Briefs

Viettel’s Customer Insights software took a bronze medal in the research and development category at the Asean ICT Awards held in Brunei.
This is the first time a Vietnamese product has won a big data international prize. 
The software surpassed more than 100 products from Asean countries and made it to the list of 18 finalists at the competition’s final round in Yangon, Myanmar on August 22.
Viettel, built in 2013 on the foundation of a real-time big data analytics platform, collects and analyses telecom customer needs.
It helps make decisions on telecommunications and e-commerce advertising, based on algorithms.
Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy minister of information and communications, said he was very proud that Vietnam had won awards this year, reflecting “the creative capacity of Vietnamese enterprises in the ICT sector”. – Viet Nam News

Indonesia invites Iran
to invest in refineries

Indonesia has called on oil-rich Iran to invest in its oil refinery projects.
“Should Iran invest in refineries here, it can supply the refineries with its crude oil,” Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry director-general for oil and gas IGN Wiratmaja Puja said on Monday.
“We have asked (Iran) to invest either in Bontang refinery (in East Kalimantan) with (state-owned oil and gas firm) Pertamina or establish its own refinery as we already allow 100-per-cent (foreign) ownership in the business,” he said.
The request had been conveyed last week to a visiting Iranian delegation led by Communications and Information Technology Minister Mahmoud Vaezi.
Indonesia bought liquefied petroleum gas from Iran and was also planning to source crude oil from there.
The government has successfully invited Saudi Arabia’s Aramco to invest in the Cilacap refinery revitalisation project in Central Java. 
After the plant begins operating in 2022, Aramco will supply most of its crude oil. – The Jakarta Post

Expo showcases best
local Lao products

More than 100 Lao businesses are showcasing their manufactured goods, handicrafts, furniture, jewellery, food and drinks, agricultural produce, One District-One Product items and service products at the fourth Made in Laos Expo. The event opened on Monday at Lao-ITECC and runs to Sunday.
Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) vice president Chanthachone Vongsay said it was the policy of the government to promote domestic productivity and strengthen the capacity of Lao enterprises to realise socioeconomic development ambitions.
The expo was organised by the LNCCI in collaboration with provincial chambers of commerce and industry, business groups and associations. – Vientiane Times