European firms’ confidence in Vietnam’s business environment slightly declines but still strong: EuroCham

The survey, produced by YouGov Decision Lab, said that although Vietnam's economy grew at a record 13.67% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2022, the BCI declined for the second consecutive quarter, dropping 6.4 index points from the second quarter and 10.8 points from the first quarter.

At An Phu Printing and Garment Co., Ltd., in Hung Yen province (Photo: VNA)

The result were attributable to instability of the global economy due to the escalating conflict in Ukraine, persistent inflationary pressures, a labour shortage worldwide, and stagnant global growth.

However, in the midst of the current global economic uncertainty, the BCI is still 10.2 points higher than its pre-pandemic level of 52.0 in the fourth quarter of 2019, and 1.2 points higher than the fourth quarter of 2020, when Vietnam was easing its pandemic-related restrictions.

According to EuroCham Chairman Alain Cany, Vietnam offers great investment opportunities for European businesses, especially prospects in the medium- to short-term.

Through the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and EU’s shared commitment to sustainable development, Vietnamese and European companies have a great deal of growth potential, he said.

These BCI results are encouraging, he said, adding that Vietnam will certainly be in a better position in two or three years, demonstrating its place among the most exciting and dynamic business and investment destinations.

Meanwhile, CEO of Decision Lab Thue Quist Thomasen said a worsening global economic environment is taking its toll on the optimism amongst European business leaders in Vietnam. However, by curbing inflation, improving credit ratings and continuing GDP growth, Vietnam’s story stands out as less pessimistic globally as companies plan and look forward to 2023.

The BCI is the leading indicator of the European business and investment community in Vietnam. To better understand the Vietnamese market, EuroCham invites its more than 1,200 members, representing virtually every sector of the Vietnamese economy, to provide quarterly updates on Vietnam's business environment and forecasts for their own businesses in Vietnam.

European firms more positive about Vietnam’s business climate European businesses are more positive about Vietnam’s trade and investment environment in the first few months after COVID-19, the Business Climate Index (BCI) unveiled by the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) on July 22 showed.

European firms confident in Vietnam’s pandemic control European firms still showed strong confidence in Vietnam's ability to control the pandemic and for the Southeast Asian economy to pull off a strong recovery in a near future, heard an online conference organised by the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) in Vietnam on September 9.

European firms optimistic about Vietnam's business environment after social distancing Vietnam posted 18.3 percentage points in the Business Climate Index (BCI) in the third quarter of 2021 that was recently announced by the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), a slight rise over the record low of 15 percentage points recorded in the most difficult time of the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections in September.