VIETNAMESE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - SEPT 8, 2003.

HANOI, Sept 8 Asia Pulse - Following are highlights of Vietnam's major newspapers today

NHAN DAN

- The fourth Vietfood & Drink 2003 fair will take place in Ha Noi from Sept. 17-22, expecting around 160 participants. On display will be beverages, aquatic products, foods, vegetables and fruit besides processing technologies, a culinary zone with traditional Vietnamese dishes and an area introducing products from Thailand, China, the Republic of Korea and the United States.

- The Viet Nam Post and Telecommunications Corporation (VNPT) has completed its plan to provide public access to the internet at post offices. Over 800 offices with Internet service will be established. All first grade post offices at the provincial and township levels will be equipped with five computers each. Fifty percent of all second grade post offices at the district level will be furnished with two computers each, and ten percent of third grade post offices at the commune and ward levels will have one computer each.

HANOI MOI

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is planning to invest VND2.5 trillion (US$160 million) to increase the quality of rice for export. Under the plan, the ministry will equip rice equipment, stores and polishing mills in the southern provinces of Kien Giang, An Giang, Long An and Can Tho.

- Vietnam and Europe will work together to assist a technical training school in the northern province of Thai Nguyen. The EU is providing the majority of the US$841,000 project to help Thai Nguyen University's technical training school boost its capacity to train more workers and expand facilities from now until 2004.

KINH TE VIETNAM & THE GIOI

- Some 20 Vietnamese tea manufacturers and exporters participated in the 2003 World Tea Festival held in Moscow last weekend. At the festival, participants attended several programmes such as the 'Tea for Peace forum, The tea industry in the 21st century workshop and several other cultural and musical shows to promote Vietnamese tea. Participation in the two day tea festival had special importance for Vietnam which hoped to restore its traditional Russian market after 10 years of recession.

VIETNAM NEWS

- Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (Vicofa) plans to establish a coffee trading floor in Ho Chi Minh City to help coffee exporters avoid losses due to quickly changing prices on the world market.

- Vietnam's banking sector is seeking an increase in the number of people taking out loans for new cars. So far this year the Vietnam Commercial Bank for Private Enterprise has signed off on more than VND100 billion (US$6.45 million) in car loans.

(VNA) 08-09 1141