VEPR - Newly launched workshop: “Vietnam’s Economy 2008: Recession and the Challenge of Change”

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Newly launched workshop: “Vietnam’s Economy 2008: Recession and the Challenge of Change”

On Friday morning, May 8^th 2009, the College of Economics – Vietnam National University organized a workshop to release the research results of the CEPR Annual Economic Report 2009, conducted by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).

On behalf of the authors, Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh – Director of CEPR, Editor of the Report – briefly presented key points of the Report, this year titled “Vietnam’s Economy in 2008: the Recession and the Challenge of Change”. The Report includes 8 chapters and 2 appendices, more than 200 pages in length, compiled in a different format from other traditional reports. The report provides updated information and data through the end of December 2008, and in some critical cases, through March 2009. The report discusses several emerging issues of Vietnamese macroeconomics in 2008. The report is the first in the series of CEPR Annual Economic Reports, which aims at summarizing the achievements, difficulties, opportunities and challenges of Vietnam’s economy, as well as discussing several emerging economic issues at an expert level.

The workshop was executed not only to release research results, but also as an opportunity for the authors to receive comments and suggestions from prestigious economists, in order to improve this year's report as well as other annual reports in following years.

Many constructive ideas and suggestions were raised in the workshop by famous economists, including Dr. Lê Đăng Doanh – Institute for Development Studies, Associate Prof. Dr. Lê Bộ Lĩnh – Deputy Director of Science, Technology and Environment Committee – National Assembly, Dr Lê Hồng Nhật – Faculty of Economics, National University, Ho Chi Minh city, Dr. Võ Trí Thành – Central Institute for Economic Management, Dr. Đinh Quang Ty – Secretary of the Central council for theoretical research, Dr. Nguyễn Quang A – Director of Institute for Development Studies, Mr. Hà Mạnh Tiến– Chairman of Vietnam association of corporate directors, and Prof. Chu Hảo – Director of Knowledge Publishing House. Experts agreed that the report provides an overall picture of Vietnam’s economy in 2008 with many key points, using a new research approach of utilizing quantitative analysis tools and updated data. Some comments also referred to points of improvement in the Report, including other important macro-economics issues such as the environment, agriculture, and social security.

Generally speaking, top Vietnamese economists of highly appreciated the Report and agreed that the Report is a big success for the authors, especially those of CEPR, College of Economics – Vietnam National University.

In the final speech at the workshop, Associate Prof. Dr. Phạm Trọng Quát (Vice president of Vietnam National University) affirmed: “The report is evidence showing that the College of Economics – Vietnam National University is moving in the right way following the strategy of building a strong group of researchers, and connecting closely the activities of academic research with consulting activities and policy recommendations for government agencies and enterprises”. Prof. Chu Hảo asserted: “The Knowledge Publishing House will publish this annual report right after the authors have completed the manuscript. The Knowledge Publishing House will also sponsor the publishing of this report in the following years…”

The report will be an useful reference for policy makers, researchers, and industries, as well as for people who take an interest in macroeconomics issues in Vietnam.