VietNamNet Bridge - The National Assembly has approved a resolution on socio-economic development in 2019,  calling for 6.6-6.8 percent GDP growth rate and a maximum 4 percent CPI increase.

The draft decree on golf course businesses compiled by the Ministry of Planning and Investment says that low-yield one-crop rice land may be used to develop golf courses if the land can satisfy requirements to change the purpose of land use.

VietNamNet Bridge - The increased debt incurred by private businesses will bring risks: the exchange rate and the dollar interest rate will increase.

Reports by state management agencies all show increases in the number of businesses dissolved. 

The investment promotion conferences recently held by provincial authorities all have been ‘more successful than expected’ with registered investment capital worth billions of dollars. However, it’s unclear how many projects will actually occur .

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam wants to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) mostly from the fields of manufacturing/processing, service and logistics, agriculture, tourism, education and tourism.

Experts have applauded the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s decision on not licensing the Vung Ang II BOT (build, operation, transfer) coal-fired thermal power project, saying that this is a ‘necessary caution’.

VietNamNet Bridge - Economists agree that Vietnam may obtain 7.02 percent GDP growth rate this year, but there are challenges to overcome.

VietNamNet Bridge - Industrial real estate developers are using “clean land” funds and building workshops for lease in anticipation of a wave of foreign investors relocating to Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s outward investment has increased by 30 times compared to 10 years ago, according to the Vietnam Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIEs). 

At many political and economic events, American officials and businesses all have said that they believe the US would be the top investor in Vietnam in the near future. But this has yet to happen.

VietNamNet Bridge - Economists agree that private investors should also be allowed access to official development assistance capital, but warn that credit may be used improperly. 

VietNamNet Bridge - The ‘golf rush’ has returned, with around 10 projects added to the national golf course program in one day. More projects are on paper.

While vehicle owners complain that the toll fees lead to high logistics and production costs, BOT project developers complain that the fee is not high enough to recover investment capital.

VietNamNet Bridge - Chinese FDI (foreign direct investment) flow to Vietnam has been increasing rapidly recently as Vietnam is one of the destinations included in China’s ‘One belt, one road’ strategy’.

VietNamNet Bridge - Many foreign registered investment projects capitalized at several millions of dollars each have been set up in Vietnam. Economists have warned that the existence of the micro enterprises will cause difficulties for domestic ones.

After spending two hours on a flight from HCMC, plus 30 minutes on entry procedures, a group of Vietnamese, including two business owners and investors, landed in Singapore recently to complete business registration procedures.

VietNamNet Bridge - While investors remain optimistic about condotels, seeing promising profits, experts are concerned about the rapid development of the real estate product.

While multinational conglomerates and large foreign investment funds are looking for opportunities to invest in large companies, other foreign investors are eyeing small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The General Statistics Office (GSO) has announced there was an excess of exports over imports of $2.8 billion in the first 11 months of the year.