Hanoi, July 21, 2025 – The Europe Today: Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has urged ministries, agencies, and enterprises to intensify efforts in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation to effectively support the political system and achieve the national growth target of 8.3–8.5 per cent for the year.
Chairing a conference of the Government’s Steering Committee on Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation on Sunday morning, the Prime Minister reviewed progress made in the first half of 2025 and outlined directives for the remaining months.
The Prime Minister praised the notable achievements and the active participation of ministries, localities, enterprises, and the public in fostering a breakthrough in science, technology, and digital transformation. He also acknowledged the decisive leadership of the Steering Committee, highlighting its role in driving socio-economic development.
However, PM Chính emphasized that these results still fall short of expectations. He called for greater urgency, determination, and bold reforms, noting that people must remain central to development strategies. He stressed that these areas should lay the groundwork for double-digit economic growth in the coming years.
Strong Digital Growth with Tangible Progress
Highlighting recent accomplishments, the Prime Minister noted that science and technology, the digital economy, and innovation had witnessed robust development. Key achievements include:
- A significant improvement in mobile internet speed, placing Việt Nam among the top 20 globally.
- Progress on the National Data Centre project.
- Efficient implementation of electronic tax management, with over 109,000 businesses issuing 2.1 billion e-invoices.
- Digital product exports estimated at US$78.1 billion — a 20.5 per cent increase year-on-year.
- A VNĐ500 trillion (US$19.1 billion) credit package for science and technology has been actively rolled out.
- E-commerce expanded by 22–25 per cent.
- Nearly 100 digital platforms and applications launched to serve economic and social development.
Addressing Limitations and Enhancing Capacity
Despite these successes, PM Chính pointed out several persistent shortcomings:
- Delays in plan implementation and lack of substantial outcomes.
- Data inaccuracies, insufficient interconnectivity, and ineffective data sharing.
- Incomplete mechanisms and slow issuance of guidance documents.
- Digital infrastructure growth not aligned with economic potential.
- Insufficient cybersecurity measures and limited human resource capacity.
- Growing concerns over online fraud, cyberattacks, and personal data breaches.
The Prime Minister emphasized that unlocking the full potential of science, technology, and innovation would provide “golden opportunities” for economic restructuring, increased productivity, and enhanced national competitiveness. He also underscored the need for leadership reform and professional modernization across sectors.
Strategic Directions and Talent Development
PM Chính tasked ministries and provincial authorities with ensuring timely and adequate resource allocation, prioritizing quality and punctuality in task completion. He directed the development of strategic technology products and the restructuring of science and technology institutions.
He announced plans to promote national key research centres and laboratories, along with talent development projects to nurture innovation. Furthermore, he called for the formation of an interdisciplinary task force to support Vietnamese enterprises in acquiring foreign technology firms possessing critical intellectual property.
To enhance human capital, the Prime Minister instructed the formulation of criteria, management mechanisms, and incentive policies — including special remuneration packages — aimed at attracting at least 100 top-tier global experts in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
Data Integration and Smart Cities
The Prime Minister also directed relevant agencies to implement a detailed plan to develop 116 national databases linked with population and electronic identification systems. He called for improved data accuracy, interconnectivity, and the acceleration of a smart city initiative in six centrally-run cities.
Additional directives included:
- Completion of 40 out of 61 digital utilities on the VNeID platform.
- Simplification of 324 administrative procedures.
- Specific, achievable proposals for science, technology, and digital transformation projects from all ministries and provinces.
- Capacity-building programs to enhance digital literacy among public servants and citizens.
PM Chính reaffirmed that science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation remain crucial driving forces for national development, and reiterated his commitment to supporting breakthrough advancements in these sectors to ensure a resilient and competitive future for Vietnam.
