Vietnam Targets GDP Growth of 8-8.5 per cent in 2005

Vietnam will set a target to achieve a growth rate of between 8-8.5 per cent in gross domestic product (GDP) next year, according to a government plan for the country's socio-economic development in 2005.

The government expects that the rate can reach as high as 8.8 per cent in order to help the country achieve an annual average growth rate of 7.5 per cent in the 2001-05 period.

The industrial and construction sector is set to achieve the highest increase in total production value next year, at 15.5-16 per cent, followed by the services sector 7.7-8.2 per cent and the agriculture-forestry-fisheries sector 3.4-3.8 per cent.

• N.D