Tran Mai Huong, editor-in-chief of the Viet Nam News, right, speaks at a news conference on the Vietnam Economic Forum co-organised by Asia News Network, Viet Nam News and Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment. Seated are, right to left, Phan Huu

The Vietnam Economic Forum, to be held in Ho Chi Minh City on April 23 and entitled "Regionalism and Modernisation of Vietnam", aims to capitalise on economic growth following the country's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

VNA's deputy director-general Tran Mai Huong said Vietnam had changed significantly following 20 years of renewal. "The high economic growth rate has increased continuously," he said.

Huong said the country's economic and political environment was stable and external relations and integration in the world market continued to be broadened and brought to new heights.

Participation by co-organisers ANN has helped the forum receive regional exposure.

Pana Janviroj, executive director of ANN and president of Thailand's Nation Group, said the forum was expected to draw up to 200 overseas business people, researchers and representative of media agencies, along with 200 local and foreign business people already working in Vietnam. The forum will cover Vietnam's economic outlook and the nation's changing relations in the region, plus wider business and economic trends in Asia.

The event will be opened by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. Participants include three economic ministers, including Singapore's S Iswanran, who will give a keynote address. Other speakers are leading business people and experts from Malaysia, Switzerland, Singapore, Thailand, USA, Taiwan and Japan.

Pana said ANN aimed to promote pan-Asian coverage of news that reflected "changes taking place in Asia".

The forum is sponsored by Vietnam Airlines, Vinacapital, Citygroup and Phu My Hung Joint Stock Company partners IPC Vietnam and Taiwanese CT&D.

Phan Huu Thang, director of the MPI's foreign investment agency, said that while implementing the renewal policy launched by Vietnam's Communist Party, the country had continuously improved its legal system in order to meet the demands of global economic integration and to develop a market-oriented economy. Vietnam's modernisation has allowed the economy to develop vigorously, said Thang. Early this year Vietnam officially became the 150th member of the WTO.

In the first quarter of this year, foreign investment reached US$2.5 billion capital, an increase of 22 per cent over last year. Large-scale projects to receive licences include a $276-million resort in the central province of Thua Thien Hue and Cai Mep port in Ba Ria-Vung Tau with capital of $165 million.

Member newspapers of ANN are India's The Statesman, Singapore's The Straits Times, Sin Chiew Daily and The Star of Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jakarta Post of Indonesia, The Nation of Thailand, The Daily Star of Bang-ladesh, The Island of Sri Lanka, Daily Yomiuri and Yomiuri Shimbun of Japan, the Korea Herald, China Daily, Vietnam News, Kathmandu Post in Nepal, and Vientiane Times in Laos.

The Nation

Hanoi