The shortage of high-quality workforce is a “bottleneck” faced by domestic support industry enterprises, said economists.

Vietnam's economy has slowed down due to the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are still many optimistic forecasts about the country’s economic outlook in 2022, Dr Tran Thi Hong Minh, Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) said.

Private airlines have requested access to 0% interest loans, similar to the support Vietnam Airlines (VNA) - the country's flag carrier - is entitled to, heard a meeting among the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), commercial banks and the airlines.

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.

The Association of Francophone Universities (AUF) on September 27 opened two employment support centres in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with the aim of connecting students with job opportunities, increase their integration into the labour market and encourage their start-up spirit.

The UNICEF Hanoi on September 26 released a press communique saying that its head Rana Flowers has expressed her appreciation to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs’ recent issuance of a guidance asking localities to prioritise the care for children orphaned by the COVID-19.

VOV.VN - The National Assembly Standing Committee has permitted the Government to use VND30 trillion from the Unemployment Insurance Fund in order to support employees affected by the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government have issued a host of preferential policies for businesses operating in supporting industries over the past time. However, their beneficiaries have said it is difficult for them to access incentives and support from these policies.

Vietnam needs to shift from “Zero-COVID” strategy to vaccinations as the pandemic and the risk of new outbreaks are still lingering on, according to Dr. Nguyen Duc Kien, head of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council.

Technology has not only helped to connect hospitals together but also linked doctors with those need advice, and disadvantaged people with those who can assist them in a bid to drive back the COVID-19 pandemic together.