VietNamNet Newspaper introduces the full text of the speech of Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung at the 2nd National Forum on Digital Economy and Digital Society Development held in Binh Duong on November 14.

The National Forum on Digital Economy and Digital Society Development was held for the second time in Binh Duong, with the theme "Innovative application of digital technology in industries and fields to develop the digital economy and improve labor productivity".

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Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung: Applying new technology is the beginning of new technological innovation. Photo: Dao Phuong

This year is also the third year that Vietnam has implemented the National Strategy for Digital Economy and Digital Society Development. We have achieved some encouraging results.

According to Google's report, Vietnam's digital economic growth rate is the fastest in Southeast Asia for two consecutive years (28% in 2022 and 19% in 2023), about 3 times higher than the GDP growth rate.

The Ministry of Information and Communications estimates that the proportion of the digital economy in Vietnam's GDP will reach 16.5% in 2023 and 18.6% in 2024. And we will reach 20% by 2025, achieving the goal of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

The main ideas of this year's Forum focus on two directions: developing the digital economy (DECO) by promoting both supply and demand for DECO, and the action program of the Ministry of Information and Communications with ministries and branches to promote DECO development in all sectors and fields.

Creative application of digital technology in industries and fields to develop the digital economy and improve labor productivity is the main theme of this year's Forum. We will discuss the content of stimulating supply for digital technology through digital transformation of enterprises; Stimulating demand for digital technology through stimulating digital consumption; Measuring digital technology in industries and localities to promote digital technology development; Opening and sharing data to promote innovation (ICT) and digital technology development; Promoting smart manufacturing; Promoting the leading role of large digital technology enterprises in digital transformation (DCT); Supporting small and medium enterprises in DCT; Developing green and sustainable digital technology.

Currently, architects in new fields account for 40% of architects. 60% belong to the information technology and communications industry. But in the long term, architects in different fields must account for 70-80% of architects. Developing architects in different fields is the main story of Vietnamese architects.

If each of the 55 million Vietnamese workers had a virtual assistant to support their work, Vietnam's labor productivity would certainly increase. Minister Nguyen Manh Hung

Labor productivity (LP) has always been a target that we have not achieved for many years and many Congresses. The solution to increasing Vietnam's LP is the application of digital technology (DLT), comprehensive and nationwide digital transformation, and the development of digital technology. If each of the 55 million Vietnamese workers has a virtual assistant to support their work, Vietnam's LP will certainly increase. The Middle Easterners say that wealth is time multiplied by intelligence. If human intelligence is enhanced by the support of artificial intelligence (AI), wealth, which also means LP, will increase significantly.

In order to create CNS applications, instead of focusing on technology, businesses applying digital technology should focus on what they want to change for their business to create new value, and focus on creativity.

Digital transformation is two clearly separate stories. The technology story and the transformation story. In which, the transformation story is the main one, 70%. Minister Nguyen Manh Hung

Digital transformation is two distinct stories. The technology story and the transformation story. Of which, the transformation story is the main one, 70%. Leaders should not get caught up in the technology story, because this is not the leader's job. Leaders focus on identifying problems, "pain points" of the organization, or a new solution in business, and order the use of digital technology to solve them, and are ready to change processes and operating methods to achieve efficiency. This is the right job, the right role of a leader. Once you are in the right role, the right job, the work will be much easier.

"The best swordsman in the world need not fear the second best swordsman; he should fear the ignorant opponent who has never held a sword before." Writer Mark Twain said this more than 100 years ago. In order not to fear CNS, we should think like someone who knows nothing about CNS to use CNS in the best way. Because the power of CNS is unlimited. If you know about CNS, it means you only know a part of it, and therefore your creative thinking will be limited. I really want to emphasize this so that we, the people who apply CNS, should focus on creative ideas rather than focusing on CNS. Let's leave the CNS story to CNS businesses. Yesterday, General Secretary To Lam told me a story in China, instead of spending a lot of effort and money on clearing land to widen the road on both sides of the river, they had the idea of ​​building a high road above the river. And then designers and technologists come in to make that idea a reality. In this age of technology, the strangest, most unique ideas are often the most successful.

Applying new technology is the beginning of new technology creation. Applying new technology also creates new revenue, new profits and increases labor productivity, which is the premise for developing new technology. Minister Nguyen Manh Hung

The Middle East, such as the UAE and Qatar, is not a place of technological innovation but is home to the world's newest technologies. And after being a place of application of the newest technologies, it is now starting to be a place of creation of the newest technologies. The application of new technologies is the beginning of new technological innovation. The application of new technologies also creates new revenue, new profits and increases labor productivity, which is the premise for the development of new technologies.

In addition to today's Plenary session, the Forum also has 3 thematic sessions: On promoting CNS application in the agricultural sector according to the value chain; On CNS application - Driving force for the processing and manufacturing industry; On digital innovation, AI and services.

Our forum is honored to have the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, who will deliver a keynote speech.

In that spirit, I would like to declare open the 2nd National Forum on Digital Technology and Social Development with the theme "Innovative application of digital technology in industries and fields to develop the digital economy and improve labor productivity". Wish our Forum a great success!