Hanoi (VNA) – Despite serious impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,foreign investments in Vietnam in the first nine months of 2021 rose, showing investors' trust and optimism about the country’s socio-economic recovery and developmentin the coming time, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Thi BichNgoc has said.

This also affirms that Vietnam continues to be a safe, attractive andpotential destination for foreign investors, Ngoc told the Vietnam News Agency(VNA).

As of September, the nation had 34,141 valid investmentprojects, with a combined capital of 403.19 billion USD.

However, the pandemic is negatively affecting production andbusiness activities of enterprises, including foreign-invested ones, and makingit difficult for foreign investors to explore investment and businessopportunities in Vietnam.

Acknowledging this fact, over the past time, the Government,the Prime Minister, ministries, sectors and localities have made efforts and takendrastic measures for the highest goal of effective pandemic prevention andcontrol, and effective support for production and business of enterprises.

The business community, including FDI enterprises, hasjoined hands with the Government and local authorities in supporting people inthe fight against COVID-19, thus demonstrating the spirit of overcomingdifficulties, adapting to the new situation, maintaining production, andcreating jobs for labourers. This shows the confidence of foreign investors inVietnam’s business environment and the effectiveness of solutions taken by theGovernment and the Prime Minister.

The FDI business community has appreciated the Government'sresponse to the pandemic, expressed optimism about Vietnam's economicrecovery, and committed to continuing to invest and do long-term business inVietnam.

Ngoc also pointed out several difficulties facingenterprises, including labour shortage, entry restrictions and long-termquarantine, selective investment attraction policy, decreases in global foreigninvestment inflows, and increasing competitiveness in attracting foreigninvestment among countries.

To make FDI enterprises feel secure, the Government has made recommendations to the Party or submitted to the National Assembly and the National AssemblyStanding Committee to promulgate many important policies. The Government has also issued a numberof decrees and thematic resolutions on land rent exemption and reduction and onsupport for enterprises, cooperatives and business households, as well as workers and employers.

According to Ngoc, besides negative impacts, the pandemic isalso an opportunity for Vietnam to continue perfecting its institutions,improving governance capacity, and the business and investment environment./.