Vietnam should be prudent

Vietnam should be prudent

HANOI (AFP): A senior World Bank official urged Vietnam
yesterday to be prudent in the mobilization of foreign capital
given the country's outstanding debt issues which might constrain
potential growth.

"The primary challenge facing Vietnam at the present time is
how to improve credit worthiness and manage increased external
flows prudently in a way that will not lead to longer term
problems for the economy," said Bradley Babson, World Bank
resident representative in Vietnam.

Vietnam needs a total investment of some US$42 billion between
now and 2000 to sustain its growth, of which more than $20
billion is expected to come from external resources, vice Premier
Phan Van Khai said at the opening of the seminar.