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Congratulations on Syria Independence Day AT A GLANCE

TRADE EXCHANGE PROGRAM HELD VIETNAM - RoK RELATIONS
Two trade delegations from Gyeongbuk juice, functional food, medicine, dental equipment, and electronics.
and Chungbuk provinces in the Republic Ms. Tran Thi Hai Yen, Head of KOTRA Hanoi, was quoted by
of Korea (RoK) engaged in direct business local media as saying that nearly 50 trade delegations and
discussions with Vietnamese importers in exhibitions are scheduled this year. KOTRA Hanoi has been
Hanoi on March 12. Comprising nearly 100 one-on-one business instrumental in facilitating numerous trade events between Viet-
meetings and held by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion namese and South Korean enterprises annually, with the objective
Agency in Hanoi (KOTRA Hanoi), the gathering was the first of promoting the entry of high-quality RoK products into the
RoK-Vietnam trade event in 2024. Participating enterprises show- Vietnamese market and fortifying economic ties between the two
cased high-quality products, including cosmetics, fresh fruit, fruit countries, she said.

FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LAUNCHED

The Ministry of Health’s Vietnam Food Administration (VFA) safety of products across Vietnam. The
and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety launch of the system marks a new step in
announced the official operation of a comprehensive food safety Vietnam’s efforts to ensure food safety and
management system in Vietnam on March 7. The system was the quality, protect public health, enhance
outcome of an ODA project between the two governments approved workplace productivity, and promote economic growth, especially
by the Prime Minister in 2020. The system manages centralized given that there are still many food products circulating in the
data and real-time updates, and categorizes and discloses infor- market that do not meet quality standards nor adhere to ingredients
mation, facilitating easy access for citizens to trace the origin and or technological processes registered with management agencies.

NATURAL DISASTER PREVENTION 2025-2030 PLAN TO BE DEVELOPED

At a meeting to build a disaster risk reduction partnership plan for strengthen Vietnam’s resilience through
2025-2030, held on March 2 by the Vietnam Disaster and Dike focusing on key areas such as coordinated
Management Authority (VDDMA) at the Ministry of Agriculture policies, risk-inclusive development planning,
and Rural Development, which saw the participation of representatives and community awareness. For his part,
from disaster risk reduction partners such as UN Women, Action Mr. Pham Doan Khanh from the VDDMA said the development of
Aid, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Vietnam the plan is important in coordinating efforts to reduce natural
Office, and Plan International in Vietnam, Ms. Pauline Tamesis, disaster risks and enhance Vietnam’s resilience. The plan should
Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Vietnam, proposed encourage the participation of all members of the partnership in
that the plan be developed in accordance with the Vietnamese disaster risk management activities, establish a unified forum to
Government’s priorities on natural disaster prevention and in line promote mutual support among members, and facilitate access to
with the strategic goals of all partners. She said the plan will aim to funding sources for disaster risk reduction initiatives, he said.

FIRST PROVINCIAL INDEX ANNOUNCED INNOVATION PERFORMANCE

The Ministry of Science and Technology build and issue innovation facilitation policies. Assigned by the
(MoST) on March 12 released the Provincial government, MoST coordinated with WIPO and relevant agencies
Innovation Index (PII) 2023, the first of its to design and pilot the PII in 20 localities in 2022 to measure their
kind. The Index aims to provide a general innovation capacity and performance. The PII has been officially
panorama of socio-economic development based on science and applied nationwide since 2023. According to the PII 2023 results,
technology and innovation in each provincial-level locality. Minister the top 10 consists of Hanoi (62.86), Ho Chi Minh City (55.85),
of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat said that since Hai Phong (52.32), Da Nang (50.70), Can Tho (49.66), Bac Ninh
2017, the Global Innovation Index (GII), published annually by province (49.20), Ba Ria-Vung Tau province (49.18), Binh Duong
the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), has been province (48.64), Quang Ninh province (48.03), and Thai Nguyen
used by the government as an important source of reference to province (47.75).

ENGLISH TEACHING NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN TEACHERS
The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has recently course. Training includes classroom man-
announced a certification program for foreign teachers at English agement and organization, lesson planning,
and computer science centers in Vietnam. The program is designed testing and evaluation, technology appli-
for those who are competent in English but do not have adequate cation, and using and developing teaching
pedagogical skills to teach in language centers. These include materials. The program is issued in alignment with the regulations
native English speakers with a college degree, and college graduates on teacher standards in Circular No. 21/2018/TT-BGDDT. Its
with an English-taught degree or a Level-5 language certificate curriculum comprises ten topics on English teaching knowledge,
according to Vietnam’s six-level foreign language competency techniques, and skills, and an internship, totaling 160 class
framework. Foreign teachers who possess a college degree in sessions. Core modules include the fundamentals of Vietnam’s
English teaching, or have competency in the language with an context and culture, education system, preschool and K-12
English teaching certificate, are not required to undertake the programs, and current regulations on teaching and learning.

en.vneconomy.vn April 2024 Vietnam Economic Times 5