Vietnam plans first corporate bond information centre

The corporate bond market performed well last year, and Vietnam is aiming even higher by preparing technical and legal assistance for issuers.
The corporate bond market performed well last year, and Vietnam isaiming even higher by preparing technical and legal assistance forissuers.

The Vietnam Bond Market Association (VBMA) has submittedto the Ministry of Finance their programme to build a corporate bondinformation centre that would be the first of its kind in the domesticmarket, once the Ministry of Finance ratifies the plan.

"Thecentre would offer investors sufficient information, partially improvetransparency and provide the market more opportunities for development,"said VBMA General Secretary Do Ngoc Quynh.

The VBMA expects adecision from the finance ministry by the end of March. In the meantime,it has been cooperating with other parties to collect the historicaldata of all corporate bonds circulating in the market.

"Once wehave a corporate bond information centre, the VBMA will consult to setup a standard price system, or yield curve," Quynh added.

The association is also hurrying to develop a handbook on standard corporate bond issuance that is expected to assist issuers.

Vietnam's corporate bond market featured the participation of 20 issuers, though only one-fourth are active in the market.

However,few fully comprehend Vietnam's corporate bond market due to the lack ofa unit providing information about both the primary and secondarymarkets.

In order to enhance public confidence in corporate bondissuance, the Ministry of Finance has submitted a scheme detailing theestablishment of credit rating agencies. The ministry also expects toreceive a nod from the Government within the first quarter of this year.

TheMinistry of Finance plans to mobilise up to 35 trillion VND (1.65billion USD) from corporate bonds this year, up 1.8 percent against2013. Last year, the volume of corporate bonds sold was 34.41 trillionVND (1.62 billion USD), a surge of 19.87 percent from 2012, 37.64percent against 2011 and 14.7 percent over 2010.

While refusingto comment about the target of 1.8 percent growth for corporate bondsthis year, Quynh stressed: "Every market has its own routine, let's sayflat or hot periods of development.

"Our economy is going througha major economic restructuring process that, so far, has shown positiveconsequences. This process filters incompetent enterprises, which areable to borrow on the debt market, and I think the quality ofdevelopment would be better."

In the July-September period,Vietnam led the emerging East Asian bond market, in terms of its marketgrowth, on an annual basis, according to the Asian Development Bank'sAsia Bond Monitor report in November.

With the rate of 18.8percent, Vietnam had the fastest growing bond market, followed byIndonesia (16.3 percent), China (14.4 percent), the Philippines (12.5percent), and the Republic of Korea (10.4 percent).-VNA

See more

Industrial factories in Tan Uyen city, the southern province of Binh Duong (Photo: VNA)

Investors upbeat about Vietnam’s industrial property market

Investors are bullish on Vietnam's industrial property market growth on the back of the nation's strategic location, sound infrastructure, and increasing demand for industrial space, particularly industrial parks that meet green standards, according to market research.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the EU Nguyen Van Thao addresses the forum (Photo: VNA)

Forum connects Vietnamese, Belgian busineses

The Vietnam-Belgian business forum took place in Brussels on October 23, offering a chance for enterprises of the two countries to introduce their products and explore new cooperation opportunities.

The expos cover over 6,000 sq.m, drawing over 210 exhibitors from 10 countries and territories. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi hosts textile & garment, fabric garment accessories expos

The Vietnam Hanoi Textile & Garment Industry and Fabric Garment Accessories Expos 2024 (HanoiTex & HanoiFabric 2024) is taking place in Hanoi on October 23 – 25 as part of a series of international exhibitions on Vietnam's textile and garment industry.

Representatives from Vietnamese and Lao agencies, localities and businesses at the opening ceremony of the Vietnam-Laos trade fair 2024 in Xiengkhouang province. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos step up trade, tourism promotion

A Vietnam-Laos trade fair was kicked off in Phonsavanh township in Xiengkhouang province of Laos on October 23 as part of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the traditional day of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos (October 30, 1949 – 2024).

Illustrative photo (Photo: chinhphu.vn)

Vietnamese goods enter US through global supply chain

The Saigon Co.op Distribution Company Limited (SCD) - a member of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Trade Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op), and STC Natural Vina Company on October 23 held a hand-over ceremony for goods that will be exported to the US.

Vietnam’s lobsters have clawed their way back onto Chinese menus after a suspension. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam’s lobsters claw back prominence in China

Vietnam’s lobster export to the Chinese market in January-September rose 33 folds year-on-year on the back of lower prices and stronger trade ties between the two nations, the South China Morning Post said on October 22.