1. Mr.  Nguyen Quang Tuan – Permanent Deputy Director

Tel: (0204) 3992269

Fax: (0204) 3992238

Email: tuannq@bacgiang.gov.vn

1. Managing all tasks and duties of the department and bearing responsibilities for the overall operation of the department to the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Council and Provincial People's Committee (PPC), the PPC’s Chairman and by the law and being responsible for the specialized tasks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  2. Taking in charge of external affairs of the Party: to advise the provincial Party Committee in  expansion of diplomatic relations, policies and routines for international integration of the province, develop directions, resolutions, programs, plans and schemes on foreign affairs of the provincial Party Committee, collect and recommend measures related to foreign affairs of the provincial Party Committee, help the provincial Party Committee in united management of local external activities, collaborate among external activities of the provincial Party Committee, local government, Fatherland Front and the unions, organizations in the locality.

  3. Taking in charge of economic diplomacy: to advise the provincial People’s Committee in economic diplomacy, build and implement approved external activities for local socio-economic development, play role as the connection between the provincial People’s Committee and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnam’s overseas representative agencies in promoting and introducing potentials and advantages of the province, support implementation of trade, investment and tourism promotion and protect legal rights of foreign economic organizations.

4. Taking in charge of international cooperation and integration, making and implementing plans on international cooperation and integration of the province and schemes on establishment of friendly and cooperative relations with foreign partners.

5. Leading external information affair, providing and sharing information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Commission for External Affairs and Vietnam’s overseas representative agencies, following up and evaluating international and regional political and security situations affecting the locality and the province’s foreign affairs. Taking responsibility for the website and external bulletin of the department.

6. Appraising requests of foreign reporters for press activities in the province and submit Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee for permission, organizing interviews of provincial leaders with foreign reporters, providing information and managing activities of foreign reporters in accordance with law.

7. Taking in charge of managing and organizing international conferences and seminars in the locality, appraising contents of the international conferences and seminars, guiding and inspecting implementation of the regulations on managing and organizing international conferences and seminars.

8. Managing signing and implementing international agreements: conducting state management on signing and implementing international agreements in the locality.

9. Managing foreign non-governmental organizations affair (NGOs)

To Administrate operation of NGOs in the locality, providing opinions on issuance, extension, amendment and revoke of registration licenses and other activities of NGOs, guide and support NGOs in administrative procedures in surveying, building and implementing aid projects in accordance with laws, supervising operation of NGOs and NGOs’ staff in the locality and make reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Committee for foreign non-governmental organization affairs as stipulated.

To Implement NGOs’ aid mobilization, make mobilization programs and plans and support agencies, units and locals in NGOs’ aid mobilization, appraise NGOs’ aid packages ensuring political diplomacy.

10. Leading cultural diplomacy, establishing and implementing action plans for implementation of the cultural diplomacy strategies in each period.

11. Taking in charge of people-to-people relations.

12. Directing personnel affair, emulation and discipline. Being owner of the department’ account, managing its finance, assets and implementing the allocated budget in accordance with laws. Taking in charge of political protection and citizen mobilization of the agency.

13. Taking in charge of periodical and  unexpected reports and supervising implementation of the tasks and duties assigned by the provincial People’s Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee to the department.

14.Directing building working culture, protecting security and order and administration of the department.

15. Directing information and technology and administrative reform.

16. Managing diplomatic protocol.

17. Taking in charge of inspection of foreign affairs, handling complaints and denunciations and corruption prevention.

18. Directing training in foreign affairs

19. Acting as legal reporter and spokesman of the Department of Foreign Affairs

20.  Directly leading the Office, International Cooperation Division, Editorial of the website and external bulletin of the department.

2. Mr Pham Duong Tuyen – Deputy Director

Tel: (0204) 3992232

Fax: (0204) 3992238

Email: tuyenpq_sngv@bacgiang.gov.vn

1. Managing operation of the department on behalf of the Director when being authorized and bearing responsibility to the Director and law for assigned tasks and authorized duties.

2. Managing exit and immigration delegations, organizing working delegations of the province to go abroad, making and implementing the schemes to receive foreign missions to visit and work with the provincial leaders.

3. Taking in charge of consular affairs: managing exit and immigration activities of the public officials using diplomatic and official passports, receiving and checking dossiers, managing and requesting for issuance, extension and amendment of diplomatic and official passports at the locality as regulated, processing application for consular citification and legalization and requests for using APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC).

4. Taking in charge of citizen protection, handling arising issues in citizen protection for overseas Bac Giang people, guiding and managing foreign organizations and individuals in the province in accordance with law.

5. Leading overseas Vietnamese affairs: to implement the programs, plans and policies on overseas Vietnamese in the locality, provide information about policies and guidelines of the Party and State for overseas Vietnamese, mobilize and support overseas Vietnamese and their relatives in working, doing business, living and studying in the locality, revise, evaluate and recommend solutions for overseas Vietnamese affairs.

6. Managing activities of the unions in the department.

7. Directly leading the Division of Consular affairs and Overseas Vietnamese, Foreign Services and Information Center.

8. Performing other tasks as assigned by the Director

The Department of Foreign Affairs of Bac Giang province (DOFA) was established under the Decision No 280/QD-UBND dated 31 August 2012 of the provincial People’s Committee (PPC) and come into operation since 01 January 2013 with the main functions of advising the PPC in state management of the local foreign affairs and public services within its scope of management.

Leaders and staff of Bac Giang DOFA

Bac Giang DOFA was established based on separating the former division for local foreign affairs of the PPC’s Office into a department under management of the PPC.  In the very first days of establishmnet, Bac Giang DOFA only had 8 officials from different agencies of the province. They had to rent head offices of the PPC’s guest house. Currently, the department is provided with adequate office and facilites while its organization has been consolidated. DOFA includes 16 officials and employees with one director, one deputy director, 03 head of divisions, 03 deputy head of divisions. Most of the staff are qualified with bachelor or master degrees.

It has 03 speciaizedl divisions and 01 center: the DOFA’s Officice, International Cooperation Division, Consular Affairs and Overseas Vietnamese Division and Center for Foreign Information and Services.

 Bac Giang DOFA has overcome difficulties and take advantages to grow up in the process of integration and development greaping dramatic results and contributing to socio-economic development of the province.

I. Leaders of DoFA

1. Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan, Permanent Deputy Director

Tel: (84) (0204) 3992269

Mobile: (84) 919774268

Email: tuannq@bacgiang.gov.vn

          2. Mr. Pham Duong Tuyen, Deputy Director

Tel: (0204) 3992232

Mobile: (84) 0945675688

Email: tuyenpd_sngv@bacgiang.gov.vn

II. Divisions of the DoFA

Bac Giang, a mountainous province, is a spiritual place with over 2,000 historical and cultural relics. Of which, many relics are hundred years old such as Vinh Nghiem Pagoda storing woodblocks recognized as World Documentary Heritage Site of Asia-Pacific Region; Bo Da Pagoda storing Buddhism woodblocks carved from 1740 under the King Le Canh Hung dynasty; the historical relics of Tien Luc Commune, Lang Giang District with a thousand-year-old camphor tree and many other historical relics to develop spiritual tourism in the future.

If Dong Yen Tu (Quang Ninh province) is the place where Buddha King Tran Nhan Tong practices, Tay Yen Tu (Bac Giang province) is the path to propagate the Buddha's teachings and create a Zen bearing the Vietnamese national identity. After the Buddha's entry into the nirvana, Phap Loa and Huyen Quang follow this western path to fulfill Zen’s mandate to open up, build pagodas, and spread Buddhism throughout Bac Giang. The special national monument Vinh Nghiem Pagoda becomes a pilgrimage site, tourist attraction.

One corner of Vinh Nghiem pagoda (Photo: Tran Lan, DOFA)

 Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is located in Quoc Khanh village, Tri Yen commune, Yen Dung district (18 km to the south of Bac Giang city). The pagoda was built in the 13th century, the pagoda population is an ancient architectural style of the "nội vương ngoại vi", Vinh Nghiem pagoda is a large one of Truc Lam Zen with deep national identity and is considered The first Buddhism University of our country.

 The stele erected in the 7th year of Hoang Dinh (1606) which is still preserved in the pagoda noted, "Vinh Nghiem pagoda is not only a pagoda but also a natural beautiful landscape of Kinh Bac area. This is a solemnly brilliant place covered by high mountains surrounded by a river. This is the most famous pagoda.

 Situated on a low hill, surrounded by mountains, rivers, ancient Vinh Nghiem pagoda with its back to the Co Tien Mountain attracts travelers by its charming landscape. The pagoda overlooks the Luc Dau Giang – Kiep Bac river junction and Cam Ly ward, the gateway to the Yen Tu mountain. Across the river, it is the place of King Tran Hung Dao, Kiep Bac Temple.

Built from Ly dynasty to Tran dynasty, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda plays a special role in the history of Buddhist culture as a place of spiritual practice. The highest point is Vinh Nghiem pagoda was chosen as the center of Buddhism in the Tran dynasty to train by three Truc Lam ancestors, namely King Tran Nhan Tong, Monks Phap Loa and Huyen Quang. With the area of ​​about 10,000 m2, starting with three-door gate, going inside more than 100m, it is Ho Pagoda (also known as Tien Duong). The way to Ho Pagoda was covered by pine trees as the charming forest, there are still some trees standing on the pagoda ground as evidence of time. There is a large 6-side stele of Hoang Dinh year right on the pagoda ground. This is the oldest trace of the pagoda. Opposite to the ancient stele, it is the grave garden of the eight monks built later.

From Ho pagoda, other parts are connected together on the southeast axis and separated by a narrow yard. There are four blocks in the pagoda: Buddha pagoda (front house or Ho pagoda, burn incense, upper house) in I-word shape, a two-floor bell tower, the second ancestor house and Trai Duong house. The two sides also have two rows of east-west corridors, each row includes 18 spacious rooms where annually monks come for relax.

The four blocks are constructed with the traditional wooden frame, but from the first ancestor house to the rear of the building, there are some reinforced brick columns and walls. Except the four main columns of the upper house having the trace of Le dynasty, others imbued with arts of Nguyen dynasty. The pagoda architecture expresses the aesthetic qualities of the ancient people with the whole scene of the pagoda having different height, space creating a rich rhythm surprising tourists.

Another value of Vinh Nghiem pagoda is its woodblocks dated 700 years. Skillfully printed woodblocks are evidence that Vinh Nghiem pagoda once dominated 72 forest plantations. Currently, "the woodblocks still contains 34 books with nearly 3,000 engravings, each with 2 sides, each side includes 2 pages containing about 2,000 Chinese characters and Vietnamese Chinese characters. Most of them are sutras, medical book and Buddhist laws. The rest is writings of three ancestors and some monks of Truc Lam Yen Tu (poems, poetic essays, diaries ...) inscribed about 200 years ago. These wood blocks are made of chinese fig wood in different size. Many pages are engraved with pictures in fine lines, writing harmoniously. Experiencing the ups and downs of the history, the woodblocks are now considered as a national treasure. Especially, the woodblocks of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda were officially recognized as the World Documentary Heritage, Asia-Pacific region.

  Vinh Nghiem Temple has been well known as a tourist destination not only by its beauty of architecture and rare scenery but also by the special identity of Vietnamese Buddhist culture here.

 “Anyone who visits Yen Tu- Quynh Lam

Without visiting Vinh Nghiem has not yet reached quietude”

In the time to come, Bac Giang province has identified Tay Yen Tu Spiritual and Ecological Tourism Area as the key project of the province in the period of 2010 to 2030, with items already under construction such as cable cars at the length of about 2,000 m with two terminals. The final terminal is about 700 m from Dong pagoda. The area includes Trinh pagoda, Ha or Phat Quang pagoda, Trung and Thuong or Kim Quy pagoda, Tay Yen Tu area gate, Tay Yen Tu welcome village, Tay Yen Tu temple with the height of from 145 m to nearly 1,000 m above sea level.

Tay Yen Tu eco-spiritual tourism complex from sky-view (photo: Viet Hung)

Ha pagoda region is built on an area of 17.2 hectares, of which the pagoda is located on the area of 1.13 hectares, the rest is the green landscape, service and traffic infrastructure land. The pagoda was started construction in mid-2016, has been cut the inauguration of Ha Pagoda in the first stage, and opened Tay Yen Tu festival in early 2018;

  Thuong Pagoda area is planned on an area of ​​2.36 hectares, of which Thuong Pagoda is built with the area of ​​2,267 m2, the rest is the green landscape, service and traffic infrastructure land. The pagoda is located at the height of 840 m (228 m lower than Dong pagoda), about 650m from Dong pagoda. The pagodas are built with the capital of socialization; the architecture of the pagoda is built in the traditional style of the North with wooden columns and tiled roof. The system of temples is built in Tuan Mau commune, Son Dong district, and out of the area of ​​Yen Tu attraction (Uong Bi district, Quang Ninh province) and Tran historical relic area in Dong Trieu (Dong Trieu district, Quang Ninh province).

 Bac Giang invests in building Tay Yen Tu Spiritual and Ecological Tourist Site to preserve, restore and develop the values ​​of scenic relics in Tay Yen Tu area in Bac Giang province with Yen Tu special Relics area and Truc Lam zen. It aims at restoring the pilgrimage of Tran Nhan Tong to introduce more fully about Bac Giang to people nationwide. It is also an opportunity for local authorities and the entire people to understand more about the heritage, cultural values ​​of our ancestor generation to be responsible for building, preserving, developing sustainably available relics to meet people’s spiritual demand, creating new motivation for tourism development of Bac Giang province.

Tran Huan

On the morning of 2^nd February, Director of Bac Giang DOFA Nguyen Hoang Trung summed up the emulation movement in 2017. With the efforts of all officials, civil servants and laborers of Department of Foreign Affairs in implementing patriotic emulation, the targets and tasks of the department have been well fulfilled especially their external activities have been stimulated with effective results contributing to socio-economic development, ensuring the  security and defense of the province. The DOFA gradually affirmed its position and role in the common development of the province and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2017, many groups and individuals of Bac Giang DOFA were recognized and awarded by the provincial People's Committee and Director of the Department.

Individuals were rewarded, Photo: Tran Lan, DOFA

             The 2018 is the piloting year to implement the Resolution of the 18th Provincial Party Congress in the term of 2015 – 2020 and the five-year socio-economic development plan (2015-2020). The 2018 also marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of Bac Giang DOFA (13/3/2013 – 13/3/2018). To promote the achieved results, strengthen the emulation movement and successfully implement the objectives and tasks of socio-economic development in 2018 towards celebration of the 5th establishment anniversary and big events of the country in 2018, on behalf of the leaders of the Department and the Council for Emulation and Commendation, Nguyen Hoang Trung, Director of the Department launched the 2018 emulation movement with the theme "Emulating to make great achievements to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of Bac Giang DOFA with the following contents:

             1. Effectively implementing the Directive No.34-CT/TW dated 07/4/2014 of the Politburo on further renovation of the emulation and commendation work; well implementing the policies and guidelines of the Party, the state policies and laws.

2. Focusing on the work programs of the department; fulfilling the tasks, targets and plans of the department in 2018.

 3. Constantly implementing well the Directive No.05-CT/TW dated 15/5/2016 of the Politburo on promoting the movement namely studying and following the ideas, morality and working styles of Ho Chi Minh, emulating to build clean and strong party and union organizations. Implementing the 4^th resolution of the Central Party Committee, the 12^th tenure on "strengthening construction and reorganization of the Party, preventing and repelling the degeneration of ideology, politics, moralities, lifestyles and signals of “self-evolving", "self-transforming" internally".

  4. Accelerating administrative reforms; applying comprehensive and effective the quality- management system under Vietnam’s Standards ISO 9001:2008 into the state administrative management; strengthening the application of information technology and scientific and technological advances.

5. Strictly abiding by the disciplines, improving working methods and skills to improve the quality of doing work of officials, state employees and laborers.

6. Implementing the Law on Corruption Prevention; practicing thrift and combating wastefulness; strictly complying with regulations on grassroots democracy, office culture, establishing the department according to the criteria of cultural agencies.

Based on the above contents, the Director of the Department suggested the units and individuals of Bac Giang DOFA promote the spirit of solidarity, creativeness, activeness and determination to complete assigned tasks successfully, contribute to implementing the objectives and tasks of socio-economic development of the province in 2018 successfully.

                                                                                                                              Nguyễn Vân (dịch)

On the occasion of Christmas and New Year 2018, on December 5, the Department of Foreign Affairs of Bac Giang province visited and presented gifts to foreign NGOs implementing aid activities in Bac Giang including GTV, CIAI, YWAM, KFHI, East Meets West.

Leader of the Department of Foreign Affairs is giving presents and New Year 's greetings to KFHI

During his visit, Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs appreciated the contribution of organizations in effective implementation of the projects in the fields of vocational education, community development, agriculture, health, poverty reduction, water and sanitation ...

These projects contribute to improving the living standards of poor and near poor households; ethnic minorities; some households in resettlement area; workers living with economic difficulties in the industrial zones, especially in the extremely difficult communes of Son Dong, Luc Ngan, Yen The, Luc Nam.

Leader of the Department of Foreign Affairs gave   presents to YWAM

Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan expected NGOs to continue focusing on expanding the programs and implementing projects to improve the quality of life of people in the project areas, raising awareness and skills for beneficiaries in economically difficult areas, contributing positively to poverty reduction and the realization of socio-economic development objectives of Bac Giang province.

Leader of Department of Foreign Affairs gave   presents and New Year greetings to GTV and CIAI in Vietnam

The visit also provided an opportunity for the leaders of the Foreign Affairs Department to discuss the implementation of projects in Bac Giang province and the advantages and disadvantages of foreign NGOs in the province. Accordingly, the Department of Foreign Affairs would timely coordinate with the relevant agencies and localities to create conditions for organizations to continue to implement and expand the projects effectively.

This is an annual activity of Bac Giang Foreign Affairs Department in order to attract more resources from foreign NGOs to contribute to the socio-economic development of Bac Giang province.

The Bang (translated)

The activities and projects during the last 27 years of the FES Institute (Ha Noi) implemented in ministries, branches and localities in key areas of the Institute has contributed to the socio-economic growth, bringing benefits to all classes of Vietnamese people, including the people and enterprises of Bac Giang province. 

Illustrating photo ( Source: Internet)

The 42- year journey (1975 - 2017) witnessed the deep development of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Germany in almost all fields; mutual trust and understanding between the two nations continues to be strengthened through the exchange of high-level delegations and the signing of important documents such as the Hanoi Declaration of October 2011. With the comprehensive results in the bilateral cooperation, we must acknowledge the active and effective participation of important partners from Germany, namely organizations and research institutes in the implementation of the policy of socio-economic development of Vietnam in general and localities in particular.

Founded and operated since 1990 on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), the Office of FES in Hanoi is one of the first representative offices of non-governmental organizations in Vietnam. Over the past 25 years, FES’s Representative Office actively participated in supporting the reform or “Doi Moi”, implementing administrative reform and  open door policy and building the capacity of Vietnam’s public officers.

FES encourages and supports political dialogues and exchanges of experiences required by Vietnamese partners in the following areas:

- Political dialogues and social reform - facilitate exchange of experience in a wide range of areas, ranging from reform policies to political education, capacity building/enhancing capacity of  for the legislature and building social security system;

- Economic reform along with social justice - ensure that economic growth benefits all classes of Vietnamese people through capacity building projects for the cooperative sector and labor union system;

- Regional and international integration - conduct dialogues on political, social and economic issues at regional and international levels related to Vietnam, such as the Asia- Europe Meeting (ASEM) and its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In the province of Bac Giang, FES has officially operated since 1992 through the implementation of the project "Consultancy for supporting small and medium industry development in Ha Bac Province" signed on 12 March 1992 with Ha Bac Provincial People's Committee. The project was implemented from April 1992 to December 2000, when the Provincial People's Committee agreed with the FES Hanoi Office to hand over Bac Giang Business Consulting Center (now the Center for Investment Promotion and Enterprise Development in Bac Giang province). The total amount of support from FES was 6,447 billion dong for the above objectives (the first phase was 6.3 billion dong, the second phase was 147 million dong)

In general, through the exchange of experiences and funding from the FES - Hanoi, the project has achieved practical results, such as: improving capacity , experiences of staffs of Investment Promotion and Enterprise Development (under Department of Planning and Investment); investigating and surveying the need for assistance from enterprises, supporting the development of feasible projects for expanding investment, raising the production and business capacity, product consumption, expanding the market (including study tours abroad);  provide a part of fund to the Bac Giang Center for Investment Promotion and Business Developmen, effectively consulting and supporting the development of small and medium enterprises in Bac Giang.

In the first phase from 1992 to 2000, the Bac Giang Provincial People's Committee and the FES Institute Office co-chaired the project, which was responsible for directing the activities to support the development of small and medium enterprises in the province through Bac Giang Business Consulting Center. The office of the FES Institute in Hanoi has provided financial support for the construction of a number of important infrastructure facilities in the province such as the office of Bac Giang Business Consultancy Center and equipments for professional work; 02 technology workshops in Lang Giang district and Que Vo district (now Bac Ninh province) and provide machinery and equipments for mechanical engineering to train workers for SMEs; 01 training service station in Bac Giang city to support the training of knowledge and mechanical skills for workers of enterprises. At the same time, provide financial support for organizing training courses for business owners, co-operatives and managers; workers of small and medium enterprises in Bac Giang. FES has also supported corporaing/business development consultancy activities through providing training for consultants of the Center and sending them abroad (04 delegations of the province attended study tours about business in Germany); supported the development of the project and the establishment of consultative teams at the provincial departments, branches and localities such as the "Economic Development and Environmental Protection Advisory Group" under the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, etc. piloted a "Credit Guarantee Fund" with an initial capital of 100,000 U.S dollars (equivalent to 1,090,300,000 dong at the time of conversion) to help small and medium enterprises, cooperatives, business households to have access to loans from the bank without collateral with a view to  overcoming financial difficulties in production and business activities.

In the second phase from 2001 to October 2003: (After the transfer of the provincial consultancy center) FES Hanoi Office continues to develop relationships and cooperation with the PPC to support the activities of the Center for Investment Promotion and Enterprise Development Consultancy  and some other outstanding works, such as: supporting part of fund for repairing consultancy center after many years of operation;  provide funds for 39 trainings on business administration for enterprises focusing on practical topics: start-ups, marketing, sales strategy, enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises.; coordinate with the PPC to organize the ceremony to hand over the consultancy center to the province (23 October 2001) under the plan; inspect the operation of the credit guarantee fund.

Although FES no longer implements the project in the province, FES-Hanoi Institute and the Bac Giang Center for Investment Promotion and Business Promotion keep coordination by organizing seminars and trainings for managers and consultants of enterprises and SME owners, contributing to raising the competitiveness of Bac Giang enterprises in the process of international economic integration.

The activities and projects during the past 27 years of the FES-Hanoi Institute implemented in the ministries, branches and localities in key areas of the Institute has contributed to the socio-economic growth, benefiting all classes of Vietnamese people, including the people and enterprises of Bac Giang province. With the active contributions of the FES Institute, we are confident that the Institute continues to play an important role in realizing MOU between two governments, contributing to comprehensively deepening the strategic partnership between Vietnam - Germany in the coming years.

The Bang (translated)

Recently, Bac Giang Department of Foreign Affairs has host a meeting with the research mission of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) on situation of electronic wastes (e-waste) and end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in the province. The meeting was also attended by representatives of related departments and agencies of the province including Planning and Investment, Natural Resources and Environment, Information and Communication, Industry and Trade, Construction and Industrial Zones Authorities. 

Overview of the meeting. Photo: Tran Lan

At the meeting, on behalf of the participants from Bac Giang’s side, Nguyen Hoang Trung, Director of Bac Giang Department of Foreign Affairs highly appreciated the attention of METI to environmental issues of Asian countries generally, Vietnam and Bac Giang province particularly by sending the research mission to the province. Simultaneously, he recommended the participants openly discuss the issues the research mission concerned.

Representative of the research mission, Ryosuke Inoue, analyst from Environment and Energy Department of Mitsubishi UFJ Research & Consulting Co., Ltd, commissioned by METI gave a brief introduction about the research project on current situation of recycling of e-waste and ELVs in ASEAN countries. This project is aimed to promote the international resource recycling; study the current situation of recycling market of e-waste and ELVs; catch up the latest laws and regulations on e-waste and ELVs.

The research mission gave a brief introduction about the research project on current situation of recycling of e-waste and ELVs in ASEAN countries. Photo: Tran Lan

Also at the meeting, representative of the Division for environmental protection of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment reported the current situation of e-waste treatment and recycling in the province.

Other participants shared difficulties in management of e-waste, industrial waste and ELVs treatment and recycling, answered the questions raised by the research mission and recommended some issues for cooperation in time to come i.e. studying the trade village in treatment of ELVs in Bac Giang to find solutions for environmental pollution, introducing Japanese enterprises to invest in  high-tech e-waste treatment plants.

Representative of the research mission thanked Bac Giang province for the meeting and providing them with necessary information. They promised to report the studying result to METI for future cooperation.

tion of recycling market of e-waste and ELVs; catch up the latest laws and regulations on e-waste and ELVs.

                                                                                                                                                Ngọc Quyên

 21 December, on the occasion of Christmas and New Year 2018, in Hanoi, Vice Chairman of Bac Giang People's Committee Le Anh Duong visited and worked with United Nations of Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO). He was accompanied by leader of departments: Foreign Affairs; Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Anh Duong congratulated Head of UNESCO Ha Noi Office and the Organization’s representative in Viet Nam and his staffs.

Mr Duong expressed his wishes on Christmas and New Year to Mr. Michael Croft, Head of UNESCO in Viet Nam and his staffs.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman of the province introduced brief information of Bac Giang province regarding political, socio-economic situation of the province. The economic growth rate of the province is always top of the country, with GDP in 2017 reaching 13.3%, exports reaching 6.3 billion dong and foreign investment attraction at the top ten of the country. Bac Giang province has a number of heritage recognized by UNESCO as: Quan ho folk music, ca tru, wood blocks of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda.

gion>’s products are now assessed much lower tariffs — dropping from an average of 40 percent to an average of three percent — when they enter the U.S. For Vietnam’s part, Vietnam has committed to reform its trade and investment regime to provide a much more level and fair “playing field” for U.S. companies and products in Vietnam. In many cases, Vietnam’s commitments are phased in over a number of years in recognition of the transitional state of Vietnam’s economy and the significant reforms necessary to bring its regulatory regime into compliance with international norms.

Overview of the meeting

After these heritages were honored by UNESCO, the province has had programs to preserve the cultural values of humanity. For example, ca tru, folk songs are popularized and widely taught in the community. Annually, the province organizes festivals of Quan ho, ca tru, attracting a large number of people.

Regarding the woodblocks of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, in 2017, the province has built a research project on how to preserve and exploit the value of the woodblocks. Recently, the storage and exhibition house of the wood blocks at Vinh Nghiem pagoda have been inaugurated for public use.

However, the province has difficulty in preserving woodblocks due to weather conditions. Mr. Duong expected the Chief Representative to help Bac Giang province gain experience of wood preservation from some countries such as Korea.

Soon, the province and other localities will compile dossiers requesting UNESCO for the recognization of Then singing and the scenic spot in the West of Yen Tu mountain. Therefore, it is expected to receive the attention and support from Head of UNESCO in Vietnam. Mr. Duong expected to receive Mr. Michael Croft in Bac Giang in the nearest time.

Mr. Michael Croft sincerely thanked the leaders of Bac Giang authority and people. He also gave information on the activities of UNESCO over the past years. With the motto of implementing replicable and well-functioning activities, UNESCO expects its supports to be profound and lasting. In the coming time, the organization continues to carry out a number of cooperative, educational, cultural and scientific support activities in the province; connect the research center in Korea to help Bac Giang gain more experience.

The Bang (translate)       

Bac Giang, a mountainous province, is a spiritual place with over 2,000 historical and cultural relics. Of which, many relics are hundred years old such as Vinh Nghiem Pagoda storing woodblocks recognized as World Documentary Heritage Site of Asia-Pacific Region; Bo Da Pagoda storing Buddhism woodblocks carved from 1740 under the King Le Canh Hung dynasty; the historical relics of Tien Luc Commune, Lang Giang District with a thousand-year-old camphor tree and many other historical relics to develop spiritual tourism in the future.

If Dong Yen Tu (Quang Ninh province) is the place where Buddha King Tran Nhan Tong practices, Tay Yen Tu (Bac Giang province) is the path to propagate the Buddha's teachings and create a Zen bearing the Vietnamese national identity. After the Buddha's entry into the nirvana, Phap Loa and Huyen Quang follow this western path to fulfill Zen’s mandate to open up, build pagodas, and spread Buddhism throughout Bac Giang. The special national monument Vinh Nghiem Pagoda becomes a pilgrimage site, tourist attraction.

One corner of Vinh Nghiem pagoda (Photo: Tran Lan, DOFA)

 Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is located in Quoc Khanh village, Tri Yen commune, Yen Dung district (18 km to the south of Bac Giang city). The pagoda was built in the 13th century, the pagoda population is an ancient architectural style of the "nội vương ngoại vi", Vinh Nghiem pagoda is a large one of Truc Lam Zen with deep national identity and is considered The first Buddhism University of our country.

 The stele erected in the 7th year of Hoang Dinh (1606) which is still preserved in the pagoda noted, "Vinh Nghiem pagoda is not only a pagoda but also a natural beautiful landscape of Kinh Bac area. This is a solemnly brilliant place covered by high mountains surrounded by a river. This is the most famous pagoda.

 Situated on a low hill, surrounded by mountains, rivers, ancient Vinh Nghiem pagoda with its back to the Co Tien Mountain attracts travelers by its charming landscape. The pagoda overlooks the Luc Dau Giang – Kiep Bac river junction and Cam Ly ward, the gateway to the Yen Tu mountain. Across the river, it is the place of King Tran Hung Dao, Kiep Bac Temple.

Built from Ly dynasty to Tran dynasty, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda plays a special role in the history of Buddhist culture as a place of spiritual practice. The highest point is Vinh Nghiem pagoda was chosen as the center of Buddhism in the Tran dynasty to train by three Truc Lam ancestors, namely King Tran Nhan Tong, Monks Phap Loa and Huyen Quang. With the area of ​​about 10,000 m2, starting with three-door gate, going inside more than 100m, it is Ho Pagoda (also known as Tien Duong). The way to Ho Pagoda was covered by pine trees as the charming forest, there are still some trees standing on the pagoda ground as evidence of time. There is a large 6-side stele of Hoang Dinh year right on the pagoda ground. This is the oldest trace of the pagoda. Opposite to the ancient stele, it is the grave garden of the eight monks built later.

From Ho pagoda, other parts are connected together on the southeast axis and separated by a narrow yard. There are four blocks in the pagoda: Buddha pagoda (front house or Ho pagoda, burn incense, upper house) in I-word shape, a two-floor bell tower, the second ancestor house and Trai Duong house. The two sides also have two rows of east-west corridors, each row includes 18 spacious rooms where annually monks come for relax.

The four blocks are constructed with the traditional wooden frame, but from the first ancestor house to the rear of the building, there are some reinforced brick columns and walls. Except the four main columns of the upper house having the trace of Le dynasty, others imbued with arts of Nguyen dynasty. The pagoda architecture expresses the aesthetic qualities of the ancient people with the whole scene of the pagoda having different height, space creating a rich rhythm surprising tourists.

Another value of Vinh Nghiem pagoda is its woodblocks dated 700 years. Skillfully printed woodblocks are evidence that Vinh Nghiem pagoda once dominated 72 forest plantations. Currently, "the woodblocks still contains 34 books with nearly 3,000 engravings, each with 2 sides, each side includes 2 pages containing about 2,000 Chinese characters and Vietnamese Chinese characters. Most of them are sutras, medical book and Buddhist laws. The rest is writings of three ancestors and some monks of Truc Lam Yen Tu (poems, poetic essays, diaries ...) inscribed about 200 years ago. These wood blocks are made of chinese fig wood in different size. Many pages are engraved with pictures in fine lines, writing harmoniously. Experiencing the ups and downs of the history, the woodblocks are now considered as a national treasure. Especially, the woodblocks of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda were officially recognized as the World Documentary Heritage, Asia-Pacific region.

  Vinh Nghiem Temple has been well known as a tourist destination not only by its beauty of architecture and rare scenery but also by the special identity of Vietnamese Buddhist culture here.

 “Anyone who visits Yen Tu- Quynh Lam

Without visiting Vinh Nghiem has not yet reached quietude”

In the time to come, Bac Giang province has identified Tay Yen Tu Spiritual and Ecological Tourism Area as the key project of the province in the period of 2010 to 2030, with items already under construction such as cable cars at the length of about 2,000 m with two terminals. The final terminal is about 700 m from Dong pagoda. The area includes Trinh pagoda, Ha or Phat Quang pagoda, Trung and Thuong or Kim Quy pagoda, Tay Yen Tu area gate, Tay Yen Tu welcome village, Tay Yen Tu temple with the height of from 145 m to nearly 1,000 m above sea level.

Tay Yen Tu eco-spiritual tourism complex from sky-view (photo: Viet Hung)

Ha pagoda region is built on an area of 17.2 hectares, of which the pagoda is located on the area of 1.13 hectares, the rest is the green landscape, service and traffic infrastructure land. The pagoda was started construction in mid-2016, has been cut the inauguration of Ha Pagoda in the first stage, and opened Tay Yen Tu festival in early 2018;

  Thuong Pagoda area is planned on an area of ​​2.36 hectares, of which Thuong Pagoda is built with the area of ​​2,267 m2, the rest is the green landscape, service and traffic infrastructure land. The pagoda is located at the height of 840 m (228 m lower than Dong pagoda), about 650m from Dong pagoda. The pagodas are built with the capital of socialization; the architecture of the pagoda is built in the traditional style of the North with wooden columns and tiled roof. The system of temples is built in Tuan Mau commune, Son Dong district, and out of the area of ​​Yen Tu attraction (Uong Bi district, Quang Ninh province) and Tran historical relic area in Dong Trieu (Dong Trieu district, Quang Ninh province).

 Bac Giang invests in building Tay Yen Tu Spiritual and Ecological Tourist Site to preserve, restore and develop the values ​​of scenic relics in Tay Yen Tu area in Bac Giang province with Yen Tu special Relics area and Truc Lam zen. It aims at restoring the pilgrimage of Tran Nhan Tong to introduce more fully about Bac Giang to people nationwide. It is also an opportunity for local authorities and the entire people to understand more about the heritage, cultural values ​​of our ancestor generation to be responsible for building, preserving, developing sustainably available relics to meet people’s spiritual demand, creating new motivation for tourism development of Bac Giang province.

Tran Huan

19 July, the provincial People’s Committee of Bac Giang province (Bac Giang PPC) and Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Vietnam (FNF) jointly held a conference on impacts of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on enterprises of Bac Giang province. 

PPC Chairman Nguyen Van Linh talks to the participants

The conference drew attendance of Nguyen Van Linh, Bac Giang PPC’s Chairman, Duong Van Thai, PPC Vice Chairman, representatives of the Export-Import Department, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), the Central Institute for Economic Management, WTO Center (VCCI), some provincial departments and sectors, business associations and a large number of businesspersons. 

Plenty of opportunities and enormous challenges

Chairman, representatives of the Export-Import Department, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), the Central Institute for Economic Management, WTO Center (VCCI), some provincial departments and sectors, business associations and a large number of businesspersons. 

PPC Chairman Nguyen Van Linh speaks at the conference

According to the speakers, CPTPP was officially signed on 9 March 2018 with 11 member countries including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Some of them are big economies with strong commitments on environment and labor issues promising to bring enormous economic benefits for other members while facilitating economic development, creating jobs, reducing poverty and enhancing people’s quality of life.

The process of free trade and economic integration via CPTPP is expected to help Vietnam become one of the attractive destinations for investment to lure FDI capital with higher value and technology. This is also an opportunity for Vietnam to boost economic growth in its strong export sectors while expanding domestic production and fulfilling the national development targets at various sectors. CPTPP can help Vietnam to reduce by 1 million poor people. Besides, this agreement will create one of the biggest free trade blocs worldwide with one market of 499 million people and GDP of about 10,100 billion USD, accounting for 13.5 percent of the global GDP.

According to Bui Kim Thuy, the Country representative for Vietnam of the US-ASEAN Business Council, apart from the advantages, implementation of CPTPP will face enormous difficulties and challenges. This agreement sets high requirements on transparency, regulations of intellectual property as well as strict dispute settlement mechanism.There will be fierce competition not only in CPTPP’s member countries but also in their own markets at three levels of products, enterprises and nation. Negative impacts from open market for public purchasing, import tax or lack of effective investment strategies can reduce mass benefits of the economy. The slow process of mechanism reform and the risk of not catching up with the rapid changes during the integration process of Vietnam’s economy in CPTPP will hinder Vietnam seizing opportunities from this agreement. 

Bui Thi Kim Thuy, the Country representative for Vietnam of the US-ASEAN Business Council introduces contents of CPTPP agreement

Taking initiative to prepare necessary conditions

Addressing at the conference, PPC Chairman Nguyen Van Linh highly appreciated the idea to organize this conference. In order to take advantages of the agreement, the state management agencies and enterprises of Bac Giang province should grasp the commitments between Vietnam and CPTPP’s member countries to promptly prepare necessary conditions to effectively implement CPTPP. Particularly, Bac Giang province is making efforts in carrying out comprehensive solutions to improve the investment climate, encourage business startup and build up a strong business community with high competitive capacity meeting requirements of the integration and contributing to implementing the targets of rapid and sustainable socio-economic development.

He called the related agencies, localities and enterprises to raise questions to the speakers and experts to make a basis for their policy planning and production strategies. .

Nguyen Duc Thinh, Director of the Green Environment Ltd., Co raises his questions at the conference

At the conference, representatives of many enterprises talked about their obstacles i.e. small scale, weak competitive capacity, limited product types and financial resources. Nguyen Thi Tam, Director of Giang Son JSC in Yen The district said, although their products are highly evaluated, they face difficulties to enter foreign market. Besides, they lack of knowledge in international laws.

Nguyen Thi Loan, Chairwoman of the provincial Female Business Association expressed her wonder how the small and medium-scale enterprises of Bac giang province could grow in current fierce competitive situation.

Discussing this issue, Phung Thi Lan Phuong, WTO center said, the companies of Bac Giang province should take more initiative in integration while enhancing their qualification especially foreign language skills and employing experienced staff who are proficient at English to access to information of CPTPP. Human resources should be paid due attention.

It is advised that the local government consider establishing a business support center. The central agencies are willing to support Bac Giang and enterprises focusing on advising and guiding implementation of CPTPP and connecting business ties with foreign firms. 

According to Trinh Huu Thang, Director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Bac Giang is home to some 7,700 enterprises with the total registered capital of about 50,315 billion VND. More than 1,400 projects have been invested in Bac Giang province. Bac Giang ranks 6^th nationwide in FDI attraction and 11^th in newly registered capital.

According to Nguyen Duc Kha, permanent vice chairman of the provincial business association, Bac Giang has advantages in garment, electronic assembling and farm produce. In time to come, the association will continue joining hand with related agencies to popularize the contents of CPTPP to enterprises while accompanying its members to grasp market trend, provide information and new technologies and access to capital resources and cooperative opportunities. Besides, they will timely recommend the provincial government new mechanism and policies to handle enterprises’ obstacles.

Source: Bac Giang Newspaper                                       

This is one of the opinions of  Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee (PPC) Nguyen Van Linh at the conference on 15 August  reviewing activities of  the provincial Steering Committee for Investment Support and Business Development of Bac Giang province (the Steering Committee) since May 2018. The conference was attended by leaders of related agencies and sectors

According to the report of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment (DPI), investment attraction and business development has been positively changed since early this year. The province has approved for 79 new domestic investment (DI) projects with a total registered capital of more than 1,000 billion VND (43 million USD) and 42 FDI projects valued at 127.5 million USD. Besides, the local authority has given a nod to increase the capital for 32 FDI projects up to 313.9 million USD.

To date, the province is home to nearly 1,500 valid investment projects, including 1,100 DI projects with total registered capital of more than 79.4 billion VND (3.4 billion USD) and 358 FDI projects worth approx 4.2 million USD.

However, there are a large number of dissolved or suspended enterprises. Only 4,700 enterprises out of 7,900 registering ones are in operation. Besides, some companies face obstacles in accession to land use due to the lack of consensus with local residents.

At the event, the participants discussed to seek solotions for removing obtascles facing enterprises in land leasing procedures and environment impact assessment. Particularly, difficulties and obstacles in site clearance of Hoa Phu industrial park and some projects in Bac Giang city were raised at the conference.

Addressing at the conference, PPC Chairman Linh stressed, removing obstacles and facilitating enterprises in investment, production development and goods consumption are important tasks of the local governments and sectors.

He requested the member agencies of the Steering Committee to highly concentrate on supporting enterprises to remove obstacles in investment procedures and land accession while offering an equal playground among enterprises.

In line with giving priority to and facilitating potential enterprises who strictly obey Vietnam’s regulations and make considerable contributions to the local socio-economic development, it is necessary to have sanctions against enterprises making bad use of mechanism and policies or violating laws for their private benefits.

PPC Chairman assigned DPI to properly carry out post-inspection upon the projects while pointing out the obstacles in those projects and suggest PPC Chairman plans to assign leaders of competent agencies detailed tasks to accompany enterprises in handling difficulties.

The provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment was requested to study the scheme on adjustment of land use planning by 2020 and submit the PPC for approval. Besides, they take inititative to guide and speed up site clearance progress of the projects especially the key projects.

They should ask the related agencies to speed up environment impact assessment on investment projects. They are directed not to grant investment certificates to or offer sanctions against the projects breaching regulations on environment protection, discharging waste into environment.

Department of Industry and Trade should pay attention to state management on infrastructure of the industrial clusters while sdudying to expand industrial clusters to attract investors, ensure electric system to serve production in the industrial zones and clusters.

The provincial Industrial Zones Authority was required to speed up progress of the projects building infrastructure of Hoa Phu and Quang Chau industrial parks. 

Leaders of the member agencies of the Steering Committee need to continue raising sense of responsibilities in supporting enterprises i.e. removing obstacles in investment certification while creating a good investment environment for business development. 

Source: bacgiang.gov.vn

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee of Bac Giang province (PPC) Nguyen Van Linh hosted a meeting on 13 August with Australian businessmen who came to investigate for investment in agricultural sector. 

PPC Chairman Nguyen Van Linh (R) meets with Australian businessmen

The meeting was attended by representatives of the provincial departments of Foreign Affairs, Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, Public Security, Industrial Zones Authority and PPC’s Office.

At the meeting, PPC Chairman Nguyen Van Linh briefed the guests on socio-economic situation of the province especially potentials in agricultural sector. Bac Giang is among 10 provinces and cities having the biggest and diversified flocks of livestock with chicken flocks of 15 million and pick flocks of 1.1 million cultivated in some 600 farms. The livestock is being transferred towards large-scale and concentration while reducing small-scale family farming.

Bac Giang province aims at improving added value and sustainable development of agricultural structure while choosing two key breeds for development- pig and chicken flocks. However, the livestock farming is still at small scale which lack of firms investing in modern processing with high capacity. Thus, it has not gained high efficiency with limited export market.   

The delegates pose a photo

According to Cade Anthony James, CEO of HunterNet Co-operative Ltd, after conducting a survey in Vietnam, they found Bac Giang is an ideal locality to build an agricultural processing plant. Cade Anthony James expressed his attention to food processing chain especially food safety and seeking reliable local partners for development. He expected Bac Giang would become their reliable investment destination to establish a long-term relationship.

The PPC Charman affirmed that the local authority and competent agencies are willing to facilitate the Australian businesses to invest in the production and trade activities in the province with a priority for investment in agricultural sector.

He committed to instructing the departments and sectors to timely handle the issues on investment procedures, construction site and introducing the qualified partners for a sustainable collaboration.

Besides, the Australian enterprises are encouraged to carefully survey the local area toward an extended investment promotion. The chicken raising area in Yen The district was introduced to them as a good site for sufficient and correct information.

The delegation also took this opportunity to work with the people’s committee of Yen The district, survey the chick farming area and visit a number of chicken raising models at some co-operatives in Yen The district.

Tran Lan 

The Youth With a Mission Organization (YWAM) collaborated with the People’s Committee of Bao Son commune, Luc Nam district, Bac Giang province to present gifts to needy students in the commune on 9 August.

YWAM presented 129 sets of gifts including book-bags and school supplies to the students, each worth 350,000 VND (15 USD). YWAM is an international organization working in more than 100 countries and territories.

This organization was established and came into operation in Vietnam since 1998 focusing on poverty alleviation, agricultural and integrated rural development and assisting needy students.

YWAM started their assistance projects in Bac Giang since 2003 including the programs of presenting gifts and scholarships to students in the communes of Bac Lung, Kham Lang and Bao Son, Luc Nam district. These programs help to encourage children to overcome their difficulties in life and achieve high academic results.

Source: Bac Giang Newspaper

26 March, Bac Giang Department of Foreign Affairs (DOFA) had a meeting with the delegation of Icheon city, Gyeongi province, Republic of Korea (RoK). Nguyen Hoang Trung, DOFA’s director hosted the meeting. 

View of the meeting

At the meeting, Nguyen Hoang Trung briefed some information of Bac Giang province and investment attraction of Korean enterprises in the province. So far, Bac Giang has attracted 197 RoK’s projects with total registered capital of more than 760 million US dollars. RoK ranks first in terms of project numbers and second in registered capital among countries having projects in the province.

RoK’s enterprises mostly invest in mechanic processing, garment and electronics. Besides, there are some projects invested in services and urban infrastructure. These enterprises have been in stable and effective operation. Taeyang Vietnam, Si Flex and Viet Pan Pacific are good examples. The Korean projects have made dramatic contributions to socio-economic development of the province especially in economic restructuring, employment issue, productivity improvement, technology transfer and exchange of modern management experience.

In addition, Korean government funded construction of Vietnam- Korea Vocational College of Technology with total investment capital of 320 billion dong (16 million USD). After graduating, students of this college are employed at foreign companies with good salary.

Speaking at the meeting, representative of Icheon delegation expressed their hoped to establish cooperative relation with Bac Giang province at local level with a priority on cultural and sport sectors. Bac Giang DOFA will provide Icheon city with information of the districts and city of Bac Giang province to seek opportunities for local ties. 

Nguyen Hoang Trung, DOFA director presents gifts to head of the delegation

The delegates of Icheon city also provided brief information of the city. This is one of 31 cities and districts of Gyeonggi province covering an area of 461.4 square kilometers (taking about 4.5% of Gyeonggi land area) with population of about 220,000. As Icheon is close to Seoul capital, its geographical location and traffic infrastructure are favorable. Besides, this is the sole industrial city producing pottery products in the Rok. Hence, Icheon has developed as an international cultural city with the annual International Ceramics Festival. In addition, this city attracts a large number of domestic and international tourists.

The delegation poses for a photo at the Department of Foreign Affairs of Bac Giang province

Icheon city has established town-twinning relationships with some cities including Jindezhen (Jiangxi, China), Seto (Japan), Gandong and Gangnam (RoK) and Limoges (France).

At the end of the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue exchanges based on local potentials and strengths enhancing mutual understanding towards initial cooperation in some specific fields.

                                                                                                                                     Ngọc Quyên (dịch) 

Bac Giang Department of Foreign Affairs published External Bulletin No 10 to welcome the Year of Rooster 2017, highlight some outstanding events of Bac Giang Foreign Affairs in 2016 and introduce some articles in foreign affairs and Tet celebration of overseas Bac Giang people.

Find more details in the attached file./.

In recent years, Bac Giang province has boosted cooperative ties with Korean partners gaining dramatic results in various fields.

Foreign direct investment (FDI)

By the end of 2017, Bac Giang had attracted 321 FDI projects, 197 of which are from Republic of Korea (RoK) with registered capital of 760 million US dollars. 107 out of 197 Korean projects are invested in industrial parks with registered capital of 504 million US dollars. RoK ranks first in terms of projects and second in terms of registered capital among countries and territories investing in the province.  

Korean enterprises mainly invest in such fields as mechanic processing, garment and textile, electronics. Besides, there are some projects in service sector and urban infrastructure. These companies have come into stable and effective operation. Taeyang Vietnam (registered capital of 4 million US dollars), Si flex (registered capital of 106 million US dollars), Viet Pan Pacific (registered capital of 20 million US dollars) and Vina Prauden (registered capital of 4 million US dollars) are good examples. Right after receiving investment certificate, the investors promptly carried out construction of factories, assembling machines and testing. Seventy percent of Korean enterprises exceeded the committed implementation progress.  

The Korean invested projects have made remarkable contributions to socio-economic development of the province especially in economic restructuring, creating jobs, transfer of modern technology and management experience.

ODA attraction     

The Korean government (through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)) funded the construction of the Vietnam- Korea vocational college of Technology (VKTech)  with total budget of 320 billion dong (16 million US dollars) including 208 billion dong (9.2 million US dollars) from KOICA’s official development aid (ODA). This project was carried out from 2012 to 2015. Its ODA has been completely disbursed. In 2014, the college started recruitment and the first courses in various fields of four departments including mechanics, informatics, auto technology, electrics& electronics.

The cooperation in labor, education, training and humanitarian activities

RoK is one of the traditional markets for labor of Bac Giang province. Currently, there are more than 2,000 laborers working in Korea. They are provided with knowledge of laws and skills to meet demands of Korean enterprises and strictly obey the local laws, return the country after finishing the working contracts.

According to estimate, there are 414 Korean people granted work permit and many experts and volunteers working in the province. Korean employees have high sense of discipline and responsibility and have good relationship with Vietnamese people.

Cooperation in education and training

In 2014, the provincial people’s committee of Bac Giang province signed an agreement with Korea University of Technology and Education on training cooperation and exchange. The Korean partner sent many experts and volunteers to support the Vietnam- Korea Vocational College of Technology (VKTech), Bac Giang province. Besides, staff and teachers of VKTech have received enormous scholarships to study in Korea.

Humanitarian activities

In 2015, GNI, a Korean non-governmental organization granted 24,000 sets of new clothes to needy students with equivalent value of more than 250,000 US dollars. September 2015, the Rok’s ambassador to Vietnam visited the province and gave 20 bicycles (1,000 US dollars in total) to needy students at the Center for social affairs of the province. In 2015 and 2016, Daejin corps sent a group of volunteers to hold humanitarian activities in Yen The, Luc Nam districts and Bac Giang city with total value of 20,000 US dollars. In addition, the group of volunteers organized some performances introducing Korean culture to mass people in Bac Giang province.

In 2017, KFHI, a Korean non-governmental organization and Sam Sung Vietnam supported to improve infrastructure of various schools in the province with total aid value of 363,000 US dollars.

          In time to come, the province continue calling for and facilitating Korean partners to cooperate, do business and organize humanitarian activities in the province; boost ties and exchanges in many fields.

                                                                                                                     (Phòng HTQT tổng hợp)

April 9, the delegation of Daejeon International Center (DIC), Republic of Korea (RoK) had a meeting at Bac Giang Department of Foreign Affairs (DOFA) to discuss voluntary activities in Bac Giang. The meeting was attended by representatives of the departments of Foreign Affairs, Health, Education and Training and the People’s Committee of Bac Giang city.  

A view at the meeting

At the meeting, Nguyen Quang Tuan, DOFA’s Deputy Director gave brief information of Bac Giang province, investment attraction towards Rok’s enterprises and voluntary activities of Rok’s organizations in the province over the past time.

Kim Young Ho, DIC’s representative introduced about his organization. This center was established and started operation since 2005 with the globalization mission of Daejeon city by strengthening cultural understanding between foreigners and Korean people. It is also a center for cultural exchange of foreigners and Daejeon’s citizens providing services and voluntary programs to support community activities of foreigners. To date, this center has organized numerous voluntary programs in Southeastern countries.  

Nguyen Quang Tuan, Deputy Director of Bac Giang Department of Foreign Affairs presents gift to Kim Young Ho

The delegation expressed their hope to organize voluntary programs in Bac Giang city in healthcare and education sectors in June. DIC will send doctors from RoK to examine and cure dental problems for about 50 patients and organize painting activities for nearly 600 primary students.

After discussion, representative of the Department of Health requested that the medical examination and treatment by the voluntary delegation must obey the regulations on import of medical equipment and practicing certificate as required by Vietnam’s Ministry of Health. In addition, the delegation talked to representative of the Department of Education and Training about details and organizing methods of their voluntary activities for primary students in Bac Giang city. 

The delegation pose for a photo

At the end of the meeting, DIC’s delegation requested DOFA to connect, guide and support them in dealing with necessary procedures before implementing their voluntary activities in Bac Giang.

On the same day, the delegation visited the tentative sites for their voluntary program at Bac Giang provincial General Hospital.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Tran Lan

                                                                                                                                                         Ngọc Quyên (dịch)

13 March, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee (PPC) Nguyen Van Linh hosted a meeting with Umeda Kunio, Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam, leader of the Japan- Vietnam Friendship Association in Chukyo region, Japan and representatives of some Japanese enterprises in the province. The meeting was also attended by the related departments and agencies. 

PPC Chairman Nguyen VanLinh presents Japanese Ambassador a painting of Vinh Nghiem pagoda

Chairman Nguyen Van Linh expressed his delight to welcome the delegation of Japan’s Embassy and the Japan- Vietnam Friendship Association in Chukyo region, Japan to Bac Giang province. He stressed, this visit would continue the fine traditional friendship between Vietnam and Japan generally, Bac Giang and Chukyo region particularly. He introduced the ambassador and other delegates about potentials, strengths and investment incentive policies of the province especially for Japanese enterprises. So far, Bac Giang has attracted 23 Japanese investors with the registered capital of US$220 million and received Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) of US$20 million.

Chairman Linh highly appreciated the importance and effectiveness of the above enterprises and financial resources in dealing with employment issue, increasing laborers’ income and dramatically improving quality of education, healthcare and traffic sectors in the province. He expected the Japanese delegation to accompany the province and carry out many practical activities so as to foster the friendship of the two sides and call for more Japanese investors in the province.

Japan- Vietnam Friendship Association in Chukyo region presents cherry-blossom to Bac Giang province

With the guiding principle “accompany investors”, the provincial leaders, local governments and related agencies are open, friendly and raise high sense of responsibility who pay special attention to investment attraction and facilitate foreign investors and Japanese investors particularly in implementing their projects.

Japanese delegation is visiting cherry-blossom trees planted at 3/2 square, Bac Giang city

At the meeting, PPC Chairman Linh stressed the cooperative and friendly relationship between Vietnam and Japan has been finely developed over the past years. He hoped the ambassador would continue supporting Bac Giang in promoting its image to attract more Japanese investors to the province. He affirmed the province is willing to facilitate Japanese partners and citizens working and investing in the province. Has added, cherry blossom trees will be in good care to bloom in Bac Giang as a symbol of the friendship between the two countries generally, Bac Giang and Chukyo region particularly.

The guests visit Vinh Nghiem pagoda

Japanese ambassador expressed his thanks to the provincial leaders for their warm welcome. He hoped to continue the close collaboration with the province to boost more practical development tie. He stressed they would promptly cooperate with the province in organizing orientation seminars for Vietnamese people who want to study, work and live in Japan.

On this occasion, Japanese ambassador and other delegates visited the cherry-blossom tree planting site at the Provincial Convention Center and Vinh Nghiem pagoda.

gin-bottom:9.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background:white'>Chairman Linh highly appreciated the importance and effectiveness of the above enterprises and financial resources in dealing with employment issue, increasing laborers’ income and dramatically improving quality of education, healthcare and traffic sectors in the province. He expected the Japanese delegation to accompany the province and carry out many practical activities so as to foster the friendship of the two sides and call for more Japanese investors in the province.