NDO - The Vietnamese economy expanded by 3.82% in the first three months of 2020 amid slowing global growth due to the raging coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). 

NDO – The Prime Minister’s Working Group led by Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung held a working session with business associations on March 26, to grasp the difficulties being faced by enterprises amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 

NDO/VNA – Vietnam-Russia oil and gas joint venture (Vietsovpetro) has officially become a member of the International Maritime Contractors Association (IMCA). 

NDO - Viettel Cambodia (Metfone), a subsidiary of Vietnam’s military-run telecommunications company Viettel Group and MB Cambodia, a branch of Vietnam’s Military Commercial Joint- Stock Bank (MB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a five-year strategic partnership of cooperation to strengthen their development in and contributions to Cambodia. 

NDO/VNA – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered a temporarily halt of signing new rice-exporting contracts, the Government Office said in a latest document concerning this matter. 

NDO – Leaders of EU countries on March 17 agreed with the European Commission (EC) proposal on approving a common plan to close the European Union (EU)’s external borders in an unprecedented move to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

NDO – The production, business and export activities of fisheries have been seriously affected due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, especially in the first two weeks of March. Up to now, the majority of businesses have seen a decrease of 35-50% in their orders. 

NDO - Foreign direct investment (FDI) pledges to Vietnam in the first three months of 2020 fell by a sharp 20.9% over the same period of 2019 to US$8.55 billion, according to the Foreign Investment Agency. 

NDO – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to provide Vietnam with timely and flexible support for the government’s response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

NDO/VNA – Vietnam’s cashew exports to the US in the first two months of the year rose by 21% in volume to 17,900 tonnes and 3.6% in value to US$126.2 million year-on-year, according to the General Department of Customs. 

NDO – The Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued a decision to extend the application of measures on preventing evasion of safeguard duty to rolled steel and steel wire imported to Vietnam from March 22, 2020. 

NDO/VNA – The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho expects to attract US$450 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the 2021-2030 period, according to a plan recently approved by the municipal People’s Committee. 

NDO – The new coronavirus (COVID-19) disease has directly and heavily affected many economic sectors, including aviation. The Ministry of Transport has asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to report to the Prime Minister about a proposed reduction of several taxes and service prices for the aviation industry, helping it navigate the impacts of the outbreak. 

NDO - The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s recent move to cut a number of policy interest rates is considered by many economists to be a positive step in keeping with domestic macroeconomic developments and the global financial market situation as well as a prompt measure to help businesses overcome this difficult time.