Since 2016, the VEPR started to publish the quarterly macro-economic report to update and discuss current issues in a timely manner. These seminars attracted ideas from experts in the field as well as mass media.
The seminar was attended by Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh - Director of VEPR, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham The Anh - Chief Economist of VEPR together with experts: Dr. Nguyen Tri Hieu; Dr. Pham Van Dai and press agencies.
Opening the seminar, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh gave a welcome speech. He praised the efforts of VEPR’s team in preparing the quarterly economic report as well as his hope for a better economic situation in Vietnam in the next quarter of 2019.

In the report, it was clearly stated that after the ending of US - China trade war and the Fed decided not to raise interest rates, the USD selling price of banks remained stable. The central exchange rate of the State Bank increased slightly from the beginning of the fourth quarter in 2018 to the end of the first quarter in 2019. Specifically, the exchange rate of 31^st March 2019 reached 22,976 VND/USD, rose nearly 1% compared to that in 2018.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh recommended that monetary policy should adapt in time with economic fluctuations. The top priority is to manage the exchange rate flexibly, to absorb the impact of external shocks.

Interest rates should be kept stably, enabling businesses to access capital markets, especially for growing industries and having potential to participate in global value chains. Inflation in the first quarter of 2019 remained stable but had the tendency to rise facing the recent price adjustments in electricity and gasoline. The impact of these changes may last for months, which requires prudent management from the State Bank on money supply and credit in the coming time.

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