Hung had a meeting with the delegation of businesses from the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) on March 21. 

Hung said he was glad when meeting the members of the delegation and appreciated regular dialogues between the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and USABC. The fact that there are many opinions related to an institutional regime, especially digital institutions, shows that US businesses wish to do long-term business in Vietnam and consider Vietnam an important partner.

“Vietnam is an open country in building an institutional regime and it always listens attentively to businesses’ opinions when making policies,” Hung said.

Hung said policymakers need to harmonize the benefits of involved parties – the state, businesses and consumers. MIC wants to listen to opinions and proposals from businesses, so that Vietnam can develop rapidly and sustainably.

At the event, representatives of US digital technology firms such as Meta, Mastercard, SAP Asia and SalesForce thanked MIC for the openness in policy. Many businesses affirmed their commitment to continue to give high-quality recommendations to help Vietnam perfect its digital legal framework.

President and CEO of USABC Ted Osius said that all the opinions from USABC members are based on a respectful and constructive perspective, which aims at bringing benefits to all parties.

He said that a digital economy is a new field and many things remain undiscovered. The US itself also has to operate while learning and sharing experiences. 

Within the scope of two-way exchange, US businesses can learn much from Vietnam, and grasp information about digital economy development and Vietnam’s aspirations.

VN, US digital firms 

At the meeting with MIC, US businesses talked about issues of interest, including questions and proposals about the internet and online information management policies, as well as AI management and digital platform management policies

Boon Poh Mok of Roblox, which specializes in game solution and digital content, said the corporation wants to seek partners in Vietnam. Roblox is also interested in MIC’s policies in managing platforms, especially generative AI (artificial intelligence).

Meanwhile, SAP Asia said it wants to cooperate with MIC and Vietnam’s enterprises in creating AI confidence and develop Generative AI apps to promote digital transformation and minimize the negative effects of the process.

Suresh Sugavanam, vice president and CEO of UL Solution, said the corporation can support Vietnam in standards and quality measurement, thus ensuring the compatibility of electronic devices, and laying down a premise for technology transfer and export.

In reply, Hung said the issues mentioned by businesses are the issues of Vietnam’s concern.

Vietnam has decided that in the immediate time, it will focus on developing AI to be specifically used in a niche segment, especially AI-based virtual assistants. 

Four large virtual assistants are being built by Vietnam to serve civil servants, public employees, and the public, thus helping improve productivity. 

He also said that MIC is promoting investment in data centers with open and flexible policies.

“Vietnam aims to have a virtual assistant for every business, organization and even every citizen. US tech firms can enter Vietnam to develop hundreds of thousands of virtual assistants,” Hung said.

The minister also talked about plans to be implemented by MIC, including the compilation of a law on personal data protection and a law on data; and the promulgation of a national game development strategy. MIC also hopes that American businesses will make deeper investment in Vietnam in the fields of software development and measurement.

Hung stressed that the government of Vietnam considers digital transformation and digital economy as the major driving forces to develop and obtain growth targets.

In the field of digital technology, there are great opportunities for businesses of the two countries to cooperate. Tech firms of both countries can become long-term partners.

Prior to that, on March 21, at a meeting with USABC, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said he hopes USABC businesses will ask the US government to consider recognizing  market economy status for Vietnam and excluding Vietnam from the list of countries subject to the US’s restrictions on high-tech exports.

Trong Dat - Le Anh Dung