Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Government commits to build a favourable, equal, open and transparent investment environment, Finance Minister Vu Van Ninh told domestic and foreign investors during an online video forum on June 19.

He stressed the fact the government organised the investment forum was an evidence for the government’s commitment.

“The Vietnamese Government is eager to exchange and give information, as well as listen to and share difficulties with investors,” Ninh said.

At the forum, connecting Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City , Hong Kong and Singapore , Minister Ninh and officials from the State Bank of Vietnam , the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Industry and Trade gave answers to questions from investors on Vietnam ’s solutions to curb inflation.

According to Ninh, in the context of world economic fluctuations and inflation affecting the global economy, Vietnam ’s economy is also experiencing the price surges.

He reported that Vietnam in the first five months of 2008 attracted 15.3 billion USD in FDI capital, increasing 2.34 times over the same period last year. It also recorded a year-on-year increase of 30.5 percent in export turnover.

The country also saw increase in rice output in the first months of this year and expects to export 4-4.5 million tonnes of rice in 2008.

However, he noted two emerging issues, namely the surging of consumer prices and high trade deficit.

According to him, Vietnam has been carrying out eight groups of solutions to curb inflation, including tightening monetary policies, developing industrial and agricultural production, ensuring goods supply-demand balance, intensifying exports and reducing trade deficit, and practising thrift.

Concluding the forum, Minister Ninh on behalf of the government gave thanks to investors for their interest in Vietnam’s economy, and stressed that the existing difficulties for Vietnam are temporary.

He called upon the investors to make careful assessment and study of Vietnam’s economy in order to make right decisions on investment.