Overseas Vietnamese business community continues to become a strategic bridge

Commenting on the draft documents submitted to the 14th National Party Congress, Dr. Tran Hai Linh, Chairman of the Vietnam-Korea Business and Investment Association (VKBIA), founding Chairman of the Vietnam-Korea Experts and Intellectuals Association (VKEIA), said that the draft documents submitted to the 14th National Party Congress reflect a great vision, demonstrating the will to "breakthrough" in development thinking.

Dr. Tran Hai Linh spoke at the Vietnam - Korea Local Cooperation Forum to promote investment and connect trade in Goyang City, Korea in September 2025. Photo: DN

The Party and the State both identify the private economy as one of the important driving forces of the economy (according to Resolution 68 and Draft Document XIV of the Party). In your opinion, in which areas should the overseas business community promote its role to contribute to the development of the private economy in Vietnam?

Our Party and State have identified the private economy as one of the important driving forces of the economy, this is a clear orientation in the Draft Documents of the 14th Congress. With a community of more than 6 million Vietnamese people abroad, including a large number of businessmen, experts, intellectuals with rich knowledge and international experience, this is a strategic resource that directly contributes to the breakthrough development of the domestic private economy. The overseas business community can promote its role in a number of key aspects as follows.

Support to improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese enterprises through connecting markets, partners, and standardizing corporate governance according to global standards. Overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs understand Vietnam's strengths and grasp the requirements and trends of the international market, which is an irreplaceable advantage.

Promote technology transfer, digital transformation and green development. Many overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs are operating in core technology industries such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, automation, cyber security, new energy, etc. If there is a suitable attraction mechanism, we can shorten the technology gap and participate more deeply in global strategic supply chains.

Support the development of a creative startup ecosystem. Overseas Vietnamese not only bring capital but more importantly, management knowledge, new growth models, and international networks, helping Vietnamese startups reach out to the world . From there, "Make in Vietnam" businesses are formed that are competitive globally.

Promote participation in domestic value chains associated with regional and industry linkages, especially in areas where Vietnam has advantages such as: Processing and manufacturing industry, logistics, e-commerce, high-tech agriculture , high-quality tourism and services, etc.

In addition, the overseas business community always carries with it the spirit of patriotism, the will to start a business and the desire to serve the Fatherland. If there is a favorable environment, support policies and a stable mechanism to protect private investors, this force will certainly continue to become a strategic bridge, contributing to realizing the goal: By 2045, it is hoped that Vietnam will achieve the goal of becoming a developed country with high income, with many Vietnamese private enterprises reaching the world level. With the correct guidelines of the Party, the participation of the Government, and the companionship of the business community at home and abroad, the Vietnamese private economy will make a strong breakthrough, becoming the main driving force in the country's new growth model.

The draft document identifies “foreign affairs and international integration” as an important and regular task, on par with national defense and security. In your opinion, how should the overseas Vietnamese community promote its role in people-to-people diplomacy and promote the image of Vietnam, thereby helping Vietnam develop “in accordance with the country’s historical, cultural and status” stature?

The Draft Document of the 14th Party Congress clearly affirms that foreign affairs and international integration are important and regular tasks, placed on par with national defense and security. This is a very important step in developing strategic thinking, demonstrating a global vision, proactively creating a peaceful and cooperative environment for national development.

With more than 6 million Vietnamese people living in 130 countries and territories, our overseas Vietnamese community is a strategic resource of people's diplomacy, connecting Vietnam with the world through the threads of trust, culture and knowledge.

Overseas Vietnamese people's diplomacy can contribute significantly in three aspects: Promoting the national image - a friendly, innovative, dynamic and future-creating Vietnam. Each overseas Vietnamese is a cultural ambassador, spreading Vietnamese identity and a convincing development story to international friends; Building and consolidating "Vietnam's soft power" through connecting experts, intellectuals, businesses and international institutions. This is the path to help us enhance our national position, participate more deeply in the processes of shaping global rules of the game; Accompanying and protecting national interests in a strategic competitive environment.

Overseas Vietnamese are a reliable bridge, helping Vietnam expand its market, promote investment, trade and technology transfer cooperation, and contribute directly to growth. More importantly, the people's diplomacy of overseas Vietnamese is not only aimed at the country's success, but is also a way to express national pride, gratitude to the origin and responsibility for the future of Vietnam.

With the comprehensive, modern foreign policy imbued with Vietnamese identity as determined by the Party, together with the strength of great national solidarity, including the global Vietnamese community, we can completely realize the goal: "Building a developed, prosperous Vietnam with a position commensurate with the historical and cultural stature of the nation in the international arena".

Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025 of the Politburo sets out the goal of educational and training breakthroughs, as well as the Draft Document orienting the goal of building a modern national education system, integrating internationally. In your opinion, what should Vietnam do to connect domestic schools, institutes, and enterprises with the network of overseas intellectuals and students, in order to develop high-quality human resources?

Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo emphasizes the need for a breakthrough in education and training, and the development of high-quality human resources to serve the industrialization, green and digital transformation. This is the right and urgent direction for Vietnam to enter the group of developed countries in the coming decades.

In my opinion, to promote the connection between domestic educational and research institutions and the network of overseas experts, intellectuals and students, we can focus on the following key solutions:

Establish a long-term strategic cooperation mechanism between universities, research institutes and businesses and the Vietnamese community abroad. There should be a mechanism for ordering research and training according to the practical needs of the market and FDI enterprises.

Building and expanding a global network of Vietnamese talents, creating favorable conditions for overseas experts and intellectuals to participate in teaching, technology transfer, and startup consulting right in Vietnam without barriers regarding procedures, treatment, or working environment.

Strongly implement the international student and internship exchange program, promote the cooperation model between schools, institutes and enterprises. In which, Vietnamese enterprises and foreign enterprises in Vietnam need to participate more deeply in the training and recruitment process.

Accelerate the formation of international standard research and innovation centers in major cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, in association with countries with developed science and technology such as Korea, Japan, the EU, and the United States.

Create an open and transparent academic environment, encourage freedom of creativity and university autonomy, use quality and actual products as a measure, avoid chasing after formalities. If we make good use of global Vietnamese intelligence, especially the more than 600,000 experts, intellectuals and students studying and working abroad, I believe that Vietnam can completely make a strong breakthrough, from "following behind, learning quickly" to becoming a creator of new knowledge and technology. That is the foundation that determines the success of the goal by 2045, making Vietnam a developed, high-income country, with competitive strength coming from the Vietnamese people.

Thank you very much!

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/cong-dong-doanh-nhan-kieu-bao-tiep-tuc-tro-thanh-cau-noi-chien-luoc-20251114144402145.htm