Reports indicate that Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (Vinashin) signed 18 contracts worth more than $400 million at VietShip in Hanoi yesterday, showing the growing interest in the country’s shipbuilding industry. Under the contracts, Vina-shin will supply three 8,700-DWT ships to Kanematsu of Japan and ten 4,600-DWT ships to Clipper of Denmark. Vinashin deputy general director Le Loc said Vinashin and the Chinese company Camso had signed a US$200-million contract to build a shipyard in the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone in the central province of Binh Dinh. Vinashin also secured contracts with the two local companies, Northern Food Corporation and Southern Food Corporation for rice shipments to the Philippines, Cuba and Scandinavian countries.