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This space provides the latest data that is available to us on key financial indicators.  This is  the official government picture on the economic climate in Vietnam.   Please read this data in conjunction with Vietnam Vignettes ,  the various Business Articles , and our Service pages in order to learn how VVG may be of able to meet your specific needs.  Please write to us

Current as of  the month reported, data sources include VVG original research,  General Statistical Office, MPI, Vietnam Investment Review, Vietnam Economic Times, and Vietnam Business Journal

Rates of Inflation & Currency Exchange

Current Annual Rate of Inflation:  2.0%  [Chart VET Feb 1000]  NOTE:  This report changed remarkably between December 1999 and January 2000, and appears to be a much more accurate reflection of the inflation numbers for 1999

Current Rate of Exchange (exchanging cash in new bills denominated in $100 or $50 only)
US dollar to Vietnam dong  1 : 14,040

  [Unofficial projections are that this will drop to 15,000 or 16,000 this year. While Vietnam and China both deny that their currencies will drop, the dong is floating lower.  As stories are still heard that the Chinese Yuan will drop below 8.3 to the dollar, we recommend investors closely watching the dong as well.]

Outstanding External Debt in US$ millions (ADB): 1997 - 11,612;  1998 - 14,861; 1999 - n/a

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Balance of Trade ¹ US$ billions (1999 forecast figures: VET)

1.  Annual currency transfers from overseas Vietnamese adds an estimated $2.5 billion into the quiet economy, while smuggling adds approximately $1.5 billion more each year. These sums are not accounted for in this tabulation of only official reports.

2.  First ten months in 1999 [VIR].

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Growth Rate of Merchandise Exports as a percent of change from the prior year (ADB)

Change in Consumer Prices expressed as a percent of change from the prior year (ADB)

GDP Growth (%) Government Statistics Bureau/Asian Development Bank

1. First four months of 1999 GDP reported at 4.0%

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GDP (converted to US$ billion)   VND 1 = US$  14,000 (constant) Reported in billion dollars

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GDP per capita (converted to US$)  VND 1 = US$  14,000 (constant) Reported in actual $ (vbj)

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Foreign Capital Investment 

All Nations: (1,802)  2,855 projects with Total Investment Capital ($34.08)  $36.26 billion (Dec VET)  Note: since December's Economic Indicator, the number of projects as reported by VET (in parentheticals) has jumped dramatically (> 1,000) while the number of dollars invested has increased by > $2 billion. These numbers are highly suspect. There has been no indication of any dramatic, year end boost in direct or size foreign investment to justify a difference of such proportions.

Top Twelve Nations (January 2000 by VET)  

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Foreign Investment By Sector  Total Foreign Investment by Sector (US$) (Dec VET)   Note: since December's Economic Indicator, the number of projects as reported by VET  has jumped dramatically (> 1,000) while the number of dollars invested has increased by > $2 billion. These numbers are highly suspect. There has been no indication of any dramatic, year end boost in direct or size foreign investment to justify a difference of such proportions.

Construction is the only new category added.  The following categories have been eliminated from the above list.  The numbers below were reported in December 1999 Economics Indicators

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Foreign Investment By Province: Top Ten Locations by Total Investment Capital. 
NOTES: (1) These figures are as reported by the MPI in the Vietnam Investment Review, and do not always reflect the same data as is available in the reported provinces.  (2) Earlier reports on these pages showed total licensed projects and did NOT account for licenses that are no longer operative. (3) Total investment capital is paid-in capital (referred to in Vietnam as Legal Capital) plus all loans needed for the life of a project as projected at the time of licensing, or  as a company's charter may be subsequently amended.  This is quite different from "steel-in-the-ground" (referred to in Vietnam as total capital committed).   (4) Accurate figures for Capital Committed are not readily available.  Estimates differ among multilateral institutions but currently run at between $4 billion to $8 billion. (5) VIR ceased publishing total invested projects after June 1999 (totals as of June 1999 are repeated but in gray print). Since then, only total 1999 investments are reported.  (6) Figures as of 10 October 1999

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Additional data is found on the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam website.   When you arrive there, click onto the Business page.  http://www.amchamvn.com .

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