Newswire: ADB/ Burma's GDP

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 Vietnam to post strongest growth for Indochina
    MANILA, April 11 (Reuter) - Vietnam would continue to post
the heftiest growth rate among countries in Indochina and Burma
over the next two years, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said
in its Asian Development Outlook 1996 and 1997 released on
Thursday.
    It said Vietnam's gross domestic product (GDP) would expand
by 9.8 percent in 1996 and 9.9 percent in 1997 versus 9.5
percent in 1995 and 8.8 percent in 1994.
    In contrast, Cambodia's GDP would grow by 7.5 percent in
1996 and 1997 versus 7.5 in 1995 and 4.0 percent in 1994 while
Laos would experience growth of 7.5 percent in 1996 and 7.0
percent in 1997, up from 7.1 percent in 1995 and 8.1 percent in
1994.
    Burma's 1995 GDP growth was estimated at 7.5 percent in 1995
and 6.8 percent in 1994 and at 6.0 to 7.0 percent in 1996. The
ADB did not provide 1997 figures.
    The Manila-based multilateral lending institution noted that
Vietnam had so far succeeded in maintaining a macroeconomic
balance even though the current account deficit had been
expanding as a share of GDP.