Hanoi, Vietnam: Mr. Kenji Okamura, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today in Hanoi at the end of his visit to Vietnam:
"I am delighted to be in Vietnam. I would like to extend my gratitude to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hong, Chairman of the Central Policy and Strategy Commission Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Deputy Finance Minister Tran Quoc Phuong, and other senior officials for their warm hospitality during this highly informative visit.
"Vietnam's exceptional economic growth achievements in the last decades are commendable. Sound economic policies have contributed to high growth, while keeping inflation under control and reducing public debt.
"Looking forward, Vietnam's economy faces challenges from higher tariffs and global trade uncertainty and less favorable demographics. We agreed that near-term policies will need to remain flexible, and reforms should be implemented to sustain robust and stable medium-term growth.
"In that regard, I welcomed the government's ambitious reform agenda, including to increase government efficiency and improve the business environment, and investments in critical infrastructure. Ongoing efforts to develop capital markets, encourage digitalization, and promote innovation will be essential. I discussed further efforts to improve productivity, boost domestic demand, and reduce external vulnerabilities and stressed that implementation is critical for success.
"Lastly, I reiterated the IMF's unwavering commitment to supporting Vietnam through policy advice and capacity-building initiatives, including technical assistance. We look forward to continuing our productive partnership in the years ahead."
