Vietnamese firms remain more optimistic regarding positive growth and international trade in comparison to their global peers despite the challenges caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to the latest HSBC Navigator: Now, Next and How report.

The global survey polled over 10,000 companies in 39 countries and territories globally, including 200 companies in the nation. According to the poll’s results, 55% of Vietnamese businesses remain optimistic about growth moving forward, compared to 56% last year, well above the global average of 29%, the report revealed.

Most notably, 59% of domestic firms are predicted to return to pre-COVID-19 levels of profitability by the end of 2021, while 86% of local businesses anticipate that sales will grow next year, far higher than the global and the Asia-Pacific region average growth of 64% and 60%, respectively.

“Vietnam’s remarkable resilience and effective response to the pandemic has been a major contributor to increased optimism. Unlike many other countries, from a purely domestic economy perspective, in the second half of the year, the country is broadly back to a ‘business as usual’ environment,” said Tim Evans, chief executive officer of HSBC Vietnam.

Furthermore, 91% of Vietnamese enterprises also remain positive about increases in international trade in comparison to their global peers. This is despite the majority of local businesses feeling that international trade has become increasingly difficult over the course of the previous year.

Optimism among the domestic business community will also have been further fueled by the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on November 15.

“RCEP has brought 15 Asian nations together to help drive the agenda around increased cross border trade. As one of the region’s fastest growing and most dynamic economies, Vietnam has much to gain from this far-reaching free trade agreement (FTA),” Evans said.

“Offering faster, more efficient and tariff-free access to a market of some 2.3 billion people, the RCEP can help local firms in Vietnam increase exports and attract high-quality goods for their consumers. This time next year, we all hope that levels of optimism have returned to the global economy,” he added.

Moreover, protectionism continues to be strongly felt, with 90% of Vietnamese companies believing that it is increasing. As a result, price competitiveness, local partnerships, and selling through digital channels represent key strategies to combat it, according to the report.