The index reached 73.9 points in Q1, the highest score recorded since Q3 of 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the global trade and investment system.

A production line for plasterboard production at a factory of Knauf Hai Phong Co Ltd, fully invested by Germany.

The BCI survey also showed the sustained optimism about the business climate, up 47 points over the last 12 months.

When asked about Vietnam’s business climate outlook for Q2 this year, 67% of the European enterprises considered it “excellent” or good“, rising 12% from Q1.

The respondents were also more optimistic about their businesses’ performance in Vietnam this year. More than two-thirds of them, equivalent to about 68%, expected their orders and revenue will maintain the same level or increase in the next three months, up 25% from Q4 of 2020.

EuroCham members noted that improvements thanks to the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which took effect on August 1 last year, has created favourable conditions for enterprises.

However, business leaders also expressed their concern about certain barriers like administrative procedures that will continue hampering their firms’ activities in the time ahead.

According to EuroCham Chairman Alain Cany, this time’s BCI indicates that Vietnam is continuing to open its economy though many countries are still hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. Vietnam is capable of ensuring businesses’ normal operations without many disruptions, which is helping fuel economic growth and European business leaders’ confidence.

The BCI rebounding to the pre-pandemic levels evidences a considerable achievement and that Vietnam is moving in the right direction to achieve the twin targets of combating Covid-19 and promoting economic growth, he said.

The BCI is a regular barometer of the business sentiment among European companies operating in Vietnam. Each quarter, it tracks the performance of EuroCham’s member companies and their perceptions of the economic outlook in Vietnam.

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Bac Giang accompanies businesses in implementing housing, residential area projects

(BGO) - Facing changes and new regulations on investment in constructing infrastructure for social housing, worker housing and residential and urban area projects, on March 31, the Department of Construction of Bac Giang province held a meeting with construction businesses to discuss ways to remove their difficulties.

High demands push Vietnamese rice's prices up: Business Recorder

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"Business Cafe" programme sees many proposals on land, infrastructure development

(BGO) - The provincial People's Committee and the provincial Business Association jointly held the "Business Cafe" programme in March at the Dai Hoang Son OPERA Company Limited in Bac Giang city on March 20.

35 pct of businesses lay off workers due to pandemic

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Source: NDO