P.M. Nguyen Tan Dung: the most influential person of 2011
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DungThe
global public debt crisis in 2011 has caused deep concern for the
global economy. Drought, flooding and diseases caused by global climate
change, plus tensions in East Sea and new global conflicts confront the
world economy with new challenges. In the face of all this, Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has performed impressively thanks to his
outstanding leadership, successfully steering the Vietnamese economy out
of the economic crisis by making economic, fiscal and diplomatic
decisions in a flexible and prompt manner in 2011. Consequently, Vietnam
has been able to control inflation, maintain a high growth rate and
ensure social security.
Offering an overall assessment of the
2011 economy, Korea’s international economic experts have stated that
Vietnam has overcome economic stagnation.
Now, stabilizing
Vietnam’s macro economy in 2012 in parallel with economic restructuring
is the official goal that the head of the government has circulated
among international investors and donors.
At a meeting with CG
donors, the prime minister achieved consensus and positive feedback from
the donors in successfully implementing the fundamental content of
Resolution 11 and taking decisive actions in directing the
implementation of economic restructuring in 2011 ― a stepping stone in
implementing the plans for 2012 ― a year full of challenges not only for
Vietnam but also the global economy.
Vietnam’s GDP continues to
grow at a steady rate: the GDP of the first quarter 2011 was 5.43
percent, the second quarter 5.67 percent and the third quarter 6.11
percent. The combined GDP over those nine months grew 5.76 percent and
the annual growth rate is estimated to be 6 percent.
Despite the
global economy’s fluctuations, the realized FDI of Vietnam reached
$2.54 billion, an increase of 1.6 percent from the previous year and
there was an increase over the months: $420 million in January, $730
million in February, $1.81 billion in March, $2.4 billion in April and
$3.6 billion in May.
Since the beginning of 2011, more than 20
nations and territories have carried out investment projects in Vietnam,
with Singapore ranked first in total newly registered capital with a
$1.08 billion increase and 46.74 percent of the total invested capital
nationwide. Korea is ranked fourth with an increase of $193.29 million,
equal to 8.15 percent of total invested capital in Vietnam. Japan is
ranked fifth at $131 million, amounting to 5.5 percent.
According
to a recent list compiled by Goldman Sachs, Vietnam ranks among a group
of 11 nations (N-11) with the world’s fastest economic growth rates in
2011, opening new opportunities for investors and making the best
international investment destinations in the years to come.
Based
on a recent study by a group of senior professors and economic experts
from the Korean government on the impact of the debt crisis and global
climate change, as well as the skills of prime ministers in Southeast
Asia, Vietnam was the country that best overcame the global economic
crisis. Dung was ranked as the most influential prime minister in Asia
in terms of successfully driving the economy and as the person who made
the most determined decisions.
Vietnam targeted a 2011 economic
growth rate of 5.8-6 percent while the objective for 2012 is 6 percent.
Maintaining this growth rate will help Vietnam stabilize its
macroeconomy, curb inflation and ensure social security. Dung has taken
decisive action in a timely manner, but has not selected too high an
economic growth rate for this period.
In parallel with economic
stability, the prime minister has committed to effectively directing and
taking proper economic restructuring solutions, focusing on investment
reform, financial and banking system reform and improvement of corporate
governance. Vietnam will equitize almost all state-owned enterprises
with an ultimate goal of improving the effectiveness of production and
operation.
Beside these macro-economic objectives, Vietnam
continues to ensure social security and welfare for its people. The
average income per capita among the Vietnamese people is currently
$1,200, but the gap between the rich and the poor is still large. Dung
has therefore instructed authorities to implement a strategy of ensuring
stable and sustainable employment by improving English skills and
providing vocational training to create more than 1.6 million jobs in
2012 and reduce the unemployment rate to less than 4 percent while
concurrently reducing the number of poor households nationwide by 2
percent.
Dung has also decided to establish a task force to
monitor and speed up the disbursement of funds and effective use of
external aids, especially ODA.
In the eyes of international
investors, he is highly regarded as always having formed initiatives and
ideas to promote close links to the international community due to his
firm determination and consistent polices. His firm promises allow
investors to place their trust in investing in Vietnam. Dung has made
significant contributions, taking Vietnam to a higher level of influence
internationally.
He is praised by the Vietnamese people for
what he has done during his tenure. He always takes into consideration
the valuable contributions of previous generations, he always respects
and knows how to employ Vietnamese talents and support enterprises to
stabilize business and production, while making policies that support
industry and agriculture, as well as policies that support students and
the poor. He is the symbol of the Vietnamese people’s spirit in firmly
protecting the country’s sovereignty while respecting international law
and maintaining good diplomatic relations with other nations.
For
what he has done for Vietnam, he deserves to be the person of 2011 ―
the prime minister facing challenges and always proving most determined.
He is loved by Vietnamese people and many international friends.
The Da Nang International Airport in the central coastal city of Da
Nang put a new terminal into service on Dec. 25, after four years of
construction.
The three-storey terminal was built at a
cost of over 1.3 trillion VND to meet standards of the International
Aviation Transport Association. It is capable of serving 4-6 million
passengers per year.
The Da Nang International
Airport has the third largest number of passengers in Vietnam . It
is seen as an important transport hub in the central region, serving
socio-economic development in the central and central highlands region.
Each year, the airport, 2 km from the central city, receives 11,400 flights carrying some 3 million people. /.
