Ho Chi Minh City recorded a high export growth in the first four months of the year, it was reported at a meeting of the Municipal People’s Committee on April 24.

The city’s export value reached 9.2 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 15.6 percent, the Department of Industry and Trade said.

Another good sign was that export growth was higher than imports, which rose to 8.04 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 19.5 percent. Imports comprised mostly raw materials, equipment and facilities.

Huynh Khanh Hiep, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade said this sign shows that the production situation of enterprises has improved.

In the first four months, revenue growth was seen in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, industry and transport sectors.

Total retail sales and service as well as tourism revenue also rose compared to the same period last years, while industrial production increased by 4 percent.

For April, the city’s inventory index is estimated to go up by 7.3 percent, falling by 2.8 percent against last month.

For the first four months of the year, the city’s CPI increased by 2.44 percent against last month.

During the first four month a total of 97,700 jobs were created, meeting 36.9 percent of city’s target.

At the meeting, the People’s Committee established eight task groups that will oversee measures to support companies’ sales and help them increase production next month.

Nguyen Phuoc Trung, Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the city continued taking steps to prevent outbreaks of bird flu.-VNA