Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- State President Vo Van Thuong offered incense to King An DuongVuong at the Co Loa special national relic in Hanoi’s outlying district of DongAnh on February 20.

An Duong Vuong, succeeding the era of the nation founders HungKings, is credited with establishing Au Lac, an ancient state in Vietnam. Hisstrategic vision and unwavering determination in national construction anddefence led him to relocate the nation's centre from the northern mountainousregion to the vast and fertile plains where he established the ancient capital,known today as Co Loa. Read full story

- Deputy Prime MinisterTran Hong Ha underlined the need to manage the pharmaceutical industry undermarket rules, ensuring publicity, transparency, quality control, safety, andcheapest prices during a meeting in Hanoi on February 19 to discuss the law onamendments and supplementations to some articles of the Law on Pharmacy.

Ha asked the Ministry of Health (MoH) to collectideas and fully clarify regulations in the bill, especially those related tothe implementation of international commitments and agreements as well as lawson investment, price management, advertising, and rights of foreign-investedenterprises. Read full story

- Vietnam saw positivemacroeconomic indicators in January. One of the bright spots that continues tobe mentioned is the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI), with registeredcapital reaching 2.36 billion USD as of January 20, a year-on-year increase of40.2%.

Foreign investors accelerate investment in Vietnamnot only because of advantages in the business and investment environment, orfactors related to the quality of human resources and incentives, but alsothanks to the growth potential of an economy of 100 million people. 

- Vietnam's riceexports are expected to continue their upward trajectory this year, toward amilestone of 5 billion USD in turnover.

The year marks a period of anticipated volatilityin the global rice market, encompassing fluctuations in production and demand,as well as related policies from leading exporting nations. Hence, innovationin production and flexible export management are crucial conditions for theVietnamese rice industry to achieve its growth targets. Read full story

- The building ofthe north-south hi-speed rail line must ensure modern, cohesive, andsustainable elements in line with the Politburo’s guideline as outlined inConclusion No. 49-KL/TW, permanent Government members made the conclusion in adocument issued by the Government Office on February 19.

They requested that the project be integrated intoa comprehensive planning framework, incorporating strategic forecasts oftransportation demand across all modes of aviation, road, rail, maritime, andinland waterways, over the long term. Read full story

- MoMo has solidified its position as the most popular e-walletin Vietnam for two consecutive years, according the Fintech Industry Rankings2023 announced by Viettel’s information monitoring and analysis system on thenetwork environment (Reputa).

Following its impressive performance in 2022, MoMo continued totake the lead in the rankings with a total score of 138.23, or 2.5 times higherthan VTCPay, which came second in the list. Read full story

- Metfone under theViettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel) marked its 15 years ofoperation in Cambodia at a ceremony held in Phnom Penh on February 19.

Speaking at the event, Viettel Chairman Tao DucThang said that the group has invested and transferred state-of-the-arttelecommunications technologies to Cambodia, helping generate social benefitsin the country over the past 15 years. Read full story

- Vietnam aims to send125,000 labourers abroad to work under contracts in 2024, focusing on keytraditional markets such as Japan, Taiwan (China) and the Republic of Korea(RoK), according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs(MoLISA).

According to Nguyen Nhu Tuan, deputy head of theInformation and Communication Division, MoLISA’s Department of Overseas Labour,about 63,000 labourers are expected to be sent to Japan. Vietnam will sendabout 48,000 workers to Taiwan and 8,500 to the RoK. Read full story

- Midfielder NguyenHoang Duc of The Cong Viettel Football Club (FC) has won the Golden Ball awardfor the second time while goal keeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh of Ho Chi Minh City FC1 picked up the title in the women’s category.

The awarding ceremony was held in HCM City onFebruary 19./. Read full story