Vietnam to have five international tech giants by 2030: General Secretary

By 2030, Vietnam plans to have at least five international digital technology firms and position itself among the top three in Southeast Asia in digital technology, General Secretary To Lam said on January 15.

Tech and telecom businesses receive accolades from General Secretary To Lam. The Hanoi Times

This goal was one of several outlined by the General Secretary at the 6th National Annual Forum on the Development of Vietnam's Digital Technology Enterprises, held in Hanoi.

"Mastering and developing strategic technologies is the foundation for an independent, self-reliant economy and the advancement of the digital economy," he said.

In the midst of globalization and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digital technology is a key driver of socio-economic growth, he said.

"Digital transformation solutions are an urgent necessity for Vietnam to narrow the gap with developed economies, boost our global competitiveness and confidence," said the General Secretary.

"Achieving these goals will require strong commitment and dedication from the government, government agencies, enterprises and all Vietnamese citizens," he said.

He urged digital technology companies to invest heavily in modern technology infrastructures that meet international standards and provide high capacity and bandwidth.

Measures must be taken to attract talent, create an attractive work environment, and support scientific research and innovation, thereby building domestic capabilities and fostering global-scale digital technology enterprises, the General Secretary said.

He also emphasized the importance of developing a robust digital technology ecosystem by fostering close cooperation among enterprises, universities, research institutes, and support organizations to advance the digital economy.

"Digital technology enterprises should be empowered to develop solutions for government management, improve the quality of public services, promote electronic transactions and expand public access to information technology," he said.

The General Secretary urged Vietnam's technology sector to strengthen international cooperation, attract foreign investment, facilitate Vietnamese enterprises to join global value chains, and bring Vietnamese digital products to international markets.

"Digital technology companies need to come together and seize the opportunities. This is a responsibility for every business," he said.

"Products and services must be innovative and bring real value, serve the interests of the people and the economy, and meet the demands of the domestic and international markets."

The General Secretary also encouraged digital enterprises to use intellectual strength, human resources, entrepreneurship and national pride to propel Vietnam's development in the new era.

General Secretary To Lam delivers his speech at the 6th National Annual Forum on the Development of Vietnam's Digital Technology Enterprises. Photo: The Hanoi Times

At the forum, Tao Duc Thang, Chairman and CEO of telecom group Viettel, said his company has fully mastered its 5G technology ecosystem.

"Our products are now available in almost all markets where Viettel operates, with initial exports to countries such as India and the United Arab Emirates," he said.

"Viettel will develop next-generation telecommunications technologies to boost speed and expand applications, especially 6G technology," he added.

The company also plans to complete the development of a virtual legal assistant for civil servants by 2025, as requested by the Ministry of Information and Communications, Thang said.

Meanwhile, by 2027, the VNPT Group aims to master its "Make-in-Vietnam" GenAI model in various fields, including language, images, information, and data, according to To Dung Thai, Chairman of the Board of Members.

"Our large-scale Vietnamese language model, with at least 100 billion parameters, will have a superior understanding of Vietnamese culture, history and geography," he said. "It will be able to address Vietnam's major challenges."

VNPT will also master the technology to develop digital replicas for provinces, design a national 3D digital map, and establish smart operation centers for ministries, agencies, and localities, all of which will be ready by 2027, Thai said.

Echoing the General Secretary's sentiments, Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of FPT Group, pledged that the company will become a global digital technology powerhouse with US$5 billion in international revenue by 2030.

“FPT will train 10,000 semiconductor engineers and 50,000 AI engineers, providing AI skills and knowledge to half a million IT professionals across the country,” he said.

During the forum, Dohyun Kang, Vice Minister of South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, said that developing the digital industry will help the economy escape the middle-income trap.

The South Korean government has implemented numerous plans and policies to strengthen national capabilities in preparation for the era of artificial intelligence (AI), he said.

According to Kang, AI is driving a global race for technological dominance, but also poses challenges such as cyberattacks, misinformation, and data breaches.

At the forum, the Ministry of Information and Communications presented the 2024 "Make in Vietnam" Digital Technology Product Awards, recognizing outstanding innovations that showcase Vietnam's intelligence.

These products are designed to drive economic growth, enhance national competitiveness, increase productivity, and deliver broader and more practical benefits to citizens and businesses through digital transformation and economic development.

Among the honorees were the Administrative Procedure Control Agency, the Administrative Management Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security, and major technology and telecom companies such as VNPT, Viettel, FPT, CMC, MISA, RYNAN Technologies Vietnam, and CEH IT Services Company.

Tech giants honored at the forum. Photo: The Hanoi Times