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In its article, the leading financial newspaper of Japanese media giants Nikkei Inc., said Vietnam is targeting a growth rate of 6.5% this year. The agency stated Vietnam’s exports will likely continue to be supported by US tariffs on Chinese goods and that in order to avoid US tariffs, importers have shifted demand from China to alternative suppliers, with this trend likely to continue. According to the agency, before the pandemic, Southeast Asia achieved collective annual growth of about 5% for many years, making it one of the world's best-performing regions. The region also became an attractive investment destination, with a relatively young population driving demand and providing plenty of labour. These advantages remain in place, but first the region needs to stamp out COVID-19. Nikkei also reported that Southeast Asian economies are aiming to this year regain the growth momentum they had before the COVID-19 pandemic caused historic declines in 2020. A look at early forecasts around the region, however, shows a wide range of scenarios as risk continues to lurk. The agency said that Singapore hopes to achieve its forecast of gross domestic product growth of 4% to 6% for 2021, Indonesia expects GDP to grow by between 4.5% and 5.5% this year, the Philippines projects a growth range of 6.5% to 7.5%, while Thailand has lowered its targets, revising its 2021 forecast down to between 2.5% to 3.5% growth. …

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A year on since the Covid-19 pandemic first began Vietnamese are taking more control of their health and finance, driving greater interest in fitness and well-being along with insurance and retirement planning. — Photo courtesy of Manulife HCM CITY — A year on since the Covid-19 pandemic first began Vietnamese are taking more control of their health and finance, driving greater interest in fitness and well-being along with insurance and retirement planning, as Asia looks to the longer-term impact of the disease, according to new research from Manulife. The latest version of the ‘Manulife Asia Care Survey’ takes a closer look into customers’ concerns, priorities and aspirations, polling 4,000 people across the region who either own insurance or intend to buy it in the next six months, including around 520 in Việt Nam. Nearly all (95 per cent) of those who worry most about Covid have made an effort on a personal level to improve their overall health, mostly through more regular exercise (58 per cent) and improved diet (54 per cent). In Việt Nam, all the respondents said they had taken action to help them manage Covid, with 72 per cent saying this included doing more regular exercise. More people in Hà Nội (85 per cent) do more regular exercise than in HCM City (73 per cent). Almost everyone is self-monitoring health, and Vietnamese pay the most attention to the number of steps walked (44 per cent) among the four emerging markets covered in the survey, against a regional average of 38 per cent. Three out of five (60 per cent) of Vietnamese also own fitness wearables, well above the regional average of 46 per cent. A large majority of Vietnamese (79 per cent) also said retirement planning has become more important since Covid-19 started, below the Philippines (90 per cent), Indonesia (88 per cent) and Malaysia (83 per cent) but higher than all the developed markets. The regional average is 73 per cent. This high level of interest in …

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The Hanoitimes - On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the US-Vietnam diplomatic relations, US companies shared with Hanoitimes their expectations about opportunities for their investment expansions in Vietnam. Dr. Mason Cobb, chairman of Victoria Healthcare International Clinics After Vietnam achieved the middle income status and ODA decreased, the Vietnamese government became more accommodating for investment and that continues to this day. Dr. Mason Cobb, chairman of Victoria Healthcare International Clinics However, it is still not a truly level playing field with local companies. The attitude and perception, and spirit of cooperation has become much warmer and more understanding than during that difficult middle period. More importantly, the company’s mission in healthcare as primarily helping Vietnam build a world-class healthcare system. To that end, the company brings Vietnamese to the US and bring educational and other assets to Vietnam to help increase understanding and skills. AmCham Healthcare Committee Mission has stated: “We are a key strategic partner for promoting health and wellness and shaping the healthcare industry in Vietnam.” Regarding the healthcare sector, I think there are still regulatory hurdles that could dampen investment atmosphere. For example, the Ministry of Health has proposed that all foreign doctors must speak fluent Vietnamese. In effect, there would be an exodus of international healthcare and its standards. This will inhibit achieving a truly international standard for healthcare here by essentially expelling international influences. Vietnam is quite unique in its “healthcare consumer”: several attempts from highly developed countries have floundered for not understanding the Vietnamese patient’s unique perceptions. In the best of conditions this must be carefully considered by foreign healthcare investors. Vietnam has shown itself to be best in the world at handling the Covid-19 …

[Read more...] about US companies continue to see tremendous investment opportunities in Vietnam