PM Nguyen Tan Dung delivers the Government's report on socio-economic situation in 2012, Ha Noi, October 22, 2012 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In the report, the Government chief provided many details and figures relating to the socio-economic situations in the first 9 months of 2012, focusing on six fields: (1) reining in inflation and stabilizing macro-economy; (2) economic restructuring; (3) guaranteeing social security and welfare; (4) culture, education, technology and environment protection; (5) administrative reform, anti-corruption and thrift practice; and (6) diplomatic work and national defense.

Inflation control and macro-economic stabilization
CPI increase in 9 months	5.13%
Mobilization of bank deposits	Up 12.7%
Export Import Trade deficit	Up 18.9%, valuing US$83.79 billion up 6.6%, valuing US$83.76 billion about US$1 billion, equivalent to 0.9% of export turnover
Balance of payment surplus	US$8 billion
Budget collection Budget spending	67.3% of the estimate 71.2% of the estimate
Total development investment capital	29.5% of GDP (in 2011, 34.6%)
9-month production index	Up 4.8%
Agro-forestry and aquaculture production value in 9 months, in which - Rice production:  - Rice export - Aquaproduct export	Up 3.7% 43 million tons in 2012 (estimated) 7 million tons US$ 6.5 billion in 2012 (estimated)
Total retail sales in 9 months Tourism revenues Number of international arrivals Passenger transport volume	Up 17.3% Up over 15% in 2012 (estimated) up over 8% up 12.1%
Social security and welfare
Poverty rate	Down 1.76% in 2012 (the plan: 2%)
Job generation in 9 months	1.13 million
Regular scoail allowance provided	2.3 million people
New unemployment insurance buyers Unemployment insurance provided New social insurance buyers Health insurance purchase	8.07 million, up 6.6% Over 280,000 laborers 10.34 million Reaching nearly 68% (up 5%)

PM Dung also pointed out weaknesses in each and every of these fields and recognized that at least five preset goals - GDP growth rate, development investment capital, job generation, poverty reduction, and forest coverage - have not been fulfilled.

In the report, the Government proposed general targets for 2012, continuing to highlight macroeconomic stability, low inflation and higher growth, with many specific indicators.

- Economic indicators: GDP growth rate: 5.5%. Export turnover increase: about 10%. Trade surplus: 8%. Budget overspending: not over 4.8% of GDP. CPI increase: 8%. Total development investment capital: 30% of GDP.

- Social indicators: Poor households reduced by 2% nationwide and 4% in poor districts. New job generation: 1.6 million, urban unemployment rate: below 4%, trained laborers: 49%. Malnutrition of below-5-year-olds: below 16%. Number of hospital beds: 22 per 10,000 people.

- Environmental indicators: 84% of polluters are punished; 75% of industrial parks and export processing zones have their own standard sewage treatment stations. Forest coverage: 40.7%.

To fulfill the above-mentioned targets, the Government put forth a number of solutions which should be drastically implemented in the time to come.

It is noteworthy that, before concluding the report, PM Nguyen Tan Dung confirmed that he himself, as the Government chief, seriously took the political responsibility to the NA, the Party and people for the Government’s weaknesses and wrongdoings, especially in monitoring and controlling the performance of economic groups and State-owned enterprises (SOEs).

“Some SOEs like Vinashin and Vinalines proved ineffective in their performance, made many mistakes, causing serious losses and consequences in various fields, leading to negative impacts on the State economic sector’s prestige and role,” the PM admitted.

PM Dung emphasized that the whole Cabinet, the PM and each Cabinet member will be strict with themselves, consolidate their solidarity and spare no effort to overcome weaknesses and undertake all assignments for the sake of the country and people.