The economic picture is bright, but challenges lie ahead.

In the first 6 months of 2025, Vietnam's economy grew positively, approaching the set target. This result is thanks to the participation of the entire political system, the drastic, flexible, timely and effective direction of the Government, ministries, branches and localities, the support and companionship of businesses and people in the context of many difficulties and fluctuations in the region and the world.

Production activities at Kwong Lung Meko Co., Ltd.

In the first 6 months of 2025, the world situation continues to be complicated, unpredictable, and difficult to predict, especially the policies of the United States and the responses of other countries. Tariff tensions between the United States and other countries disrupt supply chains, and the risk of trade wars has negatively impacted global economic growth. In addition, natural disasters and climate change have caused serious consequences; challenges to ensuring energy security, food security, cyber security, etc. are increasing.

Domestically, with the highest determination to mobilize and unleash all resources for socio-economic development, in a short time, the entire political system has focused on completing a huge amount of work to implement the revolution in the organization of the Government apparatus, reorganize administrative units at all levels and build a two-level local government organization. At the same time, amend, supplement and synchronously complete relevant legal regulations, regulations on decentralization, delegation of power, and division of authority associated with the organization of two-level local governments; implement major Central Resolutions on science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation, international integration, innovation in law making and enforcement, private economic development, etc.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, Director of the General Statistics Office, Ministry of Finance , the statistical indicators of the second quarter and the first 6 months of 2025 show that the domestic macro economy continues to be stable, inflation is controlled at an appropriate level; supply and demand of essential goods are ensured, domestic goods procurement and consumption activities maintain a fairly high growth rate; international visitors to our country achieve a high growth rate. The agricultural, forestry and fishery sector continues to be a solid pillar of the economy with stable growth, ensuring the supply of food, foodstuffs, essential goods domestically and increasing exports. Industrial production has the highest growth rate in the past 5 years; the growth rate of investment capital implemented in the whole society is much higher than the same period last year. Regarding social indicators, the average monthly income of workers increased compared to the same period last year, the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate among working age people decreased; social security is concerned and implemented promptly and widely.

Accordingly, the gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2025 grew positively, with an estimated growth rate of 7.96% over the same period last year, only lower than the growth rate of 8.56% in the second quarter of 2022 in the period 2020-2025. GDP in the first 6 months of 2025 increased by 7.52% over the same period last year, the highest level of the first 6 months in the period 2011-2025. In the total value added increase of the whole economy, the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector increased by 3.84%, contributing 5.59%; the industry and construction sector increased by 8.33%, contributing 42.20%; the service sector increased by 8.14%, contributing 52.21%.

In the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector, the agricultural sector maintained stable growth, meeting domestic consumption demand and serving exports. The added value of the agricultural sector in the first 6 months of 2025 increased by 3.51% over the same period last year, contributing 0.29 percentage points to the total added value growth of the entire economy; the forestry sector increased by 7.42% but accounted for a low proportion, so it only contributed 0.04 percentage points; the fishery sector increased by 4.21%, contributing 0.10 percentage points.

In the industrial and construction sector, the industry achieved high growth, the added value of the whole industry in the first 6 months of 2025 increased by 8.07% over the same period last year, only lower than the increase of 8.89% in the same period in 2022 in the period 2020-2025, contributing 2.64 percentage points to the growth rate of total added value of the whole economy. The processing and manufacturing industry is the growth driver of the whole economy with a growth rate of 10.11%, contributing 2.55 percentage points; the electricity production and distribution industry increased by 4.20%, contributing 0.17 percentage points; the water supply, waste and wastewater management and treatment industry increased by 7.30%, contributing 0.04 percentage points...

In the service sector, foreign trade, transportation, and tourism activities increased to meet the consumption needs of the region and the world, contributing positively to economic growth. The added value of the service sector in the first 6 months of 2025 increased by 8.14% over the same period last year, the highest increase compared to the same period in the 2011-2025 period. The contributions of some market service sectors with large proportions to the total added value growth of the whole economy include wholesale and retail, up 7.03% over the same period last year, contributing 0.76 percentage points; transportation and warehousing increased 9.82%, contributing 0.69 percentage points; accommodation and catering services increased 10.46%, contributing 0.29 percentage points.

Experts predict that in the last 6 months of 2025, our country's socio-economic situation will continue to face many difficulties and challenges. Vietnam's economy is highly open, so it is significantly affected by economic and political fluctuations. Along with that, epidemics, natural disasters, climate change... continue to significantly affect our country's socio-economic development.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong said: To achieve the growth target of over 8% by 2025 is a big challenge, requiring the joint efforts and consensus of the entire political system, the Government, businesses, people nationwide and the support and assistance of international friends. Sectors and levels must strengthen updating and forecasting the situation, proactively and flexibly manage in accordance with the new situation, promptly respond to emerging situations, and firmly and effectively implement the goal of promoting growth associated with macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, ensuring social security and people's lives.

In addition, the General Statistics Office also proposed 5 groups of tasks and solutions that need to be focused on in the last 6 months of the year. First, persistently maintain macroeconomic stability; ensure major balances of the economy; enhance the autonomy, adaptability and competitiveness of the economy. Second, diversify export markets, promote harmonious and sustainable trade relations; step up trade promotion, expand and diversify supply chains, production chains and export markets associated with improving product quality; participate more deeply and widely in regional and global supply chains. Third, have stronger, more drastic and timely solutions to continue to accelerate the disbursement of public investment capital in the following months of 2025. Fourth, promote the restructuring of the industrial sector towards modernization, improving productivity and quality of products of advantageous industrial sectors; Developing emerging industrial sectors such as chips, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, etc. Fifth, effectively and promptly implementing social security policies.

Article and photos: CHI MAI

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/buc-tranh-kinh-te-nhieu-gam-mau-sang-nhung-thach-thuc-con-o-phia-truoc-a188826.html