Vietnam’s annual GDP growth accelerated in the second quarter to between 6.2 percent and 6.4 percent from 5.83 percent in the first quarter, a government report estimated on Thursday
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Vietnam Q2 GDP quickens to 6.2-6.4 pct
Thailand is running out of mechanisms for compromise. Various academic groups, business groups, peace advocates and elder statesmen have failed to gain any traction as potential conciliators. By loudly and repeatedly claiming to be defending the monarchy, the die-hard groups have eroded the institution’s old role as mediator. There remains only a slim chance for Mr. Abhisit to play a positive role in the emergence of the new political Thailand, rather than being a casualty in the collapse of the old order.
In 2001 the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam approved a 10-year economic plan that enhanced the role of the private sector while reaffirming the primacy of the state. Growth then rose to 6% to 7% in 2000-02 even against the background of global recession, making it the world’s second-fastest growing economy. Simultaneously, investment grew threefold and domestic savings quintupled.
- Vietnam expanded its export market by reducing import duties to zero to 5% in 2006 and has agreed to remove them completely by 2015.
- Vietnam has created a bid market to attract foreign investors not only from its Asean partners but also from outside the trading bloc, especially Europe and America.
- Vietnam has faced challenges, however, including intense competition from other Asean member countries. For instance, farmers have suffered from agricultural imports from China and Thailand.
- Fluctuations in regional markets have had a sudden and severe impact on the domestic market, especially in the financial sectors and on petroleum and investment capital.
- Vietnam’s state revenues suffered from a drop in business profits and tax contributions.
- The real-estate market froze and the labour market destabilized, reducing the number of employees in industrial zones, with many returning to rural areas.
- Pollution has become a problem because foreign investors had transferred underdeveloped or outdated technology without proper controls, and investment had been often approved at any cost.
Education has always had a central role in Vietnam culture and society. It is seen as the avenue of advancement and families routinely sacrifice much to ensure their offspring get the required education. The government of Vietnam has for some time set the priority of education in terms of its budget. Currently, education occupies approximately 20% of all state budget expenditures and accounts for 5.5% of GDP (source: Department of Finance and Planning, MOET, 2008).








