The figures were announced by Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh at the December 22 conference to launch the National Assembly’s resolution on socio-economic development tasks and State budget 2012 in Hanoi .

Minister Vinh said in the early months of the year, CPI saw high increases before reducing gradually from the second quarter. Over the past four months, CPI rose at a level under 1 per cent, resulting from the Government’s concrete measures to control inflation and ensure market stability.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the country’s 2011 export value is estimated to reach 96 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 33 per cent and the import value, $106 billion.

GDP growth is estimated at 5.9 per cent compared with 6.8 per cent in 2010. Of the GDP growth, agroforestry and fisheries is up about 2.3 per cent, industry and construction, 6.8 per cent and services, 6.4 per cent.

In 2012, the government will give priority to controlling inflation, stabilising the macro-economy, maintaining suitable growth combining with renewing the growth model and restructuring the economy.

Major targets for 2012 include a GDP growth of 6-6.5 per cent, a CPI increase under 10 per cent, an export value increase of 13 per cent, State budget deficit under 4.8 per cent of GDP, forest coverage of 41 per cent and job generation for 4.6 million people.