Vietnam is busy completing all preparations for the APEC Summit in early November in the central city of Da Nang. The second Central Region Economic Forum, meanwhile, was co-organized by VET, VCCI, and the Coordinating Committee for the Vietnam Central Coastal Region on September 25 in the city, with the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue and more than 700 delegates, induding leaders from relevant ministries, agencies, ten central local cities, and hundreds of businesses and business associations. It drew much attention from investors as it mapped out ambitious plans for the regions devdopment.

   Stirring up public opinion was the Party Central Committees Inspection Commission announcing in September that it has uncovered misconduct by two senior officials in Da Nang, induding its Party Chief, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Anh, who is the son of Mr. Nguyen Van Chi, an ex-Politburo Member and former Chair of the Central Inspection Commission. At a trial that began in Hanoi in August and which could go down as the biggest ever, with 51 bankers and businesspeople in the dock, prosecutors have called for the death sentence for Nguyen Xuan Son, former Chairman of the State-owned oil and gas group PetroVietnam, and a life sentence for Ha Van Tham, former Ocean Bank Chairman. This once again demonstrates the determination by Party and State leaders to fight corruption.

   The Mekong Delta, which accounts for 19 per cent of the country’s population and 18 per cent of GDP has faced a range of disasters resulting from climate change. A two-day conference opened on September 26 in Can Tho city under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, focusing on discussing the challenges and ways to mobilize resources and ideas to ensure sustainable devdopment in the region.

   Tax policies and regulations have always been matters of concern not only for the business community but also consumers. Our Cover Story this month looks at proposals to increase taxes and analyses how they would affect businesses and consumers.

   The Guide Awards, an annual event held by VET, which publishes The Guide magazine, is to be held on Phu Quoc Island on October 6. On behalf of our Editorial Board, I extend my congratulations to all winners.