Four equitised SOEs may get the right to sell some of their remaining state-owned shares if the prime minister approves a proposal from the Ministry of Finance.The proposal, Document 4839, suggests Vinamilk, Binh Minh Plastics, Petrolimex chemical company and Petrolimex gas company be permitted to sell an undecided portion of their state-controlled shares.

The government is considering a move to permit state-owned banks to issue convertible bonds to increase their capital, triggering protests from other financial institutions.

Foreign companies can now hold as much as 50 per cent in joint ventures with Vietnamese companies to provide telecoms service in the strictly controlled telecoms sector.Deputy minister of Post and Telematics, Mai Liem Truc, last week confirmed that under the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between Vietnam and the US, foreign companies would be permitted to form joint ventures with local partners to provide value-added services from December 12, Internet services from late next year, and basic telecoms and mobile phone services from December 2005.

FOREIGNERS will be permitted to buy government bonds if a new decree submitted to government last week is approved.