Trucks transporting Vietnamese goods to China via Tân Thanh international border gate in Lạng Sơn Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Duy

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has instructed ministries, sectors and localities to quickly build their own coronavirus disease (COVID-19) development scenarios to mitigate the impact of the epidemic while striving to meet set targets.

The instruction was part of a recent announcement released by the Government Office on the PM’s conclusions regarding the impact of COVID-19 and update growth scenarios and directions on measures to implement socio-economic targets for 2020.
The PM emphasised that with a long border and strong economic-trade exchanges with China, Việt Nam is bound to be affected by COVID-19, which requires drastic, synchronous and effective measures to counter the impact in both the short and long term.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to draft a Directive for the Prime Minister. The draft should assess the development of the epidemic and its impacts, suggest solutions to respond to effects and update growth scenarios based on the epidemic’s development.
In particular, for the scenario for a growth rate of 6.8 per cent as set for the year, the draft must define the specific quarterly targets for every sector and fields accompanied by measures to fulfil the targets.
The PM also required ministries and sectors to propose mechanisms, policies and solutions within the power of the Government and the PM to help with the development of sectors, including tourism and services, such as visa exemption, visa extension, reduction of visa fee, logistic expenses, or taxes and other fees. — VNS