Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam allocated about 1.15 quadrillion VND (nearly 43.8 billion USD) for development investment in 2025, the highest ever recorded, the Ministry of Finance reported at its year-end review conference held in Hanoi on January 6.
The figure includes additional allocations by local authorities.
By the end of 2025, the country had completed 3,345 km of expressways, or 3,803 km including interchanges and access roads, alongside 1,701 km of coastal roads, exceeding the targets of 3,000 km of expressways and 1,700 km of coastal highways.
The Ministry of Finance said public investment management in 2025 was carried out in a firm, consistent and proactive manner, with a strong focus on removing bottlenecks in capital disbursement. Public investment funds were allocated more selectively, further addressing the long-standing issues of fragmented and inefficient investment, while enhancing autonomy and accountability among ministries and localities in project selection and capital allocation, in line with development priorities and transparency requirements.
Central budget funds were prioritised for nationally significant projects, expressways, inter-regional links and other key infrastructure works, thereby creating new growth drivers, expanding development space and strengthening national competitiveness.
To ensure coordinated and timely implementation, the ministry advised the Prime Minister to establish seven working groups to inspect, accelerate and remove obstacles to public investment disbursement at ministries, central agencies and localities. In parallel, it formed six other groups to guide and examine administrative streamlining in all 34 localities, addressing difficulties related to finance and public investment.
Despite global and regional uncertainties in 2025, Vietnam maintained macro-economic stability, kept inflation under control and safeguarded major economic balances. Last year's GDP growth was estimated at around 8%, bringing the five-year average to 6.3%. GDP per capita stood at more than 5,000 USD, 1.4 times higher than in 2020, placing the country in the upper-middle-income group. Annual inflation remained below 4%, at about 3.3% in 2025, lower than the ceiling target. Total import-export turnover surpassed 930 billion USD, 1.7 times the 2020 level, with a trade surplus estimated at over 20 billion USD, according to the ministry.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang noted that 2025 was a year of major and unpredictable challenges, particularly global financial and trade volatility, as well as severe impacts from natural disasters and climate change.
In 2026, the country aims for economic growth of 10% or higher while maintaining macroeconomic stability, keeping inflation at round 4.5%, guaranteeing major economic balances, ensuring social security and improving living standards.
The Ministry of Finance, he said, will continue to work closely with ministries and localities to effectively implement the Party's and National Assembly’s guidelines and the Government’s directions, meeting the increasingly demanding development goals ahead./.
VNA
