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Vietnam eyes $10,000 per capita income by 2035

By Rajiv MenonVietnam
2 min read
Vietnam Economy Zone
Vietnam Economy Zone
In this article (5)

Vietnam has set target of increasing GDP per capita to $6,500 in 2030, and $10,000, or four times the current value, in 2035. The GDP in those years would then be $670 billion and $1.05 trillion, according to an economic policy framework for the period up to 2035 recently issued by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. This will make Vietnam an upper middle-income country.

Vietnam has also targeted to reduce its poverty rate to 1 percent and increasing the middle-class rate to 50 percent by 2035.

The middle and affluent class now is categorized as those earning $714 a month or more, according to the Boston Consulting Group.

According to the document, encouraging the continued development of the private sector and developing human resources and innovations taking advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution would be two of the driving forces for economic growth.

The country hopes to have two million private businesses that contribute 50 percent of its GDP by 2020 and 60-65 percent by 2030.

The reforms to achieve these goals will focus on modernizing the economy and developing the private sector, building innovation capacity, improving economic efficiency of urbanization, and building modern institutions and efficient governance.

Vietnam also aims to ensure its development is environmentally sustainable and equitable, promote social inclusion and enhance its adaptability to climate change.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said strong reforms are needed to continue developing and not fall behind the times.

Speaking to Vietnam’s development partners at a forum on reform and development Wednesday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said: “We have the aspiration to become a prosperous economy, but we are fully aware that the road will be uneven with many challenges. Those are the challenges from both within the economy and the impacts caused by fluctuations in the global economy.”

The middle and affluent class now is categorized as those earning $714 a month or more, according to the Boston Consulting Group.

To address these issues he pledged his government would soon speed up administrative reform and establish an economic system that enables all economic entities to have the right to participate in making development plans and policies.

“Vietnam will focus on building its soft and digital infrastructure to convert the economy into a digital one, reform its recruitment mechanism and focus on training human resources to make use of the fourth industrial revolution as a driving force for growth.”

According to World Bank Group statistics, Vietnam’s GDP per capita in 2017 is $2,343. The figure for Singapore is $57,714, Malaysia ($9,945), Thailand ($6,594), the Philippines ($2,989) and Myanmar ($1,298).

Minister Dung estimated that Vietnam’s GDP would grow by 6.57 percent on average in the 2016-2018 period, meeting the National’s Assembly target of 6.5-6.7 percent growth.

In the first nine months this year, Vietnam’s GDP grew by 6.98 percent, the highest nine-month growth rate since 2011. The economy grew by 6.81 percent last year, the highest rate in a decade.

Questions & Answers

Q.

What are Vietnam's specific GDP per capita targets for 2030 and 2035?

A.

Vietnam aims for a GDP per capita of $6,500 by 2030 and $10,000 by 2035. The 2035 target represents four times the current value, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Q.

What measures will Vietnam implement to achieve these economic targets?

A.

Reforms will focus on modernising the economy, developing the private sector, and building innovation capacity. The country also plans to improve urbanisation efficiency and establish modern institutions with effective governance.

Q.

What specific actions will the government take to address economic challenges?

A.

The Prime Minister pledged to speed up administrative reform and establish an economic system. This system will allow all entities to participate in development planning, alongside building soft and digital infrastructure.

Q.

What role does the private sector play in Vietnam's economic plans?

A.

Encouraging continued private sector development is a key driving force. Vietnam hopes to have two million private businesses contributing 50 percent of GDP by 2020, rising to 60-65 percent by 2030.

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