Press conference to announce socio-economic statistics fourth quarter and 2022

On the morning of December 29, 2022, the General Statistics Office (GSO) held a press conference to announce the socio-economic statistics of the fourth quarter and 2022. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, General Director of the General Statistics Office chaired conference. At the press conference, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong announced the basic issues about the socio-economic situation of Vietnam in the fourth quarter and 2022.

Accordingly, the gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2022 was estimated to increase by 5.92% over the same period last year, although higher than the growth rate of 4.7% and 5.17% of the same period in 2020 and 2021, but lower than the growth rate of the fourth quarter of 2011-2019. In general, in 2022, GDP in 2022 increased by 8.02% compared to the previous year, reaching the highest increase in the period 2011-2022 due to the recovery of the economy.

          Some key socio-economic indicators in 2022 are as follows:

          – Gross domestic product (GDP): + 8.02%

          – Index of industrial production (IIP): + 7.8%

          – Number of newly established enterprises: 148,533 enterprises

          – Realized social investment capital: + 11.2%

          – Average consumer price index: + 3.15%

          – Core inflation: + 2.59%

          – Total retail sales of consumer goods and services: + 19.8%

          – Total export turnover of goods: + 10.6%

          – Total import turnover of goods:  + 8.4%

          – Trade surplus:11.2 billion USD

          – International visitors to Vietnam: 2228%

          – Labor force aged 15 and over: 51.7 million people

          – Employed population at 15 years of age and above: 50.6 million people

          – Unemployment rate of labor force at working age: 2.32%

          – Underemployment rate of the labor force at working age: 2.21%

In summary, in the context of the world’s economic and political situation with unusual fluctuations with many difficulties and challenges, our country’s social and economic activities in 2022 have achieved remarkable results. It is thanks to the participation of the whole political system, the timely, drastic, and close direction and administration of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the efforts of all levels, branches, and localities, the business community, and the people of the country. Our country’s economy was estimated at an 8.02% growth rate, this is a high growth rate compared to other countries in the region and the world. The macro-economy was stable, inflation was controlled at an appropriate level. Supply and demand for essential goods were ensured, and goods procurement, consumption, and export activities increased. The agriculture, forestry, and fishery sector maintained a stable growth rate, affirming that the program to restructure production and improve product quality has brought into full play its effectiveness, ensuring the supply of food, and commodities essential for stabilizing people’s lives and increasing exports. The processing and manufacturing industry’s production activities continue to play an important role in promoting economic growth. The progress of disbursement of public investment capital has improved markedly, the growth rate of investment capital made from the State budget has reached a high level, and social security has been paid attention to.

However, besides the achieved results, entering the year 2023, our country’s economy and society will face many difficulties and challenges, especially Vietnam’s economy has a large openness, so it will be affected by many impacts multifaceted. Meanwhile, the world economy is increasing the possibility of recession and instability; rapid and unpredictable changes in the economy, politics, and military; Natural disasters are difficult to predict. To promptly have solutions to overcome, and at the same time take the initiative to take advantage of opportunities to achieve the highest results of socio-economic development goals in 2023, creating strong development momentum for the following years. Along with maintaining a stable socio-economic development environment, ensuring safety and convenience for people’s lives and production and business activities to create an important foundation for development, it is necessary to focus on some key points following:

Firstly, closely monitor the world development situations, and fiscal and monetary policies of countries and regions with large economies that are Vietnam’s main trading and investment partners; proactively have a plan to promptly respond to arising situations; regularly update the situation to have a timely response to maintain the stability and growth of the economy in the coming year.

Secondly, actively and flexibly manage monetary policy, stabilize exchange rates and interest rates; control prices, and markets; ensuring the supply of goods and major balances of the economy. Having solutions to limit the hoarding of foreign currencies and transferring assets in VND into foreign currencies. Balancing the supply and demand, stabilizing prices of essential items, especially on holidays and Tet.

Thirdly, ministries, sectors, and localities have drastic solutions to implement and disburse public investment capital, and quickly and effectively implement tasks and investment projects under the Economic Recovery and Development Program in the year 2023. Accelerate the completion and implementation of master plans, and strengthen regional linkages to create synchronism, new space, and new impetus for the development of socio-economic regions as well as localities in the region.

Fourthly, boost domestic production, especially raw materials, fuel, and input materials, and plan raw material areas for production to proactively supply. Effectively implement trade promotion activities, connect supply and demand, remove barriers, create favorable conditions for domestic consumption and export of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products; diversify markets and export goods. Timely adjustment of policies to increase the attraction of high-quality foreign direct investment. Strongly deploying programs and solutions to promote domestic consumption.

Fifthly, continue to strengthen disease prevention and control; proactively plan for disaster prevention, warning of rain, floods, landslides, impacts of drought, and saltwater intrusion to minimize damage to production and people’s lives

Effectively implement policies on social security, labor, and employment; unscheduled assistance, ensuring that people in danger or disaster receive timely support, overcome difficulties, and stabilize their lives.

Sixthly, improve the effectiveness of direction and administration of branches and levels; tighten discipline and administrative discipline in state management in all fields; strictly observe working regulations and disciplining statements; publicity, transparency, and creating an equal business and production environment. Strengthen information, prevent and destroy bad and untrue information that confuses people, propagate beautiful images about the country and people of Vietnam./.