Posted on 29 Sep 2008
The gross domestic product (GDP) for the first nine months has grown by 6.52 percent over the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
The agricultural sector, together with forestry and fisheries, posted a growth of 3.57 percent in the nine-month period, compared with 3.02 percent in the same period last year.
Industry and construction grew at 7.09 percent and the service sector at 7.23 percent.
Vo Tri Thanh, head of the Department of International Economic Integration Policy Research, a government think tank, said, “In the current situation, it is very difficult to reach the GDP growth target of 7 percent this year.”
He quoted many experts as saying that growth is likely to be 6-6.5 percent.
The government should continue to place top priority on macroeconomic stability, offer more assistance to enterprises facing difficulties and ensure social welfare, he said.
Chairman of the Government Office, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, said economic growth is likely to be 6.5-7 percent but the government would strive for 7 percent.
