What needs to be done to make the digital economy a driving force for growth?

DNVN - By raising numerous questions about solutions to remove data "bottlenecks" and build specific mechanisms, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that these are key issues of decisive importance for the digital economy to truly become a driving force for Vietnam's breakthrough and advancement.

Where does Vietnam stand in the global technology value chain?

On the morning of December 20th, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the 3rd National Forum on Digital Economy and Society Development with the theme "Comprehensive and Inclusive Development of the Digital Economy and Society - Achieving Double-Digit GDP Growth Targets in the 2026-2030 Period".

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the digital economy and digital society are two fields that are "two but one." While the digital economy plays a role in innovating the growth model, improving productivity and competitiveness, the digital society is the humanistic foundation that helps improve the quality of life and narrow the development gap.

The digital economy is the driving force, the digital society is the foundation, and people are at the center. In particular, Resolution 57 of the Politburo, issued in December 2024, identified digital transformation as a top priority breakthrough and the main driving force for modernizing the productive forces and innovating national governance methods.

Instead of reports of achievements, the Prime Minister urged delegates to look directly at the reality and answer the question: Where does Vietnam stand in the global technology value chain?

The Prime Minister raised a series of thought-provoking issues to address difficulties, such as: How to handle barriers related to taxes, intellectual property, and cross-border services? How to remove bottlenecks in connecting and sharing national data? What specific mechanisms are needed for Vietnam to become a "cradle" of innovative startups and new technology development? How to effectively mobilize and utilize public-private investment and foreign investment to create synergistic strength?

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers a keynote address at the 3rd National Forum on Digital Economy and Digital Society Development. Photo: VGP

The Prime Minister expects that the digital economy will not only remain in reports but will actually be present and effectively transform production in all sectors: from agriculture, industry, and construction to disaster and disease prevention.

The Prime Minister requested delegates to contribute ideas to develop a program on the digital economy and digital society that is suitable to Vietnam's conditions and characteristics within the global context, so that Vietnam can keep pace with, catch up with, and surpass others in the development of the digital economy and digital society in the new era. According to the Prime Minister, this is not a simple task, but with the right approach and methods, the time and effort can be shortened.

Guided by the principle of "Party leadership, State management, and people's ownership," the Prime Minister called on experts, technology corporations, and localities to contribute ideas to develop a specific action program. The ultimate goal is to shorten the timeframe, save effort, and create breakthrough results, enabling Vietnam to confidently enter an era of national breakthrough and advancement.

5 things to avoid in digital economic development.

Reports at the forum showed that the digital economy has made significant progress recently. Digital institutions are increasingly being supplemented and perfected to meet the demands of reality. Digital infrastructure has developed by leaps and bounds; people's awareness of the digital society has increased. Citizens and businesses have benefited from the digital transformation.

However, the target for digital economic development by 2025 is only 14%, falling short of the set goal (20%); the institutional framework for the digital economy, digital society, and digital data is still not synchronized or complete; digital infrastructure development is uneven; the digital workforce does not meet the demand; and cybersecurity still faces many potential risks…

In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the Ministry of Science and Technology to study and incorporate the opinions expressed at the forum to supplement and refine the Program for the Development of the Digital Economy and Digital Society for the period 2026-2030, ensuring unified implementation from the central to local levels.

According to the Prime Minister, leaders must take the lead, shifting their mindset from "keeping data as private property" to "connecting and sharing." Accordingly, all levels and sectors must adhere to the spirit of "5 pioneering principles, 5 yes's, and 5 no's."

In this context, the "five no's" spirit is considered a guiding principle for action: no paperwork - no cash - no administrative boundaries; no limitations on development; no corruption or waste; no fragmentation or separatism; and leaving no one behind.

Regarding key tasks, the Prime Minister directed the early formation of large-scale "Digital Industrial Complexes" to create a ripple effect. He also called for the development of "Digital Farmers - Smart Rural Areas" models and the building of high-standard Vietnamese agricultural product brands in the digital environment.

Focusing on logistics and tourism as key areas; stimulating digital consumption and launching the "Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods in the digital space" program. Comprehensively digitizing healthcare (electronic health records), education (electronic school records), and building a transparent digital social security network.

The Prime Minister assigned specific deadlines to the ministries. The Ministry of Science and Technology must finalize the Digital Economy and Society Development Program 2026-2030 by December 2025. The Ministry of Public Security must submit the national data economy framework and implementation roadmap by January 2026. The Ministry of Education and Training must report on the overall sectors affected by AI in order to plan for retraining workers in the first quarter of 2026.

Thu An

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/chuyen-doi-so/lam-gi-de-kinh-te-so-tro-thanh-dong-luc-tang-truong/20251220112643162