Tho, who is also a member of the Prime Minister’s economic advisorygroup, said the past five years could be said to be the best period during Vietnam’s35-year Doi Moi (renewal) cause.
He cited an average growth of nearly 7 percent each year,along with stable macro-economic indicators such as inflation, public debt andunemployment rate.
Last year alone, Vietnam still posted a positive growthwhile others reported negative economic expansion amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the scholar, Vietnam’s most impressiveachievement was in external economy with rapid export growth. The country has becomethe second largest exporter in ASEAN, leading to improved trade balance.
Regarding the 13th National Party Congress, Tho stressedthat as Vietnam is going to enter a new development period with major changes ingrowth quality, social resources should be further tapped to meet developmentrequirements.
In the face of great opportunities and challenges ahead, hesaid Vietnam’s new leadership should catch up with the new national and globaldevelopments, and take sound policies, especially in attracting and using talents.
About sustainable economic growth goals for the next fiveyears, Tho described restructuring and related policies as the most important,especially labour and business restructuring.
In labour, with 35 percent of the labour force still workingin agriculture with low productivity, he proposed channeling labour from agricultureto industry and services through stepping up industrialization.
As for the structure of businesses, SMEs and householdsbusinesses still account for a large proportion in the economy, so there shouldbe policies to improve capital and land market, and actively help small andmedium-sized enterprises to grow in size.
The scholar also pointed to the instable structure offoreign trade. He suggested in the next five years, Vietnam should hastenindustrialisation to ease its reliance on imports from China and the Republicof Korea, and diversify export markets.
He said Vietnam needs a wiser strategy in attracting foreigninvestment and technology. According to him, domestic enterprises should bestronger so as to be able to become partners of foreign firms, especially thoseworking in high technology./.