VOV.VN - The first quarter of the year has seen a total of 4,240 enterprises register to halt operations due to the negative impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, representing a sharp increase of 36% in comparison to the same period last year.

Enterprises in certain sectors have mapped out plans to increase their presence in the domestic market as most foreign ones have become frozen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although Vietnam has been successful in containing the Covid-19 pandemic, the disease has raised concerns about the nation’s business environment and prospects for many businesses and industries.

VOV.VN - Vietnam has allowed 788 enterprises from 19 countries to export pork and related products, according to a report issued by the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

VOV.VN - The Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has issued a set of indicators to assess the risk of novel coronavirus infection for businesses.

VOV.VN - Many businesses have been forced to give workers time off work, especially at weekends due to reduced demand caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Businesses should keep a close watch on the developments of COVID-19 to have appropriate production recovery plans after the pandemic declines and ends, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

VOV.VN - With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic showing no signs of slowing down globally, many businesses located in Ho Chi Minh City have started to devise solutions aimed at overcoming the difficulties they face in maintaining production activities and ensuring steady jobs for workers.

VOV.VN - Local businesses have been advised to diversify their export markets in a bid to avoid becoming heavily reliant on a single market whilst simultaneously restructuring the source of raw materials to ensure stable domestic production due to increasingly complicated developments relating to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, according to insiders.

VOV.VN - Domestic firms should look into changing from direct to indirect exports via distribution system and e-commerce channels, a move that is considered an urgent requirement due to the increasingly complicated developments of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

VOV.VN - The production activities of firms in several localities nationwide have been greatly affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic as enterprises with partners in China and throughout Asia have had numerous orders cancelled.

VOV.VN - Face masks production companies in Ho Chi Minh City have suffered the shortage of non-woven fabric materials to produce face masks amid the complicated developments of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). .

VOV.VN - Production activities of several businesses in the central coastal city of Da Nang have suffered disruption due to the recent novel coronavirus (nCoV) epidemic, with enterprises that have transactions with the Chinese market being the worst affected.

VOV.VN - Strong participation among domestic businesses in the agricultural field has proved that the sector is full of promise whilst enjoying a number of advantages, according to a statement made by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong.

VOV.VN - There remains a significant gap in business environment between Vietnam and other regional countries, while administrative procedures need to be simplified, thus helping domestic firms make major breakthroughs in their development, has said Vu Tien Loc, Chairman of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

VOV.VN - Local firms need to improve their product quality and design and step up trade promotion activities, in order to increase their competitiveness in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) market, according to industry insiders.

VOV.VN - Within the context of tougher competition on imported goods and additional trade defence instruments being imposed by an increasing number of countries worldwide, Vietnamese businesses have been advised to handle and adapt to these safeguard measures in a timely manner.

Businesses and experts are still concerned over the impact on production of overtime hours that are not increased for seasonal jobs.

VOV.VN - Despite the Philippine Department of Agriculture ending safeguard probes into rice imports, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has recommended that local businesses remain cautious about exporting rice to the Philippines.

VOV.VN - Domestic enterprises have been urged to take a more proactive approach when seeking ways to make inroads into the Thai market by gaining insights into market demand and food and hygiene standards to devise a proper long-term development strategy.