Vietnam's 1st Half GDP Seen Up 6.7%, Jun CPI Up 2.2%

Monday, June 23, 2008
Viet Nam's economy is projected to have expanded 6.7% in the first half of this year and the consumer price index to have risen 2.2% in June from May.

"The economy is forecast to have grown 6.6%-6.7% in the first six months and will reach the target of 7% growth set by the National Assembly for this year," Viet Nam News Agency said, citing the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

A 2.2% rise in the CPI in June would be slower than the 3.9% increase posted in May, government figures show.

Between January and June, the country issued licenses for foreign investment projects valued at $31.6 billion, exceeding the $21.3 billion recorded in 2007, the agency said.

"This indicated that foreign investors believe in Vietnam's social and political stability," the agency added.

Viet Nam is expected to release its official statistics for the economy next week. (Dow Jones)