Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the government’s regular meeting on March 1st, 2018 (Photo: VNA)

Last month’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.73 percent. 19,000 new businesses were established during the first two months of 2018. Vietnam gained a trade surplus of over 1 billion USD and FDI reached 1.7 billion USD in January and February. After recognizing these economic achievements, Mr. Phuc asked ministries and sectors to maximize their efforts to curb inflation and ensure macro-economic stability as inflation pressure this year could be high and urged them to attract more investment to Vietnam. PM Phuc said: “We should focus on business and production to create a healthier environment. It’s necessary to improve macro-economic management and economic restructuring. We should also work on social issues, including fighting corruption.”  

At the meeting, cabinet members discussed draft revisions to the draft Law on Special Amnesty and new bills on cultivation, livestock production, urban development management, and population.

The same day, the Prime Minister asked ministries, sectors, and localities to closely follow developments around the world to make prompt responses. He stressed the need to control inflation and stabilize the macro economy focusing on monetary and financial policies. He asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to take resolute measures to proceed the disbursement of public investment capital which had achieved 9% of the annual plan in the past two months.