The figure was nearly double that of the 2018-2022 period.

According to the General Statistics Office, between January and March, the total number of newly-established enterprises and those resuming their operations reached 57,000, down 5.4 percent on-year.

In the first quarter, up to 25,400 businesses in the service sector were set up, up 1.5 percent on-year. Meanwhile, most other sectors saw a fall in the number of newly-opened enterprises. For instance, in the agro-forestry-fisheries sector, only 330 new companies were established, down 36.4 percent on-year.

A survey on businesses in the processing and manufacturing sector showed that 44.1 percent of them believed that their business activities would be better in the second quarter this year. Meanwhile, 35.3 percent expected that their operation would remain stable. However, 20.6 percent worried about more difficulties.

Fifty percent of the interviewed companies said that they have witnessed a decline in orders.

Source: Dtinews