Vietnam strives for 7% economic growth in 2016: PM

The Government’s February meeting, February 29, 2016 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

At the opening session, PM Dung congratulated Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai and Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang, and Minister-Chairman Nguyen Van Nen on ttheir new posts.

He assessed that the 6.68% GDP growth rate in 2015 was higher than the previous forecast of the National Assembly amidst complicated situations in the global and regional economies and declining oil prices. Hence, the Government leader proposed the Cabinet to raise the growth target from 6.7% to around 7% in 2016.

According to the PM, despite the long Tet holidays, the socio-economic performance attained positive outcomes in every area, especially economics and service.

PM Dung suggested ministries, agencies, and localities focus on improving the investment environment and speeding up the institutional reform to make full use of signed FTAs for investment attraction and socio-economic development.

The PM asked for more effort to speed up ODA disbursement.

Ministries, agencies, and localities were tasked to make collective reports in response to a slow-growth global economy, declining global trade, and falling oil prices.

The Government leader requested his inferiors to finalize national key construction projects especially expressways and airports; improve social welfare policies; resolve hospital overload; and prepare for university entrance exams.

The PM also required good preparations of the five-year socio-economic development report and another report summarizing the Government performance term.

Regarding the saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta, PM Dung noted the importance of supplying water for local residents and production. The Ministry of Health was assigned to prepare for epidemic diseases in the dry season.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was asked to prevent saltwater intrusion. The Ministry of Finance was responsible for budget allocation.