Vietnam defines tasks to realize 2014 socio-economic goals

The Vietnamese government on Monday defined major tasks to realize socio-economic targets set for 2014 at an online conference between the government and the country's localities. Among the targets set for 2014, Vietnam will strive to achieve a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.8 percent in 2014, and inflation to be kept at 7 percent, reported the e-portal of the Vietnamese government on Monday. Besides, Vietnam targets an increase of 10 percent in export value with trade deficit accounting for 6 percent of the total export revenue, total social development capital making up 30 percent of GDP, poor household reduction by 1.7-2 percent, and 1.6 million new jobs to be created. To meet the set targets, the government drafted nine major tasks and asked all the country's localities to carry out synchronous solutions. First, priority will be given to macroeconomic stabilization and inflation control by continuing to implement flexible monetary and tight fiscal policies, developing markets, boosting exports and controlling imports. Second, the government is to ease difficulties for businesses, accelerate production by creating favorable conditions for businesses to easily access loans, and effectively carry out preferential policies. Third, the government should speed up the implementation of three strategic breakthroughs of finalizing the socialist-oriented market economy institution, rapidly developing human resources, and building a synchronous infrastructure system, along with restructuring the economy, renewing the growth model, and improving the quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy. The country will also focus on other tasks including guaranteeing social security and welfare and improving people's lives; using natural resources reasonably and effectively, protecting the environment and coping with climate change; boosting up fights against corruption; guaranteeing national defense and security; expanding and increasing the effectiveness of diplomatic affairs; and strengthening information and communication works to create social consensus. In 2013, Vietnamese economy is estimated to expand 5.42 percent, lower than the target set by Vietnam's National Assembly, and inflation is likely to stay at 6.6 percent, the lowest rate in the past 10 years, according to Vietnam's General Statistics Office on Monday.