Vietnam was forecast to fetch US$2.96 billion from services export in the first half of this year, up 17.2 per cent on-year, said the General Statistics Office (GSO).
Tourism services topped the export value list with US$1.71 billion, up 10.3 per cent on-year, followed by aviation, US$494 million, up 41.1 per cent, and marine services, US$400 million, up 21.2 per cent.
During the first half, Vietnam also spent US$3.2 billion for services import, up 24.4 per cent on-year, resulting in a service deficit of US$340 million.
Of the sum, insurance and transport costs stood at US$1.11 billion, up 31.5 per cent, tourism services, US$670 million, up 6.3 per cent, finance services, US$622 million, up 23.1 per cent, and aviation with US$395 million, up 12.9 per cent.
In 2006, the country earned US$5.1 billion from services export, up 19.6 per cent on-year, said the Ministry of Trade (MoT).
Vietnam is trying to raise its services export value to US$12 billion in 2010, according to a 2006-2010 export development plan approved by the Government.
Under the plan, the nation aims to achieve an annual growth rate of 16.5 per cent for service exports during the period. The expected yearly increases of insurance, telecom, finance and sea transport will be 29.3 per cent, 24.5 per cent, 22.4 per cent and 21.5 per cent, respectively. (Investment)
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