Under the first, the national GDP will grow 6.47%, inflation 4.08%, and export 7.21%, and export-import revenue is projected at USD 5.64 billion, heard a workshop in Hanoi on January 12. The figures are set at 6.83%, 3.69%, 8.43% and USD 8.15 billion under the second. CIEM Director Tran Thi Hong Minh said Vietnam stayed updated on assessments and recommendations last year in order to maintain macro-economic stability, rein in inflation, and facilitate reform and socio-economic recovery and development. Such efforts paid off as the national GDP grew 8.02% in 2022, the highest in the 2011-2022 period, outpacing the target of 6.5% set by the National Assembly, and inflation was curbed at 3.15%, below the 4% projected earlier, she noted. Nguyen Anh Duong, head of the CIEM's General Research Department, presented a report on Vietnam’s economy in 2022 and prospects in 2023, which said there would be more impacts on the economy this year, such as tight monetary policies adopted by … [Read more...] about CIEM sketches out Vietnam’s 2023 economic scenarios
Fiscal policy economics
Vietnamese firms earn big from Amazon
Many Vietnamese enterprises achieved success in 2022 after shifting to exports through e-commerce platforms, especially Amazon. The trend is expected to continue this year. Vietnam was among the top five countries with the highest e-commerce retail sale growth rates in 2022, according to a report by the U.S.’s market research company eMarketer. Impressive growth A year after beginning to sell goods on Amazon to European and American markets, ChicnChill, a Vietnamese handicraft brand, reported a growth rate of up to 700 percent. Tran Tuan Dung, CEO of ChicnChill, said he saw the start-up thrive when a majority of Vietnamese enterprises have scaled down their operations due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He and his team spent months studying the lifestyle in European and American markets and home decoration trends there, thereby determining the company’s key products and penetrating into these markets. After a year, ChicnChill’s home decoration products are … [Read more...] about Vietnamese firms earn big from Amazon
Vietnam posts trade surplus of 3.6 billion USD in January
The office reported that in the month, total import-export turnover reached 46.56 billion USD, down 17.3% over the previous month and 25% year-on-year, with exports dropping 21.3% to 25.08 billion USD, and imports falling 28.9% to 21.48 billion USD. While the domestic sector saw a trade deficit of 1.04 billion USD, the foreign-invested sector (including crude oil) posted a surplus of 4.64 billion USD. Experts attributed the result to the long New Year and lunar New Year (Tet) holidays, which were all in January, reducing the number of working days. Last year, the Tet holiday fell in February. The GSO reported that the manufacturing-processing sector earned the highest export revenue with 22.32 billion USD, accounting for 89% of the country’s total. Meanwhile, there were three goods groups with imports of over 1 billion USD. In January, the U.S. remained the biggest importer of Vietnamese goods with a revenue of about 7.6 billion USD, while China was the biggest exporter to … [Read more...] about Vietnam posts trade surplus of 3.6 billion USD in January
Vietnam’s FDI projected to reap up to USD 38 bln in 2023
Deputy Director of the FIA Do Van Su said disbursement of foreign investment this year is expected to hit USD 22-23 billion. Su acknowledged that the opening of China’s economy might affect Vietnam's foreign investment attraction, adding that China remained the leading investment destination in the region, so when they opened up, capital will flow into this market while that to Vietnam and other economies in the region will be limited. On the contrary, the investment capital movement of the Republic of Korea (RoK), Japan, and Taiwan (China) will be accelerated. This shift will be accelerated until 2025, and Vietnam will be a preferred investment destination for investors, he added. Currently, the RoK, Japan and Taiwan (China) are Vietnam’s major sources of foreign investment and they have constantly increased their investments in Southeast Asian countries. According to FIA, essential factors for FDI to continue to prosper in 2023 include economic growth results in 2022 and … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s FDI projected to reap up to USD 38 bln in 2023
Prime Minister inspects key transport project in Mekong Delta
Visiting a construction site of My Thuan 2 Bridge that crosses the Tien River and connects Trung Luong - My Thuan and My Thuan - Can Tho expressways between Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho, he asked constructors to speed up work, ensure the quality of the construction, labor safety and pay proper care to workers’ living conditions. With a total investment of over 5 trillion VND (USD 213.22 million), the construction of the 6.61-km bridge was started in March 2020 and is expected to complete this year. By now, more than 70% of the work has been completed. The leader added localities must proactively build intersections and organize traffic routes connecting to the bridge and the expressways to exploit new development space. At the construction site of a section of the eastern North-South Expressway that runs through Can Tho and Hau Giang, PM Pham Minh Chinh applauded workers for their efforts during the lunar New Year (Tet) festival. For more efficient infrastructure development, … [Read more...] about Prime Minister inspects key transport project in Mekong Delta
Should you invest in property or save your money this year?
Phan Cong Chanh, CEO of developer Phu Vinh Group, said the real estate market will pose more risks than opportunities for investors in 2023, adding that would-be investors should save their money instead of spending it. According to Chanh, in the long term the market will benefit from rosy economic growth prospects, better legal frameworks and improved stock markets, especially the corporate bond market, But he said this would be gradual recovery that wouldn’t flourish to its full potential until 2-4 years from now. The Central Institute for Economic Management put forth two economic growth scenarios for this year. Accordingly, GDP growth will either stand at 6.47%, inflation at 4.08%, export growth at 7.21% and trade balance at $5.64 billion, or at 6.83%, 3.69%, 8.43% and $8.15 billion, respectively. With the draft amendments to the Land Law submitted to the National Assembly for potential approval in October, and amendments to other related laws such as the Law on Real Estate … [Read more...] about Should you invest in property or save your money this year?
Gasoline prices surge amid higher global rates
Diesel prices increased by VND890 to VND22,520 per liter and mazut oil prices surged by VND570 to VND13,930 per kilogram. Oil prices rose about 2% last Thursday on expectations that global demand will strengthen as top oil importer China reopens its economy and on positive U.S. economic data, according to CNBC . Brent futures rose $1.35, or 1.6%, to settle at $87.47 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 86 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at $81.01. Some gasoline stations in Hanoi and Hai Phong City ran out of stocks last week, causing inconvenience to people, who have to drive around and fill elsewhere. During the seven-day Tet holidays which began January 20, several stations in Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang Province also shut down. According to market management statistics, about a dozen gas stations in Ho Chi Minh City closed during Tet. But the HCMC Directorate of Market Surveillance claimed that only a few out of the over 550 stations in … [Read more...] about Gasoline prices surge amid higher global rates
FDI inflows to Vietnam reach almost $1.7 billion in January
There were 153 newly-registered projects totalling $1.2 billion, up 48.5 per cent in quantity and 3.1 times in value against last year's January. About $651.9 million of FDI capital was poured into the fields of wholesale, retail, and repair of automobiles and motorised vehicles, accounting for 54.1 per cent of the total registered sum. Meanwhile, the processing and manufacturing industry attracted $351.2 million, making up 29.1 per cent of the total registered capital. According to the GSO, 28 foreign countries and territories invested in Vietnam in January. Singapore took the lead with $767.6 million, accounting for 63.7 per cent of the total newly registered capital. China came in second with $198.2 million, making up for 16.4 per cent of the total sum. Meanwhile, Vietnamese investors have received investment certificates for three project overseas with the total capital of $126.7 million, up by 3.4 times against the same month in 2022. In 2022, Vietnam lured over $22.4 … [Read more...] about FDI inflows to Vietnam reach almost $1.7 billion in January
Vietnamese communities in Belarus, Bulgaria hold Tet celebrations
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese people in Belarus and Bulgaria have joined their compatriots in the homeland and around the world in celebrating the Year of the Cat with different activities held recently. The Vietnamese Embassy in Belarus has organised a programme attracting over 400 Vietnamese and their Belarusian relatives. This was the first mass Tet gathering of the Vietnamese community in the European country after over two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his remarks, Ambassador Nguyen Van Ngu informed participants about the two countries’ socio-economic situations while highlighting their traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation. He pledged that the embassy will continue working to help the overseas Vietnamese further integrate into the local society, protect their rights and legitimate interests, develop the community, and contribute to the homeland. A similar celebration has also been held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria. Ambassador Do Hoang … [Read more...] about Vietnamese communities in Belarus, Bulgaria hold Tet celebrations
Support activities for Vietnamese workers in the RoK implemented
Working session between representatives from Vietnam Centre for Overseas Labour and Ansan Counseling Centre for Foreign Workers (Photo: VNA) Seoul (VNA) – A working delegation of the Vietnam Centre for Overseas Labour (Colab) had a meeting on January 29 with representatives from the Counseling Centre for Foreign Workers of the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Ansan city to promote the implementation of support activities for Vietnamese labourers in the RoK. The Vietnamese centre’s Director Dang Huy Hong, who is head of the delegation, thanked the Ansan centre for supporting foreign workers in general and Vietnamese in particular when living and working in the Korean city. He showed his hope that the centre will continue working closely with Vietnamese units to support Vietnamese workers, especially newcomers, to soon adapt to the life in the East Asian nation. Colab delegation posing for a photo with Vietnamese workers in RoK (Photo: VNA) During the working … [Read more...] about Support activities for Vietnamese workers in the RoK implemented