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VVG - VIETNAM VENTURE GROUP, Inc.

Economic Indicators

Copyright © 1999-2008 Vietnam Venture Group, Inc.   Updated July 5, 1999

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 

July 1999
Current Report

Rates of Inflation, Exchange, and Debt
Balance of Trade
Growth Rate of Merchandise Exports
Changes in Consumer Prices
GDP Growth (%)
GDP (converted to US$)
GDP per capita (converted to US$)
Foreign Capital Investment
Foreign Investment By Sector
Foreign Investment By Province

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

October 1998
December 1998
January 1999
Archives
Links to earlier reports are found here
March 1999
April 1999
May 1999
June 1999

 

Rates of Inflation & Currency Exchange

Current Annual Rate of Inflation:  4.8%; ADB predicts it will be 8% for the year and 9% in year 2000.  [Chart VIR Jul99]

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Jan 99 Feb99 Mar99 Apr99 May99 Jun 99
14.4 12.7 4.5 3.8 9.2 9.1 8.9 9.0 6.6 4.8 4.4

Current Rate of Exchange (cash in new bills denominated in $100 or $50 only)
Vietnam dong to US dollar: 13,930 : 1  [Unofficial projections are that this will drop to 15,000 or 16,000 by year 2000]

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

Index

 

 

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

1999 (f) 1999 (rpt) 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
Exports 10.0 4.995 9.4 8.9 7.1 5.2 4.1
Imports 11.5 5.227 11.4 11.2 11.1 7.5 5.3
Balance (+ -) 1.5 0.2322 2.0 2.3 4.0 2.3 1.2

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.

2.  First six months in 1999 [VIR].

3.  In its 1999 report published in April, Asian Development Outlook, the ADB said the current account deficit is likely to remain around the 1998 level of 4.1% of GDP, which was achieved through import restrictions imposed by the government.

Index

 

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

2000 (f) 1999 (f) 1998 1997
6.9 5.0 3.9 22.2

 

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

2000 (f) 1999 (f) 1998 1997
7.0 8.0 9.2 3.6

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

2000 (f) 1999 (f)1 1998 1997 1996 1995
na / 4.5 5.5 / 3.7 5.8 / 4.0 8.8 / 8.2 9.34 9.54

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

Index

 

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

1999 (f) 1998 1997 1996 1995
n/a 26 25 23.2 15.917

Index

 

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

1999 (f) 1998 1997 1996 1995
n/a 332 315 301 214.29

Index

 

Foreign Capital Investment 

All Nations: 1,755 projects with Total Investment Capital $33.51 billion (vet)

Top Twelve Nations (May 1999 by VET)

Rank

Nation

Number of
Projects
Total Capital (US$)

Rank

Nation

Number of
Projects
Total Capital (US$)
1 Singapore 172 6.21b 7 Russia 26 1.39b
2 Taiwan 306 4.33b 8 Malaysia 60 1.38b
3 Japan 207 3.49b 9 United States 68 1.37b
4 South Korea 187 3.17b 10 Thailand 76 1.1b
5 Hong Kong 191 3.11b 11 Britain 22 1.03b
6 France 90 1.67b 12 Br.Virgin Islands 51 925m

Index

 

Foreign Investment By Sector  Total Foreign Investment by Sector (US$) (May VET)

Sector

# of Projects Total Invested

Sector

# of Projects Total Invested
General Industry 1,076 17.10b Finance & Banking 20 271.25m
Hotels & Tourism 253 8.38b Services 109 237.35m
Industrial Zones 16 3.05b Export Processing Zones 60 202.68
Transport, Communication and Post 56 2.05b Housing Development 27 82.32m
Oil & Gas 24 1.22b Fisheries 20 54.85m
Agriculture & Forestry 62 426.61m Others 32 424.35m

Index

 

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) total projects were not reported by province in July (June figures are repeated but in gray print) and 1999 investments were reported. 

Province

Number of projects5

Total Investment
(US$ b)5

1999 Number Of Investments 1999 Investments in US$ millions
HCMC 582 9.5 27 45.24
Hanoi 282 6.9 10 201.21
Dong Nai 192 3.1 4 9.55
BaRia-Vung Tau 50 2.3 na na
Hai Phong 68 1.3 1 3.50
Binh Duong 137 1.3 21 192.44
Lam Dong 33 848 m 2 3.10
Quang Ninh 26 825 m na na
Da Nang 42 779 m 1 0.60
Hai Duong 21 485 m na na

Index

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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