Digital transformation is a journey to change development thinking

The association's project implementation team took a commemorative photo at the launching ceremony.

On the occasion of the Vietnam Association for Economic and Trade Information Consulting holding the Launching Ceremony of the Project "Digital Transformation and Sustainable Creative Economic Development" in early November in Hanoi, Nhan Dan Newspaper reporter interviewed Mr. Luong Van Tu - Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Economic and Trade Information Consulting and Mr. Trinh Xuan Tuyen - Head of the Project Implementation Team.

Reporter: Mr. Luong Van Tu, why did the Association choose to launch a large-scale project, directly targeting farmers, women and rural youth?

Mr. Luong Van Tu: In more than 20 years of working in foreign affairs - especially when I led the Vietnamese delegation to negotiate Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) - I realized that, for a country to integrate deeply and sustainably, it cannot rely solely on industry or macroeconomic policies, but needs to improve the capacity of each citizen.

Today, digital technology and e-commerce are the ultimate equalizer: they enable people from any region to participate in global value chains.

If when joining the WTO, we opened the door through institutions, then digital transformation is the step of integration at the human level. When a farmer or a rural woman can livestream to sell agricultural products, promote OCOP products or traditional handicrafts - that is true integration and the foundation for a sustainable creative economy.

Mr. Luong Van Tu - Chairman of Vietnam Association of Economic and Trade Information Consulting spoke at the launching ceremony.

Reporter: Could you tell us about the Association's role in leading such a far-reaching program?

Mr. Luong Van Tu: Vietnam Economic and Trade Information and Consulting Association (VICETA), established on March 29, 2019, operates under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, with the role of connecting, consulting and disseminating digital economic knowledge.

We see a significant gap between the State’s digital transformation policy and the ability to implement it at the local level. This project is the bridge to bridge that gap, bring policies into life, and help technology become a tool to serve people.

The association does not only talk about technology theory, but focuses on practical solutions: training livestream skills, digital marketing, branding, connecting with e-commerce platforms and creating practical business models for the community.

What I wish most is that each commune and each cooperative will have at least one "digital nucleus" - pioneers in spreading knowledge, inspiring creativity and aspirations in the community.

Mr. Trinh Xuan Tuyen - Head of the project implementation team spoke at the launching ceremony.

Reporter: Mr. Trinh Xuan Tuyen, as the person directly implementing the program, can you share more clearly about the practical methods and goals of the Project?

Mr. Trinh Xuan Tuyen: We implement the project in three clear and measurable phases:

Phase 1: Organize a series of workshops on “Innovation-Creation-Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development of Vietnam” in communes and wards nationwide. This is the first step to help people understand what digital transformation is and its practical benefits.

Phase 2: Organize hands-on training, where people directly learn how to shoot videos, livestream, post products, create online stores and tell their own brand stories.

Phase 3: Connect with e-commerce platforms, businesses, and logistics units - forming a complete digital supply chain for local products.

In particular, the Association will provide financial support, organization and expert connection throughout the implementation process in localities. We hope to help communes and wards confidently organize workshops, attract the participation of people and businesses, thereby turning digital transformation into concrete actions, helping people increase their income and economic autonomy.

Reporter: Both of you emphasize the element of “sustainable innovation”. How is this phrase understood in the current context of rural Vietnam?

Mr. Luong Van Tu: “Creativity” is not only about technology, but also about how people think differently and do things differently from what they have. A farmer livestreaming to sell clean vegetables - that is creativity. A brocade weaving cooperative promoting its products via social networks - that is also creativity. But for creativity to become sustainable, people need knowledge, skills and a supporting ecosystem.

This project hopes to build that ecosystem, where the State-Enterprise-Association-Community share responsibilities and support each other. Only when the rural community becomes the subject of digital transformation, will the development process be truly comprehensive.

Reporter: Mr. Trinh Xuan Tuyen, how do you perceive the role of the upcoming workshops in creating breakthrough thinking for localities?

Mr. Trinh Xuan Tuyen: The seminars are the first point of contact between people and the digital world. We do not organize them in a “listen and take notes” style, but rather design a real experience: people can try to shoot videos, practice posting, see beautiful images and authentic stories that can help local products reach a wider market.

The workshop is also a place to connect local authorities, technology enterprises and residential communities. When these three forces cooperate, a true “digital rural” ecosystem will be formed - where knowledge is not only transmitted from the central government down, but also spread from the people up.

Reporter: Mr. Luong Van Tu, with your experience leading Vietnam to join the WTO, what advice do you have for promoting digital transformation today?

Mr. Luong Van Tu: Joining the WTO helps Vietnam “go out to sea”. Digital transformation is a journey of learning to swim in the ocean of data and technology.

My experience shows that if you want to integrate, you must understand the rules of the game; if you want to develop, you must have knowledge. Digital transformation cannot be done by the State or businesses alone - it must start with the people.

If every Vietnamese farmer understood that the phone in their hand was a global business tool, then our country would have truly transformed.

Reporter: Thank you both for your passionate sharing and strategic vision.

KHAC KIEN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/chuyen-doi-so-la-hanh-trinh-thay-doi-tu-duy-phat-trien-post921360.html