1. Macroeconomic stability
- Consumer Price Index: CPI of April increased by 0.33% over the last month and 1.33% as compared to December 2015. CPI of April rose by 1.89% and average CPI of the first 4 months by 1.41% as compared to the same period last year.
- Monetary & credit: as of April 20th 2016, total means of payment was estimated to rise by 4.54% over December; total deposit of customers in credit institutions by 4.01%; credit of the economy by 2.99%.
- State budget revenue – expenditure: accumulated from the beginning of the year to 15th April, total state budget revenue was estimated at 254.35 thousand billion dong, equaling 25.1% of the yearly estimate; total state budget expenditure was estimated at 318.2 thousand billion dong, equivalent to 25% of the yearly estimate.
2. Economic growth
- Industrial production: IIP of the first 4 months increased by 7.3% as compared to the same period last year; of which: electricity production and distribution by 12.1%; processing and manufacturing by 9.6%; water supply, wastewater and waste treatment by 9%; mining decreased 1.7%.
- Agricultural, forestry and fishery production: As of 15th April, Southern localities harvested 1.6 million hectares of winter spring rice, equaling over 80% of cultivated areas and 95.9% of the same period last year. Mekong River Delta cultivated 628.4 thousand hectares of summer autumn rice, equivalent to 97% of the same period last year.
- Service sector: in the first 4 months, total retailed sales of consumer goods and services increased 8.8% as compared to the same period 2015. International visitors to Vietnam were estimated at 3.25 million arrivals, up 17.8% as compared to the same period last year.
- Export & import: in the first 4 months, total export turnover was estimated at US$ 52.87 billion, up 6% as compared to the same period 2015. Total import turnover was estimated at US$ 51.4 billion, down 1.2% as compared to the same period 2015. Trade surplus was US$ 1.46 billion, equaling 2.8% of total export turnover.
- Foreign capital attraction: in the first 4 months, realized FDI capital was estimated at US$ 4.65 billion, up 12% as compared to the same period last year. Total registered FDI capital was estimated at US$ 6.89 billion, up 1.8 times as compared to the same period last year. Disbursement of ODA and preferential loans was estimated at US$ 610 million, up 7.4% as compared to the same period last year.
3. Social welfares, culture and other social fields
Social welfares and people’s healthcare continued being paid attention to implement well. Solutions for areas under natural disasters, drought, saline intrusion were carried out, including: suppying rice from the state reserve, water, some other essential commodities… to reduce difficulties of people. Policies for people with meritorious services and policy beneficiaries, ethnic minorities, people in mountainous areas and islands were paid attention to implement. Preventive health care, ensuring food safety, prevention of food poisoning in the summer were strengthened.
Artistical and cultural activities celebrating major holidays of Vietnam were held throughout with rich content; management and operation of festivals were boosted. Conserving and embellishing cultural heritage continued being cared about.
In information and communication sector, many TV, radio, press programs were made on study to grasp Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress thoroughly, on the 11th session of the 13th National Assembly, on preparation for the election of members of the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels; information on new mechanism, policy and socio-economic situation of the country…
Regarding traffic safety, as compared to the same period last year, in the first 4 months, number of traffic accidents reduced by 12.61%, death toll by 5.45%, injury by 17.32%.
With regard to fire and exploision, in the first 4 months, as much as 1,224 cases occurred, killing 21 people and injuring 112 people, damaging around 635 billion dong.
General remark on socio-economic situation of the first 4 months: Macro economy was stable, inflation was curbed at low level in the context of difficult economy and continuous natural disasters. Interest rate was relatively stable; value of domestic currency and foreign currency rate ranged within the accepted limits. In economic development, service sector maintained its recovery momentum, growth of the first quarter 2016 was higher than the same period last year; export & import had positive changes, trade surplus was US$ 1.46 billion in the first 4 months. FDI attraction achieved such positive outcomes as: realized FDI increased by 12%, newly registered capital by nearly 90% as compared to the same period 2015. International visitors to Vietnam increased highly as compared to the same period. Enterprise development changed positively because of implementing Enterprise Law and Investment Law (amended) and improvement of investment, business climate. Labors, employment, social security, welfares and other social fields were paid attention and achieved many results. Political security and social order were maintained. Traffic safety had positive changes; traffic jams and accidents reduced sharply.
However, socio-economic situation has many difficulties and challenges. Drought in Central Highlands, Southern central provinces and Mekong river delta will impact on production, productivity and output of summer autumn crop, industrial trees, fruit trees… Progress of state budget revenue was slow. Growth of export in the first 4 months was lower than the same period. Life of people in areas under natural disaster, drought, saline intrusion, environmental pollution faced many difficulties./.
Ministry of Planning and Investment