Hanoi (VNA), Oct. 22 -- The Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research ( VEPR ) estimated local GDP growth for this year at between 2.6 percent and 2.8 percent at a workshop in Hanoi, lower than the 3.8 percent it forecast in July.

Pham The Anh, VEPR's chief economist, told the workshop, which said of the local macro-economic performance in the last quarter of 2020: "With an unfavourable scenario, the economy can grow only 1.8 or 2 percent."

Releasing the report on the first nine months of 2020, Anh said Vietnam's economic prospects depended on the ability to control the pandemic not only in the country but also around the world.

According to VEPR, factors that can support growth include the free trade agreement and investment ...