At an online conference with Vietnamese ambassadors and heads of representative missions abroad to review economic diplomacy in 2025 and outline key tasks for 2026, the Chairman of CMC Corporation proposed that Vietnam should proactively build and promote the image of a “New Vietnam” on the global stage  -  one associated with technological capability, ambition, and equal cooperation in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence.

Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that economic diplomacy had gained clear momentum, helping to “change the state and turn the situation around.” He summarized its success with the phrase: “Proactive and active – Markets expanded – Quality improved – Clear effectiveness – Economic growth – People benefit.”

From “contract processing” to peer-level partnership

As the only technology business representative to speak at the event, the Chairman of CMC reported that the company achieved around 30% international market growth in 2025, with profits rising by 34%. CMC is now present in 30 countries and has representative offices in over 10. It has established a company in the United States and is completing procedures to open offices in key states such as Illinois, California, Texas, and Florida, while planning further expansion into other priority markets in 2026.

Drawing on direct experience working with global customers and partners, he emphasized: “It is time we present to the world a ‘New Vietnam’.” According to the CMC leader, this “New Vietnam” must be recognized as a reliable technology partner  -  not merely a source of low-cost labor or contract manufacturing, but a country that creates products, solutions, and intellectual value, and engages equally in high-tech sectors like AI.

He argued that correctly positioning and consistently communicating a national image would enhance global trust in Vietnamese businesses. This trust, in turn, would make it easier to secure partnerships and expand internationally. When international partners believe in Vietnam’s capabilities and standards, local companies can pursue larger, longer-term contracts and claim more advanced roles in global value chains  -  instead of remaining in the role of subcontractors.

2025 review and 2026 tasks: building a Go Global ecosystem and prioritizing strategic technologies

The Prime Minister called for the early completion of a program to support Vietnamese enterprises in going global (Go Global). He also urged the development of a comprehensive support ecosystem  -  covering finance, logistics, human resources, and legal services  -  especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Additionally, the government will accelerate international cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green transition. Priority will be given to strategic technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors.

In alignment with this vision, the CMC Chairman outlined several persistent “bottlenecks” that Vietnamese technology enterprises face in global expansion. These include barriers related to standards and compliance, a lack of supporting infrastructure (legal, financial, talent, and risk insurance), and  -  most critically  -  the absence of a strong national brand in high-tech. These factors, he said, limit the pace of international cooperation, even though Vietnam’s technical capacity is increasingly aligned with global standards.

From his experience accompanying high-level delegations and collaborating with leading tech corporations, he stressed that international cooperation must go beyond training. Instead, Vietnam should focus on technology transfer, joint research, product co-development, and commercialization  -  so that Vietnamese enterprises can truly “stand on the same field” with global players in the value chain.

Proposing a “New Vietnam” national identity system to pave the way for technology enterprises

The core of the CMC Chairman’s presentation was a proposal to develop a national-level program that would present the image of a “New Vietnam” to the world  -  not as a marketing slogan, but as a functional identity system that could be operated, measured, and converted into real market opportunities.

He proposed that this identity system must answer three fundamental questions: Who does Vietnam aspire to be in the technology era? What standards is Vietnam committed to in order to earn global trust? And what models of cooperation is the country prepared to pursue to create new value?

To make this program actionable, he suggested several key directions:

First, build a consistent national message around Vietnam’s technological capabilities. Vietnam should be portrayed as dynamic and ambitious, with strong tech competencies, and a trusted global partner in strategic fields like AI.

Second, expand training partnerships toward real technology transfer. The government should set clear guidelines and offer incentives to ensure collaboration moves beyond basic workforce training toward co-research, joint development, and the transfer of core technologies  -  all in service of the “Make in Vietnam” strategy.

Third, strengthen cooperation with strategic global technology partners. The government should take a more active role in connecting Vietnamese companies with global tech leaders like NVIDIA, AWS, and Microsoft, helping to create favorable conditions for local businesses to pursue large-scale international collaborations.

Concluding his speech, the CMC Chairman affirmed that the company remains committed to becoming a global player, with a strong focus on AI and AI transformation. He also pledged to work closely with Vietnamese diplomatic missions and international partners to elevate Vietnam’s standing on the global technology map.

PV