The figures were announced during a press conference held by the provincial Statistics Office to release Gia Lai's socio-economic statistics for the first half of 2026.
Officials said all major economic sectors contributed positively to growth, providing a solid foundation for the province to pursue its annual economic targets.
The industry-construction and services sectors were the main engines of expansion during the period. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries grew 4.14%, contributing 0.98 percentage points to overall growth. Industry and construction rose 11.68%, contributing 3.33 percentage points, while services increased 8.17%, adding 3.57 percentage points.
Budget revenue exceeded VND16.27 trillion (approximately US$626 million) as of June 24, up 20.4% from the same period last year. Product taxes minus product subsidies increased 8.26%.
The industrial sector continued to play a leading role in the province's economic performance. Processing and manufacturing expanded 11.74%, reflecting a recovery in production, while electricity production and distribution increased 15.37%, supporting stable supplies for manufacturing and daily consumption.
Trade, services and tourism also recorded strong growth, helped by Gia Lai's hosting of the 2026 National Tourism Year.
The province welcomed more than 8.74 million visitors during the first six months, up 18.5% year-on-year. Tourism revenue reached about VND19 trillion (approximately US$731 million).
Total retail sales of goods and consumer services exceeded VND108 trillion (approximately US$4.15 billion), an increase of 12.5% from a year earlier. Accommodation and food service revenue rose 15.1%, while passenger transport revenue climbed 23.3%, reflecting stronger demand for travel and consumer spending.
External trade maintained positive momentum during the reporting period. Export turnover surpassed US$2.1 billion, up 6.7% year-on-year, while imports reached nearly US$554 million, an increase of 13.1%. Wood products and seafood remained among the province's strongest export sectors, contributing to an improved trade balance.
Total social investment reached nearly VND35.938 trillion (approximately US$1.38 billion), up 8.9% from the previous year. The non-state sector accounted for 67.6% of total investment, reflecting continued confidence among private enterprises in the local investment environment.
Credit activity remained stable, with total outstanding loans exceeding VND262.5 trillion (approximately US$10.10 billion), up 13.6% year-on-year. The non-performing loan ratio was maintained at 1.34%.
Agricultural production remained stable, continuing to support the local economy. Winter-Spring rice output reached about 512,700 tonnes, while livestock production continued to develop toward larger-scale operations.
The province also accelerated crop restructuring, converting more than 5,042 hectares to new production models. The expansion of planting area codes and value chain linkages continued to improve production efficiency.
Business activity strengthened during the first half of the year. Gia Lai recorded 1,971 newly established enterprises, an increase of 42.2% from a year earlier, with total registered capital reaching VND28.663 trillion (approximately US$1.10 billion). More businesses also resumed operations, indicating further improvement in the province's business environment.
Despite the positive results, provincial officials acknowledged ongoing challenges, including rising input costs, uneven progress in public investment disbursement and difficulties facing some production sectors.
During the press conference, representatives of the provincial Statistics Office also responded to questions from media organizations, providing additional clarification on statistical data and the province's socio-economic performance in the first half of the year.
Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, Gia Lai plans to sustain existing growth drivers, accelerate public investment implementation and disbursement, further improve the investment climate, support businesses in overcoming challenges and maximize opportunities created by the 2026 National Tourism Year.
Officials said these measures are expected to help the province achieve its 2026 development targets while laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth and contributing to the country's broader development.