New policy paves the way for digital technology breakthrough

Vietnam's digital technology is growing stronger and stronger.

In the context of globalization and the 4.0 industrial revolution , digital technology has been asserting its key driving role, promoting socio -economic development. Estimated data from the World Bank in Vietnam shows that artificial intelligence (AI), a new technology, is expected to contribute 19.9 trillion USD to the global economy by 2030. AI can transform new economies with the potential to improve efficiency and labor productivity, improve the efficiency of public services, develop workforce skills, and increase economic competitiveness.

Not out of that trend, Vietnam's digital technology sector has also made strong developments, contributing positively to the country's economy. Total revenue of Vietnam's digital technology industry in 2024 is estimated to reach 152 billion USD, an increase of 35.7% compared to 2019. The digital technology startup ecosystem is also growing stronger and stronger with nearly 74,000 enterprises. The ecosystem of products and services is diverse, from hardware, electronics, to software and advanced technologies such as AI, big data, Internet of Things...

The workforce reached more than 1.67 million workers, an increase of more than 50% compared to 2019. By the end of 2023, nearly 1,900 digital technology enterprises had reached the international market, with revenue of 11.5 billion USD, an increase of 53% compared to 2022.

The above figures show that digital technology has become one of the important economic sectors, not only helping Vietnam improve its competitiveness, expand international cooperation opportunities, actively contributing to the building of a comprehensive digital economy, and significantly contributing to economic growth and sustainable development.

However, besides that, Vietnam still has major weaknesses such as the technological level of Vietnamese enterprises is generally low, only participating at a very modest level in the global supply chain. The research and development capacity of enterprises is still quite dependent on foreign countries, limiting Vietnam's ability to be technologically autonomous. The attraction of high-tech talent is not strong enough, leading to a shortage of quality resources, directly affecting the ability to innovate.

The development of digital technology and digital infrastructure is uneven between regions, creating a large gap in technology access, affecting national connectivity and the sustainable development of the digital technology industry .

Vietnam's digital technology has grown strongly in recent times. Illustrative photo

Vietnam's digital technology has grown strongly in recent times. Illustrative photo

New policy creates momentum for digital technology breakthrough

According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Head of the Quality Management Department (Information Technology Industry Department), in recent times, the Government and ministries, including the Ministry of Science and Technology, have made efforts to build a policy system with many incentives to promote the development of digital technology.

On the basis of prioritizing digital technology development, the Ministry of Science and Technology issued Circular 31/2025/TT-BKHCN promulgating the List of key digital technology products and services. The list includes 10 large groups, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, quantum computing, big data, blockchain and especially semiconductor chips such as specialized chips, AI chips, IoT chips. The list also expands in depth in materials and equipment with 14 groups of raw materials and semiconductor materials, and 18 groups of equipment - machinery - tools serving the entire semiconductor industry chain.

Circular 32/2025/TT-BKHCN defines the list of raw materials, semiconductor materials as well as equipment, machinery, and tools that encourage investment and development. Projects in this field are classified into the group of industries with special investment incentives and can enjoy direct support for investment costs from the State and priority in customs procedures. These incentives, according to the document, create conditions for businesses to invest deeply in semiconductor technology - a field considered the backbone of the digital industry.

Meanwhile, Circular 33/2025/TT-BKHCN focuses on corporate income tax incentives for electronic equipment manufacturing projects. Enterprises only need to meet one of the following criteria: using semiconductor chips designed, manufactured, packaged or tested in Vietnam; having an R&D department that meets the requirements on human resources and spending on research and innovation; owning product designs; or participating in a supply chain with a rate of Vietnamese enterprises from 30% and transferring technology to at least one domestic organization. A representative of the Ministry of Science and Technology said that when meeting the conditions, enterprises are exempt from corporate income tax for the first four years and a 50% reduction in the next nine years; projects with a scale of over VND6,000 billion can have the Prime Minister consider extending the incentive period to a maximum of 1.5 times this framework.

The next notable policy is Circular 34/2025/TT-BKHCN, which sets out criteria for digital technology products and services to enjoy preferential treatment in contractor selection when using the state budget. Hardware products must have designs and brands owned by Vietnamese organizations or individuals; software products must be designed, developed by Vietnamese organizations, enterprises or individuals, or developed on open source platforms owned by Vietnamese entities. This is a mechanism to promote "Make in Vietnam" products to participate more strongly in the public procurement system.

In addition to new regulations related to creating favorable conditions for businesses, Circular 26/2025/TT-BKHCN has adjusted the import of used technology products on the list of prohibited imports. Although tightening management conditions, the Circular opens up special cases allowing imports, such as when businesses need to move production equipment within the organization, use equipment to control and operate production lines, or directly serve software production activities, outsourcing business processes using IT. Cases such as specialized products, re-imported equipment for repair or refurbished components that are no longer produced domestically are also allowed to be imported.

Meanwhile, Circular 30/2025/TT-BKHCN stipulates criteria for used technological lines, equipment and machinery that are allowed to be imported to directly serve the production, packaging and testing of semiconductor chip products, as well as training, research and development of digital technology products and services. According to regulations, imported technological lines must not be on the list of outdated, poor quality or polluting products announced by the exporting country, and must meet safety and energy saving standards according to national technical regulations, national standards or standards of G7 and Korea. The remaining capacity or efficiency of the line must reach 85% of the design; the consumption of raw materials, materials and energy must not exceed 15%. For equipment, machinery and tools, the age of the equipment must not exceed 20 years.

"The new policies issued recently have contributed to forming a relatively complete legal corridor for the development of the digital technology industry in Vietnam. From priority orientations, lists of key products and services to preferential mechanisms on investment, tax and public procurement, the policies are gradually going into depth, closer to the actual needs of businesses ," said a representative of the Department of Information Technology Industry.

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