VIETNAM-BELGIUM PROGRAMME CHURNS OUT SKILLED POSTGRADUATES

HCM CITY — The Vietnam- Belgium Programme, which offers master’s programmes in several business-related streams, is helping train human resources to meet Việt Nam’s needs.

The programme has been run by the HCM City Open University and Université Libre de Bruxelles’s Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management since 1995.

On July 13 a graduation ceremony was held to present master’s degrees to 23 students in business administration, marketing and communication management, and business quality and performance management.

So far around 1,400 students have graduated from the programme.

“The programme is creating opportunities for students to pursue a master’s degree, contributing to consistently turning out high-quality human resources for our society,” Assoc Prof Dr Nguyễn Minh Hà, rector of the HCM City Open University, said.

 

HOW DEEP C INDUSTRIAL ZONES BECOME INVESTORS’ CHOICE

Founded in 1997 in Dinh Vu peninsula of Hai Phong, DEEP C Industrial Zones has established itself as one of the biggest industrial real estate developers in Vietnam. The group is derived from a successful partnership between Rent-A-Port – A Belgian company specialized in industrial zones, renewable energy and marine infrastructure development, and Hai Phong People’s Committee. For the past 22 years, DEEP C has turned the once deserted area mainly used for fishing into a fully-functioning industrial zone cluster equipped with state-of-the-art utilities system meeting international standards.

DEEP C Industrial Zones consist of five sub projects in Hai Phong and Quang Ninh, with approximately 3,400 ha of industrial land. Driven by the mission to ease the operations of foreign investors, DEEP C has been offering flexibility to choose between different options: including industrial land for lease, Ready-built-factory, Logistics warehouse, Built-To-Suit solutions, and Offices for lease. The diversification in product range allows DEEP C to foster all kinds of industries and match any investors’ manufacturing scale.

To date, DEEP C has attracted 100-plus projects funded by multinational enterprises from USA, Japan, Germany, South Korea, etc. with a total investment of over US$3.5 billion. Prominent investors in DEEP C include Bridgestone, JX Nippon Oil & Energy, Chevron, PV Oil, C. Steinweg and Flat Group.

Logistically, all zones within DEEP C cluster are perfectly located in the heart of northern infrastructure development where an international deep sea port, airports, inland waterway systems and expanded expressway networks converge together at one point.  As such, tenants in DEEP C automatically enjoy logistics advantages with prime location and excellent connectivity, not to mention the proximity to China – Vietnam’s largest trade partner and key export market.

Recently, DEEP C started a new venture toward sustainable development, gearing up to become the first truly eco-industrial park in Vietnam with the focus on producing its own electricity from solar, wind, and waste-to-energy. In this era when sustainable development has become the focal global trend, the group has taken on the shared responsibility to reduce the burden on the environment and protect future generations. Notably, energy will be generated from solar panels installed on tenant rooftops, allowing them a financial compensation. Excessive electricity will be stored and used to power hybrid barges sailing on the Hanoi-Hai Phong inland waterway. Currently, DEEP C is running the only ISO certified waste water treatment plant in North Vietnam, ensuring water released from the park to the river is treated and not harmful to the environment.

Further, the group is pursuing a circular economy within the industrial cluster, a relatively new concept in Vietnam which serves the green way by recycling defunct products. To turn ideas into action, DEEP C has teamed up with Dow Chemical to build Vietnam’s first road using recycled plastic in DEEP C industrial zones. The first one kilometer segment, to be completed in September, will divert nearly four metric tons of flexible packaging – the equivalent of roughly one million pieces of flexible wrappers. Upon completion, the new road will be tested by the Vietnam Maritime University prior to expanding the project throughout the complex. The project aimed to advance a circular economy in Vietnam through the development of roads made with recycled plastic and more importantly, divert post-use flexible packaging from becoming litter or entering a landfill, while also creating more durable, longer-lasting roads.

DEEP C expects to give a vivid demonstration that plastic waste can become useful, not only as construction material, but also as an energy source. The group is going through an early preparation stage for its waste-to-energy plant project. The energy released during the incinerating process of waste can be used to produce both steam and electricity which will be consumed by tenants.

The implementation of current projects is only the start as more initiatives and plans are yet to be revealed. The group is convinced that this development pathway will not only provide efficient solutions for environment protection, but also create an environment where tenants can achieve their social responsibility goals and on top of that, flourish without burdening future generations.

[HA NOI] JOIN MB AGEAS LIFE IN THEIR FAMILY EKIDEN FESTIVAL

“MB Ageas Life Family Ekiden Marathon and the Experiencing Growing Up Festival “at Hoan Kiem Lake

At the end of August, 2019, MB Ageas Life will be organising a series of unique culture – sporting events for the second time in Vietnam at the Pedestrian Zone, Hoan Kiem Lake.

The events will include 2 interesting activities:

  1. MB Ageas Life Family Ekiden’s Semi-Professional Marathon
  2. Experiencing Growing Up Festival

After a successful first season in 2018, for the second time, MB Ageas Life will be bringing a unique running contest to Vietnamese families in the form of the renowned sport, Ekiden. Ekiden, otherwise known as Long-Distance Relay race, is a favourite sports for the Japanese people.

Unlike the individual races, Ekiden emphasizes the spirit of teamwork. This is symbolized through the relay sash – or as they are called in Ekiden, Tatsuki. The athletes after completing the leg of the race will hand over the sash to the next runner. This would continue on until the race is finished.

The MB Ageas Life Family Marathon will be occurring around Hoan Kiem Lake, with 6 laps, divided by the members in the family, the estimated length of the marathon will be up tp 10,2 km.

With this being a semi-professional race the organiser will be attaching chips in order to monitor timings for each participating teams on the Tatsuki sash. Tatsuki is not only a tool to pass over to the next member in the team at the exchange zone, it also represents the passing of trust, strength, and the will of the team, symbolising the united spirit of the whole family.

Family Ekiden would like to present a playground for the whole family. With every individuals having the chance to challenge themselves. However, at the same time, each individuals will also be joining the whole family striving for a common goal, to achieve a medal after finishing the race.

It is estimated that around 400 families will be participating. All of the registration fee for MB Ageas Life Family Ekiden will be used to establish Happiness Fund, to help children who are living in poverty, and who come from unprivileged backgrounds.

Additionally, at the surrounding areas of Hoan Kiem Lake, in order to create a festive playground for the children to freely explore and discover themselves through building dreams of future careers; to overcome oneself through physical contests; to learn about personal finances; to put their minds to battles when having to make “little” investment decisions; to discover life with “Experiencing future scientist” area, MB Ageas Life will be organising “Experiencing Growing Up Festival” full of exciting and interesting zones for the children to come and explore.

 

BELUXCHAM INTERNSHIP RESEARCH

Dear members and friends of Beluxcham,
BELUXCHAM is re-opening the opportunities for its members and friends to get Belgian students as internships in your Vietnamese branches / companies.
In order to fine-tune the program, we would like to ask you some questions, so that we can pre-select within our database of potential High Schools and Universities. Kindly fulfill and send the form before FRIDAY 07/06 to info@beluxcham.com.
Thank you and we look forward to getting the information from you!

OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPANIES – CALL FOR PROPOSALS – BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP FACILITY – ENTERPRISES FOR SDGS

What is it about?

On the initiative of, and with financing from the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation (DGD), the Business Partnership Facility awards subsidies to support and develop private sector involvement in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries.

The projects targeted by this call must contribute to achieving at least one clearly- identified SDG.

The Facility aims to simultaneously achieve two types of result:

• Social impact: creation and maintenance of jobs, improvement in average income for families with low incomes, access to affordable goods and services for those on low incomes (by gender), inclusion and economic development of women and young people with low incomes, positive impact on the environment through saving resources, reducing emissions and by preserving biodiversity etc.;

• Economic viability: partnerships must clearly explain how the supported initiatives will become sustainable, present a competitive financial performance and show signs of potential scalability and replication.

This call for projects is planned for a period of 5 years so you can submit an application at any time. See “Timing” on the left to know the next deadline. After the preselection and ESG screening, we will forward the application forms to the independent selection committee which meets twice a year and makes the final selection.

Who is it for?

Each applicant must be part of a partnership that brings together actors from the private sector, civil society, academia and/or the public sector. The partnership must comprise at least one organisation from the for-profit private sector.

Partners may be Belgian, European or international legal entities, under public or private law.

Timing
Start 5/04/2019 
Submit until 9/09/2019 
Announcement of selection 15/12/2019
Financial support
up to € 200.000
Contact
For general information:
Contact Center
+32-2-500 4 555

For specific details: Elke Briers+32-2-549 03 78

Selection criteria : click here

How to submit your application : here

  • How to submit an application form online? View video

If you have any question, kindly send the email to : Ms Binh – info@beluxcham.com or Ms Van Lancker Anke – Anke.VanLancker@diplobel.fed.be