VGP - The Vietnamese economy still showed a number of positive signs despite domestic and global economic hardships.

Reasonable GDP growth

The gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated to grow at 5.03% this year, the lowest rate since 2000, according to recent figures released by the General Statistics Office (GSO).

However, the growth rate was described by the GSO Director-General as 'reasonable' with 4.64% in Q1; 4.80% in Q2; 5.05% in Q3 and 5.44% in Q4.

Specifically, the agro-forestry and fishery sector expanded by 2.72%, industry and construction up 4.52%, and service up 6.42%.

One-digit CPI

The average consumer price index (CPI) was estimated to increase 6.81% compared to over 18% last year and met with the goal set by the National Assembly.

The success came from a string of important and urgent solutions, including the tightening of credit, limited money supply, restructuring of the banking system's operations. The decrease of the index was also attributed to lower purchasing power. 

Surging exports

The GSO reported that export turnover would exceed US$114.6 billion in 2012, up 18.3% against 2011.

The export value mainly came from foreign direct investment (FDI) sector, which earned nearly US$72.3 billion in revenue, up 31.2% year on year.  

However, the FDI sector's main exports include electronics, computers and components, phones, garments and footwear, thus real profits were low.

Return of first trade surplus

The country has achieved a trade surplus of US$284 million in 2012 after nearly two decades.

Export turnover for the year totaled US$114.631 billion, an increase of 18.3% over last year while import revenue reached US$114.347 billion, representing a rise of 7.1% against the same period last year.

The trade surplus was attributed to the high growth rate of exports, which nearly doubled the goal set by the National Assembly, while import growth rate was three times lower. 

New record of int'l arrivals

Amid global economic hardships, the flow of foreign arrivals to Viet Nam was estimated at 6.85 million, posting a year-on-year increase of 9.5% and the ever highest rate.

Noticeably, the number of international tourists also hit new record of 4.17 million, accounting for 60.9% of the total figure.

China took the lead with roughly 1.43 million; followed by the Republic of Korea 701,000 up 30.7%; Japan 576,000 up 19.7% and the US with 440,000 up 0.9%./.

By Huong Giang  

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