Donald Lambert - Principal private sector development specialist Asian Development Bank The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts that Vietnam will register economic growth of 1.8 per cent in 2020 and 6.3 per cent in 2021. Although lower than recent years, these prospects are remarkable given that many economies are mired in pandemic-induced recessions. Banking regulation is also supportive. The State Bank of Vietnam has capped bank loan growth since 2014. In 2019, 18 of the country’s largest banks implemented Basel II, which reduced their capital available for lending. These measures, coupled with restrictions on using short-term borrowings to fund long-term loans, make bonds an increasingly attractive alternative. But this growth carries risks, particularly because few issuers have a public credit rating. While investors should never base their decisions solely on a credit rating, they are an important reference that can foster market discipline by discouraging investors … [Read more...] about Spurring prudent development of domestic corporate bond market