VietNamNet Bridge – A new BVA/Gallup poll has found that the Vietnamese figures among the top ten optimistic countries in the world regarding the economic outlook for 2011.

The second poll carried out by the France-based institute and Gallup International Association towards the end of last year covering 53 countries found 70 per cent of the 1,000 Vietnamese surveyed expressing confidence in the economic outlook for next year.

According to the institute, optimism is fuelled by the strong economic development of last several years, including a 6.7 per cent GDP growth last year and new infrastructure development like the recent opening of Can Tho International Airport.

The Gallup report in a French newspaper Le Parisien Daily says that over the last 15 years, 15 million Vietnamese people have overcome poverty. Since 1960, the average age of Vietnamese citizens has gone up by 27 years. The lifespan of Vietnamese women is more than 73 years and nearly 100 per cent of children attend primary school, the report says.

Viet Nam is the world's biggest coffee exporter and the second biggest in garment exports, the report says. It cites BVA expert Celine Bracq as saying that since 1986 when Viet Nam adopted its renewal policy (doi moi), its growth has been dynamic.

It was among several emerging countries which not only resisted the recent global economic downturn but also developed well, he said.

The high rate of confidence in next year's economic prospects in Viet Nam compared to just 30 per cent in the rest of the world.

People in developed economies in contrast tend to view the coming year more negatively.

Europeans are ringing in 2011 in a far more downbeat mood, according to the international poll posted by the Le Parisien Daily. French are the world champions of scepticism, with 61 per cent of respondents saying 2011 will be difficult. Following them were Britons at 52 per cent, Spaniards (48 per cent) and Italians (41 per cent).

It found that 67 per cent of French respondents believed unemployment would rise over the next 12 months. Employment was also a major concern in the UK, with 74 per cent of Britons believing unemployment would increase. Pakistan came a negative close second at 72 per cent.

The overall negative sentiment in Europe came in stark contrast to the emerging economies in Asia, South America and Africa, where citizens are generally optimistic about the new year, the poll found.

In Brazil, India and mainland China, 49 per cent of respondents said they believed 2011 would be economically prosperous, with only 14 per cent predicting hardship.

Confidence is also high in Nigeria, where 80 per cent of respondents expect their financial situation to improve this year.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News