A consumer shops at a supermarket (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) willcontrol inflation under 4 percent and stabilise the macro economy to reach aGDP growth of 6.7 percent, as well as ensure a safe operation for the bankingsystem, a high ranking official of the central bank said.
Speaking with the media in HCM City on January 16, SBV Deputy Governor NguyenThi Hong said that “many unexpected things could happen to the world’s economy,and surely affect the Vietnamese economy.”
The SBV has set a goal to gain a credit increase of 16 percent for growth of 16– 18 percent in total payments, and will try to cut the medium- and long-terminterest rates, as well as stabilise the foreign currency exchange rate.
SBV established the goals based on achievementsreached in 2016, with inflation at 4.74 percent, lower than the target set bythe National Assembly of 5 percent. Credit development was 18.4 percent andforeign currency exchange rate was stable, despite international events such asBrexit and the victory of US President-elect Donald Trump.
“For a long time, we have been able to control inflation lower than theNational Assembly’s target. Low inflation has helped industries and ministriesmanage and control prices in the market,” Hong added.
She also said that pressure to increase the interest rate had appeared earlylast year but thanks to flexible solutions in managing credit and interestrates, the floor for interest rates dropped around 0.5 – 1.6 percent.
“We paid attention to production and other high-risk industries, so they wereunder tight control,” she said.
In 2016, credit growth for real estate was half of the rate of 2015.
“To stabilise foreign currency exchange rates, the SBV kept a strong policy tohave high interest for Vietnamese dong and low interest for foreign currency.This has mostly eliminated speculation in foreign currency,” she added.
Last year, the SBV bought a reserve of foreign currency but still controlledinflation.
“SBV tightened control with credit institutions and commercial banks to ensuresafety of operations and ability to pay. Bad debt remained under 3 percent,like the figure in 2015,” Hong said.
“SBV will work with relevant agencies to map out a special law to boost bankrestructuring and settle bad debts in 2017,” the deputy Governor added.
Hong said the new law on supporting the banking sector in restructuring andresolving bad debts would mention all legal regulations related to theactivity.
Obstacles in existing legal regulations would also be addressed under the newlaw to remove hindrances in resolving bad debts.
With a detailed and adequate legal framework, she expected it would be easierfor the banking system to implement restructuring.
She also announced that the SBV had approved establishment of a CommunicationDepartment, which would help SBV provide exact information about economicmanagement to the market and public.- VNA
“For a long time, we have been able to control inflation lower than theNational Assembly’s target. Low inflation has helped industries and ministriesmanage and control prices in the market,” Hong added.
She also said that pressure to increase the interest rate had appeared earlylast year but thanks to flexible solutions in managing credit and interestrates, the floor for interest rates dropped around 0.5 – 1.6 percent.
“We paid attention to production and other high-risk industries, so they wereunder tight control,” she said.
In 2016, credit growth for real estate was half of the rate of 2015.
“To stabilise foreign currency exchange rates, the SBV kept a strong policy tohave high interest for Vietnamese dong and low interest for foreign currency.This has mostly eliminated speculation in foreign currency,” she added.
Last year, the SBV bought a reserve of foreign currency but still controlledinflation.
“SBV tightened control with credit institutions and commercial banks to ensuresafety of operations and ability to pay. Bad debt remained under 3 percent,like the figure in 2015,” Hong said.
“SBV will work with relevant agencies to map out a special law to boost bankrestructuring and settle bad debts in 2017,” the deputy Governor added.
Hong said the new law on supporting the banking sector in restructuring andresolving bad debts would mention all legal regulations related to theactivity.
Obstacles in existing legal regulations would also be addressed under the newlaw to remove hindrances in resolving bad debts.
With a detailed and adequate legal framework, she expected it would be easierfor the banking system to implement restructuring.
She also announced that the SBV had approved establishment of a CommunicationDepartment, which would help SBV provide exact information about economicmanagement to the market and public.- VNA
VNA
