Jetro sees strong 2008 growth Vietnam's economy will continue stronger growth and reduce inflation in 2008, according to a newly-announced report of Japan's Trade Promotion Organisation (Jetro). Jetro's annual report on East Asia's economic prospects 2008 also forecast that Vietnam's GDP will reach 8.7%, up by 0.3% against 2007. Domestic and foreign investors all are expect a good prospect for the second year of Vietnam's entry into WTO. Accordingly, scope of investment in 2008 will increase by 10% compared to 2007. Export revenue will rise by 12% this year against a year earlier. Industrial and production sector will post a year-on-year increase of 10.8%. (Extracted from 02/Feb/2008 Intellasia) Vietnam becomes Asian Dragon, French Edition Vietnam is integrating the globalisation process and enters the dancing with other Asian dragons. The article remarked that this is not an imagination but shown through the fact that foreign investment flow into Vietnam broke out last year with the growth rate higher than India’s. Vietnam’s future is becoming true, in which Vietnam became an Asia Dragon with a very active economic growth, quoted France’s L’Usine Nouvelle Industry weekly newspaper. (Extracted from 16/Jan/2008 Intellasia | VNA) Vinh Long gets clean Water Supply A water pumping station was inaugurated on Wednesday in the Mekong province of Vinh Long to supply clean water to more than 85,000 people in Binh Minh District.The plant is part of the Mekong Rural Water Supply and Sanitation project funded by the Government of Australia. The project aims to reduce poverty and improve overall living standards and health of 400,000 rural poor living in the delta by helping them gain sustained access to improved water supply and sanitation services. (Extracted from 26/Jan/2008 VNA) EU allots US$4.4million for Cleaner Mekong Provinces in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region are benefiting from a European Union grant worth 3 million euros (US$4.4 million) that will drastically improve their urban environment. With the funding, the provinces are carrying on their biggest-ever environmental planning and management programme, and minimising urban pollution. Under the three-year programme, provinces and cities in the region hope to build their urban planning capacity on a par with international trends, train staff, and install technical infrastructure to boost environmental management skills, environmental observation, forecasting, and technologies to handle pressing environmental issues. (Extracted from 23/Jan/2008 VNA)