The banking sector needs to better implement the monetary management policy and maintain inflation at a level lower than that in 2012.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement in Hanoi on January 9 at a conference to introduce the banking sector’s 2013 action plan.

Dung said major challenges lie ahead. The Government’s goals for this year include stabilising the macro-economy, curbing inflation, maintaining a growth rate higher than that of 2012, and ensuring social welfare.

He directed the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to control interest rates and credit in line with the macro-economy, improve business access to capital, especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises working in agriculture, exports and support industries. The bank is also required to ensure liquidity, the operation of credit organisations, and the national economy.

The Government leader asked the SBV to liaise closely with ministries and departments to classify, restructure and deal with bad debts in line with bank restructuring.

The sector’s 2013 goals are also to continue its flexible monetary policy, control money flow to ensure a credit growth of 12 percent, and tackle obstacles facing businesses.

It will also regulate exchange rates and the foreign currency market, and take drastic measures to restructure credit organisations.

Last year, the sector helped safeguard the banking system and increase the foreign currency reserve. It also took radical measures to remove barriers in production and trade.-VNA