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% CONTENTS | ISSUE 326, January 2022 Congratulations on Australia Day

COVER STORY

With 2020 and 2021 going down in history as two of the
toughest years ever experienced from an economic
standpoint, major hopes are being placed in 2022 repre-
senting the end of the Covid-19 crisis and the beginning
of a period of global recovery. After posting negative in
the third quarter of last year, GDP returned to some level
of health in the closing months and conditions are in
place for Vietnam’s economy to get back on its feet
throughout the course of 2022.

Editor’s letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 BANKING & FINANCE
Loosening limits New foreign ownership cap in credit institutions
TOP 10
sparks debate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Outstanding Socio-economic Milestones in 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Combined effect Banks and fintechs seeing the benefits of working
BUSINESS REPORTS in tandem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
To the promised land; Of little help; Capital keeps coming . . .22
PROPERTY
LEADERS Deals done Real estate M&As continue unabated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
“Bamboo” diplomacy Vietnam’s foreign relations must resem-
ble the features of the ubiquitous plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 AT A GLANCE
ANALYSIS
A view from afar The UK’s experience in Covid-19 policy re- Leading news from the month at a glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
sponses may be of some interest to Vietnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
STARTUPS CORPORATE NEWS
The latest from the world of startups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 What’s happening in the world of business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

DIGITAL BIZ
Jostling for position Pioneering technologies may offer a pros-
perous future for Vietnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Its own particular path Open digital ecosystem gains greater
Statistics Updated economic figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
attention as driver of digital transformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

P I C T U R E S B Y T R A N V I E T T U A N , D E S I G N B Y V E T M E D I A

V I E T N A M E C O N O M I C T I M E S

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDITORJohn Harding
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ISSN 2734 - 9683 - LICENCE No. 272/GP-BTTTT ON JUNE 26, 2020, PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE VIETNAM ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION, PRODUCED IN VIETNAM AND PRINTED AT TIEN PHONG PRINTING AND COMMERCE JOINT STOCK COMPANY.© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

www.en.vneconomy.vn JANUARY 2022 | VIETNAM ECONOMIC TIMES | 1