Parliamentary co-operation with Israel to be enhanced | Look At Vietnam - Vietnam news daily update

LookAtVietnam - Viet Nam and Israel once again reaffirmed their determination to develop a strong relationship as National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung met with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Ha Noi yesterday, Nov 24.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung receives Israeli President Shimon Peres. (Source: VNA)

Apart from co-operating in fields agreed to on Wednesday, the two sides vowed to enhance ties between their national assemblies.

Hung called for more high-ranking assembly exchanges and for both sides to further support each other at multilateral parliamentary forums.

Earlier yesterday, the Viet Nam-Israel Business Forum took place in the presence of the Israeli President and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

In his speech, Hai affirmed that the Vietnamese Government would always encourage and create conditions for Israeli businesses to operate in Viet Nam.

The country was impressed by Israel’s business administration capacity and technology, the deputy PM said, adding that Viet Nam and Israel could further co-operate in these fields.

President Peres said that Viet Nam and Israel could co-operate in many sectors, including agriculture and technology.

The President shared Israel’s experiences in agriculture and high technology, calling for co-operation to create mutually beneficial developmental opportunities.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Federation of Israeli Economic Organisations, and a co-operative agreement between the VCCI and the Federation of Israel Chamber of Commerce.

Two-way trade between Viet Nam and Israel exceeded US$220 million in 2010, representing a 34 per cent increase over 2008.

Viet Nam exports footwear, clothes and agricultural products to Israel and imports hi-tech equipment, chemicals and fertiliser.

Israel has provided additional credit worth $100 million to Viet Nam this year and is ranked 54th out of 93 countries and territories investing in the country, with nine projects totalling nearly $33.8 million.

Israeli companies are investing in projects in Ha Noi, Khanh Hoa Province and HCM City, with joint agricultural projects using Israeli technology in Ha Noi, Hai Phong City, Nghe An Province, Da Lat and HCM City showing good results.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News


Parliamentary co-operation with Israel to be enhanced | Look At Vietnam - Vietnam news daily update

New airport technology deters terrorists by mind-reading-09 March, 2010

"So when can airport security personnel begin to read the minds of would-be terrorists? Perhaps in the near future.


An Israeli company, WeCu Technologies claims to have devised a method to identify airline passengers with evil intentions by reading the reactions of passengers to certain “stimuli.”


In the system being tested in Israel, projectors at airport terminals flash different images associated with a certain terrorist group or symbols that only a would-be terrorist would recognize.


The assumption is that people cannot hide their reactions to certain images, just as anyone might react to a photo of a close relative suddenly appearing on a wall.


The technology uses hidden cameras aimed at the passing face to capture and analyze even the most subtle reactions. Even an averted glance or a slight increase in heart rate could signal a passenger's intentions.


If the cameras pick up suspicious looks or movement, the passenger can be pulled aside for further screening.


'One-by-one you can screen out from the flow of people those with specific malicious intent,' WeCu Chief Executive Ehud Given told the AP."

Why Israel is not a tourism Mecca-04 November, 2009

Despite numerous attractions, Israel’s tourism industry continues each year to draw 2.5 million visitors, many of them Americans. That figure has been the same for the past decade meaning tourism has reached a plateau.

The plateau continues even as advertising budgets have increased and government officials have promoted the country.

Why is that?

“One reason for this is that tourists generally seek peaceful locales. Hence, wars and terror attacks keep tourists wondering whether Israel will be safe at the time of their planned vacation, and many forego the visit,” reports ynetnews.com, an Israeli news service.

Periodic episodes of violence have deterred visitor growth, as cited by ynetnews.

Ami Etgar, CEO of the Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association (IITOA), says that while security issues pose a serious obstacle for the tourism industry, other factors also make it difficult for large groups to visit Israel. He said:

"In Israel there are almost no international hotel chains because entrepreneurs from abroad don't like to invest. (here)”

Etgar says that a longer history of peace is needed to attract investors. "But mostly (entrepreneurs) need help in removing bureaucratic barriers," he said.

Another obstacle for incoming tourism are rules and regulations set up by the Interior Ministry, observers say.

Israeli quartet to perform in Vietnam

Four students from Israel’s Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts will perform in Vietnam from May 31 to June 6 as part of the Israel-Vietnam cultural cooperation programme.

The Israeli students, aged between 14 and 15, will also hold exchanges with their Vietnamese peers in three big cities, including Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City.



In the capital city, the quartet, including Daniel Rubin (singing), Edo Gur (trumpet), Tomer Bar (piano) and Nadav Shapira (guitar bass), also plan to attend the Israeli Cultural Day at the University of Culture.



The Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts was established 48 years ago to commemorate the renowned cellist Thelma Bentwich Yellin, who migrated from the UK to Israel during the 1920s, and to foster the country’s artistic talents.

PV

Vietnam, Israel to exempt visas for diplomats

Vietnam and Israel will waive visas for diplomatic passport holders in the near future.

An agreement to this effect was signed in Hanoi on May 21 between the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nguyen Thanh Son, and the Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam, Ephraim Ben Matityau.

The agreement will take effect 90 days after the two countries informed each other of the completion of domestic ratification procedures.

VietNamNet/VOV

Israel plans free eye surgery for Vietnamese patients

The Israeli humanitarian organisation “Eye from Zion ” will conduct free eye surgical operations on patients in northern Ninh Binh and central Nghe An provinces from Feb. 17-26.

The Embassy of Israel in Hanoi said on Feb. 12 that it coordinates with Vietnam’s Central Eye Hospital to organise the charity activity to celebrate the 61st founding anniversary of the State of Israel.

“Eye from Zion” will send four surgeons and one ophthalmological equipment expert, headed by the organisation’s director and founder, Nati Marcus, to join the project.

VietNamNet/VNA

Coke suffers brand backlash

KUALA LUMPUR - Coca-Cola needs to raise its local relevance following a wave of boycotts in Malaysia over US support for Israel's attacks on Gaza. The brand, say industry sources, has not done enough to present itself as a local operation. Ismael Ibnoulouafi, CEO of The Brand Union’s Southeast Asia Hub, said Coke required a longer-term approach than it has so far adopted, pointing to action taken by McDonald’s including partnering with schools and other CSR activity. “As evident from this episode, brands these days have to do more to be a part of a country’s social, cultural and economic climate.” Another regional PR agency CEO argued that Coke should start leveraging on local communities and meetings, such as “local mosque heads and Malay-language publications and blogs” to do damage control. Over 2,000 Muslim restaurants in Malaysia have pledged to remove Coca-Cola from their menus as part of a boycott of US products. The nationwide boycott is led by the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association with support from the Muslim Restaurant Operators Association. Besides Coke, 100 other US brands including Starbucks, Colgate and McDonald’s could be caught up in the action, which has been encouraged via social media.Coke’s PR strategy has to date focused on emphasising its political neutrality and its role in the local economy. “Given the local nature of our business, we believe that calls for boycotts of our products are not the appropriate way to further any causes, as they primarily hurt the local economy, local businesses and local citizens,” said Kadri Taib, public affairs and communications director for Coke Malaysia. Jorg Dietzel, principal of Jorg Dietzel Brand Consultants Singapore, said Coke is the latest brand to be targeted due to US foreign policy. He said stressing the local nature of its business is the right approach. “When people realise how important these brands are to their economy, the boycotts will stop.”