- The 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of
Vietnam and the 13th National Assembly elections were launched successfully,
creating a new engine for robust socioeconomic development. The congress and the
National Assembly Legislature affirmed the goals of the Socioeconomic
Development Strategy for 2011-2020, the Five-Year Plan for 2011-2015, and the
Plan for 2012.
2- Vietnam's newly-elected leaders received heads of
states and their counterparts in Vietnam and visited neighboring countries and
strategic partners. Diplomatic activities increased in 2011 to achieve higher
efficiency. Together with the achievements in international forums, 2011's
diplomatic successes provided a basis for a new development in
Vietnam.
3-
The economy grew by six
percent in 2011, the fastest rate in Southeast Asia. Per capita Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) reached US$1,300, despite high inflation and a record reduction in
investment capital.
4- Vietnam sold abroad more than 7.2 million tonnes of
rice for more than US$3.7 billion, a record high so far in Vietnam, regarding
both export volume and revenue. Rice and other exports such as coffee, cashew,
pepper, rubber, shrimp and Basa fish contributed to strengthening Vietnam's
position in the global value chain.
5- Export earnings came to about US$96.3 billion, a 33.3
percent increase from 2010, three times higher than planned for the year, while
the trade deficit dropped sharply, accounting for 9.89 percent of the export
revenue compared with 18 percent projected for the year. Industrial processed
products continued to play a key role in export. Foreign trade was the biggest
highlight for the Vietnamese economy in 2011.
6- The Thu Thiem Tunnel was completed, becoming the
longest river tunnel in Southeast Asia. The project marked a historic landmark
and opened great prospects for underground traffic development in Vietnam in the
future.
7- Overseas remittances to Vietnam exceeded US$9 billion
in 2011, increasing much more than in 2010 and taking Vietnam into the group of
top ten countries in terms of overseas remittances. The record remittances
proved overseas Vietnamese people's love for Vietnam and the persuasive economic
development in Vietnam that had motivated overseas Vietnamese to send money to
the country.
8- Despite the public debt crisis and economic downturn
globally, at the 2011 Consultative Group Meeting for Vietnam, international
donors pledged almost US$7.4 billion for Vietnam for the 2012 fiscal year.
Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
capital disbursement increased from 2010-2011.
9- State Budget overspending was pegged at 4.8 percent,
making 2011 the first time in the last more than 20 years the State Budget
overspending reached the goal of less than five percent. Meanwhile, State Budget
revenue exceeded what was planned for the year, despite high
inflation.
10- Inflation reached a record high of 18 percent, and the
macro economy remained unstable. Moreover, traffic congestion and accidents
remained serious, curbing economic growth by about one percent.
Developing the achievements, overcoming shortcomings,
and continuing to control inflation, stabilize the macro economy and ensure
social security are primary tasks for 2012 in order to comprehensively develop a
new economic growth model and restructure the economy to achieve better quality
of economic growth./.
Source: VEN