The first articles for enterprises during the Lunar New Year

	CPI slighly increases in January on rising consumption for Tet
	Vietnamese communities around the world celebrate Tet
	Vietnamese, Chinese leaders exchange New Year greetings

Mr. Phan Van Hieu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of CVI Cosmetic Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company: Investing in science and technology is a vital factor.

In order to invest in high-tech production, improve product quality and satisfy consumers' expectations, the most important factor is enterprises must invest in the scientific research and technology application.

However, in the process of boosting production, the CVI in particular and some enterprises in the same field are facing certain difficulties that require state management agencies to accompany enterprises to remove. Accordingly, the results of scientific research are not public and transparent. In addition, the current pricing and transfer cooperation mechanism is inadequate when pricing a science and technology product based on an agreement between the enterprise and the research unit, so sometimes, whether the cost is expensive or cheap depends on the relationship between the enterprise and the research unit itself.

Therefore, on the side of enterprises, in order to further develop science and technology, create conditions for business and production, enterprises wish that the state management agencies will pay attention on scientists and universities, and research institutes to have research motivation and dedication.

Besides, for scientists, universities and research institutes, research information must be transparent, not hiding information about commercial products with enterprises. At the same time, scientists and agencies who take responsibility for scientific research tasks must be partners with enterprises to continue researching and perfecting products in accordance with schedule and level, and adapting to new production technology from laboratory scale to mass production scale.

State management agencies need to take into account the synchronization of relevant laws, minimizing procedures to avoid disturbing businesses. The Ministry of Science and Technology should focus on improving information in the science and technology market, continuing to develop national, regional and local technology exchanges, especially in big cities.

Mr. Nguyen Canh Tinh, General Director of Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines): Vinalines sets the target of profit of over 700 billion VND.

Vinalines is one of the "rare" enterprises of Vietnam that operates all 3 infrastructures of a chain of logistics services: seaports, vessels and maritime service businesses. Taking advantage of that, Vinalines has been actively developing package logistics services (door to door). Vinalines has established a Container Transport Center to unify the fleet into a unified, non-overlapping and coordinated system, ensuring optimal operation of transport routes. At the same time, promoting the application of information technology in connection, information exchange and construction of green and modern warehousing systems to improve competitiveness.

Regarding the plan in 2019, Vinalines set a target of input-output of the sea transport of about 18 million tons, cargo throughput of about 107 million tons, revenue of about 12,714 billion VND, and pre-tax profit of over 710 billion VND.

In the coming time, Vinalines will promote its participation in bidding for transportation. Vinalines will bid for large shipments such as coal, ore or raw materials for industrial parks or large factories. Transportation will be carried out in full package, including: port services, ship services, logistics services.

In order for these plans to get the expected results, Vinalines has improved its resources by liquidating the old fleet, investing in modern technology ships (Ecoship generation), meeting international conventions, ensuring environmental factors, lowering fuel consumption rate, ensuring competitiveness. In particular, large container ships, bulk carriers are the types of ships that are focused on for investment. On that basis, Vinalines will continue to expand intra-Asia transport routes by container, develop bulk shipping routes to gradually dominate the market.

Mr. Tran Thanh Huong, Executive Director of Hung Hau Development Joint Stock Company: Focusing on deep processing investment to improve export seafood value

As one of the enterprises that process value-added products of the Vietnamese seafood industry, Hung Hau Development Corporation (Hunghau Holdings) has focused on developing clean material areas, equipped with modern chains processing technology, ensuring safety as well as building a strong distribution system both at home and abroad. In the coming time, HungHau Holdings will continue to invest in research to create new products with high value, breakthrough, in accordance with customers' needs and tastes. The company also strives to diversify agricultural products processing from raw materials controlled by Vietnamese origin, developing safe and quality products.

Regarding the market, HungHau Holdings will continue to maintain its prestige in traditional markets such as the EU, Japan, South Korea, Singapore..., while seeking potential markets, developing domestic and system of markets, restaurants, luxury hotels, supermarkets. In particular, the thorough implementation of the linkage of the value chain of agricultural and fishery products is to control the quality of product origin and enhance the value of output products. With these efforts, the Company strives to increase seafood export turnover from 352 billion VND in 2018 to 500 billion VND in 2019, equal to a growth of 42%.

However, for the production and business activities of enterprises to be favorable and strongly developed, the accompanying and support from the Government are essential. I hope that the Government will continue to listen to the opinions of businesses, thereby, it can amend or supplement policies to create favorable conditions for businesses, promptly solve the problems that businesses are facing.

Ms. Huong Tran Kieu Dung, Vice Chairman and CEO of FLC: In 2019, the real estate market will witness a strong increase of foreign funds.

In 2019, FLC Group will continue to invest in populations of eco-tourism resorts in localities across the country.

With the real estate sector, the Group will continue to focus on developing medium and affordable real estate to serve the needs of the majority in the market. In addition, the Group will also focus on investing in urban areas at the centers of provinces across the country. These are large potential markets that FLC Group is aiming for, because Vietnamese people are getting wealthier and the number of people with good funds is increasing. In fact, the market is open, lacks supply.

It can be said that the development of the real estate market is heavily influenced by policies and legal regulations. Therefore, in order for 2019 to continue to be a successful development for the real estate market, we hope to have specific policies and regulations from competent state agencies, especially legal regulations related to condotel as well as legal procedures related to the investment of businesses. This is a condition and an important factor to help the real estate market have more products for customers to choose. The real estate market in 2019 will witness a strong increase of foreign funds. For example, with FLC, we are receiving great attention from foreign funds, they are particularly interested in legal factors when investing in real estate in Vietnam.

Mr. Tran Dinh Long - Chairman of Hoa Phat Group (HPG): Implementing a series of measures to expand market share

At the end of 2018, one of the joys of Hoa Phat is that it is one of 97 typical businesses honored with products of National Brand 2018. Previously, Hoa Phat was honored in 2012, 2014 and 2016. For many years, Hoa Phat has affirmed its leading position in Vietnam's steel industry with products such as construction steel and pipes with market shares of over 23% and 27%, leading in the market for office room furniture. In 2017, Hoa Phat Group contributed 5,000 billion VND of taxes and fees to the state budget, an increase of more than 40% compared to 2016. Expectedly, the revenue paying for the state budget in 2018 will reach about 6,000 billion VND.

Currently, Hoa Phat is focusing on completing the Dung Quat Iron and Steel Production Complex to achieve a total capacity of 4 million tons of construction steel in 2019, and 5 million tons of construction steel in 2020. It is expected by end of the first quarter, in the second quarter of 2019, the No.1 blast furnace of Dung Quat Iron and Steel Production Complex will come into operation. Therefore, in 2019, Hoa Phat plans to produce about 3.5 million - 4 million tons, an increase of about 33% compared to this year. It is a challenging plan for the executive board of subsidiaries. With the current growth rate, it is expected that when the Dung Quat Iron and Steel Production Complex project is operating at full capacity in 2020, Hoa Phat will achieve a turnover of over 100,000 billion VND, contributing to the national budget of about 10,000 billion VND.

In terms of export, the proportion of exports currently accounts for about 10% of the Group's total steel output with various markets such as Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Canada. Notably, in the United States, where imposing 25% taxation for steel imported from Vietnam, Hoa Phat Steel still exported products into this market. In 2019, HPG expects to export about 400,000 tons, accounting for 10-12%. Hoa Phat Group aims at many markets and focuses on markets in Southeast Asia such as Laos and Cambodia.

Mr. Doan Chau Phong, Deputy General Director of Van Phu Invest Investment Joint Stock Company: Focusing on developing real estate system in densely populated centers.

In 2019, with the next 3-year plan, the VPI will focus on developing the real estate system in densely populated centers while focusing on investment in forming rental real estate chains at central locations. In addition, Van Phu will continue to create land funds for construction in coastal cities and new residential centers. Towards the next 5-year development strategy, Van Phu will provide products with diverse segments, suitable for all market needs and positioned to be the leading enterprise in mid-range real estate products.

From what has been done in Hanoi, which is the center of the country, and has been recognized by a large number of social communities, we have received much support and trust from other localities in the country. Since then, the company is continuing to conduct research and investment in many cities and provinces across the country, the land fund that VPI is studying for the proposal of planning, investment preparation and implementation is up to thousands of hectares. In the context of the real estate market is increasingly fierce competition, the establishment of specific objectives and business strategy is clearly an important factor for Van Phu - Invest to be confident and steady to develop with brand “VPI - Dedicated real estate developer”.

Mr. Taniguchi Keisuke, Senior Vice President of Administrative Management Department, Canon Vietnam: Wishing the Government to develop supporting industries, cut business costs

Entering 2019, Canon Vietnam continues to maintain stable production, focusing on quality innovation, technology and automation. We are also actively looking for auxiliary industry suppliers to increase localization rates, reduce storage, competitive prices.

With the goal of becoming a company loved by Vietnamese officials, employees, Government and people, we will maintain welfare activities and actively contribute to the development of society through social activities.

Besides, in 2019, we also expect the Government of Vietnam to stabilize regulations on laws as well as institutions and policies for enterprises. Along with that, simplify administrative procedures, reporting process, create favorable conditions for businesses.

Mr. Cao Huu Hieu - CEO of Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex): Vinatex focuses on in-depth investment, building a chain of links.

In 2019, Vinatex aims: The industrial production value is expected to increase by 5%; export turnover is expected to increase by 6% - 8%; revenue is expected to increase 5% - 7%; profit strives to increase 12% and the average salary is 8 million VND/person/month.

In 2019, the CPTPP Agreement takes effect. The market in the Agreement without the United States is not big. Vinatex is only expecting two markets, Canada and Australia. The revenue in each market is expected to be good and increase by $US 1 billion in 2019. In addition, in 2019, the company also expects EVFTA to take effect, but this is quite difficult.

Vinatex is determined that it will continue to build a string of closely-woven-dyeing-sewing lines to take advantage of FTAs. We want to complete this chain as soon as possible, address the "bottleneck" of weaving-dyeing. By doing that, when FTAs come into effect, Vietnam’s textile industry will meet the problem of origin well to take advantage of opportunities. In addition, 2019 is also the year that Vinatex continues the trend of green production, energy saving... This is one of the criteria for Vinatex to compete with textile enterprises in the international market.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Luan, Deputy General Director of ANTESCO: Take advantage of opportunities when foreign customers are interested in Vietnamese agricultural products

In 2019, the expansion of the export market of Vietnamese agricultural products has many opportunities thanks to a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Union (EVFTA). Currently, European customers are also very interested in Vietnam's agricultural products. Also with An Giang Vegetable and Food Joint Stock Company (ANTESCO), our export activities in the EU and US markets are now stable with many customers. However, we still want to increase export volume and find more new customers in these two markets. In addition, we also want to expand into new markets that are, in the immediate future, the Middle East and Australia markets. It is expected that in 2019, ANTESCO will export about 12,000 tons of agricultural products to markets around the world.

The situation of agricultural exports in 2019 is forecasted to be favorable because the consumption demand of export markets for Vietnam's agricultural products is positive. Besides, domestic policies and mechanisms are more open and support very well for export activities of enterprises. However, the biggest difficulty of the current enterprise is residues of plant protection drugs for raw materials. Currently, all countries in the world are interested in this issue. Meanwhile, China's agricultural products are heavily contaminated with pesticide residues, so they have been rejected in many markets. Many international importers have turned to buying Vietnamese agricultural products. This is a good opportunity but if we do not control the quality of export agricultural products well, it will be similar to China today. This will be very detrimental to agricultural exports in the coming years.