Vietnam spends over US$752 million on Covid-19 fight

As of September 24, the Vietnamese government has spent VND17.49 trillion (US$752.5 million) to aid the Covid-19 fight and support people affected by the pandemic, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

Vietnam has so far spent over US$750 million for the Covid-19 fight.

Upon breaking down, nearly VND4.92 trillion (US$212.2 million) was spent to cover various expenses for health workers, staff and people undergoing mass quarantine, while another VND12.57 trillion (US$542.2 million) was spent to support 12.65 million people directly hit by the Covid19 pandemic.

Additionally, nearly 16,200 tons of rice from national reserves were allocated to people in provinces and cities hit by natural disasters.

In the first nine months of 2020, state budget revenue stood at VND975.3 trillion (US$42.4 billion), equivalent to 64.5% of the estimate and down 11.5% year-on-year. This included VND812.4 trillion (US$35.04 billion) in domestic revenue, meeting 64.3% of the year's estimate and down 8.3% year-on-year.

Additionally, revenue from crude oil suffered a sharp decline of 36.9% year-on-year to VND27.5 trillion (US$118.6 million), fulfilling 78.2% of the year's plan, and customs revenue declined 20.1% to VND134.55 trillion (US$580.4 million), or 64.7% of the estimate.

On the contrary, state budget expenditures totaled VND1,113.7trillion (US$48.04 billion), or 63.7% of the year's estimate, an up 8.1% year-on-year. Of the sum, capital expenditure was equivalent to 57.2% of the estimate, higher than the disbursed amount of the same period last year, but lower than expected.

The government also spent nearly VND80.7 trillion (US$3.48 billion) in debt payment, or 68.3% of the estimate and down 5.6% year-on-year, as well as VND756.9 trillion (US$32.65 billion) for regular spending, or 71.6% of the estimate, up 3.2%.

In the year to September 25, the MoF issued nearly VND223.34 trillion (US$9.63 billion) worth of government bonds.