Despite COVID-19 impacts, Nestlé has announced that it will invest an additional 132 million USD in Vietnam. (Photo: congthuong.vn)
An upturn was recorded in both value of investment to new projects as well as additional capital to existing ones. Specifically, 12.5 billion USD was poured into 2,212 newly-licensed projects, up 20.6 percent over the same period last year, while 6.4 billion USD was added into underway projects, a rise of 25.6 percent.
Particularly, Vietnam saw many large-scale FDI projects in the January-September period.
According to Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, the result manifested the attractiveness of the Vietnamese market and foreign investors’ confidence in Vietnam’s capacity in controlling the pandemic and its economic recovery as well as the effectiveness of measures taken by the Government to accompany and support businesses.
The fourth wave of COVID-19 infections in Vietnam since late April that caused prolonged social distancing in many provinces and cities nationwide has greatly affected production and business activities in the country.
However, many foreign investors have remained optimistic about the business and investment environment in Vietnam, and affirmed that Vietnam will still be a top choice for their new and expanded projects.
Binu Jacob, CEO of Nestle Vietnam, pledged that the company will continue to expand its investment in Vietnam and make more contributions to the country’s sustainable growth and socio-economic development.
Meanwhile, Choi Joo Ho, General Director of Samsung Vietnam, said that Vietnam is providing an attractive investment environment for foreign investors thanks to its numerous advantages.
Mekong Delta localities speed up COVID-19 vaccinations
Provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region have been speeding up COVID-19 vaccinations as they have received more vaccines from the Ministry of Health, reported Vietnam News Agency.
The largest ever vaccination is underway in provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region (Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/)
The Health Department of Can Tho city reported that the city has received nearly 40,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine and 500,000 doses of Vero Cell vaccine, which will be injected to prioritised groups, including the elderly, people in quarantine and high-risk areas, workers, teachers and students.
Duong Tan Hien, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said that once finishing this campaign, Can Tho’s vaccine coverage will reach about 60 percent.
Meanwhile, in Soc Trang province, the provincial Health Department has been conducting the injection of 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to local residents since October 10, which is scheduled to finish on November 15.
Tran Van Lau, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said that priority will be given to two high-risk localities, namely Vinh Chau township and Tran De district. Prioritised groups include workers in enterprises, industrial parks and business facilities, he added.
At the same time, on October 11, Tra Vinh province mobilised forces to administer 500,000 Vero Cell vaccine doses allocated by the Ministry of Health to local residents, said Kien Soc Kha, Director of the provincial Health Department.
Kha said that previously, Tra Vinh had received about 203,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines of different kinds. So far, 21 percent of local people aging from 18 years old have received the first shot, while 7 percent has been fully vaccinated. This time, the province will prioritise workers so that they can return to work.
In Ben Tre province, since October 10, the province has received 100,000 doses of Vero Cell vaccine as part of 500,000 doses it is allocated. The province plans to inject all the vaccines within October. Since April 27, 33.96 percent of local residents have receive the first vaccine shots, while 6.32 percent have fully got two shots.
Vietnam remains attractive investment destination: Nestle Vietnam CEO
Vietnam has shown its attractiveness as a sustainable and long-term investment destination thanks to the country's numerous advantages, reported Vietnam News Agency according to CEO of Nestle Vietnam Binu Jacob.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency, he said that Vietnam, with a population of 100 million, has a young workforce and enjoying a golden population structure, which gives the country great opportunities in socio-economic development.
Vietnam is also showing active regional and global economic integration, while owning a skilled and enthusiastic workforce, he added.
Despite impacts from COVID-19, Nestle Vietnam has announced that it will pump an additional 132 million USD in Vietnam to double its production of high-quality coffee products in Vietnam, raising the company's total investment to nearly 730 million USD.
Nestle is confident in Vietnam’s future prospects as a global and regional production centre, he said, stressing that the company will continue to expand sustainable investment activities in the Southeast Asian country. Nestle is proud to be one of the pioneering companies making foreign direct investment in Vietnam, thus contributing to the sustainable and inclusive growth of the country, he stated.
The CEO said that during the past two decades in Vietnam, Nestle has received great support from the Vietnamese Government, ministries, sectors, agencies and localities.
Nestle commits to help with the completion of “dual targets” given by the Vietnamese Government, and supports the strategic policy orientations of Vietnam in living safely with COVID-19 and reopening the economy, he said, stressing the need for immediate actions.
He held that one of the important factors deciding the success of an enterprise is policy support and specific actions from the Government in encouraging the development of businesses in general and private companies in particular.
Jacob lauded the efforts of the Vietnamese Government in improving institutions, making the investment and business environment more open and healthier.
He expressed his delight that the Vietnamese Government has listened to opinions of the private business community, especially FDI enterprises, and appreciated the Vietnamese Government’s priority to COVID-19 vaccination in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern economic region./.