On October 16, the Politburo and Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam held a nationwide conference to study, disseminate and implement the resolution adopted at the fourth plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee.

Vietnam aims to attract 1,000 top talents by 2030

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra presented Conclusion No. 105 of the fourth plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee, focusing on attracting and effectively utilizing talented individuals in strategic sectors to support Vietnam's rapid and sustainable development.

She affirmed that the Party and State have consistently prioritized identifying, attracting and making effective use of talent, while gradually improving the institutional framework, mechanisms and policies governing talent development.

Several localities, including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hanoi, have proactively introduced special mechanisms, flexible recruitment policies and market-oriented remuneration to attract skilled professionals.

Major enterprises such as Viettel, Vingroup, Petrovietnam, VNPT, FPT and Phenikaa have also developed talent recruitment strategies centered on major technological projects.

In the public sector, approximately 1,500 outstanding university graduates and young scientists have been recruited since 2017.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Vietnam ranked 76th among 135 economies in the 2025 Global Talent Competitiveness Index, placing fifth among ASEAN countries.

She noted that this was the first time the Party Central Committee had issued a dedicated conclusion on talent development, establishing five fundamental principles.

The first identifies talent as a particularly important strategic national resource that drives scientific and technological development, innovation, competitiveness and strategic autonomy.

This overarching principle recognizes talented individuals as central to national development and reflects a global trend toward treating talent as a strategic competitive advantage.

The second principle places talent attraction and utilization within the broader national development strategy, with clearly defined priorities and areas of focus.

The third calls for a fundamental shift in talent management, moving away from administration based on organizational structures and staffing quotas toward talent governance and development, with performance, results and contributions serving as the primary measures of success.

The fourth emphasizes unified and comprehensive Party leadership in talent development, with the State establishing institutions and policies that mobilize the political system, educational institutions, research organizations, businesses and society as a whole.

The fifth calls for a modern, open and internationally integrated national talent ecosystem that facilitates the movement and sharing of skilled personnel between the public and private sectors, as well as between Vietnam and other countries.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that talented individuals, whether working in the public or private sector, at home or abroad, should all be regarded as national resources.

They must be given opportunities to undertake appropriate assignments and contribute wherever they can generate the greatest value for the country.

Under Conclusion No. 105, Vietnam aims to attract and effectively utilize approximately 1,000 nationally recognized talents across the public and private sectors by 2030.

The country also seeks to establish an open, interconnected and internationally integrated national talent ecosystem and rise to third place among ASEAN countries in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index.

By 2045, Vietnam aims to proactively secure the skilled workforce and talent needed for national development and rank among the world's top 20 countries in global talent competitiveness.

Pham Thi Thanh Tra acknowledged that these targets are highly challenging and will require strong determination and decisive action.

Establishing a system where talent nurtures talent

Regarding implementation measures, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the need to strengthen Party leadership and ensure a common understanding and coordinated action across the political system on talent development.

She noted that countries have different approaches to identifying talented individuals, reflecting the diversity of views on what constitutes exceptional talent.

"Talented individuals are those who possess outstanding qualities, capabilities and creative thinking, with exceptional achievements, products or contributions that bring breakthroughs, generate value and create positive impacts. They must also be capable of effectively undertaking and resolving important, new, difficult and complex tasks," she explained.

The second major task involves improving institutions, mechanisms and policies while concentrating resources on attracting and retaining talent in strategic sectors.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, policies concerning income, taxation, housing, immigration and social welfare should be improved for talented professionals and their family members.

Notably, she said the State would allocate approximately 0.1% of GDP annually to talent development from the overall resources earmarked for science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

She described this as a substantial financial commitment.

The third task focuses on reforming how talented individuals are identified, selected, employed and evaluated, with greater emphasis on assigned responsibilities and measurable results.

The Party Central Committee's conclusion calls for talent to be identified and recommended through multiple channels, both domestically and internationally, without discrimination between the public and private sectors.

Talented professionals recruited into the public sector would not be counted toward regular staffing quotas.

Selection and appointment must ensure that the right people are assigned to the right positions, with responsibilities matching their strengths and capabilities.

Talented individuals should be entrusted with significant assignments, genuine decision-making authority and adequate resources, while being held to standards of integrity, accountability and professional dedication.

Performance evaluations must be based on outcomes, product quality, value creation, task completion and the effectiveness of individual contributions.

Assignments should be promptly terminated when individuals fail to meet the required standards.

According to Pham Thi Thanh Tra, this approach reflects a shift in thinking that treats talent development as a continuous, interconnected process.

Accurate identification provides the foundation, effective utilization is the decisive factor, and substantive evaluation motivates talented individuals to develop their abilities and contribute.

The fourth group of tasks involves proactively building and developing the national talent pool.

The Deputy Prime Minister called for tailored talent development programs for different groups, industries and sectors, alongside early identification, selection and training of promising young individuals.

These programs should include long-term monitoring and support to help young talent develop their potential.

Universities and research institutes should receive greater autonomy, accompanied by stronger accountability for research quality, tangible results and academic integrity.

She also emphasized establishing a mechanism through which outstanding professionals mentor, guide and develop the next generation, creating a system where talent nurtures talent.

The fifth group of tasks focuses on fostering a culture that values talent and creating environments and conditions in which talented individuals can fully develop their capabilities, contribute and generate value.

Finally, Vietnam will strengthen international cooperation on talent development, particularly in strategic industries and priority sectors.

Tran Thuong