97 Million Population, Zero Virus Deaths – This Asian Nation’s Economy is Winning

Strategists at UBS and Fitch Ratings believe Vietnam currently has the most optimistic economy in Asia. The bright outlook on the nation’s economy by top strategists primarily stems from its handling of the pandemic. Along with South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, Vietnam contained the pandemic relatively well early on with strict safety measures. Vietnam’s rapid recovery from the virus outbreak has enabled its manufacturing and retail industries to bounce back.

On July 5, “Big Three” credit agency Fitch Ratings said it considers Vietnam as one of Asia’s frontier markets in 2020. The agency praised Vietnam’s economic resilience, maintaining its outlook on the country’s economy as “Stable.” Edward Teather, an economist at UBS Research, echoed a similar sentiment on July 7. He said the outlook of Vietnam’s economy “is looking one of the brightest in the region.”

A trade deal with the European Union could further bolster Vietnam’s economy in the coming months. Several fundamental factors, including the rebound of the local manufacturing industry, place the country in a strong position for newfound growth. They come as the nation bounces back strongly from the pandemic with no virus-related deaths since late June. Strategists at Fitch Ratings attributed the success of the country in curbing the virus outbreak to the government’s initial response.

Fitch Ratings stated: Vietnam had no reported deaths from COVID-19 as of end-June, according to the World Health Organisation. This could reflect a variety of factors, including the effectiveness of the official health policy response.

Among the hardest-hit industries following the start of the pandemic is the tourism sector. An abrupt plunge of travelers has directly hit hotels, airlines, and travel agencies. Vietnam has a higher chance of seeing a recovery in the tourism industry going into late 2020.

97 Million Population, Zero Virus Deaths – This Asian Nation’s Economy is Winning, CCN, Jul 8