Mr Phuc made the remark at a national conference of the planning and investment sector in northern Thanh Hoa province on June 14 to map out a socio-economic development plan for 2008.

Under the plan, the country targets a GDP growth of 8.6-9 percent, a total export revenue of US$55.2 billion or an annual increase of 18 percent, and about 1.65 million new jobs in 2007.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, to achieve these targets, ministries, sectors, localities and economic groups have to take steps to to speed up economic growth, while improving the effectiveness, sustainability and competitiveness of the economy in the international integration process. 

Regarding the implementation of the 2007 tasks, Minister Phuc said that in the first half of this year, the socio-economic development saw a rather high growth rate, but it was still below the set target. To attain this year's target of 8.5 percent, the country has to strive for a 9 percent growth rate in the second half of the year.