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AT A GLANCE
Congratulations on New Zealand’s Waitangi Day

DOMESTIC TRADE SPECIALIZED COMMODITY TRADING FLOORS ON WAY
According to key plans in 2023-2028 from the Mercantile while floors for coffee and carbon credits
Exchange of Vietnam (MXV), the only national centralized com- are to become operational next year. Spe-
modity trading market organizer in the country, some specialized cialized commodity trading floors will
commodity trading floors will be built shortly to develop a help Vietnam’s production and trade activ-
domestic commodities trading market meeting international ities become more transparent and modern, creating a premise
standards. A rubber trading floor and a pork trading floor are for breakthrough development in the future, MXV General
expected to be put into operation in Ho Chi Minh City this year, Director Dang Viet Hung said.

180 MILLION BANK ACCOUNTS OPENED BANKING SECTOR
According to the State Bank of Vietnam The number of internet and mobile payment transactions has
(SBV), as of last November, there were 180 increased by 46.48 per cent and 90.12 per cent, respectively, each
million active personal payment accounts year on average. QR code payments have surged by an annual
in Vietnam, raising the proportion of adults average of 471.13 per cent since 2018. Regarding the pilot use of
holding bank accounts to more than 77.41 per cent. Bank card accessing credit in telecommunications accounts for payments,
services also developed steadily, with 145.79 million cards being known as Mobile Money, the number of customers using the
active as of November. The SBV also reported impressive growth method stood at more than 5.6 million as of the end of last
in internet, mobile, and QR code payments. The number of September. The total number of transactions through Mobile
payment service companies providing internet payment services Money was over 47 million, with a total value of nearly VND2.39
reached 85, while 52 others provided mobile payment services. trillion ($99 million).

CLIMATE CHANGE VIETNAM TO ESTABLISH CARBON CREDIT MARKET
Chairing a meeting on the establishment of a carbon credit Can, Vietnam’s carbon credit market will
market in Vietnam, held on January 8, Deputy Prime Minister be built in accordance with the practical
Tran Hong Ha emphasized that the project must contain updates conditions and development orientations
on global policies and agreements as well as strategies and plans of the country, commitments to green-
issued with orientations on climate change response, just energy house gas emission reductions, and trends in the global market.
transition, and greenhouse gas emission reductions. This will The project aims to ensure that the domestic carbon credit
contribute to the preparation of major global policies on reducing market operates fairly, openly, and effectively, and in accordance
greenhouse gas emissions, allocating emission quotas, exchanging with international conditions and practices. In 2023, Vietnam
carbon credits, and creating green financial resources for sold 10.3 million forest carbon credits (10.3 million tonnes of
businesses to innovate technology, he said. According to a report carbon dioxide) for the first time through the World Bank for
delivered to the meeting by Deputy Minister of Finance Le Tan $51.5 million.

230,500 MORE ENTERPRISES TO OPERATE IN 2024 BUSINESS LANDSCAPE
According to the General Statistics Office enacted in 2023 are expected to have a more pronounced impact,
(GSO), some 230,500 additional enterprises with drivers like investment, consumption, tourism, and exports
are expected to enter or re-enter the market envisioned to continue their upwards trajectory. However,
in 2024. Of these, about 162,500 will be challenges persist, as major economies and Vietnam’s trade
newly-established, a year-on-year increase of 2 per cent, while partners and key investors are still experiencing a slow and
the number returning to operations will stand at around 68,000, unsustainable recovery, coupled with weak consumer demand,
up 16 per cent against 2023. The GSO’s forecast is based on increasing protectionism, and unfavorable global and regional
business registrations in 2023 and the future global and domestic developments. As a result, the number of businesses exiting the
economic outlook. The country’s 2024 economic growth will con- market this year is also forecast to be higher than in 2023, at
tinue its positive recovery trend, it believes. Supportive policies around 178,000, up 3.5 per cent.

AVIATION SERVICES 5-STAR RATING FOR DA NANG’S INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL

The international terminal at Da Nang International Airport in carts, prayer rooms, self-baggage drop-off,
the central city of Da Nang became the first and only terminal in and self-check-in counters. Earlier, Da
Vietnam to obtain a 5-star rating from international airport ratings Nang International Airport’s Terminal T2
agency Skytrax on January 1. It came nine months after the inter- became the first in Southeast Asia to receive
national terminal received a 4-star rating from Skytrax last March, the Welcome Chinese certification, in December 2023, with a Gold
thanks to its efforts in improving facilities and services to enhance ranking; the highest of three grades - Silk, Jade, and Gold - issued
the passenger experience. As of the end of 2023, there were only 19 by the Beijing-based research organization the China Tourism
airports and three airport terminals in the world rated 5 stars by Academy under the China National Tourism Administration. Italy
Skytrax. Amenities appreciated by the ratings agency include has four airports certified “Welcome Chinese”, while France, Russia,
business class lounges, baby strollers, children’s play areas, shopping Spain, and Saudi Arabia have one each.

en.vneconomy.vn FEBRUARY 2024 | VIETNAM ECONOMIC TIMES | 5