Industry and Trade News April 14: E-commerce penetrates strongly in rural areas

Energy sector

On Vietnamnet Newspaper today (April 14) posted information: " Proposal to assign the Prime Minister to decide on investment policy for nuclear power plants"

On the morning of April 14, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave its opinion on the draft Law on Atomic Energy (amended). In this draft law, the Government proposed a new proposal on decentralizing the decision on investment policies for nuclear power plants.

Regarding decentralization and delegation of power, in the draft law, the Government proposes to delegate the power to decide on investment policies for nuclear power plants to the Prime Minister instead of the National Assembly as under the current Investment Law and Public Investment Law.

The Government also said that the 2008 Law on Atomic Energy has delegated the People's Committees of provinces and cities to license X-ray equipment for medical diagnosis (Point b, Clause 1, Article 77 of the current Law). According to the new spirit, the law only regulates issues under the authority of the National Assembly, while the contents under the authority of the Government will be regulated in decrees and documents guiding the implementation of the law.

It is expected that the decree guiding the law will continue to decentralize from the Ministry of Science and Technology to the People's Committees of provinces and cities to grant licenses for medical X-ray equipment, radioactive sources and low-risk radiation equipment; prepare for and respond to incidents.

Import and export sector

Vietnam Women's Newspaper published the information: "Lang Son: Traffic regulation at border gate area to serve Vietnam - China defense exchange"

From 6:00 p.m. on April 14 to April 17, 2025, vehicles carrying goods waiting to be exported through Huu Nghi international border gate will be guided to move to Viettel Lang Son Logistics Park to ensure order and serve the 9th Vietnam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program.

According to Mr. Hoang Khanh Duy, Deputy Head of the Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone Management Board, this is part of Plan No. 25/KH-UBND dated January 25, 2025 to coordinate the organization of defense exchange activities at the Huu Nghi border gate area (Vietnam) and Huu Nghi Quan (China). During this time, export vehicles will gather at Viettel Lang Son Logistics Park, located in Phu Xa and Thuy Hung communes, Cao Loc district, with free parking.

Lang Son synchronously deploys solutions to support businesses in customs clearance

To ensure effective regulation, the Management Board has coordinated with the Border Guard, Provincial Police and relevant units to divert traffic and avoid congestion on National Highway 1A and neighboring routes. The authorities will also strengthen security, order and environmental sanitation at the border gate area.

Departments such as Industry and Trade; Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Region VI Customs are required to widely inform businesses and individuals to proactively arrange vehicles according to plan. Viettel Lang Son Logistics Park will arrange reasonable parking areas, coordinate with functional forces to manage vehicles transparently and scientifically.

E-commerce sector

Quang Ninh Newspaper reported: " E-commerce is strongly penetrating rural areas"

Not only in big cities, the digital consumption wave is strongly penetrating with the steps of e-commerce into rural life, where the majority of Vietnam's population lives.

According to Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nga, Senior Business Director at Kantar Worldpanel Vietnam, e-commerce is growing strongly and becoming a big boost for many industries, especially in rural areas, where the majority of Vietnam's population lives.

In addition, Ms. Nga issued a noteworthy warning to the business community. Accordingly, increasing e-commerce channel sales does not mean that the industry or brand is actually growing.

In many cases, consumers are simply shifting their spending from traditional and modern channels to online, mainly for reasons of convenience or low cost.

"In the food and beverage and personal care and home care industries, out of every 100 VND of additional online channel revenue, more than 50 VND comes from shifting from other channels," said Ms. Nga.

This poses a "channel conflict problem" for businesses when they have to find a way to manage a multi-channel distribution strategy without reducing the effectiveness of existing channels.

Goods displayed in a food retail store in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hong Phuc

Trade defense sector

Investment Newspaper reported: "Activating trade defense measures against imported steel"

Trade defense measures (TMFs) have been contributing to ensuring a fair trade environment to prevent negative impacts of imported goods on domestic production, labor, employment, and ensuring economic security and social welfare. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has also stepped up its response to TMF cases investigated and applied by foreign countries to Vietnam's exports.

To help authorities, associations and businesses better prepare for the risk of being investigated for trade remedies and to prevent evasion, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will regularly update the list and post early warning information about goods that are likely to be investigated by foreign countries on the website of the Department of Trade Remedies - Ministry of Industry and Trade, and send notifications to relevant agencies and associations. The Ministry of Industry and Trade also regularly monitors and studies other US tariff policies to report to the Government and notify relevant associations and businesses.

Competition and consumer protection

Investment Newspaper published information: "Consumer credit has 'huge' interest rates"

Home Credit Vietnam Finance Company Limited has just announced its audited financial report for 2024 to the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX). The report shows that the company's total outstanding credit balance in 2024 increased by 12.4% compared to the previous year thanks to the promotion of lending to individual customers. The bad debt ratio decreased sharply to 1.76% by the end of 2024, from 2.49% in 2023 and is much lower than the average of financial companies.

Notably, Home Credit Vietnam recorded a profit after tax of VND1,290 billion, 3.5 times higher than in 2023 (VND375 billion), just 1 year after announcing the sale to the Bank of Thailand (SCB). The company said that the above results came from the effectiveness of its flexible business strategy and risk management capabilities. The positive profit also reflects the "picture" of the consumer finance market that has recovered after a difficult period.

Industry and Trade Newspaper

Source: https://congthuong.vn/tin-cong-thuong-144-thuong-mai-dien-tu-len-loi-manh-me-o-nong-thong-383001.html