Dear all valued members and friends,

It is our great pleasure to invite you to attend the 2019 Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup Ho Chi Minh City qualifier.

Established in 2013 with just 12 events, this global amateur golf series is now played in more countries worldwide than any other corporate amateur event of its kind, mirroring the truly global reach of Turkish Airlines.

The 2019 Qualifying Series will feature events in 103 destinations across 72 countries worldwide, providing a unique opportunity for participants to network with senior business people in a relaxed environment, whilst enjoying a round of golf at one of the world’s most prestigious golf courses.

This year’s Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup is proudly sponsored by National Car Rental.

The Ho Chi Minh City qualifying event will take place at Tan Son Nhat Golf Club on Saturday 25^th May 2019 and Turkish Airlines are delighted to offer you the opportunity to take part in what promises to be a great day.

Entries are limited therefore we encourage you to register early to avoid disappointment.

Address: Tan Son Nhat Golf Club, 6 Tan Son, Ward 12,Go Vap District ,Ho Chi Minh City

Fee: Free for everyone. So first come, first served!

Brief Schedule

10:00 – Registration & Lunch

11:30 – Group Photograph & Tournament Briefing

12:00 – Shotgun Start

17:00 – Dinner

18:00 – Prize Presentation

The competition will be an individual stableford format. The best net stableford winner from each qualifying event will join the Grand Final as a guest of Turkish Airlines*. The maximum handicap index for both men and women will be 24.0. Any player with a handicap index of 24.1 and above will be allocated a 24.0 handicap index for the purpose of the event.

The Grand Final will take place between Saturday 2^nd  November to Thursday 7^th  November inTurkey. The prize includes:

• Participation in the Grand Final of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup Round Trip Business Class flights to Turkey with Turkish Airlines
• 5 nights*, accommodation

The finalist winner will have hospitality at the Turkish Airlines Open.

For more information please visit www.turkishairlines.com/golf or you may contact Ms Trang (trangnguyen@thy.com) or Ms. Quynh (qnguyen@thy.com)

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan met President of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium Siegfried Bracke in the capital city of Brussels on April 3 after her arrival.

During the meeting, the top Vietnamese legislator highlighted the growing ties between the two nations, saying her visit aims to spur the development of bilateral ties in a more practical manner.

She also voiced her hope that both sides would consider a new cooperation agreement in the time ahead.
Ngan briefed her host on Vietnam’s current situations, noting that the country has boosted its deeper integration into the world economy with its participation in 12 free trade agreements (FTAs). Vietnam is expected to sign and ratify another four FTAs.

Vietnam has been selected by many investors as their investment destination for its favourable business climate, stable socio-economic environment, and good economic growth, she said.

The country is appreciative of its cooperation with Belgium and regards the country as an important partner in Europe. Both nations have enjoyed successful cooperation across a variety of areas, with last year’s bilateral trade touching US$2.8 billion.

She showed Vietnam’s wish to augment cooperation with Belgium in multiple fields, particularly in renewable energies like solar and wind power.

Vietnam also aspires to foster bilateral ties in sea port infrastructure, public health, agriculture, and education and training.

Belgium grants 40 scholarships to Vietnam on an annual basis, and supports the country via a broad range of educational projects and cooperation programmes with Vietnamese universities and research institutes.

At the meeting, the leaders also touched upon the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement while showing her hope that the Belgian Federal Parliament will raise it voice to expedite the European Parliament (EP)’s ratification of the agreement, as the ratification will bring about practical benefits to Vietnam, Belgium and the EU.

Bracke said that the two sides realized the importance of the EVFTA in economic development of all parties, adding that involved parties will consider all finalized procedures to ratify the agreement at the beginning of the next tenure of the EP.

The Belgian side will try its best to accelerate the process, he affirmed.

President Bracke said it is time to sign cooperation agreements in a wide range of areas, especially in agriculture.

He suggested that both countries should work hand in hand in education, particularly at the tertiary level, adding that creativity is really crucial to achieving win-win cooperation.

Source : VOV

On March 9th, the Belgian Federal Parliament (IPU section) visited Can Tho University, a long-time academic partner of Belgium, especially in researches related to aquaculture, fisheries, and the development of sustainable bio-products. With a budget of around 8 million EUR since 1997, the strong academic cooperation between Belgium and Can Tho University have contributed to the sustainable economic development of the Mekong Delta region and to the adaptation of Vietnamese aquaculture to climate change.

The delegation also visited the Mekong Delta Institute on Climate Change (Can Tho University) to learn more about the studies that have been done on climate change, especially in the Mekong Delta region.

source: Embassy of Belgium in Vietnam

Europe has emerged as a potential market for an array of Vietnamese products, including garments and textiles, footwear, wooden items.

The General Statistics Office of Vietnam reported that exports to the EU edged up 1.2 per cent on year to US$6.3 billion during the two-month period while imports from the block enjoyed a dramatic surge of 15.9 per cent to US$2.2 billion, therefore resulting in a trade surplus of US$4.1 billion for the Southeast Asian country.

During January, Vietnam obtained a trade surplus of US$2.5 billion with the EU as the nation earned US$3.77 billion from exports while imports from the block only reached US$1.26 billion. Notably, Vietnam recorded trade surpluses with a number of EU member states in January, including the UK, Austria, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, France, and Italy.

Hoang Quoc Vuong, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, valued the European region as a significant market for Vietnam, noting that the country has always given priority to increasing co-operation with partners on the continent.

Europe has emerged as a potential market for an array of Vietnamese products, including tropical fruits, garments and textiles, footwear, wooden items, and telephones. Simultaneously, Vietnam could potentially serve as a bridge helping to accelerate the access of European firms and their goods to the wider Southeast Asian region.

Another facilitating factor is that Vietnam has signed and put into force a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union while finalizing negotiations on the much-anticipated EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. Vietnam is also maintaining efforts to complete negotiations on an FTA with the European Free Trade Association.

With several trade deals pending, they are expected to further leverage Vietnam’s trading position with European partners once they come into force.

Vietnam has so far established 23 partnerships through intergovernmental committees, joint committees, and bilateral policy consultations with European countries. These partnerships have helped to further bolster bilateral co-operation in trade and investment as well as giving the ability to promptly ease difficulties and barriers facing enterprises from both sides.

Statistics released by the General Department of Vietnam Customs indicate that bilateral trade between Vietnam and Europe swelled to US$62.11 billion last year. Of which, Vietnam raked in US$44.93 billion from exports to Europe while recording a trade surplus of US$27.75 billion, hence helping to boost the country’s trade balance.

Vietnam is now home to 3,300 projects invested by European enterprises, with a combined investment capital of nearly US$50 billion.

Source: VOV