From September 23 to 25, a delegation from the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) of Vietnam, led by Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, held meetings with key government agencies, businesses, and leading universities in Finland, focusing on cooperation in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.

During the meeting with Finnish Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne, the two sides exchanged information and discussed strategies and policies related to digital infrastructure, the digital economy, the ICT industry, and digital innovation, particularly in the context of the widespread application of artificial intelligence (AI).

This meeting marked the first time the ministers responsible for Information and Communications from the two countries had met to discuss directions and priorities for promoting bilateral cooperation.

The ministers emphasized enhancing support and facilitating cooperation between organizations and enterprises to research and develop new technologies, train high-quality human resources, particularly in digital infrastructure, information security, and digital transformation, to boost the digital economy in both countries.

The two sides will establish working groups to jointly build and implement cooperation activities and promote exchanges between technical departments of both ministries.

During a meeting with Finland's Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment, Wille-Werner Rydman, the two sides discussed the development policies of each country, as well as potential and priority areas for future cooperation.

Minister Rydman highlighted that Finland prioritizes expanding multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, especially in the digital economy and ICT industry. Vietnam is one of four countries to which Finland will offer preferential policies to attract talent and strengthen training programs.

The two ministers agreed to intensify exchanges at all levels to develop and implement specific cooperation programs.

In their discussion with leaders of Nokia, both sides talked about the development trends of 5G technology and the potential for 6G research. Nokia committed to enhancing collaboration with Vietnamese universities and businesses on research and development, digital workforce training, and sharing best practices for implementing 5G networks globally.

The delegation also visited two leading Finnish universities, Oulu and Aalto, which are known for their expertise in information technology and digital innovation.

In the future, these universities will collaborate with Vietnam's Post and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT) to organize leadership and management training programs, jointly implement research projects, and exchange students and faculty members.

The delegation also met with Maria 01, a leading Nordic innovation center, to learn about its successful methods of supporting startups. Both sides explored the possibility of cooperation to create opportunities for Vietnamese startups to participate in Finland’s startup ecosystem.

Earlier, upon their arrival in Helsinki, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Finland, where he met with Vietnamese businesses and students. He shared insights into Vietnam’s development policies and encouraged the community to continue advancing their careers and contributing to the friendship between the two countries.

The working visit to Finland by Minister Nguyen Manh Hung and the MIC delegation was a great success, opening a new chapter in bilateral cooperation in the Information and Communications sector and strengthening the friendly relations between Vietnam and Finland.

Le My