Vietnam’s athletes expect more victories in 2010

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s athletes will have more opportunities to increase their status in both continental and regional events, such as the 16th Asian Games (ASIAD 16) and the National Sports Festival
Continental playground - ASIAD 16

Vietnam has set itself an ambitious target at the 16th ASIAD Games, which will take place in Guangzhou, China, in November 2010.

Vietnam’s excellent performances at the 3rd Asian Indoor Games and the 25th SEA Games brought a great deal of pride for local sports fans and supporters who showed their confidence in the country’s further successes in upcoming sports events across the continent.

Sports-lovers have pinned their hopes on the country’s performance in numerous events at ASIAD and the Olympic games, including track-and-field events, swimming, shooting, judo, taekwondo, karate, and billiards & snooker. According to Vu Ngoc Anh, deputy head of the High-Achievement Sports Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, if Vietnamese athletes maintain their current training programmes, they could take the lead at ASIAD 16.

Vietnam registered for 17 out of a total of 25 events at the 25th SEA Games, which were held in Laos in December 2009. It won 83 gold medals, coming second after Thailand (86).

The High-Achievement Sports Department liaised with sports federations, national sports unions and coaching boards to make detailed plans for future investment, coaching and competitions. Vietnam will prepare thoroughly for athletes to compete at regional and international events, particularly in the qualifying rounds for the next Olympics games. The country will also invest more in upgrading its training facilities and procure better medical support for athletes prior to the forthcoming ASIDAD 16 in China.

Vietnam aims to win more than four gold medals in the ASIAD 16, higher than in the previous games. There are many outstanding athletes who have performed well at continental events, such as Vu Thi Huong and Truong Thanh Hang (track-and-field), Duong Anh Vu and Dang Dinh Tien (billiards & snooker) and others in shooting and boxing events. Furthermore, the country also hopes to take home medals from several martial arts events.

However, with some positive results recorded in 2009, Vietnam’s sports sector is expected to raise its global standing in the future by winning more gold medals in a series of events.

Home playground - National Sports Festival

The 2010 National Sports Festival, scheduled to take place in central Da Nang city, will be a major event for Vietnamese athletes in their backyard. Local authorities have invested large amounts of money in training athletes and upgrading sports facilities to achieve better results than in previous festivals. The event will provide a good opportunity for athletes in every province and city nationwide to show their talent and claim victory through some tough competitions.

Source:vietnamnet.vn/

Vietnam-UK economic ties look good for 2010

Despite the devastating impact of the global economic crisis, economic and trade ties between Vietnam and the UK have remained steady, even growing in 2009, and look likely to continue healthily in 2010.

In its latest report, the UK Department of Trade and Investment (UKTI) regards Vietnam as one of the 17 major markets to be approached by UK businesspeople.

The UKTI also surveyed the markets that UK businesses will invest in the future and Vietnam was named among the top 15.

According to the UK Statistics Authority, by the end of October this year the UK had imported 893 million GBP worth of commodities from Vietnam, a year on year rise of 7.4 percent while it exported goods worth 171 million GBP to Vietnam, a year on year increase of 12 percent.

With an average monthly trade value of 120 million GBP recorded over the last few months, two way-trade turnover between Vietnam and the UK is likely to meet this year’s target of 1.8 billion USD (over 1.1 billion GBP). This was confirmed by Vietnam’s trade counselor in the UK An The Dung.

Dung also said that UK investments in Vietnam have currently reached two billion USD in 126 projects, making the country one of the largest European investors in the Southeast Asian country.

Globally famous companies such as BP, Shell, BAT, GlaxoSmithKline, Tate & Lyle, Prudential, HSBC, and Standard Chartered Bank have been established in Vietnam for a long time now while other companies are planning to expand their operations in the country.

The Vietnamese trade official predicted that bilateral trade would become brisker in 2010 as the UK’s economy has shown signs of recovery and economic analysts have said its darkest period was over.

Dung attributed the improved image of Vietnamese products and businesses in the world and UK market to trade promotions conducted by businesses themselves and by Vietnamese State agencies. In 2009, almost 60 Vietnamese delegations traveled to the UK for trade promotions.

He said that the exporters of farm products and foodstuffs to the UK should maintain their export rate in 2010 but need to take part in trade fairs for agricultural products, food and beverages in the UK to explore future potential deals.

Dung forecast that purchases of footwear and garments will rise in the UK, two of Vietnam’s main exports to the UK.

The counselor also gave a positive projection for Vietnamese plastic products as the demand in the UK market has risen to 69kg per person a year.

Shrugging off 2009’s economic challenges, the UK’s economy will start to grow again in 2010, which will create a “win-win situation” for both the UK and Vietnam

Source:saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/