VIETNAM CERAMICS CORP PLANS TO DOUBLE EXPORT PROFITS THIS YEAR.

HANOI, March 1 Asia Pulse - The Vietnam Glass and Ceramics Corporation (Viglacera) has poured funds into a number of new production facilities in a bid to double export profits this year.

The corporation has drawn up ambitious plans that involve a target output growth rate of 28 per cent from now until 2005 and 19 per cent between 2006-2010.

As part of that plan, this year Viglacera is aiming to raise its export revenue to over US$8 million from US$4.2 million last year.

Viglacera has already established a firm foothold in a number of international markets, where it has developed a reputation as a producer of high quality products.

Its products have been exported to Russia, Iraq, Japan, Italy and Ukraine, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.

In order to meet its targets, the corporation spent VND700 billion (US$46.6 million) on new facilities last year, including a major project at the Tien Son Industrial Zone in Bac Ninh Province.

The high-tech Tien Son Granite Tile Factory was put into use in November after ten months of construction. The first products from the facility are due to hit the shelves in the next few ...