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Tag: Vietnam

  • Vietnam ratifies Asia-Pacific trade pact

    Vietnam ratifies Asia-Pacific trade pact

    Vietnam became the seventh country to ratify the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Monday afternoon. With its ratification, the National Assembly (NA) has assigned the task of reviewing related bills and legal enactments to the Government, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy and other relevant bodies.

    Once reviewed, the government agencies shall request that competent authorities amend, supplement or enact new laws in a timely manner to ensure uniformity and adherence to the roadmap for implementing commitments contained in the CPTPP.

    The Prime Minister will be responsible for approving and directing the relevant central or local agencies in implementing the CPTPP pact.

    The CPTPP is a major trade pact between Vietnam and 10 other countries that seeks to boost trade by reducing tariffs.

    Speaking at a recent NA session, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said that the CPTPP “will benefit Vietnam overall.”

    Because the trade pact will cover 13.5 percent of global GDP, Vietnam’s GDP will be able to grow by 1.32 percent, and its exports 4.04 percent by 2035, he added, citing a report by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

    However, the Deputy PM also enumerated challenges that Vietnam would face when joining the CPTPP.

    Domestic products such as pork and chicken might face strong competition from imported products. Other products that can have trouble competing include paper, steel and cars, Minh said.

    The other six countries to ratify the pact are Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Mexico and Singapore.

    The four countries still to ratify it are Brunei, Chile, Malaysia and Peru.

    Originally a 12-member agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the pact was thrown into limbo when U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the deal in January 2017.

    Following the U.S. withdrawal, the remaining 11 countries renegotiated parts of the TPP, removing some of Washington’s demands. In March, they signed the revised CPTPP, also known as TPP-11.

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  • Automaker Mitsubishi eyes full-scale production in Vietnam

    Automaker Mitsubishi eyes full-scale production in Vietnam

    Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors plans to expand its Vietnam operations by moving to full-scale production of parts within the country. The company’s CEO Osamu Masuko said at the global launching ceremony of the Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck in Bangkok that sourcing materials in Vietnam would let the company handle more upstream processes for components.

    “To be a true winner, we must develop production and exports to certain levels in each country,” Masuko said.

    He added that the Vietnamese operations will not simply be limited to assembling modules in a “knock-down kit” production method, referring to the method of manufacturing parts in one country and shipping them to another.

    The ASEAN region is the largest and most profitable market for Mitsubishi Motors, the company said in its annual report for fiscal 2017. Sales in the region went up by 33 percent last year to 275,000 units, while revenue from the region jumped 45 percent for the year to 506.2 billion yen ($4.45 billion).

    In Vietnam, Mitsubishi currently has an assembly plant in the southern province of Binh Duong with a capacity of 5,000 vehicles per year.

    It plans to increase production by having a second plant in the country by 2020, with a capacity of 30,000-50,000 vehicles per year.

    In the first nine months this year, a total of 230,958 automobiles were sold in Vietnam, according to Vietnam Customs. This figure could reach 300,000 by the end of this year, it added.

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  • Chinese Singles’ Day courts Vietnamese consumers

    Chinese Singles’ Day courts Vietnamese consumers

    Promoted by Alibaba in China for more than 10 years, Singles’ Day is now courting Vietnam with great fervor. More than a week before “Singles’ Day’ which falls on Nov. 11, major shopping firms in Vietnam had begun to update their mobile applications with a range of games designed to ‘hype up’ consumers.

    These included shaking the phone to earn coins (shopping vouchers), discount lotteries and ‘easter eggs’ giving specific discounts, and many more.

    Few retailers explain why Nov. 11 was chosen as the date for this promotional event, which some hail as “the biggest discount of the year.”

    Consumers and online businesses both acknowledge, however, that the marketing race building up to the day has been very fierce.

    The most boisterous claims came from Singapore based e-commerce group Lazada, which announced that it will gift 110,000 vouchers worth $10 million.

    General manager of Lazada Vietnam, Zhang YiXing, said he had spent the last three months fine-tuning Lazada’s app and working with vendors for the Nov. 11 event.

    Although they have no reason or specific connection with Alibaba, other e-commerce sites are not missing the opportunity to profit from Singles’ Day. Industry insiders remark that with competition so fierce, the ‘big players’ are implementing emulation strategies to grab whatever advantage they can get at.

    In particular, businesses do not want to stand idle during an event which increases the traffic and revenue of its rivals. So they’ve all jumped on the Singles’ Day bandwagon and made it spread further.

    “E-commerce is the most developed industry in Vietnam and also the most competitive,” said Tran Ngoc Thai Son, founder and CEO of e-commerce company Tiki.

    On the Tiki website, the company hails Nov. 11 as the “legendary sales season”, introducing a lottery to win laptops, phones and shopping vouchers with a total value of up to VND10 billion ($431,980).

    Meanwhile, Shopee, a consumer Internet platform provider based in Singapore, has called this day the “Super Sale.” The company has also launched a game consumers can play to earn rewards and has been promoting a different product line each day to attract attention before the official event.

    Lotte.vn has also jumped into the fray in dramatic fashion, calling the event the “Nov. 11 shopping war”, while Adayroi, run by Vietnam’s biggest private conglomerate Vingroup, has launched a full week of promotions from Nov. 1-11 with its “Sale Season”.

    Experts say that in addition to price, this years’ competing retailers have also focused more on branded goods and after-sales service.

    “Technology is no longer a challenge for Vietnam’s e-commerce sector but consumer confidence. Now choosing products and discounts from a trusted retailer is also important, not just price,” said Le Hai Binh, vice president of the Vietnam E-commerce Association.

    “Delivery and after-sales services are competitive advantages that cannot be ignored in this race.”

    Lucrative day

    Although not as fierce as this year, last Nov. 11 had made ‘a killing’ for retailers, encouraging them to step up promotions this year.

    According to data released by France-based commerce marketing company Criteo, retail sales of online shopping sites in Vietnam during the last Single’s Day campaign increased 245 percent, compared with ordinary days in the year, and marked a 70 percent increase in traffic.

    Last Nov. 11, traffic increased the most in the evening, from about 9 p.m. onwards. Shopping time “peaked” at 11 p.m., which is one hour before promotions end, so consumers were rushing to finish their shopping.

    The two most popular items last year were home appliances and electronics, with sales soaring by over 276 percent and 266 percent respectively compared to ordinary days.

    Silvia Siow, Criteo’s chief customer strategy manager for Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said that these two categories were best sellers because of their high value. People tended to wait for promotions to cash in on significant discounts in absolute terms. Siow also said that Nov. 11 was playing a growing role in Southeast Asia, not just Vietnam.

    He said the real gains from Nov. 11 were not in sales but an expanded customer base and increased market share.

    “Sales are important, but traffic is more important. Increased traffic may represent newcomers who arrive and discover or rediscover products. “

    The heat of the Nov. 11 race in Vietnam is expected to last many years as it is the second most dynamic e-commerce market in Southeast Asia, behind Indonesia.

    Economist Simon Baptis, CEO of Asia region for the Economist Intelligence Unit (Economist Group) said: “Vietnam will be one of the fastest growing economies in the region with real growth constant at a high level between 2019 and 2023.

    “Reinforcing consumer confidence in e-commerce and electronic payment systems is also a need of the period.”

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  • Robust demand for robusta to boost Vietnam’s coffee exports

    Robust demand for robusta to boost Vietnam’s coffee exports

    Vietnam’s coffee exports can hit a record high this year because of high global demand for the robusta variety. Coffee exports this year could top over 1.8 million tons, said Do Ha Nam, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association.

    “The world market has consumed all the coffee shipments from Vietnam. Supply has been insufficient to meet demand,” Nam said.

    The shortage comes as global’s demand for instant coffee is expected to rise this year, especially in developing markets.

    Global consumption of robusta, mainly used by big companies including Nestle SA to make instant coffee, is forecast to climb to a record high this season.

    The worldwide market for instant coffee is set to expand 4.7 percent a year through 2023 to $14 billion from $10.4 billion in 2017, market research firm IMARC said in a recent report.

    Higher demand has boosted domestic coffee prices.

    The price of coffee in the Central Highlands, Vietnam’s major coffee-growing belt, hit VND35,300-36,100 ($1.51-1.54) per kilogram in early October, higher than that VND32,500-33,300 ($1.39-$1.43) per kilogram in early September.

    Coffee exports from Vietnam grew at an estimated 21.5 percent between January and October from a year ago to 1.58 million tons, according to the General Statistics Office.

    Coffee export revenues for Vietnam, the world’s biggest producer of the robusta beans, rose 1.1 percent to $2.98 billion in this year’s 10-month period, the office said.

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  • Businesses in Vietnam close down at increasing rate

    Businesses in Vietnam close down at increasing rate

    The number of enterprises closing down in the year to date hit 67,000, double the number in the same period last year. Chu Tien Dung, chairman of the HCM City Business Association said that this number is unusually high but can be explained by problems that have existed for years.

    The government’s target of having 1 million enterprises by 2020 is to blame in no small measure since it has led to policies that encourage quantity rather than quality, he said.

    Typically, this has seen sole traders registered as one-man limited companies and a big start-up movement in major cities such as HCM City and Hanoi.

    “The procedures for setting up a limited company have been greatly simplified so that anyone can become a boss. If within a few years or even months the owner finds the business line to be unsuitable or does not like the company name, it is not difficult to dissolve and establish a new business.”

    Statistics from the Department of Business Registration show that of the enterprises closing down each month the rate of those with charter capital of below VND10 billion ($426,350) is overwhelming.

    The reason lies primarily in the fact that small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) lack resources and also have difficulty accessing credit.

    The liberalization of the law on investment is being used by some to profit illegally, he said. Many enterprises have announced insolvency due to heavy losses.

    According to the World Bank, starting up in Vietnam now involves only eight steps which can be completed in 17 days while it takes 26 days on average in East Asia and the Pacific to complete formalities and enter the market.

    Tran Thi Hong Minh, director of the Department of Business Registration, said: “Dissolution and bankruptcy is the natural, objective law of the economy. The market will eliminate and purge weak businesses to replace them with those of better quality.

    “Vietnam is considered a dynamic economy with rapidly developing science and technology and so the pressure on businesses is of an equivalent magnitude.”

    Pham Chi Lan, former chairwoman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said business owners had expressed concern the business climate had not improved much.

    Even in the case of single-door administrative procedures, where all documents are meant to be submitted and received at one office, an applicant has to go through many other doors, she said.

    “While we are talking about creating new tools and policies, old, defunct procedures are still not scrapped. As such, Vietnamese businesses are very worried about their future.”

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  • Viettel’s foreign market earnings up in Q3

    Viettel’s foreign market earnings up in Q3

    Viettel earned gross profits of $57.25 million from overseas markets in Q3, a year-on-year increase of 8 percent. Its overseas investment arm, Viettel Global, reaped net revenues of nearly VND4.43 billion ($188.71) in the third quarter, up 5 percent over the same period last year.

    Accumulated net revenues reached VND12.43 trillion ($529.7 million) between January and September.

    The revenues include nearly VND5.61 trillion ($238.94 million) from African countries, including Cameroon, Tanzania, Mozambique and Burudi, VND4.54 trillion ($193.68 million) from Southeast Asia countries, including Cambodia and East Timor, and VND1.69 trillion ($71.82 million) from Latin America.

    The company’s revenues from its three continents rose 3-11 percent, with Latin America registering the greatest increase.

    The increase is attributed to the company’s development of 4G services, digital wallet and other information technology projects serving overseas businesses and governments.

    Viettel Global is providing 4G services in 9 overseas markets, and digital wallet services in 8 markets.

    Also, Viettel Global’s sales expense and management costs reduced 4 percent and 12 percent respectively in the first 9 months of this year, compared to the same period last year.

    Viettel Global was established in 2006 to spread Viettel Group’s presence in foreign markets. Eight out of Viettel Global’s 10 overseas markets have begun earning profits. It has taken up the largest market share of the telecommunications sectors in Laos, Cambodia, and Timor Leste.

    It plans to expand its overseas operations in the Southeast Asian region and foreign markets that share similar population sizes as Vietnam this year. The company also aims to achieve a 10-15 percent year-on-year increase in terms of the number of subscribers by the end of 2018.

  • Vietnam 19th best country in the world for expats: HSBC survey

    Vietnam 19th best country in the world for expats: HSBC survey

    Vietnam has climbed four places to 19th in the list of best countries for expats to work and live, an HSBC survey found. With an average annual income of $90,408, nine out of 10 expats said in Vietnam they are as happy as or happier than at home, according to the 11th annual Expat Explorer issued by HSBC on Wednesday.

    Foreigners enjoy working in Vietnam for many benefits: 55 percent of respondents said they take more holidays, 41 percent live in a better home and 39 percent have more household staff compared to their home country.

    Fifty-seven percent said their employment contracts include an annual allowance to fly home or to another place, higher than the global average of 17 percent.

    Forty-two percent get an accommodation allowance while the global average is 18 percent, and 73 percent receive health and medical allowances compared to 43 percent elsewhere.

    Vietnam ranks first in the world with 72 percent saying moving to Vietnam helps them save more and 72 percent also saying they have more disposable income than they did in their home country.

    Both are higher than the global average: 52 percent for savings and 56 percent for disposable income.

    There are also some downsides for foreigners living in the country, respondents said. While more than half of expats across the world said they enjoy the better overall quality of life, only four out of ten foreigners in Vietnam said so.

    Organizing finances is difficult for expats, with only 27 percent of foreigners saying it is easy to open a bank account, buy insurance or pay taxes, while the global average is 43 percent.

    Just more than a third had no difficulty in experiencing healthcare services, but this figure is 46 percent globally.

    Raising a child in Vietnam poses challenges, with just 18 percent saying the quality of child care is better than in their home country, compared to the global average of 38 percent.

    Forty-seven said Vietnam is a good place for expats who want to progress their career, while the global average is 56 percent.

    There are financial issues that concern expats in Vietnam, with 37 percent being worried about restrictions on moving money out of the country and 22 percent each concerned about less favorable exchange rates and job security.

    Sabbir Ahmed, head of retail banking and wealth management at HSBC Vietnam, said: “The survey shows Vietnam is a promising host country for expats who are seeking both opportunities and challenges to boost and develop their careers.

    “We expect Vietnam to improve several areas to enhance the experience of expats and their families by developing further the environment, educational programs and financial services.”

    The ranking listed Singapore as the best place in the world for expats for the fourth year in a row, followed by New Zealand, Germany, Canada, and Bahrain.

    The survey polled 22,318 people from 163 countries and territories through an online questionnaire.

  • Vingroup acquires mobile phone retailer Vien Thong A

    Vingroup acquires mobile phone retailer Vien Thong A

    Vietnam’s biggest private conglomerate Vingroup has officially confirmed its acquisition of major tech products retailer Vien Thong A.

    In its financial statement for the third quarter of 2018, Vingroup lists Vien Thong A Import Export Trading Production Corporation as a fully-owned subsidiary.

    On September 14, Mai Thu Thuy, board member of the Vincom Retail Joint Stock Company and Chairwoman of the Vincom Mega Mall Royal City, was appointed legal representative of the acquired company.

    Established in November 1997 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vien Thong A is the oldest retail technology chain in Vietnam. It has nearly 200 stores, including independent shops and a “shop-in-shop” model in BigC supermarket, CoopMart, and 100 service centers.

    In early 2017, Vien Thong A CEO Hoang Ngoc Vy revealed plans to restructure the company and seek investors to expand its business.

    Last month, VinCommerce, a member of Vingroup, bought Fivimart from domestic company Nhat Nam JSC and Japanese retailer AEON, which held 70 percent and 30 percent stakes, respectively.

    In the first nine months of this year, retail sales of Vingroup reached VND12.89 trillion (nearly $555 million), a 41 percent year-on-year surge.

    Vingroup, Vietnam’s biggest property conglomerate, dominates the housing and property markets with Vinhomes.

    It has also entered the healthcare market with Vinmec, runs a chain of supermarkets called Vinmart, and entertains tourists at Vinpearl resorts.

  • Which are Vietnam’s most successful coffee chains?

    Which are Vietnam’s most successful coffee chains?

    Highlands Coffee reported sales of VND1.24 trillion ($53.23 million) last year making it Vietnam’s largest coffee chain in terms of revenues. The figure was four times that of Phuc Long’s, eight times that of The Coffee House’s and thrice that of Starbucks’.

    Founded in 2002 by a Vietnamese-American and sold to Philippine fast food giant Jollibee in 2012, Highlands Coffee now has 230 stores mostly in well-known buildings and malls.

    Local chain The Coffee House saw revenues double last year. Nguyen Hai Ninh, its founder, said the chain received over 20 million visitors.

    It now has over 100 stores nationwide, and Ninh said each store can serve 500 – 1,000 visitors on average daily. “We expect to double the number this year, and are looking to open 700 more across Vietnam in the next five years, at an average of 10 per month.”

    The chain’s differentiating factor is that the emphasis is not renting the best locations; rather, it seeks to attract clientele with a modern, striking shop design that appeals to younger customers.

    Its drinks are priced moderately, which helps it attract a wide range of customers.

    It recently bought the coffee business of Da Lat-based Cau Dat Farm and simultaneously launched a flagship store in downtown Saigon, The Coffee House Signature.

    Local brand Trung Nguyen’s highest revenue from any store is VND2-3 billion ($86,200-129,300) per month, while most make an average of VND400-500 million ($17,200-21,500).

    By the end of this year Trung Nguyen is expected to have a total of 100 outlets.

    Phuc Long, though a coffee chain associated with milk tea, has seen annual revenues grow at 7 percent in recent years, predominantly from the latter drink.

    With the rapid growth of coffee chains, coffee consumption by Vietnamese has also risen sharply.

    According to a study by BMI Research, a subsidiary of ratings firm Fitch, consumption grew from 0.43 kg per person in 2005 to 1.38 kg in 2015. This is the highest growth rate of any global coffee exporter, and the figure is forecast to reach 2.6 kg by 2021.

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  • La Chapelle Vietnam launch gets closer

    La Chapelle Vietnam launch gets closer

    Hong Kong-listed Chinese fashion retailer Shanghai La Chapelle is preparing to launch in Vietnam. A huge La Chapelle Vietnam standalone flagship store is under construction, next to Ho Chi Minh City’s VivoCity mall, facing to the front street of Nguyen Van Linh in District 7.

    While the opening date has not been revealed, branding has appeared on the store with the interior fitout almost complete and apparently only awaiting stock.

    The brand is using social media and online channels to recruit staff for the store and seek interest from potential nationwide distributors.

    La Chapelle Vietnam is operated by VV Mall Management Service, which owns the under-construction VV Mall in Danang. The 35,000sqm mall is set to open its doors in the second quarter of next year.

    Founded in 1998, La Chapelle has its own brands including menswear labels Jack Walk, Pote and Marc Ecko, childrenswear brand 8eM and womenswear labels La Chapelle, Puella and Candie’s.

    La Chapelle has struggled in the first nine months of this year, reporting a decline in sales of 0.5 per cent to US$889.94 million and a near 30-per-cent decline in profit to $34 million.

    Vietnam is the first country in the company’s Southeast Asian expansion plan.

  • Exporters fret over weaker yuan

    Exporters fret over weaker yuan

    While the weakening yuan has allowed Vietnamese importers to benefit from cheaper material costs, exporters are feeling the pinch. The yuan declined to 6.9075 per U.S. dollar on Nov. 6. The move has dragged the yuan down by almost 9 percent from the beginning of this year, the steepest drop in the last 10 years.

    A yuan was selling for VND3,327 on Monday, down from VND3,595 in February 5, according to Vietnam Customs. This means that the dong has gained 7.4 percent over the yuan in the last nine months.

    Experts say that this is an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to import cheaper materials.

    Economist Bui Trinh said that the falling yuan will allow local businesses to gain from importing materials and machines, 90 percent of which are obtained from China.

    A Vietnamese plastic importer said as his firm pays with the weaker yuan, it has become more competitive in the market. Up to 70 percent of this company’s materials are imported from China.

    An importer of Chinese fruits said buying fruits from China is cheaper and prices in Vietnam remain the same. “So I’m making more profit.”

    But the falling yuan has created more difficulties for Vietnamese exporters.

    Bui Thanh Van, director of trade firm Van Phat Ltd., which exports produce to China, said that the falling yuan has lowered the amount of orders they used to get.

    Some Vietnamese produce are being priced higher than other countries in ASEAN, such as Thailand and Malaysia, and countries which are lowering their currency values to increase exports to China, he said.

    “The weakening of the yuan has made it a challenge to export to China.”

    Truong Dinh Hoe, general secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, said that as China has been one of Vietnam’s top export markets in the last two years, the weaker yuan would make it difficult for seafood exporters.

    China was among the top four largest importers of Vietnamese seafood in the first eight months this year, along with Japan, South Korea and the U.S., according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. These four markets accounted for over 54.1 percent of Vietnam’s total seafood exports in the same period, it said.

    The falling yuan will likely increase prices and lower orders from China, affecting the local seafood market, Hoe said.

    Experts are also worried that the weaker yuan will lead to an increasing number of Chinese goods entering Vietnam with more competitive prices, making the nation’s trade deficit even higher.

    From January to September this year, Vietnam had a trade deficit of $18.45 billion with China, its largest trade partner among over 200 countries and territories, according to Vietnam Customs.

    Trade turnover between Vietnam and China reached $93.69 billion last year, up 23.2 percent from 2016, accounting for 22 percent of Vietnam’s total trade turnover, Vietnam Customs reported. The figure is estimated to reach 100 billion this year.

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  • Auto imports experience year-end season surge

    Auto imports experience year-end season surge

    Up to 13,000 vehicles were imported last month, almost three times the number in October 2017. October also saw the highest number of completely built units (CBUs) imported so far this year, according to Vietnam Customs. However, the total volume of imported cars in the first 10 months of this year decreased over the same period last year, because of a decree that took effect this year, setting tough conditions for car imports.

    As of the end of October, the total number of imported CBUs is estimated at over 53,000 units, down 31 percent from the 77,000 units recorded in the same period last year.

    The number of imported vehicles only started rising since August this year, after a slump that lasted more than six months.

    Vietnam imported 12,380 CBUs worth $329 million in the first half of this year, down 75.5 percent in volume and 68.3 percent in value over the same period last year, according to Vietnam Customs.

    Until now, Thailand and Indonesia have accounted for the main volume of imported CBUs. Most cars sold in Vietnam are foreign brands assembled in the country from kits.

    But a series of free trade agreements have reduced import duties and are opening up the market. A 30 percent import tax on cars from other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries was scrapped this year.

    Besides Thailand and Indonesia, Vietnam has imported cars from China, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Spain, and few other countries this year.

  • Vietnam, Thailand skip Philippines’ 203,000 T rice tender

    Vietnam, Thailand skip Philippines’ 203,000 T rice tender

    Rice exporters Thailand and Vietnam did not submit offers at a Philippines 203,000-tonne import tender, citing stricter terms. The tender by one of the world’s top rice importers was held to meet unfilled orders after a tender on Oct. 18 for 250,000 tons of rice by Manila’s state-owned National Food Authority (NFA) secured only 47,000 tons due to high offer prices.

    Thailand and Vietnam were the only government suppliers accredited for Tuesday’s re-tender. NFA officials said both submitted letters saying they would not participate due to the stricter terms set out by the Philippines food authority.

    NFA spokesman Rex Estoperez said import terms had been made more stringent to address concerns that arose from previous rice purchases, including health and safety issues, which would raise the cost for suppliers.

    “I can’t say if there will be another bidding,” Mercedes Yacapin, head of the tender panel, told reporters, adding the decision will be left to the NFA Council, which is made up of the country’s economic managers.

    President Rodrigo Duterte last month scrapped a 20-year-old government cap on rice imports to help curtail soaring prices of the Philippine diet staple by increasing supply.

    The Philippines is on a rice buying spree this year, with import approvals by the NFA hitting 2.4 million tonnes, just below the record 2.45 million tons bought in 2010 when rising global food prices stoked shortage fears.

    The NFA is set to hold another import tender for 500,000 tons of rice on Nov. 20.

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  • Vietnam’s gaming firm profits fall 52 pct in 9 months

    Vietnam’s gaming firm profits fall 52 pct in 9 months

    Vietnamese online gaming giant VNG has reported Jan-Sept 2018 profits of VND152 billion ($6.5 million), a 52 percent year-on-year slump. The company has said in its third-quarter financial statement that higher expenditures have eaten into its profits.

    Selling and administrative expenses of VND853 billion ($36.7 million) and VND382 billion ($16.44 million) respectively in the nine-month period marked a 72 percent and 27 percent year-on-year surge.

    At its recent annual meeting, the company’s management board had predicted a sharp drop in profits compared to previous year as the company wanted to focus resources on investment in strategic products and diversify operations.

    The company focuses in four main areas: e-wallet, mobile product development, ecosystem building, and e-commerce.

    VNG has set a revenue target of over VND5 trillion (more than $215 million) for this year, 17 percent higher than in 2017.

    However, after-tax profit is expected to only reach VND549 billion ($23.62 million) compared to VND938 billion ($40.36 million) in 2017.

    VNG, which used to be known as VinaGame, also owns major news site Zing, popular music site Zing MP3, instant messaging app Zalo, and e-commerce site Tiki.

    Tiki, VNG’s largest investment in e-commerce, continues to suffer increasing losses. In the first half of this year, Tiki’s losses of VND102 billion (nearly $4.39 million) were more than double the same period last year.

    The cumulative loss of this e-commerce site has reached nearly VND600 billion (about $25.82 million) after seven years of operation, beginning in 2010.

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  • Momo becomes first Vietnamese Fintech 100 firm

    Momo becomes first Vietnamese Fintech 100 firm

    Vietnam’s mobile, electronic wallet and payment application Momo is among the top 100 innovative fintech companies in the world. This is the first time a Vietnamese firm has broken into this special group, positioned 84th. Momo is also in the “Emerging 50” category, which includes newer companies that are at the forefront of innovative technologies and practices.

    Its products help customers in Vietnam make nationwide cash transfers, pay more than 100 types of bills, recharge mobile phone accounts, settle personal loans, and purchase services like software licenses and online game cards, airline and movie tickets, etc.

    The company’s payment system partners with 24 domestic banks and foreign payment networks, including JCB, MasterCard, and Visa.

    A judging panel comprised of senior partners from H2 Ventures and KPMG decided the final composition of the Fintech100 list.

    H2 Ventures is a global thought leader in fintech venture capital investment while KPMG is a global network of independent member firms offering audit, tax and advisory services.

    Companies were ranked based on total capital raised, rate of capital raising, location and degree of sub-industry disruption and the judging panel’s subjective rating of the degree of product, service, customer experience, and business model innovation.

    Other newcomers to the list include Argentina, Bahrain, Colombia, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Myanmar, United Arab Emirates, and Thailand.

    Leading the ranking this year are China’s Ant Financial, the world’s largest third-party payments platform, JD Finance, a digital technology company and Singapore’s ride hailing firm Grab.

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