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The government at the June regular
meeting on July 1 defined the top major task in the
remaining months of this year is still how to curb
inflation.
Under the chairmanship of Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, the cabinet members and
authorities from two major cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh
City discussed solutions to stabilise macro economy, ensure
social security and sustainable development.
They stressed the need to
continue with the tightening monetary policy from the
central to grass-root levels, adding that flexibility is
also necessary in management in order to rein in inflation,
stabilise economy but also accelerate production.
According to the Ministry of
Planning and Investment (MPI), Vietnam obtained a GDP growth
rate of 6.5% in the first half of 2008 despite difficulties
and impacts from the world economy’s downturn.
MPI said Vietnam got a bumper
winter-spring rice crop with an output of 18 million tonnes,
1 million tonnes over the same period last year.
The industrial production value
increased by 16.5%, the agro-forestry-fishery production
value, 4.5% in the reviewed period.
In addition, the export turnover
surged by 30% year-on-year to reach US$29.7 billion, helping
narrow trade deficit.
Foreign direct investment
increased in both capital attraction and disbursement with
US$31.6 billion registered in the past six months.
“Investors are confident in medium and long-term investment
in Vietnam,” asserted the MPI.
The country had another good
news as its inflation index signaled a slowdown with the
June consumer price index (CPI) rising by 2.14%, the lowest
rate in the past six months, the MPI reported.
The MPI also pointed to existing
difficulties and weaknesses, including the slowdown of
economic growth rate of 5.85% in the second quarter of 2008.
Meanwhile, the country’s trade deficit is staying at a high
level, US$14.8 billion or nearly a half of export turnover.
It also mentioned the monetary
market’s fluctuation, the instability of the stock market
and the unceasing hike of prices.
The government will continue its
discussions on solutions to complete socio-economic tasks
for 2008 on July 2. (VNA) |
