Vietnamese Central Bank Governor compliments SL on economic improvements

Governor of the Central Bank of Vietnam, the latter also known as the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), Mdm. Nguyen Thi Hong, expressed optimism and voiced encouraging sentiments on the improvement of the economy of Sri Lanka, during the last 12 months, when the ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam, Prof A. Saj U. Mendis, met her at the head office of the SBV.

Both the Governor and envoy discussed in detail micro and macro-economic issues and policies as well as monetary and fiscal policies implemented and executed by Vietnam, resulting in Vietnam attaining unprecedented economic growth during the last couple of decades.

A press release issued by the Sri Lankan embassy in Vietnam said: ‘Governor Hong, was one of the three Governors of Central Banks who were chosen by the prestigious “Global Financial Magazine” as the most effectual and competent Central Bankers in the world.

Ambassador Mendis complimented, both during the meeting as well as in writing, on this achievement, which reflected and manifested the efficacious and result-oriented policies executed by the Central Bank i.e. SBV. On the same note, Governor Hong conveyed the best wishes to the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), Dr. P Nandalal Weerasinghe, who was also selected by Global Financial Magazine as one of the best and competent Central Bankers in the world.

‘Governor Hong noted that Sri Lanka succeeded in reducing inflation from 65% to 5% within a space of 12 months as well as marked reduction of interest rates, increase of official foreign reserves and stabilizing of national currency of Sri Lanka.

Mendis stated that Vietnam, today, has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, thus being noted by major advanced economies and large multinational corporates world over.

‘Mendis added that a Central Bank of any nation, be developed or developing, plays an influential and seminal role in navigating and steering the economy.

That said, Vietnam which had a GDP per capita of only USD 90 in 1990s, today has risen to USD 4,450 as well as bilateral trade exceeding USD 730 billion, including exports of over USD 370 billion in 2022. Vietnam maintains economic and political stability with highly impressive economic indicators, such as inflation, interest rates and unemployment, among others.

‘Prof Mendis also stated that the SBV was pivotal and decisive in creating a milieu for foreign investors, corporates and FDI to flow into the country, since Vietnam received FDI in excess of USD 20 billion in 2022 and envisaging FDI of around USD 30 billion in 2023.

Some of the largest corporates, which are household names, have committed significant investments and FDIs in Vietnam amounting to a total FDI stock of USD 450 billion.

‘Both, the Governor and envoy, agreed that one of the determining and deciding factors of this iconic feat of the economic augmentation of Vietnam was the FTAs and Partnership Agreements it has with a number of key and select countries, numbering 17.

Envoy Mendis also stated that Sri Lanka too has FTAs with major countries in South Asia as well as in the process of concluding a number of FTAs with select countries in order to increase exports and woo FDIs and foreign institutional investments, among others.

Both the Governor and Envoy discussed policies and measures which have led to economic advancement and augmentation of countries, including Vietnam, among others.’