Digital transformation key to Vietnam's green transition

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong underscored the pivotal role of digital transformation and innovation in achieving Vietnam's sustainable development goals.

Speaking at the Corporate Digital Transformation towards a Sustainable Digital Economy conference on October 8, he emphasized that this is not only a government priority but also a crucial factor in boosting national competitiveness.

To foster this trend, the Ministry of Planning and Investment has introduced various policies supporting businesses in adopting digital technology to enhance operational efficiency and compete effectively in the global market.

The National Digital Transformation Program, approved in 2020, aims for the country's digital economy to contribute 20% of GDP by 2025 and 30% by 2030.

Vietnam's digital economy has been experiencing rapid growth, with Google data showing it as the fastest-growing in Southeast Asia for two consecutive years (28% in 2022 and 19% in 2023).

The Ministry of Information and Communications estimates that the digital economy's share of Vietnam's GDP in 2023 reached 16.5%.

While the number of digital technology enterprises has been increasing steadily, Deputy Director of the Enterprise Development Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment Nguyen Duc Trung stressed that digital transformation should not be limited to digitizing existing processes but must also be aligned with green transformation, aiming towards a sustainable digital economy.

Mr. Dennis Quennet, Director of the Sustainable Economic Development Program at GIZ, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that digital transformation can significantly contribute to reducing emissions in Vietnam's green economy development. Moreover, it helps small and medium-sized enterprises improve productivity, find new markets, and enhance competitiveness in the context of globalization and strong green economic development.

Dual transformation, combining digital and green solutions, has become a global trend, he said. By learning from and applying international frameworks for digital economy and AI development, Vietnam can create a solid foundation for its dual transformation process and sustainable development.