BUSINESS BRIEF

* Petrol smuggled out to Cambodia en masse Petrol is being smuggled out of Vietnam into Cambodia in large amounts due to the price difference, at VND3,000-4,000 a liter, Sai Gon Giai Phong reports. In Kien Giang Province alone, market monitors have confiscated 15,000 liters of petrol being illegally transported across the border so far this month.
* Apparel export inspection team set upThe Ministry of Industry and Trade has just decided to establish an inspection team to monitor export of apparel products to curb rising violations in certificates of origin, transfer of goods, and transit of products, Tuoi Tre reports. The inspection team will also look into other trade irregularities like dumping and false declarations of prices in invoices.
* Vietnam Air’s affiliates to go publicFour subsidiaries of Vietnam Airlines will be equitized within next year following a new decision by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, the Government website reports. These are the one-member limited company Aviation Petrol, Noi Bai Ground Services Enterprise, Da Nang Ground Services Enterprise, and Tan Son Nhat Ground Services Enterprise.
* Korean investors cry out on investment environmentKorean investors at a seminar on “Improving business environment in Vietnam” hosted by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Hanoi last Friday complained about many obstacles in doing business in Vietnam, especially in slow land allocation, rising land rents, and the inadequate infrastructure.
* Listed firms meet with Hanoi investors The Listed Companies Club held a “conversation day” at the National Convention Center in Hanoi yesterday to facilitate dialog between listed firms and investors. On this occasion, the Listed Companies Association was officially launched with 98 members. This was the second time an event of this type had been held in Vietnam. The first one took place in HCMC last year.
* Dragon fruit farmers learn new cultivation techniques Some 1,500 farmers from Binh Thuan Province are currently enrolled in a training course about new methods for growing organic dragon fruits. The farmers in the districts of Bac Binh, Ham Thuan Bac, Ham Thuan Nam and Phan Thiet City are learning advanced methods for harvesting dragon fruits without the use of heavy metals, microorganisms, and insecticides. The course began earlier this month and will conclude on December 21.