Minister, Chairman of Government Office Mai Tien Dung speaking at the press conference, October 2, 2020. (Photo: VGP / Nhat Bac)

Minister, Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung told a regular government press conference on Friday, in Hanoi, that despite the COVID-19 epidemic, Vietnam saw a trade surplus of 17 billion USD. Industry increased by 2.69%. Agriculture is likely to earn an export turnover of 41 billion USD this year.

Minister, Head of Government Office Mai Tien Dung said: “The socio-economic situation is getting better. Macro-economy is stable, major balances continue to be guaranteed, growth is maintained. In the third quarter when the whole country were fighting against the COVID-19, GDP growth increased 2.12% in 9 months, creating a premise for positive growth in the whole year.”

“This is our huge effort in the context of our major partners’ negative growth and disrupted supply chain. Vietnam's economy bottomed out in the second quarter and is recovering in a V-shape. Vietnam is the only country with positive growth in the ASEAN region and one of few countries with positive growth in the world,” Mr. Dung added.

He noted at Vietnam has gone 30 days without new community infections of COVID-19, successfully controlling the two waves of outbreaks. The country has simultaneously started three major projects as part of the North-South Expressway in the East, disbursing public investment at the highest rate since 2016.