52.5 per cent of the surveyed expect positive changes. — VNA/VNS Photo

Construction enterprises are bullish about the sector’s prospect in 2024, a recent survey by the Vietnam Report Joint Stock Company revealed.

Accordingly, 52.5 per cent of the surveyed firms expect positive changes, 36.9 per cent forecast the sector will remain unchanged as compared to 2023, while 10.5 per cent believe the market could grow gloomier this year.

Although the construction market may not carve out robust results in 2024, enterprises expressed their hope that 2024 could be “the first brick” that lays foundation for a recovery and new development circle.

Vietnam Report General Director Vũ Đăng Vinh said that enterprises expect their business will be backed by stable macroeconomy, ensured major balances, and brighter realty market with legal bottlenecks to be removed and better market confidence.

The State Bank of Vietnam has set a credit growth target of 15 per cent this year, creating favourable conditions for credit institutions to provide sufficient capital for the market in a timely fashion, Vinh stressed, adding interest rates have cooled down, easing burden for construction firms.

Vinh described public investment as a pillar and locomotive for the Vietnamese economy at the moment and in both mid- and long-terms, saying investment in transport infrastructure development has been accelerated, and disbursement of public capital will be at its peak this year for key transport projects.

Some VNĐ677.3 trillion (US$29.29 billion) is set aside for public investment this year, and 95 per cent of which must be disbursed under a Prime Minister’s decision. Of the total amount, up to VNĐ422 trillion is for transport infrastructure construction, which is expected to prop up the construction sector.

According to Vinh, the domestic construction market is expected to benefit from the FDI wave, with $36.6 billion funneled into the country in 2023, a year-on-year surge of 32.1 per cent despite global economic uncertainties. Around $23.18 billion was disbursed in the year, up 3.5 per cent year-on-year, and marking a record high thus far.

He said the strong foreign capital inflow has created a more exciting prospect for 2024 as Việt Nam’s geopolitical and production position have been consolidated.

During January – February this year, $2.8 billion in foreign capital was disbursed, the highest figure recorded for the same time in the past five years, opening up numerous opportunities for the industrial construction sector.

Besides, enterprises’ positive sentiment also comes from their intrinsic strength with effective financial management capacity, successful application of digital transformation into management and operation, high-quality human resources, and improved prestige and brands, he added. — VNS