Vietnam’s economy was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, along with natural disasters and the impact of trade conflicts.

Vietnam’s success in curbing the coronavirus so far, while its Southeast Asia neighbours struggle, is helping the country power ahead in economic growth and attracting major funds, and foreign investors, said foreign experts on the Gulf Today newswire on January 7.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) targets a credit growth rate of 12% in 2021, equivalent to the growth of 12.13% last year, according to SBV Deputy Governor Dao Minh Tu.

Nearly VND324 trillion (over US$14 billion) was mobilised through G-bond auctions at the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) in 2020, accounting for 108% of the set plan.

Vietnamese banks will only be allowed to issue chip cards from March 31, 2021, according to a State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) draft circular.

VOV.VN - Investors from Japan have pledged to provide approximately US$1.8 billion in capital to finance a coal-fired thermal power plant in Vung Ang of Ha Tinh province, according to business publication Bloomberg on Dec. 30.

The US Treasury Department’s labelling of Vietnam as a currency manipulator is groundless and certainly significantly affects the psychology of the Vietnamese business community, especially those operating in the import and export field, according to Hoang Quang Phong, Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

Reductions in business conditions and related administrative procedures have helped save about 18 million workdays, or VND6.3 trillion (US$273.4 million), each year, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung said.

Despite being the lowest in the past three decades, Vietnam’s 2.91% growth recorded this year is still a success of the nation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the whole world, according to foreign media.

VOV.VN - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed the Government’s determination to elevate GDP growth by 0.5% ahead in 2021 during his opening remarks at a Government Conference held virtually with localities on December 28 in Hanoi.