During the period, foreign investors pledged an additional US$365 million to 35 existing projects in the city, while their capital contributions and share purchases reached US$293 million.

Hanoi licenses 235 new FDI projects in the first four months of 2020.

Hanoi’s export revenue fell by 4.7% year-on-year, hitting US$4.329 billion, of which domestic and foreign-invested sectors reported respective decreases of 4.6% and 4.7%. Some commodity groups with a sharp plunge in export turnover included petroleum, down 49.1%; phones and components, down 33.7%; agricultural products, down 17.4%; and computers, electronics and components, down 13.1%.

However, a number of commodity groups reported increased revenue compared to the same period in 2019, namely wood and wooden products, up 19.9%; ceramics, up 17.7%; means of transport and spare parts, up 12.3%; leather and footwear, up 8.8%; and other goods (including essential goods and medical equipment serving Covid-19 prevention and control), up 23%.

Hanoi’s index of industrial production (IIP) in April fell 14.7% compared to the previous month and decreased 4.3% year-on-year. From this, the manufacturing industry slipped 15.8% compared to March and 5.5% over the same period last year, and the mining sector reported respective declines of 4.9% and 13.3%. The electricity and gas production and distribution industry decreased 3.3% month on month but saw an 11% growth year-on-year.

Nonetheless, in terms of the January-April period, Hanoi’s IIP grew 2.3% against the same period in 2019.

Opportunities to export medical protective gear to the European-American market

The demand for importing personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies is growing in several European and American countries amid the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, which is an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to export goods to these markets.

Online startup amid Covid-19 pandemic turns challenges into opportunities

(BGO) – The Covid-19 pandemic has developed complicatedly. After the Prime Minister ordered the social distancing rule, many stores and service suppliers temporarily close. In the difficult time, several youth in Bac Giang province take the new trend of online startup with the support from modern technology. 

Vietnamese communities abroad join hands in Covid-19 fight

Vietnamese communities abroad have actively joined hands in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in the homeland by contributing financial assistance, and medical supplies and equipment, according to Vice Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Luong Thanh Nghi.

Bac Giang enhances grass root medical quality to prevent Covid-19 outbreak in community

(BGO) – The National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control (NSC) on March 30 held an online conference to 63 provinces and cities to enhance the grass root medical quality to prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic under the chair of Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen, Vice Head of the  NSC’s Standing Board.

Bac Giang donates 5,375 blood units

(BGO) – The Steering Committee for voluntary blood donation (VBD) in Bac Giang province has joined hands with Ha Lang Railway Branch (Vietnam Railway Corporation) to launch the blood donation festival to ease the blood shortage amid the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Source: NDO