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World Bank: Vietnam’s mid-term outlook favourable

Hanoi, December 5 (VNA) – Vietnam’s medium-term outlook remains favourable with GDP expected to expand by 6 percent this year, according to the World Bank (WB)’s Taking Stock report.

The WB said, despite a fragile global environment, Vietnam’s economy remains resilient, thanks to robust domestic demand and export-oriented manufacturing.

The report, a biannual review of the country’s economic performance, found that Vietnam’s growth slowed to 5.9 percent during the first three quarters of the year, mainly because of a severe drought that has reduced agricultural output, cut down on oil production and slowed external demand.

The fundamental drivers of growth – resilient domestic demand and export oriented manufacturing – remain in force.

Vietnam’s growth was accompanied by low inflation and widening current account surplus. And despite price hikes for health and education services, core inflation remains low and headline inflation is expected to stay below the official target of 5 percent.

“Vietnam’s macroeconomic stability creates a favorable environment for policy makers to accelerate structural reforms, which is crucial as the country moves toward a more productivity-led growth model,” said WB Country Director for Vietnam Ousmane Dione.

“The adoption of the 2016-2020 economic restructuring plan by National Assembly in November, for instance, would address some of the emerging obstacles to growth in the economy,” he added.
VNA/VNP

Cultures of the World Festival closes with celebration of global unity

Cultures of the World Festival closes with celebration of global unity

Held from October 10–12, the festival was of an unprecedented scale, featuring 48 countries and international organisations, 45 cultural spaces, 34 international culinary booths, 23 art troupes from Vietnam and abroad, 12 publishing and book exhibition units, and 22 countries joining the international film screenings. This made the largest cultural diplomacy event in Vietnam’s history.

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