics are selected for joint study including long-term dev. strategy, TVET, labor market analysis, etc. For each topic, Korean experts are mobilized to give seminars and produce reports consisting of Vietnam's situation analysis, Korean experience, and policy advice. Final reports and conference are scheduled for Sep. 2011. Korea provides similar support to many countries other than Vietnam. Previously, in Nov. 2010, a GRIPS-VDF team visited KOICA headquarters in Seoul to collect information on Korea's intellectual ODA.

Conference on Quality of Growth

On 24 Feb 2011, National Assembly’s Economic Committee, National Economic University and GRIPS co-organized a symposium on Quality of Vietnam’s Economic Growth in the Period of 2001-2010 and Direction Toward 2020, attracting more than 300 people from government and non-government organizations. Three presentations delivered by Prof. Tran Tho Dat (NEU), Dr. Bui Truong Giang (VIE), and Dr. Le Xuan Ba (CIEM) provided an overview on Vietnam’s economic growth. Despite impressive average growth over last two decades, this growth has been largely factor-driven without significant improvement in local productivity or competitiveness. The fourth presentation made by Prof. Ohno (GRIPS/VDF) compared international best practices in policy procedure and organization from Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, etc., for Vietnam to improve policy-making capacity. Floor discussion raised issues on mindset change, growth model in next decade, public investment and its effectiveness, human capital development, public–private partnership, and involvement of all stakeholders in policy-making. A consensus was that mindset and institution should be changed to cope with new context of deeper integration and competition. OhnoslideE OhnoslideV BaslideE BaslideV GiangslideE GiangslideV DatslideE DatslideV

ADB lecture on Vietnam's middle income trap

On 31 Jan 2011, Prof. Ohno (VDF/GRIPS) was invited by ADB Manila to give a lecture on Vietnam's middle income trap and exchange views with interested ADB officials. As many Asian countries graduate from low income and join the middle income group, traditional aid for poverty reduction, education and health becomes less important and building policy capability to tackle new challenges becomes crucial. ADB is exploring ways to modify its policies, and Prof. Ohno's talk was first in ADB's new lecture series on Asian Development Policy. ADB will take up the same issue when it hosts its annual meeting in Hanoi in early May 2011.