Economic growth may reach 5.5 pct this year, says govt

Economic growth may reach 5.5 pct this year, says govt

Industrial production expanded more than 10 percent in the January-August period, creating a strong momentum for economic growth in the remaining months of this year, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, chief of the Government Office, told a press conference in Hanoi on Tuesday.

The government has asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Bank of Vietnam to draw up policies to support the economy “in the coming years” after stimulus spending, a central bank representative said at the conference.

The government also plans to build two nuclear power plants in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, Phuc said.

Each plant will include two units of 2,000 megawatts each, he said, adding that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been asked to draft a more detailed plan before submitting it to the government for approval.

Responding to the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s suggestion to cancel 51 out of 166 golf course projects, Phuc asked the ministry to review and cut even more projects “if necessary”.