Digital transformation and green transformation create momentum for sustainable growth

Dual transformation is taking place strongly in the manufacturing sector.

Speaking at the forum, Vice President of the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Hoang Quang Phong said: In the context of globalization and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, dual transformation - including digital transformation and green transformation - is becoming a key factor to help businesses improve their competitiveness and move towards sustainable development.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade , the application of digital technology and smart energy management systems can help businesses reduce operating costs by 10-15%, increase productivity by 20% and reduce CO₂ emissions by 5-8% each year. McKinsey & Company also estimates that digital transformation in manufacturing can increase labor productivity by up to 30% and cut supply chain costs by 15-20%.

In fact, the digital transformation and green transformation process is taking place strongly in the manufacturing sector, not only helping to increase the internal capacity of enterprises but also contributing to the implementation of national commitments on sustainable development and the Net Zero target.

“Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo (2024) affirms: “Developing science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation is a top important breakthrough and the main driving force of productivity growth,” said Mr. Phong.

By 2030, the Resolution sets very specific targets: Total factor productivity (TFP) contributes over 55% to GDP growth; Digital economy accounts for at least 30% of GDP; Over 40% of enterprises have innovation activities; Vietnam is among the top 3 countries in Southeast Asia, in the top 50 countries in the world in terms of digital competitiveness.

By 2045, Vietnam strives to achieve a digital economy scale of at least 50% of GDP, becoming one of the 30 leading countries in the world in innovation and digital transformation.

The draft document of the 14th Party Congress, which is seeking public opinions, also emphasizes the need to establish a new growth model, taking science and technology, innovation and national digital transformation as the main driving force; perfecting development institutions associated with synchronous implementation of four transformations: digital transformation, green transformation, energy transformation, structural transformation and human resource quality transformation.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Hien, Director of the Department of Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Central Policy and Strategy Committee, said that the lessons of many businesses show that growth is only truly valuable when supported by a sustainable foundation through the "key" of dual transformation.

Mr. Hien emphasized that digital transformation and green transformation help Vietnam not only accelerate, but also develop steadily, towards sustainable double-digit growth based on productivity, technology and innovation.

For businesses, digital transformation is a tool to increase efficiency, reduce costs, expand markets and improve customer experience; while green transformation helps save energy, reduce emissions, optimize resources and meet increasingly stringent ESG standards of the global market.

At the industry level, this combination creates a spillover effect, helping to form smart production, logistics and energy chains, reduce input costs, improve output quality and increase export competitiveness.

At the national level, dual transformation opens up opportunities to enhance national competitiveness. When Vietnamese enterprises simultaneously digitize and green, we will not only produce more efficiently, but also move closer to global standards in governance, environment and technology.

Mr. Hien said: Dual transformation - digitalization and greening - is not just a slogan, but an inevitable direction for Vietnamese enterprises to achieve double-digit growth and reach out globally; at the same time, it helps enterprises increase productivity, reduce costs, expand markets, improve competitiveness, and contribute to implementing Vietnam's Net Zero 2050 commitment.

From a national perspective, that is also the consistent spirit of Resolution 57, rapid and sustainable development based on science, technology and innovation, a breakthrough driving force for Vietnam's GDP to achieve sustainable double-digit growth in the new era.

Human factor comes first

Mr. Pham Hong Quat - Director of the Department of Startups and Technology Enterprises (Ministry of Science and Technology) agrees with the view: dual transformation in enterprises needs to carry out 4 important contents in parallel related to mechanisms, human resources, solutions and finance.

Referring to the mechanisms and policies for dual transformation, according to the Director of the Department of Startups and Technology Enterprises, the Government has issued the Green Transformation Strategy and the National Digital Transformation Program. In reality, the two digital and green transformations need to be implemented in parallel to achieve the goal of optimizing growth resources and sustainable development. In many forums today, dual transformation is mentioned a lot, but in terms of institutions, there are no mechanisms and policies for this parallel transformation.

Green transformation and digital transformation are closely linked to innovation. According to Mr. Pham Hong Quat, implementing dual transformation is essentially transforming the business model, not simply applying technology. In particular, digital transformation is now shifting to AI transformation - platform technology, ecosystem business model, posing many issues regarding business growth models in enterprises, requiring changes first of all in thinking, perspectives, new business models to improve internal capacity, meeting the increasingly fierce regional and global competition requirements.

With such a view, the Director of the Department of Startups and Technology Enterprises emphasized that the human factor plays an important and decisive role in dual transformation, while technology only plays the role of an implementation tool. Therefore, before talking about dual transformation in enterprises, we must mention the changes in the thinking and awareness of entrepreneurs. From the reality of capital calling of startups in recent times. Mr. Pham Hong Quat shared: investors look at the thinking and capacity of entrepreneurs and business leaders to invest capital.

At the forum, representatives of associations and businesses said that, in terms of policy, Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW and Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW of the Politburo have clearly defined the orientation to promote the development of the private economic sector through innovation, digital transformation, green transformation and sustainable business - aiming at the goal of Vietnam becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045. These resolutions have been and are being concretized through many mechanisms and policies to support businesses.

However, many opinions at the forum also said that the gap between policies and actual implementation still exists. For dual transformation to truly become a driving force for growth, there needs to be stronger participation from the business community - not only in the role of implementation but also as a creator and innovator.

“The recommendations and proposals from the event will be compiled by VCCI and submitted to the Government and relevant ministries and branches to perfect policies and create more favorable conditions for businesses in the process of sustainable development,” said Mr. Hoang Quang Phong.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/chuyen-doi-so-va-chuyen-doi-xanh-tao-dong-luc-tang-truong-ben-vung-20251030180807923.htm