Move FM Global News

HANOI, Vietnam – Robust growth in exports and manufacturing has lifted Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Vietnam to 7.31%.

The figure for the third quarter is significantly improved on last year’s figure for the quarter of 6.73%, according to data revealed by the General Statistics Office in Hanoi on Saturday.

For the nine months of thje year, growth has been recorded at 6.98%.

“Manufacturing is the main driver of economic growth in the first nine months of the year, followed by services,” Nguyen Bich Lam, head of General Statistics Office, said at a briefing in Hanoi on Saturday.

Exports climbed 8.2% in the first three quarters, while imports racked up 8.9%.

Consumer prices rose 1.98% in September.

The government says it is working to keep a lid on inflation, targeting a cap of 4%.

According to Do Thi Ngoc, the head of the consumer prices department at the General Statistics Office, inflation for 2019 will likely fall under 3%.