On October 27, 2025, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), held a presentation on the regional economic outlook for Asia and the Pacific 2025 (REO). The presentation was delivered by Mr. Thomas Helbling, Deputy Director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, with the participation of representatives from relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and functional departments of the SBV.
According to the IMF, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to maintain a steady growth rate of 4.5% in 2025, despite the slowdown in global economic activity. However, growth is projected to moderate slightly in 2026 due to weaker external demand and tighter fiscal policies.
Overview of the presentation
The report highlights the ongoing reconfiguration of global value chains, as the region moves to diversify supply sources and markets. The IMF noted that FDI inflows into ASEAN economies, including Vietnam, have emerged as bright spots in this transformation, driven by the adoption of advanced technologies and investment in artificial intelligence (AI). The Fund also urged economies to improve investment efficiency and capital allocation, and to strengthen capital markets to foster productivity-led growth.
Delegates viewed the IMF’s recommendations as a valuable source
of policy insight
While the region continues to benefit from strong export performance and the ongoing technology cycle, the IMF cautioned that Asia–Pacific economies still face challenges stemming from subdued domestic demand, rising public debt, and elevated trade risks. The Fund recommended that economies, including Vietnam, maintain flexible monetary policy frameworks, accelerate structural reforms, deepen regional integration, and further develop domestic financial markets to strengthen resilience and sustain long-term growth momentum.
The IMF recommends that Asian economies, including Vietnam,
maintain flexible monetary policies
Speaking at the event, Ms. Nguyen Huyen Diu, Deputy Director General of the SBV’s Monetary Policy Department, emphasized that the IMF’s assessments and recommendations provide valuable references for the SBV and Vietnam’s policymakers in designing and implementing monetary, financial, and macroeconomic policies. She noted that the presentation contributed to enhancing information sharing, thereby supporting Vietnam in conducting more proactive and flexible policy management, aligned with regional and global economic developments.
HM