Vu Duc Dam, Minister and Head of the Government Office, voiced the Government determination at a regular cabinet meeting in Hanoi in May 27 amidst worries that Vietnam is unlikely to meet the set economic target this year.

Dam explained that with the consumer price index in May forecast to rise only 0.18 percent against April and 2.78 percent against December 2011, the Government has estimated inflation for this year at 7-8 percent, one percent lower than originally anticipated.

One of the positive signs for economic growth is export earnings in the first five months of this year, which increased 24.1 percent against the same period last year, he said.

“The macro-economy has remained steady during the last three months and the business community is very confident in the stability of the local currency (VND),” Dam told media workers.

He said that in the face of difficulties barring domestic production and business, the Government has been very active in managing the economy. The project to restructure the banking system is still on the right track and liquidity is improving.

However, Dam admitted that challenges are lying ahead, including high bank interest rates, the credit crunch, the continual dissolution of businesses, and a decrease in State Budget collection.

Regarding public investment capital, he said only one fourth of the total VND240 trillion allocated for 2012 has been disbursed since the beginning of the year.

He also said the public investment capital disbursed up until the end of the year should be used to assist businesses and focus on projects to ensure social welfare, national defence and security.

He confirmed that the government will speed up the disbursement of public investments in the remaining months of this year to support businesses in difficulty and focus on social welfare, national defense and security projects.