Minister Nguyen Chi Dung: Innovation is the key for Vietnam to break through in the new era
Báo Tin Tức•15/01/2025
Minister Nguyen Chi Dung shared with VNA reporters about the main economic development orientations in building the Socio-Economic Development Plan for the 2026-2030 period.
Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung. Photo: Pham Kien/VNA
The Socio-Economic Report, an important document of the 14th National Congress, is being developed and completed to identify the main directions and tasks for socio-economic development in the 2026-2030 period. Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that in this report, the orientations on economic development play a very important role, revolving around the goal of achieving a high economic growth rate to create a premise to achieve the general goal that by 2045, our country will become a developed, high-income country as set out in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress. To better understand the main orientations for economic development in the development of the Socio-Economic Development Plan for the 2026-2030 period, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung shared with VNA reporters about this content. Could the Minister please tell us some major orientations on economic development in the construction of the Socio-Economic Development Plan for the 2026-2030 period in conjunction with the roadmap towards realizing the aspiration for prosperity in the era of national development? The Socio-Economic Report is an important document of the 14th National Congress that is being developed and completed to determine the main directions and tasks for socio-economic development for the 2026-2030 period. The content of the Socio-Economic Report covers all areas from economic development, culture, society, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, foreign affairs, ensuring national defense, security, and building a socialist rule-of-law state. In particular, the orientations on economic development play a very important role, revolving around the goal of achieving high economic growth rates to create the premise to achieve the general goal that by 2045, our country will become a developed, high-income country as set out in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress. The main orientations for economic development for the coming period are as follows: Firstly, focusing on perfecting development institutions, improving the quality of socialist-oriented market economic institutions; in which perfecting political institutions ensures being ahead, leading the way, meeting the needs of objective development and integration of the country; perfecting economic institutions is the central task, promoting rapid and sustainable development. Along with that, clarifying the functions and relationships between the State, the market and society, reducing the State's administrative intervention in the market. Having breakthrough mechanisms and policies to mobilize and effectively use domestic and foreign resources to serve socio-economic development; in which state resources are used to stimulate and lead social resources. Promote decentralization and decentralization thoroughly, clearly define responsibilities and powers between the Central and local levels with the motto "locality decides, locality does, locality is responsible"; the Central focuses on perfecting institutions, playing the role of development creation, strengthening inspection and supervision. Second, strongly develop science, technology, innovation and digital transformation to create breakthroughs to improve productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy. Innovate and perfect policies and laws on science, technology and innovation in accordance with market mechanisms, international practices, meeting the specific characteristics of scientific research workers and practical requirements; accept risks and delays in science, technology and innovation activities. Have strong mechanisms and policies to promote digital transformation in all socio-economic fields associated with ensuring security, safety, and encouraging innovation. Third, continue to fundamentally, comprehensively and effectively innovate education and training, focusing on developing high-quality human resources for priority and emerging sectors and fields. Develop vocational education in an open, flexible, modern, effective and integrated direction; at the same time, train high-quality human resources according to international standards to meet market needs, especially priority and emerging sectors and fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, semiconductor chips, construction and operation of high-speed railways, etc. Fourth, promote industrialization, modernization and economic restructuring associated with growth model innovation, enhance economic resilience; achieve rapid and sustainable growth on the basis of macroeconomic stability. In addition, continue to restructure three key areas, including improving investment efficiency, especially public investment; developing and improving the operational efficiency of enterprises, especially state-owned enterprises and restructuring credit institutions. At the same time, continue to stabilize the macro-economy and increase resource mobilization for development by synchronously and harmoniously coordinating monetary policy with fiscal policy and other macroeconomic policies to stabilize the macro-economy, control inflation, and promote high economic growth. Fifth, develop synchronous and modern infrastructure, effectively exploit new development space, take urban areas as the driving force for regional development and promote new rural construction. Develop a synchronous, modern, and smart infrastructure system; in which forming inter-regional connecting highways, connecting international gateway seaports, international airports, international border gates with large import and export demand for goods, etc. In addition, promote regional linkages; in which, strengthen linkages and cooperation in regional economic development; maximize national advantages, advantages of each region and each locality; Focused and key development, early formation and effective promotion of economic corridors, belts, dynamic regions, and growth poles to expand new development space. Developing the marine economy; in which, there is a breakthrough in priority sectors stated in Resolution 36-NQ/TW (2018); developing coastal road traffic corridors, coastal urban chains and completing infrastructure as a basis for developing marine economic activities; strengthening infrastructure construction for a number of key islands with residents. According to the Minister, where do the main pillars of the Vietnamese economy in the new era come from, from which industries? To adapt to the rapid changes in the national and international context, especially the Fourth Industrial Revolution that is taking place more and more strongly, we need to focus on improving production capacity in high-level industries and fields, especially some basic industries, spearhead industries, emerging industries, supporting industries, gradually becoming self-reliant and self-reliant in science and technology to proactively and effectively participate in the global value chain. In my opinion, in terms of industry, we need to promote digital transformation, green transformation, industrial restructuring towards modernization, in-depth development, improving productivity, quality, added value and competitiveness of products of advantageous industries. Specifically, improve the efficiency and competitiveness of some basic industries such as energy, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, new materials, digital technology industry, chemicals. In addition, prioritize the development and gradually master production technology in some emerging industries such as semiconductor industry; robot industry; artificial intelligence; new materials, materials for mechanical engineering industry; biological industry; environmental industry; renewable energy. Gradually build and develop the industry applying atomic energy to serve socio-economic development. Focus on developing some key industries such as electronics industry; digital technology industry; production of integrated equipment for automatic operation, remote control; automobile industry; railway industry; shipbuilding industry; processing and manufacturing industry for agriculture; Textile, garment, and footwear industries in stages that create high added value based on smart and automated production processes... At the same time, it is necessary to strongly develop supporting industries, especially taking advantage of foreign technology by further promoting the connection between foreign-invested sectors and domestic sectors. To do that, the management and FDI attraction policies need to be innovated; in which we have "incentive" mechanisms and "force" mechanisms for foreign direct investment enterprises to transfer technology; at the same time, it is necessary to research and develop breakthrough mechanisms and policies to develop supporting industries and encourage the development of supporting industrial parks.
Increasing investment and improving infrastructure for science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation. Photo: VNA
The Global Innovation Index 2024 report shows that Vietnam is ranked 44/133 countries, the economy increased by 2 places compared to 2023; of which 3 indexes are at the top of the world. How does the Minister assess the current state of innovation in Vietnam? Vietnam is ranked 44/133 countries in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024 Report, up 2 places compared to 2023, an encouraging result, demonstrating the continuous efforts of the entire political system, business community, and people of all walks of life. In particular, with 3 indexes of Vietnam ranking first in the world, namely the index of high-tech imports, high-tech exports, and creative goods exports, this is clear evidence of the strong potential for innovation and Vietnam's increasing priority for this field. Innovation in Vietnam is currently achieving important achievements, with a continuously improved business environment, strong development of the startup ecosystem and technology enterprises. Vietnam has made good use of human resources, technological potential and deep international integration to create sustainable growth momentum. We also need to recognize the remaining challenges, including improving the quality of human resources, investing in research and development (R&D), as well as increasing the application of advanced technology in production and life. The Ministry of Planning and Investment will continue to coordinate closely with ministries, branches and localities to promote innovation policies, support businesses and enhance national competitiveness. Our goal is to continue to maintain growth momentum, maximize innovation potential, and contribute to making Vietnam a modern industrialized country and a regional innovation center. Many countries have used innovation centers to promote the application of economic strategies based on innovation. For Vietnam, according to the Minister, how will innovation accelerate and make a breakthrough in the era of national development? Innovation is the key for Vietnam to transform and make a breakthrough in the context of a new era full of fluctuations and opportunities. In the world, innovation centers have proven to play an important role in promoting economic growth based on knowledge, technology and creative capacity. Vietnam is no exception to this trend and we are putting innovation at the center of the national development strategy. Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW dated September 27, 2019 of the Politburo on a number of policies and guidelines for proactively participating in the Fourth Industrial Revolution has put forward the viewpoint: “There needs to be an open, creative approach, allowing pilots to address new practical issues, creating all favorable conditions for innovation; in which it is necessary to promote innovation in all sectors and fields”. Innovation is now also a national competitive issue instead of just at the enterprise level. The "race" to establish innovation centers to take advantage of opportunities from the 4.0 industrial revolution among countries in the region, such as: China upgrading the Zhongguancun area in Beijing, establishing a series of innovation centers in the manufacturing industry to implement the Made in China 2025 strategy; Thailand just put True Digital Park into operation in 2018; Indonesia has put a center into operation in Yogyakarta since 2016; or Malaysia with the Kuala Lumpur Technology Park... I think that Vietnam has favorable conditions to exploit the potential for innovation. Firstly, the young, dynamic and intellectual workforce is becoming the foundation for new initiatives. Secondly, the Government has been focusing on building a strong innovation ecosystem, typically the establishment of the National Innovation Center (NIC). This is not only a place to connect businesses, research institutes and startups, attracting leading researchers and experts, both Vietnamese and foreign, to work here, but also creates an attractive business environment for investors, venture capital funds... to Vietnam. Innovation will help Vietnam shift from a labor-intensive economy to an economy based on knowledge, technology and high added value. This not only helps us increase labor productivity and improve product quality, but also opens up opportunities to penetrate deeper into the global value chain, attract quality investment capital and promote Vietnamese enterprises to reach out to the world. More importantly, innovation is not only an economic strategy but also a national mission, helping to improve people's lives, promote the spirit of entrepreneurship and build a strong and prosperous Vietnam. Sincerely thank you, Minister!
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