Vietnam's apparel exports are expected to jump 7.4% this year to $43.5
billion as factories maintain output despite soaring coronavirus infections,
the country's textile and garment association told Reuters.
Among the world's biggest producers of brands such as Nike, Zara and
H&M, Vietnam recently lifted most of the COVID-19 restrictions, which
last year disrupted production and bogged down global supply chains.
"The pandemic will have a milder impact on Vietnam's garment and textile
industry this year thanks to the high vaccination rate," vice chairman of
the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, Truong Van Cam, said in an
interview this week.
Daily coronavirus infections in the Southeast Asian nation hit a record high
of 31,800 on Tuesday but businesses and experts say the risk of repeating
last year's lockdown is lower now that millions of factory workers have been
vaccinated and with the Omicron variant it appears less severe.
Cam said the pandemic-related shutdowns had affected up to 1.2 million
garment workers last year, or 65% of the industry's workforce. Nearly all of
them have now returned to work, he added.
"Thanks to the country's flexible policies to tackle the pandemic while
restoring business activity, especially from the fourth quarter of 2021, the
garment and textile industry has managed to significantly limit supply chain
disruptions," he said.
Vietnam has recorded 2.57 million cases of COVID-19 and around 39,000
deaths. More than 76% of its population of 98 million have received at least
two doses of the vaccine, according to official data.
The tourism ministry has proposed a complete reopening of the country to
foreign tourists from March 15, three months earlier than planned.