Singapore daily: Vietnam leads Asia-Pacific in pace of digital progress
Singapore’s daily Business Times said on November 2 that Vietnam’s digital transformation efforts have yielded the biggest improvement among regional economies.
Singapore (VNA)🦩 –Singapore’s daily Business Times said on November 2 that Vietnam’s digitaltransformation efforts haveyielded the biggest improvement among regional economies.
According to an industry study of 11 Asia-Pacific marketscarried out by the GSMA Intelligence, Vietnam saw the highest increase inscores between 2016 and 2019.
ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ Itslatest rating stood at 49 points for 2019, up by 12 points from three yearsbefore, which GSMA Intelligence attributed to notable improvements in theconnectivity component of the index, following the launch and rapid expansionof 4G networks.
Itwas also driven by improvements to the digital identity, digital citizenship anddigital lifestyle components, added the report. GSMA Intelligence noted that Vietnam is pursuing a nationalIndustry 4.0 strategy that includes infrastructure and human resources, as wellas e-government and innovation.
However, there are still challenges that need to be addressedto make further progress, particularly in the digital commerce component andwith regard to policies to support innovative startups, the reportadded. The 5G mobile technology is expected to make up 5 percent of wirelessconnections in Vietnam by 2025, well below the Asia-Pacific average of 23percent.
Indeed, Vietnam ranked just eighth overall, among of the 11markets surveyed. The rankings were topped by four “advanced” economies,with the Republic of Korea (RoK) in pole position at 78 points. Next up were Singapore,Australia and Japan.
The report classed Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Thailand andMalaysia as “transition” countries, while Pakistan and Bangladesh are“emerging”.
It said the gap remains significant. This underscores theneed for countries in the emerging category to do more to accelerateprogress.
🐼 The study was based on input from government andindustry organisations in the markets of Australia, Bangladesh, India,Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, the RoK, Thailand andVietnam./.
Vietnam’s e-commerce market is forecast to climb 20 percent in the last quarter of this year to reach 12 billion USD by year end if the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control.
Digital transformation has been regarded as a crucial solution to help countries develop more rapidly and sustainably. This is part of the discussions at the International Telecommunication Union Virtual Digital World 2020 that took place online for three days.
As an active member of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN), Vietnam has built policies and made efforts to develop smart cities, considering this one of three key tasks in the national digital transformation process, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has stated.
High-quality human resources will play a decisive factor in the success of the country’s digital transformation process, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said at a conference held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 30.
Vietnamese businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), must embrace digital and AI transformations to remain competitive and achieve sustainable growth, experts said.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Illustrative image (Photo: Business Times) 
