Core Viewpoint - Gulf countries are focusing on attracting foreign direct investment and are committed to deepening their capital markets [1] Group 1 - The emphasis on foreign direct investment indicates a strategic shift in the economic policies of Gulf nations [1] - There is a clear intention to enhance the infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to support capital market development [1] - This approach aims to diversify the economies of Gulf countries beyond oil dependency [1]

Investment Rating - The report indicates a positive outlook for the Vietnamese economy, with a projected GDP growth target of 8% for 2025, supported by increased public investment and domestic consumption [4][27]. Core Insights - Vietnam's GDP growth accelerated to 6.9% in Q1 2025, up from 5.9% in Q1 2024, driven by increases in domestic consumption and investment [2][11]. - Retail sales saw a significant increase of 10.8% year-on-year in March 2025, marking the highest monthly growth in nearly two years, attributed to rising wages and improved purchasing power [20][21]. - Industrial production improved with a year-on-year growth of 8.6% in March 2025, compared to 4.8% in March 2024, driven by sectors such as apparel, electronics, and machinery [13][31]. - Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) commitments decreased by 9.2% year-on-year in Q1 2025, reflecting cautious investor sentiment amid global trade uncertainties, although FDI disbursements remained resilient [17][18]. Economic Performance - The average monthly income in the first three months of 2025 rose by 9.5% compared to the same period in 2024, leading to a real wage growth of 6% [20]. - The inflation rate in March 2025 increased to 3.1%, driven by rising food and housing prices, but remained below the State Bank of Vietnam's target of 4.5-5% for 2025 [22][23]. - The trade surplus decreased to $3.2 billion in Q1 2025, down from $7.7 billion in Q1 2024, due to a slowdown in export growth to 10.6% from 16.8% [11][12]. Fiscal Overview - Fiscal revenue in the first quarter of 2025 reached 36.7% of the annual budget, up from 31.7% in the same period of 2024, primarily due to increased VAT and corporate income tax collections [3][27]. - Public investment disbursement rates slowed to 9.5% of the annual plan by the end of March 2025, compared to 12.3% in the previous year, posing challenges for achieving the GDP growth target [27].

Core Insights - The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) reported a current account surplus of $423.9 billion for 2024, with a goods trade surplus of $768 billion and a services trade deficit of $229 billion [1][3] - The capital and financial account recorded a deficit of $4.34 trillion, indicating active foreign direct investment and securities investment by domestic entities [1][3] - By the end of 2024, China's foreign financial assets exceeded $10 trillion, with foreign liabilities nearing $7 trillion, reflecting a net foreign asset position of $3.3 trillion [1][3] Group 1: Current Account and Trade - In Q4 2024, the current account surplus was $163.8 billion, driven by a goods trade surplus of $249.8 billion and a services trade deficit of $47.4 billion [1] - The overall current account surplus for 2024 was $423.9 billion, which is 2.2% of GDP, indicating a stable economic position [3] Group 2: Capital and Financial Accounts - The capital and financial account showed a deficit of $4.34 trillion for 2024, with a capital account surplus of $0.5 billion and a financial account deficit of $4.34 trillion [1][3] - Foreign direct investment capital increased by $90.9 billion, and net inflows from bond investments reached $46.8 billion [3] Group 3: Foreign Investment and Assets - By the end of 2024, China's foreign financial assets totaled $10.2167 trillion, with direct investment assets at $3.1329 trillion and reserve assets at $3.4556 trillion [2] - Foreign liabilities included $3.6224 trillion in direct investment liabilities, indicating a significant level of foreign investment in China [2] Group 4: Outlook for 2025 - The external environment is expected to become more complex, with increased risks from unilateralism and geopolitical tensions [4] - China aims to enhance domestic demand and maintain a stable international balance of payments through proactive macroeconomic policies [4]