Vietnam's industrial output grows 14%

Vietnam's industrial output grew 14.2% in April compared to the same period last year, state media reported Thursday.     According to statistics released by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and carried by the state-run newspaper Economic Review , the industrial output for April reached 71.63 trillion dong (3.48 billion dollars).     Industrial output from non-state businesses increased 17.1% while production from foreign direct investment increased 17.5% compared with the same period last year. High growth sectors included beverages, ceramic tiles, sugar and steel.     The country's target for industrial output growth this year is 14.8%. It grew 14% last year. But last month the World Bank reduced its forecast for Vietnam's industrial growth for 2011 from 14.5% to 13%.     Industrial production grew at an average of 15-17% annually over the eight years before the global economic downturn.