I. Our Prominent Legal Article And News In December
On December 12th, 2019, Apolat Legal Has Officially Joined Lawasia – The Law Association For Asia And The Pacific. Lawasia Is The Association Of Lawyers, Judges, Legal Organizations And Focuses On The Interests And The Concerns Of Legal Professionals In Asian And The Pacific. Joining This Association, Apolat Legal Will Have The Opportunity To Strengthen Knowledge, Expand Diplomatic Relations As Well As Connect The Regional And International Law Community.
In December, Our Lawyer – Mr. Pham Hong Manh Had A Standing Out Article Addressing The Legal Issues Related To Profits That Vietnamese Investors Get From Offshore Investment Activities, Namely Investing In Singapore And How-To Determine The Tax Obligation For The Aforementioned Profit. In This Article, Mr. Manh Clarified The Regulations On Handling Profits As Well As The Tax Calculation Method And Determinating The Time Of Tax Calculation Income.
To Read The Entire Article, Please Visit Here
II. Remarkable Legislations In December 2019
1| New Updates On Policy Of Applying The Incentive Regulations Of Fit-In Tariff (Fit) Price For The Solar Power Projects In Vietnam
After The Prime Minister Promulgated The Decision No. 11/2017/Qd-Ttg Dated April 11th, 2017, The Investment Activities In The Solar Power Projects In Vietnam Have Increased Rapidly, Up To Now, There Have Been 154 Solar Power Projects Whose Total Capacity Of 10,600mw Have Been Approved For Master Planning, Of Which, About 4,500mw Has Completed Building And Put Into Commercial Operation. The Applicable Price Mechanism For The Trade On Electricity Product Agreement Between Solar Power Projects And The Vietnam Electricity Corporation Before June 30th, 2019, Is The Fit Price With The Incentive Purchase Price Of 9.35 Cents / Kwh.
However, According To The Official Notice No. 402/Tb-Vpcp Dated November 22rd, 2019, Of The Government Office On The Conclusions Of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc At The Regular Meeting Of The Government About The Draft Of Solar Power Encouragement Mechanism From July 1st, 2019 To Replace Decision No. 11/2017/Qd-Ttg (“Notice No. 402/Tb-Vpcp”), Fit Tariff Shall Only Apply To Projects That Have Already Signed The Trade On Electricity Product Agreement And Will Have Been Constructed And Put In Operation In The Year Of 2020.
Following The Above-Mentioned Notice No. 402/Tb-Vpcp, The Ministry Of Industry And Trade Also Issued Official Dispatch Number 9608/Bct-Đl Dated December 16th, 2019, In Which The Ministry Of Industry And Trade Requested The Provincial-Level People’s Committees And Vietnam Electricity Corporation Considers Suspending To Propose And Sign Trade On Electricity Product Agreements For Solar Power Projects Under The Fit Mechanism Until Having New Instructions From The Competent Authorities.
Therefore, Investors Who Intend To Invest In Solar Power At This Moment Should Pay Attention To Getting Legal Advice On The Latest Policy, Guidelines, And Statutory Regulations From Competent State Agencies To Avoid Business Damages/Losses While Investing.
2| Some Highlights On The Draft Decree Amending Decree No.101/2012/Nd-Cp On Non-Cash Payments
The Draft Decree Amending Decree No.101/2012/Nd-Cp On Non-Cash Payment Has Some Remarkable Points As Follow:
a) Suplementing The Definition Of Electronic Money
According, Electronic Money Is A Form Of Monetary Value Stored On Electronic Devices (Electronic Means) Guaranteed By A 1:1 Deposit Value Ratio At Banks, Has The Right To Recourse From Supply Organizations, And Used As A Means Of Payment In Payment Transactions. Additionally, This Draft Also Identifies The Entities Which Are Allowed To Supply Electronic Money, Namely Licensed Banks, Branches Of A Foreign Bank In Vietnam (Debit Card), And Payment Intermediary Service Providers (Digital Wallets).
b) Non-Bank Entities Are Permitted To Provide Foreign Payment And International Money Transfer Service
Banks That Are Licensed To Provide Foreign Exchange Services On International Markets May Cooperate With Abroad Payment Service Providers To Support Banks Permitted To Conduct International Payment Transactions. This Cooperate Must Be Approved In Writing By The State Bank Of Vietnam, And Written Approval Must Comply With The Regulations Of The State Bank Of Vietnam.
c) Introducing Regulations On The Ownership Ratio Of Foreign Investors In A Payment Intermediary Service Provider
The Draft Indicates That The Foreign Investor May Invest In Intermediary Payment Service Providers Under The Form Of Capital Contribution, Share Purchase, Capital Contribution. Under Article 29.2 Of The Draft, The Maximum Contributed Capital Rate For Foreign Investors, Including Both Direct And Indirect Investment, Is 49% Of The Charter Capital Of A Payment Intermediary Service Providers.
It Is Worth Noting That, As Of November This Year, Vietnam Had 30 Payment Intermediary Service Providers Licensed By The State Bank, Including Momo, Moca, Payoo, Senpay, Zalopay, Airpay, Vnpay, Monpay, Viettelpay, 1pay, Nganluong, Vtcpay, Mpay Và Wepay. Most Of The Payment Intermediary Service Providers In Vietnam Are Now Owned By Foreign Investors.
III. The Executed Legislations In December 2019
|
No. |
Document Title | Execution Date | Effective Date |
| 1 | Decree 78/2019/Nd-Cp Amends And Supplements Decree No. 148/2016/Nd-Cp Dated 04th November 2016 Of The Government On Guiding Some Articles Of Market Surveillance Ordinance | 14/10/2019 | 10/12/2019 |
| 2 | Circular No.21/2019/-Bct Dated November 8th, 2019 Of Ministry Of Industry And Trade On Prescribing Rules Of Origin In The Asean-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement | 08/11/2019 | 23/12/2019 |
| 3 | Circular No.155/2019/Tt-Bqp Dated October 15th, 2019, Guiding The Transformation From The State-Owned Enterprises And One-Member Limited Liability Enterprises, Whose 100% Charter Capital Owned By The Ministry Of Defence, To Joint-Stock Companies | 15/10/2019 | 01/12/2019 |
| 4 | Decision No.3357/Qd-Bct Dated November 8th, 2019 Of Ministry Of Industry And Trade Stipulated On New Administrative Procedures In The Field Of Trade Promotion Under The Management Of The Ministry Of Industry And Trade | 08/11/2019 | 01/12/2019 |
Download Legal Updates as a PDF here.
