Vietnam will rapidly develop into an information and communication technology (ICT) hub providing that the ongoing “Make-in-Vietnam” strategy is successfully implemented, according to Minister of Information and Communication Nguyen Manh Hung.

Information and Communication Minister Nguyen Manh Hung aspires to turn Vietnam
into an ICT nation in the coming years by taking advantage of the ongoing digital
transformation process.

Addressing a conference held on January 12 in Hanoi to outline orientations for the ICT sector ahead in 2021 and beyond, Minister Hung noted that humans are living in both a fast changing and unpredictable world where they move from the real world to the digital world. This therefore requires the ICT sector to grasp opportunities and address challenges in an effective manner in order to meet the ambitions set out in the “Make-in-Vietnam” strategy.

It can be viewed as high time that local digital enterprises fully master technology, from product design to manufacturing, as opposed to assembly and outsourcing in Vietnam, said Minister Hung.

Providing that the “Make-in-Vietnam” strategy is successfully carried out, Vietnam will become an ICT nation, with the sector projected to enjoy a growth rate between two and four times the national GDP rate, the Minister added, quoting calculations by the Ministry.

Simultaneously, he added that the scheme will also turn Vietnam into a prosperous and developed economy that enjoys high income by 2045.

Digital transformation is anticipated to turn Vietnam into a prosperous nation.
(Photo: Viet Linh)

The Minister initially launched the “Make-in-Vietnam” strategy in 2019, with the primary goal of developing 100,000 digital technology enterprises which serve as the cornerstone for the Vietnamese digital transformation process.

At present, a total of 60,000 enterprises have been established, a rise of 28% compared to the pre-2019 period.

Most notably, 2019 alone saw the export surplus in the hardware and electronics industry stand at an estimated US$28 billion, and Vietnam ranked 13th in the world for digital technology services.

Throughout the 2016 to 2019 period, the country rose to become one of the world’s leading hardware and electronics producers in the telecommunications industry. It also ranked second in terms of manufacturing phones and components, and 10th in manufacturing electronics and components.

These groups of products represent two of the top 10 main Vietnamese export items, making the ICT sector the economy’s largest exporter.