HCMC – Due to the raging Covid-19 pandemic, 18% of orders from European Union (EU) businesses in Vietnam have to be shifted to other countries and the business confidence index of EU firms in Vietnam has fallen to the lowest in over a decade. However, no EU companies have withdrawn from the Vietnamese market during the pandemic.
After a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 9, the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) expected its difficulties reported to the Government would be resolved soon, Tien Phong newspaper reported.
EuroCham Chairman Alain Cany said the ongoing fourth wave of Covid-19 had heavily hit the operations of EU firms in Vietnam.
According to a survey conducted by EuroCham on EU firms in Vietnam, if the pandemic rages on in Vietnam, EU businesses would consider switching their orders from Vietnam to other countries.
Cany and leaders of European enterprises in Vietnam stressed the need to step up vaccinations in Vietnam and facilitating the transportation of goods and travel of workers.
EuroCham proposed shortening the quarantine period for fully vaccinated business executives, investors and experts returning to Vietnam, quickly reopening factories and companies and living with Covid-19 to ensure economic development and the livelihoods of workers.
