VietNamNet Bridge – The number of enterprises that ceased operations rose by 12.3 per cent in the first half of the year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

Business and production activities still face many difficulties, but fewer have been shutting down in recent months. It is an encouraging sign, says the ministry.

In the January-April and January-May periods, shutdowns increased 16.9 per cent and 13 per cent respectively against the same periods of 2012.

The number of newly registered businesses also increased 7.6 per cent year-on-year in the first six months of this year.

However, the registered capital of new businesses still declined, down nearly 20 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Some sectors saw many new businesses, such as health and social assistance (up 64.3 per cent), education and training (up 5.1 per cent) and other services (up 8.9 per cent).

Others saw fewer new enterprises, including agriculture, forestry and fisheries (down 26.5 per cent), real estate (down 10.6 per cent), finance, banking and insurance (down 6.5 per cent) and construction (down 6 per cent).

The Mekong Delta saw the most new businesses (up 53.9 per cent), while the North Central and Central coastal regions saw a 24.3 per cent increase and the Northern midlands and mountainous regions saw a 32.7 per cent increase.

Source: VNS