Speaking at the Vietnam Private Sector Economic Forum 2025 (VPSF) on September 15, Khoa acknowledged that while the government is advancing rapidly in digital transformation, data infrastructure, and national governance platforms, many enterprises - especially small and medium-sized ones - are lagging behind and still struggling to adapt.

However, he believes this gap presents a “golden opportunity” for the private sector. Thanks to the government’s digitalization efforts, particularly the national data-sharing initiative set to begin on January 1, 2026, businesses that understand how to leverage open data and integrate with national platforms will gain a competitive edge.

But speed alone isn't enough, Khoa warned. Vietnamese businesses must undergo a mindset shift: “We cannot develop sustainably by going it alone. This is the age of ecosystem-driven growth.”

Drawing from FPT’s own practices and client experiences, Khoa explained that successful companies are not those that do everything themselves, but those that know how to share capabilities - across technology, data, governance, and market access.

Forming production-distribution alliances and shared technology networks will empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), eliminating the need to “start from scratch” with each transformation attempt.

“Even highly specialized products like unmanned aerial vehicles or medical data analytics systems cannot be built by a single company,” he said. “We need collaboration, trust, and the willingness to build ecosystems together. It’s not just about becoming stronger but also safer.”

Highlighting the human factor, Khoa identified talent as the “lifeblood of innovation.” He noted Vietnam faces a serious shortage of professionals skilled in data, AI, and digital systems - not a lack of workers, but a lack of digitally capable ones.

Without proper digital skills, technology becomes a burden rather than an asset. In response, Khoa called on companies to invest in internal training, partner with universities and institutes for practical curricula, and urged the government to introduce clear, accessible policies that support digital workforce training - especially for SMEs, which make up over 90% of Vietnamese enterprises.

A key point in his speech was the proposal to “bring life into resolutions” - a reversal of the usual approach. “We often talk about implementing resolutions in daily life, but if a resolution doesn’t originate from real-life needs, it will always fall short,” he said. “We must start from life to write better resolutions.”

Khoa advocated for a phase in every policy cycle that “absorbs real-world input” through listening to businesses, analyzing behavioral data, and fostering two-way dialogue.

During the forum’s thematic session, many entrepreneurs echoed Khoa’s sentiments and contributed ideas to help the private sector gain stronger momentum.

He likened VPSF to a modern-day “Dien Hong Conference,” where enterprises could raise crucial questions and actively participate in shaping the agenda.

The Vietnam Private Sector Economic Forum 2025 took place in Hanoi on September 15–16, led by the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association and attended by senior government officials, ministries, and over 1,500 business leaders, experts, and international organizations.

Leading up to the event, 12 regional dialogues were held nationwide from July to late August, collecting over 3,000 opinions from the business community. The most impactful contributions will be consolidated into a Joint Declaration and the Vietnam Private Sector White Paper 2025, to be presented at the High-Level Session on September 16, chaired by government leaders.

Thai Khang