The rapid suppression of the new COVID-19 outbreak in late January 2021 has helped maintain Vietnam’s positive outlook for economic recovery this year, the World Bank (WB) has said.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will pay greater attention this year to the implementation of projects manufacturing products in supporting industries, as many opportunities have appeared for Vietnam to bolster production and exports.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) has sent a dispatch to provincial and municipal customs departments to instruct them on the use of the former Philippine C/O form.

The world’s biggest makers of shipping containers are scrambling to meet a surge in demand for the metal boxes that shuttle some 90% of the goods around the global economy.

As the seafood export item with the strongest growth rate in 2020, in 2021, shrimp exports continue to record positive signals. With many favourable conditions in terms of market demand, good competitiveness compared to competitors, the goal of exporting shrimp more than US$4 billion is "in hand” this year.

China has moved to increase the import of aquatic products from Vietnam, with import value rising by up to 114% after enduring a downward trajectory throughout January and February, according to figures compiled by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

Since the beginning of the year, fruit and vegetable exports have recorded remarkable growth, creating a breakthrough for the goal of exporting vegetables and fruits worth about US$4 billion in the whole year.

In the first two months of this year, Vietnam maintained a huge trade surplus from 2020 with the contribution of most manufacturing industries, especially industrial sectors. In the future, more comprehensive implementation of the new-generation FTAs, and better utilization of opportunities from the FTAs are important factors to strongly promote Vietnam’s commodity exports.

Consul General of the Republic of Korea Kang Myeong Il expressed his desire to boost cooperation between his country and Vietnam during a meeting with Ho Chi Minh City Mayor Nguyen Thanh Phong on March 12.

THE Asia-Pacific (APAC) region continues to lead global growth, with all economies tipped to rebound this year, according to a Moody's Analytics report. In addition, all APAC economies - except the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia - are forecasted to have recovered past their pre-pandemic levels by end-2021.