The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) signed an agreement in Hanoi on October 22 on the Swiss Government’s commitment of non-refundable aid worth CHF5 million for a project on improving Vietnam’s trade and export promotion policy.

The Foreign Ministry held the first conference of honorary consuls of Vietnam abroad in both virtual and in-person forms on October 14 with about 150 connection points.

VOV.VN - A webinar took place on October 14 to discuss the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global supply chains, the Vietnamese logistics sector, business operations, and policy recommendations for the country.

VOV.VN - Vietnam and Indonesia have exchanged views on bilateral defence cooperation and regional and international issues of mutual concern during their second defence policy dialogue virtually held on October 14.

Vietnam’s GDP growth forecast for this year has been lowered to 2-2.5%, according to the World Bank's October 2021 Vietnam Macro Monitoring.

Sectors that are inviting investment, along with investment incentives and benefits, in special economic zones and industrial parks of ASEAN countries were introduced to businesses of the Republic of Korea (RoK) at a workshop held in Seoul on October 6.

The Vietnam - Indonesia joint working group on defence - military cooperation convened the fourth meeting via videoconference on September 29.

VOV.VN - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has introduced a pilot scheme aimed at welcoming back foreign visitors to Phu Quoc island, paving the way for the country’s tourism industry to get back on track after a hiatus caused by COVID-19.

The World Bank has suggested the Vietnamese Government early devise back-up plans in case the COVID-19 pandemic could last one or two more years, and conduct vaccination in parallel with testing to control the pandemic and mitigate its economic loss.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has coordinated with relevant ministries, sectors, agencies and localities to build a draft resolution on supporting and developing businesses in the 2021-2025 period, with a target of about 710,000 newly-established enterprises in the period.