Vietnam News Update (Feb. 16): National Data Strategy for 2030 Given the Green Light

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung speaks to FPT leaders and staff during a visit to the corporation on February 15. (Photo: PANO)

Vietnam to deploy national strategy on semiconductors in 2024

Vietnam will implement a national strategy for semiconductor industry development in 2024 to make it a key national industry in the coming decades, said Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung. The semiconductor industry is fundamental and will be a key national industry in the next 30 to 50 years, said Hung in a visit to FPT, the largest information technology service corporation in Vietnam, on February 15.

As long as people use information and data as input factors in production, semiconductor chips are still vital because they play an important role in data processing, he said. The Ministry of Information and Communication formulated the national strategy for semiconductor development in 2023, aiming to turn Vietnam into a regional hub for the semiconductor industry focusing on design, packaging, and testing activities by 2030.

To meet the target, Vietnam will perfect institutions and policies, boost human resource development and research, support startups, and form a national semiconductor chip ecosystem, along with increasing international cooperation. He hailed FPT’s future development strategy with a primary focus on artificial intelligence, semiconductor chips, and automotive, describing it as ‘a very correct strategic choice’.

According to the minister, the semiconductor industry forms the core of the digital transformation industry, while digital transformation is the largest market for semiconductor chips. Developing the semiconductor industry will be an opportunity for Vietnam to revive the domestic electronics industry and expand into areas such as telecommunications, consumer electronics, medical electronics, and industrial electronics, especially when the industry is entering into a transition process towards AI and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Vietnam is a large market of more than 100 consumers which presents a big opportunity for the semiconductor industry to develop, stressed the minister.

National Data Strategy towards 2030 approved

Vietnam aims to handle all administrative procedure applications online by 2030, according to the freshly approved National Data Strategy. The strategy sets the target of having 100% of national data centers, regional data centers, and national centers for large data storage and high-performance computing across the country guaranteed to connect successfully. They are expected to create a network to share computing capacity and large data processing to serve the country’s socio-economic and cultural development.

Government cloud computing platforms and Make in Vietnam mobile application platforms will be ready to fully meet the needs of the country’s data storage, collection, connection, and sharing demands, according to the strategy.

Vietnam also aims to digitalize 100% of the national database, serving as a foundation for the development of e-government and connecting with general data at the National Data Centre and nationwide. All ministerial and provincial-level State agencies will provide open data for administration activities, disseminating policies of State agencies and serving the development of artificial intelligence applications. At least 80% of administrative procedure data are expected to be reused and shared, ensuring that people and businesses only have to provide information one time when using online public services or performing administrative procedures.

Digitalization will be promoted in land data, tracing the origin of One Commune-One Product (OCOP) products sold on online platforms, logistics, and electricity consumption, among others. By 2030, 90% of cultural heritages, national relics, and special national relics in Vietnam will go digital by forming digital libraries and digital heritages. All domestic tourist attractions must also follow the digitalization trend.

Agencies will complete 100% of the social insurance database for employees while providing open data on the labor market, and recruitment demands with required skills updated, serving as a foundation for accurate prediction of labor supply and demand.

Minister Councilor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, deputy head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the UN, speaks at the UNSC open debate on February 14. (Photo: MOFA)

Vietnam acts to cushion climate change and food insecurity impact

A Vietnamese diplomat called for more international efforts to be made to reduce the impact of climate change, food insecurity, and conflicts on the maintenance of peace and security around the world, at an open debate of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on February 14.

Addressing the debate, Minister Councilor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, deputy head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the UN, emphasized that poverty is both the root cause and consequence of conflicts, while climate change is a factor that worsens food insecurity, and increases threats to international peace and stability.

He called on the Security Council to more effectively promote its role in preventing conflicts, and have a more comprehensive and balanced approach towards traditional and non-traditional security threats. He underscored the importance of strengthening consultation and coordination with UN agencies, relevant mechanisms, and initiatives at the international, regional, and national levels to promptly handle security risks from climate change and food insecurity.

The Vietnamese diplomat stressed the need to ensure compliance with international law and the UN Charter in conflicts, according to which relevant parties are not allowed to attack and destroy essential climate and civil infrastructure, especially water and food supply facilities.

As one of the countries vulnerable to climate change and sea-level rise, having experienced decades of war and transforming from a country lacking energy into the world’s leading exporter of agricultural products, Vietnam is committed to actively contributing to global efforts to maintain international peace and security through cooperation to address the impact of climate change and food insecurity, said the diplomat.

In his speech, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the world is facing a food crisis while climate change is increasingly serious, threatening peace and human life, and increasing instability and inequality in many places around the world. Delegates called for increased global cooperation, including further promoting the role of the UN and the Security Council, to minimize the impact of climate change and food insecurity, especially in countries and regions affected by conflicts.

National Council for science, technology, and innovation established

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently signed a decision on the establishment of the National Council for Science, Technology and Innovation. The Prime Minister is the council’s chairman while Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang is the standing vice chairman and the Minister of Science and Technology vice chairman.

Members of the council include the Minister of Planning and Investment, the Minister of Finance, and one leader each of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defence, the Government Office, and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the Chairmen of the People’s Committees of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, and the Presidents of the Vietnam National University – Hanoi and Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City, are also among the members of the council, along with experts, managers and scientists.

As an inter-sectorial organization, the council will assist the Prime Minister in studying, directing, and coordinating the handling of important issues in building and rolling out policies, strategies, and mechanisms to bolster the development of science, technology and innovation.

Besides, it is responsible for promoting coordination between ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and People’s Committees of provinces and cities during the process, contributing to the nation’s socio-economic growth, security defense and international integration.

Vietnam exports about 33.6 billion USD worth of goods in January, up 42% year on year. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam’s export turnover in January highest in almost two years

Vietnam’s export earnings in January posted a year-on-year rise of 42% to about USD 33.6 billion – the highest monthly turnover since April 2022 when the figure stood at USD 33.26 billion, reported the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT). That contributed to last month’s total export and import value of more than USD 64 billion, rising by almost 38% year on year. The strong export growth was driven mainly by the agro-forestry-fishery sector and the processing industry, which saw respective increases of nearly 97% and 38% in overseas shipments.

In particular, the export of telephones of all kinds and components brought home nearly USD 6 billion, surging over 56% month on month, partly thanks to Samsung’s launch of its new mobile phone series Samsung Galaxy S24 in mid-January. Agricultural products remained a bright spot of the export panorama as a result of good prices.

MoIT data showed that coffee and rice prices grew 35% and 33.5% to USD 2,955 and USD 693 per tonne, respectively. The US was still the biggest importer of Vietnamese goods last month, with USD 9.6 billion in value – up almost 56% from a year earlier. Exports to other traditional markets like China, the EU, and ASEAN respectively increased 58%, 18%, and 38%.

Meanwhile, Vietnam imported over USD 30.6 billion worth of goods, nearly 95% of which were materials for production for the Lunar New Year festival. China remained the largest exporter of goods to Vietnam, with an approximated value of 11 billion USD in January, soaring 50% year on year.

Nguyen Cam Trang, Deputy Director of the MoIT’s Agency of Foreign Trade, said that the world situation is forecast to continue witnessing big and unpredictable changes, along with intertwined opportunities and challenges in 2024. However, there are still many opportunities for exports to bounce back and grow this year when the unsold inventory in the US is gradually being resolved. The agency forecast this year’s foreign trade turnover may rise by over 6% from 2023, and Vietnam can continue recording a trade surplus, she noted.

Amy Mai Nguyen

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