Among 500 largest enterprises in Vietnam in 2009, there are 67.7% companies operating in industry, 8% companies operating in agriculture and forestry, 11% companies operating in service and 2.8% companies operating in fishery sector. Besides, in the persective of value, the ratio is shifting rapidly to industry – construction ( generally called industry ). Once again, this structure proves that “ the three point “ agriculture – industry – service of economy structure is losing their role.
Industry is raising
Economy structure reflects developing level of the economy. A economy with the big porpotion of industry usually has high developing level. In this economy, social productivity and average income per person are higher than the economy with the low porpotion.
The start point of Vietnam is a national with the economy mainly depends on agriculture. On the other hand, Vietnam has a backward agriculture with the low value. Therefore, the shifting ratio from agriculture to industry and service is indispensable in developing economy progress.
This shifting began in 1986 when Vietnam started to innovate. In this period, we have gained many big achievements in various sectors, specially in industry sectors. The ratio in GDP of agriculture has declined rapidly from 38.1% in 1990 to 27.2% in 1995, 24.5% in 2000, 20.9% in 2005 and 20.6% in 2008. The ratio of industry in GDP has increasing fast from 22.7% in 1990 to 28.8% in 1995 , 36.7% in 2000, 41% in 2005 and 41.6% in 2008. The ratio of service in GDP hasn’t changed much, from 38.6% in 1990 to 44% in 1995, 38.7% in 2000, 38.1% in 2005 and 38.7% in 2008.
In industry structure, exploitation field has the highest ratio (62.9%), following to electric – water (43.16%), construction material production (32.62%). Electron field and information techlonogy has the lowest ratio (13.81%) because of simple assembling. Metallurgy is mainly process rough draft so the ratio is also low (14.18%).
Increasing in risk
To become an industrial economy, the ratio of agriculture has to decrease to under 20% of GDP, the ratio of industry and service have to increase to about 40%. In the economies with the high industrialization level, the ratio of agriculture has to decrease  under 10%, in some cases, the ratio is under 5%. In the perspective of structure, Vietnam’s industry seems to reach the target, initially comes to the first generation of industrial economy. Industry sector has high growth rate but modern factor in industry hasn’t taken care enough. Specially, in general, technology level is still in medium level. Processing industry, specially in high technology sectors, doesn’t develop. Therefore, although developing strongly in size but the value doesn’t increase respectively.
In the point of industry, there are some risks. Vietnam has had many industry fields which has low value and uses many resources ( soil, minerals, water … ), especially is energy ( steel, cement … ). Moreover, the added value in industry sector is low, attracts few labors which are mainly standard worker. Receiving the investment in industry not only decreases the present value but also harm for sustainable development in long term.
In 2010, Vietnam industry has the target that the ratio of industry is 43 – 44% of GDP. With the shifting economy structure speed like this period, this target will be gained. But the core issue is not only in growing in size.
In industry sector, mining collaborates the biggest part in GDP. However, developing this field will rapidly make the national resources exhausted. Two fields having the high export value are textile (The target in 2010 is that turnover is 10 billions USD) and leather shoes (The target in 2010 is that turnover is 6.5 billion USD and the ratio in industry production is 11%), although the growth value rate is high but two fields just process for the foreign markets. This situation makes the added value low. Besides, the raw material imports of two fields makes pressure on trade deficit.
On the other hand, the ratio of industry structure in GDP grows rapidly is a big reason that makes Vietnam’s ICOR in 2009 increase to the record (8 investment unit make 1 growing unit). According to advises of trusted financial institution like World bank, with developing countries like Vietnam, the ratio ICOR is 3 means that invest effectively and the economy has sustainable development. So that, we are developing not because of technology factor. To become the economy which industry plays the main role, the structure shifting to industry sector is indispensable. However, this issue doesn’t mean much if we still remain the low surplus value in industry sector.

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