ESCAP report: VN's economic performance was robust in 2000
Ha Noi April 4 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's economic performance was robust in 2000, with GDP growth at 6.7 percent compared with the rate of 4.8 percent in 1999, a report of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) says.
The report was released at a press briefing held in Ha Noi on April 3 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of ESCAP.
The report notes that the growth was particularly strong in the industrial sector and to a lesser extent service sector. Agriculture accounts for about two thirds of domestic employment, and expanded at a moderate, but still strong, pace about four percent in 2000 compared with 5.2 percent during the previous year.
The investment rate increased modestly to 29.3 percent of GDP in 2000, partly due to unresolved problems in the financial sector.
The report adds Viet Nam's export growth expanded by nearly 20 percent in 2000. Rapid growth was registered in the export of seafood, garments and footwear, electronics and computer components.
Imports expanded strongly by almost 17 percent in 2000, compared with an annual average of less than six percent during the previous three years.
Both the trade and service deficits widened in 2000. The current account surplus went up modestly from 0.6 to 1.1 percent of GDP between 1999 and 2000.--VNA
