Cabinet meeting: February sees marked socio-economic achievements

 Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has made significant socio-economic strides in February despite the week-long Tet holiday, heard a regular Cabinet meeting in Hanoi on March 1.  

At the February meeting, also the first sitting in the Lunar New Year, Cabinet members were told that, the macro economy, as well as interest and foreign exchange rates remained stable.

February’s consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.73 percent, with food and catering services up 1.53 percent, and transport up 0.79 percent. The index in the first two months of this year rose by 2.9 percent year-on-year.

Exports continued to grow sharply to reach 13.4 billion USD in the month, raising the total export value in the first two months to 33.6 billion USD, up nearly 23 percent year-on-year, with soars recorded in rice (34 percent), cashew (94 percent), vegetables and fruits (60 percent), and seafood (30 percent).

Export revenue of the domestic economic sector surged 25.7 percent, higher than that of the foreign direct investment (FDI) sector.

A trade surplus of 1.08 billion USD is the highlight of the national economy in February.

The total retail sales of goods and services expanded by 13.2 percent last month and 10.1 percent in the first two months.

Vietnam served 1.43 million international visitors in February, up nearly 20 percent, and 2.86 million in January-February, up close to 30 percent.

As of February 20, FDI disbursements were estimated at 1.7 billion USD, up over 9.7 percent year-on-year.

During the first two months, nearly 19,000 new enterprises were formed in the country, up nearly 30 percent in the number of firms and 29.3 percent in registered capital compared to the same period last year.

At the same time, attention has been paid to socio-economic affairs, and social welfare.

The new style rural area construction programme has been going on steadily, security and defence has been reinforced, and social order has been ensured.-VNA