COVID-19 claims thousands of businesses in Mekong Delta
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced up to 7,941 enterprises in the Mekong Delta to suspend their operations or register for dissolution in the first nine months of this year.
Can Tho (VNA) – The COVID-19 pandemichas forced up to 7,941 enterprises in the Mekong Delta to suspend theiroperations or register for dissolution in the first nine months of this year.
According to the Can Tho branch of the VietnamChamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), a total of 6,109 firms were establishedin the region from January to September, equivalent to only 34 percent of thenumber recorded in the same period last year.
Six out of 13 Mekong Delta localities experienceddecreases in the number of newly-established firms, namely Hau Giang, TienGiang, An Giang, Soc Trang, Ben Tre and Vinh Long.
Nguyen Phuong Lam, Director of VCCI Can Tho, saidthe region’s monthly export turnover stood at around 1 billion USD in Augustand September, the lowest so far this year.
However, thanks to good performance in the previousmonths, most of the localities saw increases in export value for the nine-monthperiod, with the highest recorded by Dong Thap, Soc Trang and Ca Mau at 22percent, 18 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
The localities reported that about 30-50 percent ofbusinesses have resumed their operations.
Nguyen My Thuan, Vice Chairwoman of the business associationin Can Tho, suggested that the localities should reach consensus on travelregulations to facilitate the travel of workers as well as goods circulation.
Lam also urged the cities and provinces to raiseproposals to the Government and the Health Ministry regarding the allocation ofvaccines to accelerate business resumption.
The VCCI Can Tho said in the nine months, 45,091enterprises nationwide suspended their operations, up 16.73 percentyear-on-year, while another 32,398 applied for dissolution, a rise of 17.44percent./.
Despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected the production and trade of businesses, the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang remains an attractive investment hub for domestic and foreign investors.
Can Tho City and six provinces in the Mekong Delta region will take part in an online meeting on October 19 to enhance cooperation in pandemic prevention and control and economic recovery.
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Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
