Vietnam has to deal with almost 100 anti-dumping lawsuits and trade disputes each year, in which domestic businesses often come off worst.

Paddy rice in the Mekong Delta region has risen by VND200-400 per kilo. This is good news but does not mean farmers will be able to reap real benefits as from the previous crops.

 Banks are boosting up loans with plenty of promotions.By the end of June, banks promote paying out to the market by reducing rates. This is because the fact that banks have been suffering from low credit growth due to too high interest rates and low demands for loans.

The number of pre-signed contracts to export has risen by 20 percent, helping to boost rice exports in the third quarter of this year, with an estimated volume of 1.6-1.8 million tonnes, according to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).

Russia is now Vietnam’s 20th biggest trade partner, with a two-way turnover of US$808 million in the first half of 2010, accounting for 1.1 percent of Vietnam’s import-export turnover, according the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Since early this year, Dau Tieng Rubber One-Member Co.Ltd. has exploited more than 11,240 tons of rubber latex or 27.41% of this year’s plan. Its three plantations, namely An Lap, Ben Suc and Minh Tan, achieved high result in the task of rubber latex exploitation at over 30% of this year’s plan.

Di An district Public Works Enterprise said the unit has since the start of this year installed numerous energy-efficient bulbs at public lighting systems across the district. As a result, the locality saves nearly 1,100Kw worth over VND1.2bil.

In the morning of July 10th, at guest house in Binh Duong new city center Becamex Industry Development Corporation (Becamex IDC) held a seminar on “applying bubbledeck and top-base foundation technology”, attracting participation of representatives from Construction Ministry, State’s Inspection of constructions, Construction Department, consulting and constructing companies.

The provincial Farmers Society in cooperation with the local department of Trade and Industry held a conference of disseminating knowledge on “Vietnam’s WTO commitment to agricultural industry, goods consumption and production of agricultural field and craft village”.

Thuan An district’s Party Executive Committee held a meeting to assess the local implementation of resolutions in the first half of 2010.

Reporter: What effect do you think about Vietnam’s joining the WTO has had on its economy?

State-owned enterprises managed by the Ministry of Construction saw positive earnings results during the first half of the year, achieving a production value of 12.7 trillion VND (668.4 million USD), an increase of 25.4 percent over the same period a year ago.

The centre is part of the third phase of the “Multilateral Trade Assistance Project” funded by the European Union to improve capacity on trade policy for Vietnamese business associations.