Vietnam's GDP said to grow 6.8 percent in 2001
HANOI - Vietnam's official media reported on Friday that the country's gross domestic product
(GDP) grew an estimated 6.8 percent in 2001.
The state-run Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper quoted figures from the General Statistics Office (GSO),
which is due to release its official GDP estimate for the year on Monday.
An official at the GSO told Reuters he was unable to confirm the figure.
"I'm not allowed to give official numbers yet, but they should be about that," he said.
Lao Dong said the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors showed a combined 2.7 percent growth over
last year, while the industry and construction sectors combined showed 10.4 percent growth. The service
sector grew 6.1 percent, it said.
The estimate compares with a World Bank forecast for the year of 4.8 percent and an Asian Development
Bank forecast of 6.0 percent, both of which were released in November.
Vietnam had initially targeted growth for the year at 7.5 percent but revised down its forecasts, citing a
worsening global environment.
In April, the ruling Communist Party announced an ambitious 10-year development strategy targeting
average GDP growth in the 2001-2005 period of 7.5 percent and a doubling of GDP by 2010.
Reuters - December 28, 2001.
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