Vietnam is estimated to record gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 7.8 percent in the first nine months of this year, Vietnam News Agency reported Thursday.

Between January and September, the industry sector is estimated to record an increase of 16.8 percent in production value.

Meanwhile, the country is set to gain export earnings of 29.4 billion U.S. dollars in the first nine months, a year-on-year rise of 24.2 percent.

Vietnam is expected to witness a GDP growth of 8-8.2 percent in 2007, Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc said at a recent domestic meeting, noting that it has targeted an economic growth of 8 percent in 2006 and more than 8 percent in 2007.

Vietnam's GDP grew 8.43 percent to 53 billion U.S. dollars or GDP per capita of 640 dollars last year, according to the country's General Statistics Office.

Source: Xinhua