Renovating monetary policy is the most important factor




Ha Noi, Jan. 16 (VNA) -- Finance Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung described 2001 as a year for Viet Nam to focus on monetary policy reforms so as to help effect active changes in the financial sector.

"2001 must be a year in which Viet Nam will renew its monetary policy, regarding it as a breakthrough," Hung told Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper in a recent interview.

He said in 2001, investment capital would be better allocated and that State budget investment for capital construction would be channelled mainly to key national projects, projects in agriculture, water conservancy and flood prevention in the Mekong river delta.

Priority would be also given to preparing counterpart capital for the implementation of Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects as well as ground levelling work and resettlement, Hung said.

Mr.Hung unveiled the financial sector's goals, saying "Our important objectives are to make the financial sector stronger and the people wealthier as well as provide the corporate sector with full capital sources to do business".

"The year 2001 also sees a better practice of thrift, better use of cash and greater efforts to prevent losses and corruption", the Finance Minister added.

"Renovating the monetary policy is the most important factor to achieve these goals. This will be carried out together with the continuing revision and renovation of macro-financial policies", Mr.Hung emphasized.--VNA