VIETNAMESE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - APRIL 1, 2002.

HANOI, April 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers:

NHAN DAN:

- During a meeting held here yesterday with 327 young entrepreneurs representing thousands of young business people across the country, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai praised young Vietnamese entrepreneurs' success in applying scientific and technological advances into production to raise the quality of their products. Young entrepreneurs create about 500,000 jobs and generate a revenue of US$4 billion for the society each year.

- Vietnam's national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, will inaugurate a new direct air route between Ho Chi Minh City and Tokyo on April 22. Vietnam Airlines plans to conduct four flights a week on this line in the initial period and increase the number to six in the future.

KINH TE VIETNAM & THE GIOI:

- In March, Ho Chi Minh City granted licences to 19 foreign invested projects with combined capital of US$30.48 million, bringing total number of licensed foreign-invested projects to 53, with total capital of nearly US$83.78 million so far this year.

- The Japanese government has decided to grant a non-funded aid of JPY4.2 billion to build 45 bridges in Vietnam's central region and central highlands. The project is expected to be implemented in the third quarter of this year.