The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) has pledged US$200,000 for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and related events scheduled for November in Hanoi.

The final of the competition “Vietnamese students with APEC 14” will be held in central Hue city on November 5, with the participation of four winning teams from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City.

Leaders of APEC economies will be presented with their own portraits, which are made of precious stones, when they gather in Vietnam in November.

The APEC film festival taking place in central Da Nang City between October 11-18 drew large attention of local movie lovers.

The Garment 10 Joint Stock Company said that it has made 3,500 shirts for reporters who are accredited to cover the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting slated for November.

With the APEC meeting being less than a month away, Hanoi police called a meeting on October 19 which included officers from 16 northern provinces and cities to discuss measures to ensure total control of the security situation.

Many senior officials from APEC member economies agreed that Vietnam has become a potential tourism market in the world.

Ford Vietnam Motor Company on October 17 delivered 20 Ford Mondeos 2.5L and six Ford Transits to the National Committee for APEC to serve the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting slated for November in Hanoi.

The 4th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM) approved the Hoi An Declaration on Promoting APEC Tourism Cooperation at its closing session in central Quang Nam province on October 17.

The 4th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting opened in the ancient town of Hoi An of central Quang Nam province on October 17 under the theme “Promoting APEC Tourism Cooperation for Common Prosperity”.

Tourism ministers from member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum held a retreat session in the ancient town of Hoi An, central Quang Nam province, on October 16 to prepare for the formal 4th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM) on the following day.

Officials attending the 29th APEC Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting in the ancient town of Hoi An in central Da Nang city on October 13 agreed with measures to implement initiatives proposed by the hosts Vietnam and Japan, for the APEC Vietnam 2006 year.

The 29th APEC Tourism Working Group (TWG) met in Hoi An town, central Quang Nam province, on October 13. Among those present were delegates from APEC member economies, APEC observers and representatives from regional and international tourism organisations.

The APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting will attract 250 participants from 29 delegations, including tourism ministers of 21 member economies, and APEC Secretariat members, observers and international tourism organisations and the meeting will release the Hoi An Declaration on Strengthening APEC Tourism Cooperation.

High-ranking police officers in northern provinces and cities participated in a conference held by the Ministry of Public Security on October 10 to launch a security campaign for the 14th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (APEC 14) in the capital city of Hanoi.

The APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting will be held in the ancient town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam from October 12 to 19, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

The 13th APEC SME Ministerial Meeting concluded in Hanoi on September 29 and released Hanoi Declaration on Strengthening SME Competitiveness for Trade and Investment and Joint Ministerial Statement.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung welcomed delegates from the 21 APEC economies to attend the 13th APEC SME Ministerial Meeting in Hanoi on September 28-29 and hoped that they will put forth new initiatives to promote SME development.

The Vietnam Insurance Corporation (Bao Viet) will provide tourism health insurance services for all leaders and senior officials from the 21 APEC member economies and other participants at the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting in Hanoi in November, thereby becoming a special sponsor of the event.

Preparations for the 2006 APEC Week in Hanoi from November 12-19 must be made in a way that will help promote Vietnam's image and prestige in the international arena, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The 11th APEC Women Leaders' Network (WLN) Meeting closed in Hanoi on September 21, making 11 recommendations to APEC leaders, including the facilitation of women's participation in the digital economy.

Among APEC member economies, SMEs account for 98 percent of the number of enterprises, contributing 35 percent to the country’s total export turnover and generating 58 percent of jobs.

Women play an important role in boosting the country’s socio-economic development and Vietnam always praises women’s role and position and creates favorable conditions for them to play to their full strength in social life, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet.