June 23 – Vietnam’s gross domestic product rate is estimated at 6.6 to 6.7 percent for the first six months of the year.

According to the Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Cao Viet Sinh, the rate helps ensure the government’s target annual growth rate of 7 percent.

Preliminary figures showed that Vietnam attracted US$31.6 billion worth of foreign investment during the period compared to last year’s US$21.3 billion.

During the same period, export earnings came at US$29.7 billion, an increase of 31.8 percent.

The official added that the increase in investment showed that foreigners remained confident in the country’s social and political stability.

The consumer price index increased by 2.2 percent in June. This year, the agricultural sector reported on an almost 3 percent increase brought by a large winter-spring crop harvest.