Nearly US$780 million spent on Covid-19 response
VGP – The Government has spent VND17,900 billion (nearly US$780 million) on fighting Covid-19 and supporting people affected by the pandemic, according to the Ministry of Finance.
The ministry announced that State budget revenues over the recent 11 months of 2020 reached VND1,261 trillion (around US$55 billion), equal to 83.4% of this year's goal and witnessed a year-on-year decrease of 7.8%.
So far this year, the Government has allocated more than VND4,540 billion (nearly US$200 million) for overcoming consequences caused by natural calamities, floods and the African swine fever disease, said the ministry.
In addition, nearly 32,950 tons of rice from the national reserve have been provided as emergency relief for flood-hit people and those suffering hunger during between-crop period.
Viet Nam’s budget deficit this year is estimated at VND319.5 – 328 trillion (US$13.78 – 14.15 billion), equivalent to 4.99-5.59% of GDP, significantly higher than the 3.44%-of-GDP target set in early 2020, said Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung at the 10th session of the 14thNational Assembly last month.
This year, Viet Nam’s budget revenue is estimated at VND1,320 trillion (US$57 billion), down VND189.2 trillion (US$8.16 billion) or 12.5% compared to the preset goal and 14% against the figure recorded in 2019, Dung added./.
By Thuy Dung
