Import and export record mark: 668.5 billion USD

A prominent bright spot in 2021 must be the growth of exports and imports, with a record of nearly $668.5 billion in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic. Could you please tell me what has helped Vietnam achieve such high growth?

2021 is a tumultuous year for all sectors of the economy. But, thanks to the close direction of the Government, the drastic participation of ministries, branches and local authorities, the proactive efforts to overcome difficulties of the business community and trade promotion organizations have helped maintain production and export, with a record total turnover of 668.5 billion USD (up 22.6% over the previous year, of which exports increased by 19%).

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien

By the end of 2021, the trade balance of goods is estimated to have a trade surplus of 4 billion USD. The whole country has 35 export products with a turnover of over 1 billion USD, accounting for 93.8% of total export turnover, there are 8 export items with over 10 billion USD, accounting for 69.7%. The group of computers, electronic products and components set an import-export turnover of more than USD 100 billion for the first time in 2021. The processing and manufacturing industry continues to be the driving force of growth when accounting for up to 100 billion USD in import and export turnover in 2021. more than 86% of the country's export turnover of goods...

For export agricultural products, although accounting for less than 10% of the export value of the whole economy, agriculture is the field that will bring "new driving forces" for export growth in 2021.

Having these results is thanks to our well-exploited foreign markets. Along with maintaining traditional export markets, Vietnamese enterprises have taken advantage of opportunities from free trade agreements (FTAs), especially new-generation FTAs such as CPTPP, EVFTA and UKVFTA. . Statistics show that Vietnam's exports to the EU market area increased by 12.6%, to the UK and Northern Ireland markets increased by 15.6%, to CPTPP markets that have not had an FTA with Vietnam before. continued to record high and remarkable growth such as exports to Canada up 18.2%, Mexico 44.6%, Peru 79.2%... .

The Government's efforts to open the market through bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations have helped Vietnam's export goods reach the market areas considered the most "fastidious" in the world. especially for agricultural and aquatic products. This continues to be an advantage that Vietnamese businesses need to take advantage of better in the coming time…

Create a foundation for your business to grow

To create a breakthrough in 2022, the pivotal year of the 2021-2025 period, what specific plans will the Ministry of Industry and Trade have in policy making as well as create momentum to help businesses recover "health" in production? and exports to contribute to the country's economic growth?

In order to support businesses, the economy to recover, and maintain production and export momentum this year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade continues to urgently, drastically, and unify the guidelines and directions of the Government. 128 on "Safely adapting, flexibly, and effectively controlling the COVID-19 epidemic" in order to maximize the circulation of goods and workers to serve the restoration of production activities later. epidemics, facilitating the recovery of supply chains of goods and labor for production.

The Ministry ensures adequate supply of raw materials and energy to meet the requirements of production and business recovery and socio-economic development. Focus on removing difficulties and obstacles for important industrial projects; Maximum support factories to maintain and restore production to keep orders, supply chain. The ministry set a target in 2022 and the coming years to accelerate the implementation of large public investment projects, especially projects in energy and infrastructure for industry development to promote consumption and trade demand. of the economy as well as developing markets for a number of key manufacturing industries such as steel, mechanics, building materials, automobiles, etc.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to reform administrative procedures and develop policies for sustainable business development Photo: Nhu Y

The ministry will continue to perfect the legal and policy framework to unify resources from the central to local levels to focus on investment and development of industrial projects, especially foundation industries, manufacturing industries, and other industries. Vietnam's main exports include materials industry, supporting industries, mechanics, automobiles, textiles, leather - shoes, electricity - electronics, food processing...

Regarding import and export, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to closely monitor the situation of the COVID-19 epidemic and the exchange of goods between countries to advise the Government on operating solutions to deal with adverse factors. .

For the domestic market, we will continue to coordinate with local ministries and sectors to closely monitor the market situation, promptly take measures to respond to abnormal fluctuations in the market, and ensure coordination. supply essential goods to the market, handle difficulties in goods movement in a timely manner so as not to disrupt the supply chain of essential goods during the complicated development of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Continue to promote administrative procedure reform

Minister, cutting business conditions and reforming administrative procedures are also considered as bright spots of the Industry and Trade industry in the last term. So, how will the Ministry of Industry and Trade continue to do this in the future to support businesses?

Cutting and simplifying investment and business conditions is a key task of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. With the view of drastic action, consecutively from 2016 to now, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been the pioneer in reducing business investment conditions in accordance with the direction of the Government. As of 2020, the Ministry has made a total of 880 reductions and simplifications of 1,216 business conditions (accounting for 70%). The reforms of the Ministry of Industry and Trade have been recognized by the business community, making business conditions more open, less complicated and cumbersome; procedure time is faster, thereby reducing costs, increasing opportunities, and increasing competitiveness in the market.

One of the other priority tasks of the Ministry of Industry and Trade is to continue to innovate, organize trade promotion programs, and support enterprises to export agricultural products; organizing connection activities at regional level, connecting supply and demand both at home and abroad on the online environment and on new platforms.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to review and develop a roadmap to reduce and simplify regulations related to business activities in the field of state management of the ministry for the period 2021 - 2025. to decide on reforming administrative procedures towards the goal of improving the quality of institution building, linking institutional building with the promulgation of policies and laws; ensure that administrative procedures are implemented uniformly and effectively nationwide, creating favorable conditions for concerned organizations and individuals to easily implement.

Thank you Sir.