HANOI, March 12 (Reuter)-Vietnamese trade and industrial output rose in the

first two months of this year thanks to more oil production and power

generation, according to official figures published on Saturday.

The

monthly economic review by the official English-language newspaper Vietnam News

looked good on the whole for the economy, which the government wants to keep

growing at eight percent a year.

Industrial output was three percent

higher than in February, 1993, it said. Over 15 percent more oil was pumped from

offshore fields in the South China Sea and 7.5 percent more electricity was

produced.

The newspaper did not give figures for oil out put but said oil

exports - the main hard-currency earner - were up 30 percent.

Overall

exports and imports in the first two months of 1994 showed increases over the

same period of 1993, the report said. -

Reuters