Month: January 2021

The Vietnam News Agency Express Online reported that the Vietnamese government issued Government Resolution No. 1 on the main tasks and measures to achieve the socio-economic development plan and the state budget for 2021. The resolution specifies that it will continue to achieve the dual goals of effective prevention and control of the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic and restoration of socio-economic development under the new normal. The economic targets set by the government for 2021 are: GDP growth of about 6.5%, GDP per capita of about US$3,700, annual growth rate of the consumer price index (CPI) of about 4%, contribution of total factor productivity (TFP) to growth of about 45-47%, and social labor productivity growth of about 4.8%. The resolution stresses that Vietnam will continue to properly control the entry of people to prevent the import of the epidemic from outside and consider reopening international commercial routes when conditions permit. Accelerate vaccine development and international cooperation to provide solutions for early access to vaccines for the population.

Meanwhile, the government continues to provide support in the areas of credit, finance, and tax reduction to help people and businesses overcome difficulties and resume production in the post-epidemic period. In addition to improving the legal system, relevant departments will strictly control the promulgation of documents related to investment conditions, operations, administrative procedures, and special inspections to ensure an open and favorable investment and business environment for enterprises. Promote the development of financial, securities and insurance markets and strengthen the management of the corporate bond market. The government requires the National Bank to cooperate with fiscal and other policies for active and flexible regulation to ensure the safety of the system, stabilize the macroeconomy, and provide support for the resumption of economic growth. The management of prices of electricity, refined oil products and other important goods and services will be made open and transparent to ensure a balance between supply and demand of basic commodities and stabilize market prices. The need to diversify import and export markets and avoid over-reliance on a single market was emphasized. Effective implementation of signed free trade agreements and continued negotiation of new FTAs. Accelerate economic restructuring in sectors such as agriculture, transportation services, and credit institutions. Continue to shrink wholly state-owned enterprise operations, promote demutualization and asset divestment of state-owned capital, and firmly focus on loss-making and poorly performing projects.

While many countries have endured extremely high rates of infection and mortality from the new coronavirus, Vietnam, with a population of 96 million, has fewer than 1,500 confirmed cases and only 35 deaths. Massive quarantines, extensive contact tracing and strict travel controls kept Vietnam's factories largely operational and people back to work quickly.

On January 1, local time, Harry Roque, spokesman of the Philippine Presidency, said that based on the joint recommendation of the Philippine Department of Health and the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Presidency has decided to restrict the entry of travelers from the United States from the early hours of January 3, 2021 until January 15 to prevent the entry of the mutated New Coronavirus into the Philippines. Also, foreign travelers will be barred from entry if they have visited the United States within the last 14 days prior to their arrival in the Philippines.

In addition, foreign travelers from the U.S. or who have visited the U.S. within the past 14 days may enter the Philippines if they arrived before January 3. Upon entry, travelers are subject to strict vaccination rules and must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at a quarantine facility designated by the Philippine government, even if they test negative for New Coronavirus. Filipino citizens are not affected by this restriction and may enter the Philippines, but must also undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine.

The Philippine Presidency has announced that the government has decided to extend the national state of disaster already in place until September 12, 2021, in light of the ongoing new crown epidemic in the country. Unless a new decree cancels or continues to extend this state earlier.

In view of the seriousness of the Newcastle Pneumonia epidemic in the country, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin announced the implementation of the MCO 2.0 in five states, namely Sabah, Selangor, Penang, Johor, Malacca and three Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan) for a period of two weeks from January 13 to January 26. He pointed out that the government will implement the control orders by state. Apart from the above states, Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan will implement the Conditional Control Orders (CMCO).

As for Perlis and Sarawak, the RMCOs will continue to be implemented. The Prime Minister said it was necessary for the government to implement stricter CMCOs to control the spread of the epidemic in the country. Speaking on air today, Muhyiddin said that in order to reduce the spread of the disease, all social events involving groups of people, such as weddings, conferences, religious processions, including the Thaipusam Festival, Chinese New Year, conferences, seminars, courses and sporting events, are banned in all states where RMCOs are in place. National interstate ban During this period, cross-county travel is banned in all states, and in those states where a control order is in force, cross-county travel is also prohibited. From 12.00am on the 13th of this month, all movements in the states under the decree will be restricted to a 10km radius. Anyone who breaches these rules will be issued a RM1,000 fine. As for the economic sector, the government has identified only five basic key sectors as being allowed to operate, including factories and manufacturing, construction, services, trade and distribution, and plantation and primary industries. All non-critical areas are compulsory home work.