Hanoi (VNA) – Positive outcomes have been recordedin all economic spheres over the last nine months with the most remarkablebeing the highest nine-month GDP growth rate since 2011, according to PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

He made the remark while chairing theGovernment’s monthly meeting on October 1.

The PM said GDP grew 6.98 percent in the period– the fastest nine-month pace since 2011, driven by the processing andmanufacturing industry with an expansion of 12.65 percent.

The macro-economy remained stable whileinflation stayed under control when the consumer price index (CPI) rose by 3.57percent between January and September. 

Export revenue was estimated at 179 billion USD,up 15.4 percent, with exports by domestic firms up 17.5 percent compared to the14.6-percent increase in the FDI sector’s. Twenty-six products recorded exportturnover of over 1 billion USD, and five of them brought home more than 10billion USD.

The country posted 5.39 billion USD in tradesurplus, which was an encouraging record, PM Phuc said.

Total investment in society increased 10.9percent, and total goods retail sales and consumer service revenue rose 11.3percent. Meanwhile, more than 96,000 new businesses were set up in the reviewedperiod.

Vietnam is also taking the lead in the AmwayGlobal Entrepreneurship Report 2018. Accordingly, 92 percent of the respondentsperceived starting a business as desirable, and 88 percent said they were readyto take risks compared to the global average of 47 percent.

The PM noted that other fields such as culture,society, environment, defence, security and diplomacy also witnessedimprovements.

Basing on what have been achieved in Septemberand the nine months, the PM said eight targets for 2018 set by the NationalAssembly will be surpassed while four others will be reached.

Reviewing the outstanding achievements inSeptember, he highlighted the particular success of the World Economic Forum onASEAN (WEF ASEAN) – the country’s biggest diplomatic event this year – held inHanoi, noting that it was described by foreign delegations as the mostsuccessful WEF ASEAN in the last 27 years.

Another noteworthy event was the debut of theCommittee for Management of State Capital in late September. As a special unitsubordinate to the Government, it manages State capital at 19 State-ownedeconomic groups and corporations with total capital of 1 quadrillion VND (43billion USD) and combined asset value of 2.3 quadrillion VND (99 billion USD),he added.

At the meeting, PM Phuc called attention to theUS-China trade war, asking ministers and heads of sectors to devise concretesolutions to its impact.

The inflation pressure was still very big as aresult of both internal and external factors, he said, adding that this problemneeds to be further monitored so as to take timely actions to keep inflationunder control.

He also pointed out certain difficulties facingthe export of some farm produce, obstacles to businesses, slow disbursement ofconstruction and investment capital, complicated smuggling and trade fraud, andproblems in ensuring social order and safety.

The leader requested Cabinet members to work outsolutions to existing problems to fulfill this year’s targets and createmomentum for 2019.–VNA