On the morning of March 25, 2019, the National Economics University held a conference: "Vietnam's economy in 2018 and prospects for 2019: Toward Fiscal Policy to Secure the Financial Sustainability and Support the Economic Growth” and the Release of NEU Annual Report of Vietnamese Economy in 2018.
Attending the Conference, on the side of international scientists was Dr. Sebastian Eckardt - World Bank representatives t in Vietnam; Dr. Cengiz Cihan - UNDP Senior Economist. On the side of agencies and branches, there are representatives of the Finance and Budget Committee of the National Assembly; Central Economic Committee; Central Propaganda Committee; Party Central Office; National Financial Supervisory Commission; Ministry of Planning and Investment; Ministry of Industry and Trade; Central Theory Council. On the side of economic experts, there are Ms. Pham Chi Lan - former Vice Chairman of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Dr. Vo Tri Thanh - Former Deputy Director of Central Institute for Economic Management; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Xuan Ba - Former Director of Central Institute for Economic Management; Dr. Can Van Luc - Advisor to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam. On the side of the National Economics University, Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat - NEU President; Assoc. Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh - Head of Science Management Department; with the former school leaders; members of the Science and Training Council; representatives of departments, departments, institutes and centers; faculty members; with representatives of international organizations in Vietnam; domestic and foreign scholars; representatives of research institutes, universities, businesses and numerous news agencies, newspapers came to report on the Conference.
At the opening plenary , Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat - Party Secretary, NEU President thanked the delegates and scientists for their interest and time to attend the conference today. This is a large-scale conference organized by the National Economics University on Vietnam Economy in 2018 and Prospects for 2019 and at the same time announced the 2018 Vietnam Annual Economic report with the theme: "Toward Fiscal Policy to Secure the Financial Sustainability and Support the Economic Growth". Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat said: In 2018, Vietnam's economy grew 7.08%, the highest in over a decade. The main driver of growth is the FDI sector with manufacturing and processing industry and domestic consumption, trade surplus. However, improving the business environment shows signs of slowing down, the private sector continues to face difficulties in development; Inflation and exchange rates, despite being within the expected adjustment range, are under pressure; Due to the narrowing of monetary policy, fiscal risks are increasing ... Professor emphasized that he conference would summarize Vietnam's economy in 2018, from which policy recommendations in business management 2019. The conference also analyzed and evaluated the current fiscal policy, thereby making recommendations with the aim of ensuring a safe and sustainable national finance, contributing to supporting growth.
At the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trung Trung Thanh - Head of Scientific Management Department, co-editor of the publication " Annual Report of Vietnamese Economy in 2018: Toward Fiscal Policy to Secure the Financial Sustainability and Support the Economic Growth" was on behalf of the research team, summarizing the report content. Assoc. Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh shared, “In addition to qualitative analysis, the reports are also carried out through quantitative methods, thereby ensuring that the conclusions are based on experimental, scientific, with specific evidence. This also shows the high academic profile of the Annual Report, linking the hot issues of the economy with the implementation of quantitative research ”.
In the open discussion, economists highly appreciated the content of the publication, gathered by good experts and imbued with scientific imprints, went right to the problems that businesses were then face. Experts focused on discussing Vietnam's economy in 2018 and prospects for 2019; actual state of budget deficit; actual state of budget revenue and expenditure; reality of Vietnam's public debt; sustainability, efficiency, fairness and support for growth of fiscal policy. Recommendations at the workshop would contribute significantly to the theoretical and practical basis for fiscal policy reformation, to meet the maintenance of a sustainable budget balance, stable macroeconomic environment and support long-term sustainable economic growth.
At the press conference Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat - NEU President said an annual publication of the National Economics University by Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat and Assoc. Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh co-editor had gathered a strong research force of the University, which was a quality research product, bearing the scientific mark of the National Economics University. The report showed the views of the National Economics University experts, independent policy criticism, a useful reference for policy makers. In addition, the difference with the annual economic reports of other units was that this publication had been implemented through quantitative methods with econometric models, thereby ensuring conclusions. The findings were based on empirical, scientifically and validated evidence. This also showed the high academic profile of the Annual Report, linking the hot issues of the economy with conducting quantitative research. Accordingly, the report was also a useful reference for researchers. Professor President hopes that the publication would convey recommendations to policy makers, contributing in part to the sustainable development of Vietnamese businesses.