HANOI, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's national index of industrial production advanced 6.18 percent year on year in the first three months of this year, according to the country's General Statistics Office on Friday.
The processing and manufacturing sector, the main driver behind the increase, went up by 6.98 percent. The electricity production and distribution sector expanded by 11.97 percent, and the water supply and waste management sector increased by 4.99 percent, said the agency.
The industrial production index increased in 54 localities year on year and declined in nine others.
As of March 1, the total number of employees in the industrial sector increased by 1.1 percent year on year, said the agency. ■
