Having impressed the world by taming the virus last year, Vietnam is now in the middle of its worst outbreak of covid-19 by far.

The Prime Minister has issued a new message in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which is that the battle will last for a long time and we will have to live with the virus without being able to stamp it out completely. This new message requires a correspondingly appropriate response.

The index of industrial production (IIP) in the first eight months of 2021 still expanded by 5.6% compared to the same period last year despite the heavy economic impact caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

An official of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has suggested ways for the Vietnamese economy keep moving forwards amid considerable challenges caused by the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections.

A recovery in global trade during the summer is beginning to wane, according to some early warning signs pointing to the negative effects of widespread Covid-19 outbreaks in the manufacturing centres of east Asia.

The amount of rice exported by firms is in stock and exists in large yards due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ports, especially Cat Lai port, have taken over the work of packing rice to aid rice exporters.

Global coffee supply chains have been disrupted due to mobility restrictions in southern Vietnam amid the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.

The constantly increasing international freight rates are forcing Vietnamese exporters to increase orders at CIF prices to retain customers.

Currently, the average production capacity of seafood processing factories in the Mekong Delta has decreased to only 40-50% compared to before. It is estimated that the overall capacity of the whole area will decrease to only 30-40%.

The livestock industry has achieved some positive results in 2021 with increasing numbers of pigs, cows and poultry compared to the same period in 2020. However, the industry needs to implement several synchronous solutions to respond to challenges.