Binh Duong province’s exports grow by 3.6 percent in Q1 hinh anh 1A garment factory in Song Than 3 Industrial Park of Binh Duong province (Photo: VNA)

Binh Duong (VNA) - Despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Binh Duong province managed to expand exports by 3.6 percent in the first quarter of the year to 5.8 billion USD, according to its Department of Industry and Trade.

Key export items like textiles, footwear, wood products, and computers and electronic products saw increases of between 3 percent and 4 percent year-on-year, lower than last year but impressive amid the pandemic.

The province’s imports were estimated at 4.2 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 4.3 percent, giving it a trade surplus of 1.6 billion USD.

The department said the pandemic has been negatively affecting industrial production and trade around the country, including Binh Duong.

The drastic support measures implemented by the Government and the province enabled trade to remain robust.

Ho Van Binh, the department’s Deputy Director, said a survey done by his department found that most enterprises in the province have faced difficulties in production and trading due to the pandemic, including 110 import-export firms.

In the case of some other enterprises, trade was not affected in the first quarter, but with the pandemic spreading to most major markets such as the US, EU, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, it is likely to be affected in the second quarter, he warned.

According to business groups, leather and footwear and garment and textile enterprises are facing difficulties with export orders falling by 50 – 60 percent.

To retain their workers and sustaining cash flows, they are shifting production to target the domestic market.

Trade activities would face new difficulties in the second quarter from the global COVID-19 outbreak, and the province has taken many measures to enable businesses to access funds and markets and eased tax payment deadlines, the department said.

Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Tran Thanh Liem said with the Government and province’s efforts to support enterprises and address their difficulties, especially with regard to finance, banking, tax, and administrative procedure reform, he expects the business community to overcome the difficulties and enjoy good growth this year./.
VNA