Viet Nam maintains high economic growth in January
Ha Noi, Jan. 28 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's socio-economic development in January is on the right track as it was in the last months of 2002, said Planning and Investment Minister Vo Hong Phuc at a monthly cabinet meeting in Ha Noi on Tuesday.
"In January, industrial production grew 14.9 percent year-on-year, of which the state-owned sector recorded an increase of 9.7 percent; the non-state sector, 21.5 percent and the foreign-invested sector, 16.3 percent," the minister told the cabinet.
He said "In agriculture, southern farmers harvested rice crops on an area of some 730,000 ha by Jan. 15. More than 1.8 million ha of the winter-spring crop were transplanted across the country, a year-on-year rise of 1 percent."
"January's export value was estimated at 1,480 million USD, an increase of 31 percent year-on-year," Phuc stressed, adding "The exports of cashew increased 91 percent; seafood, 31 percent; textile and garments, 61 percent; footwear, 11 percent; and handicrafts, over 12.5 percent."
"In the month, about 120 million USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) were disbursed, a year-on-year increase of 20 percent, while capital construction investment was estimated at 1,900 billion VND (about 127 million USD), representing 8.6 percent of the yearly plan," the minister told the government.
Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai urged all ministries and government agencies to increase the state management of the capital construction sector in their joint efforts to prevent further public property losses.
"Prior to their approval of investment projects, all ministries must work together with relevant localities to ensure the efficiency of a project when it is operational," he stressed.
He said "2003 will see the government's determination to prevent mistakes and uproot corruption and other social vices by promoting its inspections and checks."
Regarding socio-economic tasks, PM Khai said "This year, the government should focus its endeavours on promoting economic restructuring in order to maintain a high economic growth."
"Proper policies will be issued to better mobilise capital from the people in a bid to support economic restructuring and infrastructure construction," he told the cabinet.
"Due attention should also be paid to intensifying the fight against crime and social evils, preventing traffic accidents, promoting administrative reforms and consolidating the grassroots-level political system," he added.
