ANZ upbeat about Vietnam's prospects

ANZ has just released its latest report on Vietnam, which paints a rosy outlook for the economy. The bank raised its forecast for Vietnam’s GDP growth in 2017 from 6.5 to 6.7 per cent, and believed that the figure can be higher in the coming years. This climb will secure Vietnam’s position as the second fastest-growing economy in the world only behind China.

ANZ economist Eugenia Victorino attributed this growth to strong exports boosted by trade deals, good credit growth, and steady inflows of foreign capital. Inflation is likely to remain manageable at 3.5 per cent and interest rates are expected to stay at 6.25 per cent in 2018.

The economist then highlighted that foreign investment into Vietnam has shifted in recent years, as 42.3 per cent of the capital is now flowing into utilities. Manufacturing, which used to attract 70 per cent of inbound capital, now accounted for only 31.7 per cent. According to ANZ, foreign investors have realised that they need to have a strong infrastructure backbone to support manufacturing activities in Vietnam, resulting in the recent surge in utilities investments.

“Foreign manufacturers have experienced a lack of power and other infrastructure issues in Vietnam, so it is a sustainable option to invest in utilities now. This is good for Vietnam in the long term,” said Victorino.

Since January, Vietnam has attracted $16.3 billion of new FDI capital.

The ANZ economist added that Vietnam’s young workforce, most of whom have completed basic education, has traditionally been the main driver for foreign capital into manufacturing. However, if Vietnam wants to move up the global value chain, it needs a stronger workforce with a higher level of education and more sophisticated skills.

Regarding exports, ANZ data showed that Vietnam’s export composition is transforming, with a boom in electronics and phones and declining crude oil and aquaculture products. Victorino noted that Vietnamese exports may encounter short-term deficit if the country wishes to diversify its export offers.

“The US, Vietnam’s largest export market, has expressed its dislike for countries that manipulate their currencies to gain a competitive edge in export. This is a balancing act for Vietnam if it wants to weaken the VND next year,” said the economist.

When it comes to Vietnam’s chronic problem of bad debt, ANZ believes that this is a structural issue that will persist in the next few years. Contrary to popular opinions that non-performing loans should be solved as quickly as possible, the bank argued that too fast a cleanup can be disruptive to the economy.

CEO of ANZ Vietnam Dennis Hussey added that he has seen significant progress in solving bad debts in Vietnam, especially with the recent revised Law on Credit Institutions.

“The upcoming Basel II will also force discipline in the banking sector, pushing banks to raise capital, strengthen their risk management progress, and manage bad debts,” said Hussey.