By SGGP Online
This article originally appeared in Saigon Giai Phong Online.
The Vietnam Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Summit 2019, themed ‘Digital Transformation for a Prosperous Vietnam’, was formally held on August 8, 2019 in Hanoi.
Vietnam ICT Summit 2019 specially stressed the urgency of digital transformation (DT) in the country, saying that this process will have significant effects on both the Vietnamese economy, politics, and society. Its theme signals the necessity of solidarity between the government, businesses, and the technology community.
In his opening speech, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung stated that DT is able to alter not only products but also manufacturing procedures and infrastructure. This process will also ultimately change awareness of people about the future and socio-economic relations that form this future.
After the three vital international revolutions of mechanization, electrification, and automation, this is the time of digitalization, which is obviously expected in the Industry 4.0 era. DT is basically changing the whole economy and society systems as machines are now more intelligent to be able to work independently and connect to others effectively. This makes certain aspects like physics, physical economy, and digital economy become one.
“DT is offering golden opportunities for Vietnam thanks to the comprehensive transformation in each business, organization, and individual. This is a lifetime and historic chance to help us handle such a huge amount of workload successfully. If Vietnam wants to improve its status in the world, it needs to be swifter to enjoy the competitive advantage. DT requires not many material facilities but a shift in thinking”, stated Minister Hung.
He continued by delivering instruction to focus more on the five foundation aspects of institution, infrastructure, cyber security, platform solutions, and training. He also called upon ICT firms to take responsibility for at least one of the above to boost DT in Vietnam.
The Minister also commented that DT needs the leading role of the central government in that this organization can provide a suitable environment for DT via proper institutions and become the pioneer in this process by turning to an e-government and further a digital government, managing a digital economy, investing in smart cities and further a digital society, encouraging state businesses initiate DT.
According to Mr. Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA), in order for DT to be successful, every local area and each ministry as well as industry has to choose one specific field, called the ‘breakthrough point’, to concentrate on, along with proper detailed policies. After gaining more professional human resources and a sustainable development, these organizations can adjust to a more suitable solution.
Mr. Nguyen Van Khoa, General Director of FPT Group, stated that thanks to owning comprehensive platforms and obtaining sufficient experience, most pioneering technological corporations in Vietnam are ready to provide all kinds of solutions for DT so that Vietnam is able to make crucial breakthroughs to keep up with the world.
In this event, a representative of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) presented the updated draft version of the national DT project to collect feedbacks.
The Vietnam ICT Summit 2019 was co-hosted by MIC and VINASA. It welcomed the participation of Deputy Minister Vu Duc Dam and more than 700 delegates from the ministries and industries as well as international and domestic ICT firms.
In related news, the conference Vietnam CEO Summit 2019, themed ‘Leading Strategy in Digital Transformation and Chances for Vietnamese Businesses’, happened on the same day in Hanoi.
The conference aims at offering leaders of giant companies in Vietnam a comprehensive view on the incredibly swift DT tendency, which is creating new products and services based mostly on technological platforms and digitalization.
According to Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Phan Tam, after 30 years reforming the country, Vietnam has witnessed various changes in its economy. However, it also faces several difficulties since its economic growth still depends largely on natural resources and capital size while the competitiveness capability and performance are not up to expectation.
Therefore, it is necessary now to improve working efficiency, which is the core in the Vietnamese economy as well as in each enterprise. ICT obviously plays a truly important role in this process.
To achieve this, MIC has implemented certain solutions such as developing digital infrastructure, forming specific mechanisms and institution to apply information technology, transforming businesses into a research center and then a place to implement research results.
Industry 4.0 is offering various historic opportunities for Vietnam to become a developed country in 2045.
MIC is going to concentrate more on main telecoms firms so that these companies can guide others. It will encourage the growth of domestic private hi-tech companies. One more action of MIC is to ensure information security in the digital infrastructure.
In the conference, Dr. David Bray, CEO of People-Centered Internet, voiced his prediction that in 2045, technology will develop multi-fold. This leads to the concern whether digital technology will lessen or widen the gap between people. He commented that Vietnam needs to make good use of all possible resources to promote creativity and innovative startup ecosystems while speeding up the development of IoT like other nations in Asia.
Associate Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Khuong from Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy under the Singapore National University, presented the eight prominent tendencies that are happening at the moment in the world. Among them, the ICT revolution is heavily affecting economic growth and business performance. He added that the digital lever is now fostering growth, competitive capability, and cooperation for renovation.
In the framework of this conference, Vietnam Report Joint Stock Co. honored the Top-10 most prestigious Vietnamese commercial banks, insurance companies, technology companies, and listed companies in 2019.
Vietnam CEO Summit is an annual conference co-held by Vietnam Report Jsc. and VietnamNet e-paper for leaders of giant domestic businesses.
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