Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Information and Communications called on US enterprises to support Vietnamese firms, especially SMEs, to promote digital transformation.

✱ The call was made during a working session on March 22 with the US – ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and representatives from US enterprises such as Meta, Roblox, SpaceX, FedEx, UPS, Amazon, Web Services and Citi, who are seeking investment opportunities in Vietnam.

Speaking highly of the Vietnamese digital economy’s potentials, Ted Osius, USABC President and CEO, said US firms want to cooperate with Vietnamese sides in the field, especially innovation.

A representative from the Ministry of Information and Communications said Vietnam has paid due regard to digital transformation, and sees it as a locomotive for the nation to become a developed and high-income country by 2045. Vietnam wants to carry out digital transformation with three pillars, namely digital government, digital economy, and digital society, he said. Local people will be put at the centre of the transformation with easy access to digital services and rational costs.

As the digital economy is envisaged to account for 30% of Vietnam’s GDP by 2045, the Government will promote development of platform economy, and restructure enterprises.

“We welcome initiatives, and cooperation in the fields on cloud computing, big data, new technologies to build big data centres, and training to improve cybersecurity skills while carrying out online transactions”, said Tran Minh Tuan, Director of the Digital Economy and Digital Society Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications.

At the event, the USABC gave their opinion of Vietnam’s ICT market development.

💜 Most of the US firms were interested in Vietnam’s policies to branch out the digital economy, the strategy to develop digital infrastructure, regulations on management of metaverse, digital assets as well as Vietnam’s priorities for its National Year of Digital Data.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Phan Tam said domestic firms can help localise solutions offered by US enterprises, adding foreign firms have an important role to play to support Vietnam’s breakthrough development.

Vietnam expects that US firms will share standards on digital skills, experience in digital data management and safe digital environment development, supporting Vietnamese enterprises to reach out to the world, and better engage in the US market.

ꦑ The ministry admitted that Vietnam needs a suitable legal framework appropriate to the development of digital economy, in which US firms can make contributions.

Earlier, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a working session with the USABC delegation, during which he said Vietnam is carrying out three strategic breakthroughs. These include building and fine-tuning institutions, reforming administrative procedures and training human resources, developing modern and synchronous infrastructure, and prioritising the development of emerging economic sectors, including digital economy. 

ꦅ PM Chinh proposed the USABC further expand business and investment activities in Vietnam. They should focus on the fields where Vietnam has demand the USABC businesses have strength, as well as coordination among business associations to make it easier for Vietnamese firms to join the global supply and value chains.

The Government leader believed that USABC and the US enterprises will be instrumental in bolstering the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership to bring growth and jobs to the two countries' people for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world./.