Vietnam&rsquos economy grew 6.5% to VND625.738 trillion ($39 billion) in the first half of this year, compared with 7.91% a year ago despite the difficult global economic situation and soaring inflation, the government-run General Statistic Office said on July 1.
In the first half this year, the industry and construction sectors-the propelling driver of the economy-reached VND245.892 trillion, up 7% on year and representing 39.3% of the GDP value, slower compared 9.88% in the first half last year.
The service sector grew 7.6% on year to VND243.703 trillion, the fastest growth rate among sectors, accounting for 38.94% of the GDP value while the agro, forestry and fisheries sectors rose 3.04% on year to VND136.143 trillion, up 3.04% on year and accounting for 21.76% of the GDP.
The GSO also said Vietnam invested a total VND265.4 trillion ($16.58 billion) in the first six months, up 21.1% on year, including VND106.1 trillion of state-owned investment, up 15.2% on year, VND80 trillion of non-state sectors, up 15.1% on year and VND79.3 trillion of direct foreign investment.
Despite epidemics, natural disasters including longest-ever cold spells in the first months of the year, the country produced 18 million metric tons of paddy rice from winter-spring rice crop, up 5.9% on year.
Between Jan and Jun, Vietnam obtained $29.7 billion from its exports of goods and commodities, up 31.8% from a year ago while it imported $44.47 billion worth of goods and commodities, up 60.3% on year.
The country&rsquos total retail and sales sector obtained VND447.3 trillion, up 30% on year, the GSO said.
The Asean country received roughly 2.3 million international tourist arrivals, up 8.1% on year. (GSO June, 2008)
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