VOV.VN - Joseph Incalcaterra, chief economist for ASEAN at the HSBC Global Research has hailed Vietnam’s handling of the virus, as saying that its response to the pandemic allowed the country to maintain its reputation as a “very good destination” for foreign direct investment.

The regulatory sandbox for financial technology (fintech) which is expected to be created this year, coupled with efforts to promote the use of digital financial services, are expected to accelerate the development of fintech in Vietnam.

VOV.VN - Local gold prices continued to rise considerably on January 6, recording an increase of nearly VND1 million per tael over the past three days, surpassing the VND57 million per tael mark, the highest level seen since September last year.

Handicrafts are identified as one of the product groups with great export potential and high-profit margin that Vietnam needs to boost in the future.

The financial sector expects to collect over VND1.343 quadrillion (US$58.4 billion) for the State budget in 2021, equivalent to 15.5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), said the Ministry of Finance.

VOV.VN - Vietnam is likely to meet its target of reining in inflation at a rate of below 4% in 2021, although experts warn that unfavourable factors could impact market fluctuations.

Nearly VND1.279 quadrillion (US$55.3 billion) in taxes was collected for the State budget in 2020, almost VND24.35 trillion, or 1.9%, higher than the annual target and VND175.85 trillion more than the estimate reported to the National Assembly (NA).

Vietnam’s total revenue from retail trade and services reached over VND5 quadrillion (US$219.5 billion) in 2020, representing a modest yearly rise of 2.6%, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The COVID-19 pandemic caused retail revenue to drop sharply in 2020, impacting the domestic retail property market, according to Savills Vietnam.

The Lao Embassy in Vietnam, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, and the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association had a working session with the Hanoi Capital High Command on January 4.