Newsletter No. 2

 

April 2004

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

Welcome to our second Newsletter. The publication is coincident with our two important events: Israel’s Independence Day on 27 April 2004 and Vietnam’s Liberation Day on 30 April. Let us jointly wish each other good health, success and prosperity.

 

In mid February, we had two seminars conducted by Mr. Lior Yaron, Israeli dairy expert, on Israel’s dairy cattle farming and technology. The lectures roused a high interest among Vietnamese professional dairy experts as well as farmers in Israel’s dairy cattle farming techniques and management. Further exchange of information and businesses in this field is progressing.

 

Last March, we successfully organized two seminars and business meetings for 6 leading Israeli Agrobusinesses with more than two hundred Vietnamese companies. Results of those contacts may be shown in the coming time.

 

Israel-Vietnam MFN Agreement has been finalized. After the Agreement enters into force, we are confident that the bilateral trade volume will be increased.

 

We have also received many confirmations from Vietnamese businesses who wish to have a fact finding trip to Israel this year. The exchange of business delegations will certainly enhance our trade ties.

 

Sincerely,

 

Marie France Majer

Economic and Trade Counsellor

Embassy of Israel, Hanoi

Tel: 84-4-8433140

Fax: 84-4-8435760

Email: eco.sec@emisrael-vn.org

Contents:

 

·            Vietnam’s Economy in Brief

·           Israel’s Economy in Brief

·           Upcoming Events in Vietnam

·        Upcoming Events in Israel

·           Business Opportunities

Vietnam’s Economy in Brief

 Vietnam’s economy in 1^st quarter 2004:

·          Vietnam’s GDP growth reached 7% in the first quarter of 2004, behind the target of between 7.5-8% set for the whole year. Industry and construction increased 9.9%. The services sector increased by 6.6%. Exports rose by 15.1% on year to $5.4 billion. Imports was up 11.2% to US$6.1 million. Trade deficit was curbed at 13.7% against last year’s figure of 17.7%. The budget deficit grew at an estimated 2 percent of the GDP, mainly resulting from the increases of wages and salaries.

·           The first quarter consumer price index (CPI) was up by 4.9%, the highest figure in the past seven years, close to the target of 5% set for the whole year. The initial cause was the absence of chicken which account 20% of Vietnamese foodstuff due to the bird flu, followed by the price increase of other food and foodstuff and other necessary commodities, especially medicine and construction materials.

·            Bird flu broke out in 57 out of 64 cities and provinces nationwide, in late 2003, costing the country VND1,300 billion (US$82.8 million). The total number of poultry culled was up to 43.2 million birds. The country declared free from the bird flu as of 1 April. It would take three years for the industry to recover its originated flock before the epidemic. The bird flu slowed down the tourism growth in February and March. Vietnam received 743,480 foreign visitors in the first quarter, still up 4.3% compared to the same period last year.

Israel’s Economy in Brief

Israel’s high-tech export:

·       

     According to Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, high-tech exports is expected to grow 8-13% in 2004. Total high-tech exports rose 0.8% in 2003 to $8.9 billion.

·            High-tech exports to Asia rose 11% to $1.85 billion in 2003. Exports of electronic components to Asia rose by 12% to $815 million and medical equipment exports rose by 119% to $225 million. However, exports of telecom equipment decreased by 12% to $327 million

·          High-tech exports to the EU rose by 7% to $1.77 billion in 2003. Exports of medical equipment rose by 67% to $178 million, exports of pharmaceuticals rose by 51% to $278 million, exports of electronics increased by 4% to $416 million, exports of telecom equipment fell by 10% to $828 million

·             Exports of medical equipment to North America rose by 62% to $445 million in 2003, exports of telecom equipment fell 30% to $983 million, pharmaceutical exports decreased by 6% to $770 million, electronics exports fell by 30% to $756 million.

·            Exports of Israeli telecom equipment is expected to increase in 2004 as the international telecom and semiconductor industries have been recovering.

Source: Globes- www.globes.co.il

 

Israel’s Telecom News:

 

·           Asian order brings Tadiran Communications orders backlog to $500 million. Tadiran Communications CEO Hezi Hermoni: This is a new generation of communications equipment, able to carry voice and data, equivalent to 3G wireless

·             Amdocs VP international marketing Michael Couture believes his company is well placed to take advantage of developments in both the telecommunications and financial services industries.

·         ECI wins multi-million contract from SK Group. Korean communications provider to use XDM platform in 3G upgrade project

·            For further information: Mr. Moran Ben-Yair; Executive Telecommunication and Software Department, Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute

 

 

Upcoming Events in Vietnam

 

             

18^th – 21^th May 2004

International Exhibition on Industrial Machines and Equipment

 

Organizer: Branch of Mechanic products Ex-import Company

35 Ton Duc Thang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Tel: 848 8290851

Fax: 848 8299328

 

Venue: Ho Chi Minh City

 

20^th – 24^th  May 2004

International Exhibition on Architecture Construction and Furniture

 

Organizer: Vietnam Trade Fair & Advertising Company (VINEXAD)

9 Dinh Le, Hanoi

Tel: 844 8255513

Fax: 844 8355556

E-mail: vinexad@hn.vnn.vn

 

Venue: Hanoi

15^th  – 16^th  June 2004

The 3^rd International Conference/ Expo - Banking Vietnam 2004 GMS Trade Fair – Greater Mekong Sub-region Trade Fair 2004 – on the latest information, communication and technology solutions, products and services for banking, finance, securities and insurance

 

Organizer:         World Expo Ltd.

                        The State Bank of Vietnam

 

Tel: 844 2660512 ; Fax: 844 2660515

E-mail: van_anh@idgvietnam.com

www.idgvietnam.com

 

Venue: Melia Hanoi Hotel

 

9^th  – 13^th  November 2004

Vietnam Telecompt 2004 – on telecoms, posts and IT

 

Organizer:         Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corp.

                        Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd.,

 

Tel/fax: 852 2516 3348

E-mail: telecom@adsale.com.hk

www.adsale.com.hk

www.vnpt.com.vn

 

Venue: Hanoi

 

 

7^th  – 13^th  December 2004

 

International Agricultural Fair on plant seeds, animal breeds, new technology, agricultural materials, machine and equipment

Organizer:         Can Tho International Exhibition Fair Company

Tel: 84 71 821977; Fax: 84 71 821133

E-mail: efccantho@hcm.vnn.vn

www.efc-cantho.com

 

Venue: Can Tho International Exhibition Fair Center

116B Tran Phu, Can Tho Province

 

 Back to Contents

 

 

Upcoming Events in Israel

 

4^th –6^th May 2004

Biotech israel 2004 – The 3^rd National Biotechnology Week Exhibition & Congress will be held at the Israel Trade Fairs & Convention Center, Tel Aviv Israel. This event is a professional summit meeting for all those involved in biotechnology and will present state to the art technologies. For more information please contact us, Tel: 04 8433140 or eco.sec@emisrael-vn.org  

 

8^th- 10^th June 2004

 

The 3^rd International Exhibition & Conference for Environmental Technologies on agro-ecology, air quality, air pollution control, alternative energy sources, solid waste treatment, water purification and desalination…

 

Venue: Exhibition Gardens, Tel Aviv

 

For further information:

The Israel Trade Fairs and Convention Center Ltd

Orit Marom, Exhibition Manager

P.O.Box, 21075, Tel Aviv 61210, Israel

Tel: 972 3 6404440/415

Fax: 972 3 6404494/447

E-mail: orit@fairs.co.il

www.fairs.co.il

 

22^nd –24^th June 2004

Security Israel 2004 – The 17^th International Security & Defense Exhibition  on Civil Defense, Police, Armed Forces & Aviation. The largest exhibition in Israel for security and defense systems. For further information please contact us at Tel: 04 8433140 or visit the web-site: www.securityisrael.com

 

8^th- 10^th November 2004

 

Telecom israel 2004 on the latest achievements, solutions for future telecom network, most recent innovations of telecom and computer software technologies… 

 

Venue: Tel Aviv further information:

For further information:

Mr. Moran Ben Yair, Executive Telecommunication and Software Dept.

Israel Export & International Cooperation Projects

Tel: 972 3 5142855

Fax: 972 3 5142881

E-mail: moran@export.gov.il

www.telecom-israel.com

 

 Back to Contents

 

 

Business Opportunities

Opportunities from Israel

 

 

Opportunities from Vietnam