Buenos Aires (VNA) – Argentina’s
Equilibrium Global has recently published online an article lauding economic
achievements Vietnam has recorded after more than 30 years of reform.
The article, by Prof. Dr. Julio Sevares from the University of Buenos Aires, said
thanks to the reform policy, Vietnam’s economy grew more than 6.5 percent annually
in the last 15 years, and its average GDP per capita expanded nine fold to
nearly 2,200 USD in 2016.
Julio Sevares cited the World Bank (WB)’s statistics as saying that up to 94.3 percent
of Vietnamese people can read and write, with life expectancy at 72 years and
unemployment rate at 3.7 percent.
The country’s poverty rate dropped from 58 percent in 2003 to 12 percent last
year, he said, adding that within two decades, 25 million Vietnamese escaped
from poverty.
According to the United Nations (UN), Vietnam is one of the most successful
countries in economic development, and one of the very few nations that have fulfilled
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of schedule set by the UN, the
article said.
The country aims to raise its per capita income to 3,200-3,500 USD during
2016-2020.
Vietnam’s economic development model focuses on export and investment, mainly
the export of raw materials and the development of labour-intensive industries.
At the same time, the country targets high value-added sectors like software.
The article said Vietnam’s export revenue tripled during 1995-2017 and the
country is now the world’s 47th largest exporter with annual growth
rate at 16 percent.
The Vietnamese Government is making every effort to push reform of laws
relating to tax, customs and investment aiming to encourage private investment,
it noted.
Julio Sevares also commented on trade ties between Vietnam and Argentina, which
have developed rapidly over the recent years.
Vietnam is the fourth largest export market of Argentina, after Brazil, China
and the US, he said, citing a report released by Argentina’s National Institute
of Statistics and Censuses showing that Argentina’s export to Vietnam in 2016
hit 2.54 billion USD, making up 4 percent of the South American country’s total
export value.
Corn and soybean account for 70 percent of the Argentinean shipments to
Vietnam.
Export values of Argentina’s non-traditional items to Vietnam like biological
and pharmaceutical products and optimal devices increased sharply in recent
years.
Meanwhile, Argentina’s import from Vietnam stood at 350 USD, mainly electronic
products, footwear and clothing.
Argentinean experts said that with a population of more than 90 million,
Vietnam remains a promising market for Argentina’s beef, poultry meat, wine,
milk and fruit.
Argentina can cooperate with Vietnam in aquaculture in which the Southeast
Asian nation has experience, the article said.-VNA