VietNamNet would like to introduce the full text of the speech by Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung on the Industrial Revolution 4.0.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 is simply the revolution of new technologies in physics, biology, artificial intelligence, big data, IoT, 3D printing ... which can create landmark changes in the way people live, work and communicate with each other.

The three previous Industrial Revolutions were to replace manual labor. The 4th Industrial Revolution is to replace intellectual labor.

The three previous Industrial Revolutions were called mechanization, electrification and automation. The 4th Industrial Revolution should be called the revolution of intelligence.

If we consider the 4th Industrial Revolution to be the revolution of technology, then Vietnam has few opportunities because we are unable to master the underlying technologies. But if we consider the 4th Industrial Revolution as an institutional revolution, the change of the management and business model for the applications of new technology, Vietnam will have more opportunities. For example, the technology of telemedicine has been available; the question is whether the authorities decide to use it or not. Likewise, the technology of online learning is ready, but the question is whether or not the authorities decide to apply it and recognize the results of online studies as direct studies.

We are a latecomer, so we shoulder less burdens of the past, less physical burden of the previous industrial revolutions, so we can accept the new, the new model, the new infrastructure more quickly. Then this is the chance of the latecomer. Going later, you can go first.

With technologies of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, the more problems a country has, the more opportunities for its technological development. African countries have few banks, local people do not have bank cards, and so Mobile Money thrives there, instead of bank cards, and in a very short time, cashless payments became popular among all people, because everyone has mobile phones. Meanwhile, it took developed countries hundreds of years to universalize cashless payment.

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 is really about helping the poor. Small businesses don't have many opportunities, but Alibaba has changed this, creating a commerce platform to bring them to people, to the world, something only big businesses could do before.

Mobile money can help farmers sell oranges and bananas at high prices, because urban dwellers are willing to pay high prices for safe food. Children in border areas and islands can also learn from the best teachers in the country. Vietnam is a low-middle-income country, which has many problems that need breakthrough solutions, and the Industrial Revolution 4.0 is very suitable.

It is an advantage for Vietnam that it has many digital technology companies (currently nearly 60,000, and the goal is 100,000 digital technology firms by 2025). Vietnam has some large digital technology enterprises and companies that are successful in trade and commerce and now turn to technology. These corporates can develop technology products, bring technology to every province, every commune, can penetrate every corner of the social life. Not many countries have this advantage.

Vietnamese people are very suited to digital technology. Vietnamese are very diverse, intelligent, can adapt quickly and flexibly, can tailor technology and products suitable for all subjects, all circumstances, which is very suitable for Industrial Revolution 4.0 - a revolution in personalization that can produce a single shirt for one person. If we succeed in Vietnam, we can go global.

The Politburo issued Resolution 52, defining eight groups of policies for Vietnam to actively participate in the Industrial Revolution 4.0:

1 - Renewing thinking, unifying awareness, strengthening the Party's leadership, State management over the Industrial Revolution 4.0

2 - Perfecting institutions to facilitate the 4th Industrial Revolution and digital transformation

3 - Developing essential infrastructure, especially digital infrastructure

4 - Developing national innovation capacity

5 - Human resource development

6 - Developing priority industries and technologies

7 - International integration

8 - Promoting digital transformation

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung

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