- Proposal to allocate more than 2,500 billion VND to extend power grid to Con Dao

On the afternoon of January 8, at the 29th session, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave its opinion on the Government's proposal to supplement the medium-term public investment plan for Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) from the reserve fund of the medium-term public investment plan. The Government submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee a plan to allocate more than VND 2,500 billion to EVN from the central budget to implement the implementation of bringing the power grid to Con Dao (according to Nguoi Lao Dong).

- Governor: Interest rates in 2024 will continue to decrease

At the Conference on Deploying the Banking Sector's Tasks in 2024 held on the morning of January 8, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hong said that by the end of 2023, the banking sector had basically achieved the set targets and goals, contributing to controlling inflation and stabilizing the macro economy. The State Bank of Vietnam targets credit growth in 2024 at 15% with interest rates continuing to decrease. The restructuring of weak banks will also be resolutely implemented this year. (See more)

- Prime Minister: The State Bank will not let people and businesses lack capital.

Speaking at the conference on the implementation of tasks in 2024 of the banking sector held on the morning of January 8, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested that the Government not be passive or surprised about monetary policy, not to cause congestion in currency circulation, and not to let people and businesses lack capital. The Prime Minister hopes that banks will continue to support businesses and people to access credit capital more conveniently, while ensuring the safety of the system. (See more)

- No airline in Vietnam uses Boeing 737 MAX 9

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has strictly monitored the implementation of technical instructions after the incident in which an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft door burst open while in operation. A representative of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said that currently, no airline in Vietnam operates the B737 MAX aircraft (including the B737 MAX 9) (according to Thanh Nien).

- Average income of Vietnamese workers increased by 6.9%

According to the General Statistics Office, in 2023, the average income of Vietnamese workers will reach 7.1 million VND/person/month, an increase of 6.9% compared to 2022. Accordingly, the average income of male workers will reach 8.1 million VND and female workers will reach 6 million VND. In the fourth quarter of 2023 alone, workers' lives will improve when the average income reaches 7.3 million VND per month, an increase of 180,000 VND compared to the third quarter of 2023 (according to VTV).

- A series of power projects are at a standstill, after more than 10 years only 1 project is in operation

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Electricity investment progress is very slow.

As of December 2023, only one gas-fired power plant, O Mon I Thermal Power Plant (660 MW), was put into operation in 2015. On average, it takes 7.5 years for a gas-fired power plant to be put into operation. (See more)

- FLC's 2,300 billion project in Thanh Hoa is unfinished, please repair the canal for farming

After the project started, the agricultural land reclaimed to develop FLC Group’s Hoang Long Industrial Park was abandoned for many years. Authorities proposed to restore the canal system so that people could reorganize agricultural production (according to Tien Phong).

- With nearly 14 billion VND in tax debt, Long An real estate giant has its invoices suspended

The Long An Provincial Tax Department has just announced the suspension of invoice usage for Tran Anh Long An Group Joint Stock Company (Tran Anh Group), located at Ap Moi 2, My Hanh Nam Commune, Duc Hoa District, Long An Province. The reason is that Tran Anh Group did not comply with the latest notice of tax arrears, fines and late payment fees on December 7, 2023 from the Long An Provincial Tax Department. (See more)

- Forced to pay over 1,100 billion VND in taxes, the 'oil tycoon' speaks out

Being forced to pay over a thousand billion VND in taxes, Nam Song Hau Petroleum Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company has committed to implementing many feasible solutions to fulfill its tax obligations as soon as possible, no later than June 30. (See more)

Today's international oil prices reversed downward after increasing last week. Oil prices have increased quite strongly in the first week of 2024 due to many factors.

The stock market on January 8 recorded the VN-Index increase by 5.51 points, to 1,160.19 points,
with the pull coming from the two largest industries, real estate and banking. This is the 7th consecutive increase of this index.

The central exchange rate on January 8 was 23,933 VND/USD, up 1 VND compared to the previous session. The USD price at commercial banks on January 8 decreased slightly, listed at the end of the session at 24,145 VND/USD (buy) and 24,515 VND/USD (sell). The international USD price stagnated.

Gold price today, January 8, in the domestic market, SJC gold bars continuously plummeted following the world's downward trend. By noon today, the gold price continued to decrease by 500,000 VND, to 74 million VND/tael.

Bank interest rates on January 8, 2024 continued to record two more banks, Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB) and Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB), reducing deposit interest rates. However, long-term interest rates at these banks remain at the highest level in the market.