A speaker at the forum. — Photo courtesy of NIC
HANOI: A recent Google report shows that Vietnam could gain up to 1.89 trillion dong in economic benefits from artificial intelligence (AI) by 2030, making up nearly 12% of the country’s gross domestic product, if AI tools are widely adopted.
These findings were shared at the Shaping the Future of AI for Vietnam forum last Friday, hosted by the National Innovation Centre (NIC) and the Planning and Investment Ministry in partnership with Google.
The AI Opportunity Agenda for Vietnam report outlined key recommendations for unlocking AI’s full potential.
It emphasised the need to strengthen Vietnam’s digital infrastructure, build an AI-ready workforce and expand access to AI technologies across the economy.
The report also highlighted strategies to close the digital and AI knowledge gap, enabling Vietnam’s workforce to effectively leverage AI for driving economic growth.
By focusing on digital education and workforce upskilling, Vietnam can maximise the economic benefits of AI and accelerate its digital transformation.
Planning and Investment deputy minister Do Thanh Trung told the forum of Vietnam’s reinforced commitment to becoming a leading AI hub in the Asean region.
He reiterated the government’s ambitious target of training at least 5,000 AI engineers by 2030 to support the semiconductor industry.
This initiative is part of a national programme which also includes the establishment of a centre for AI training, research and application.
The centre aims to train 7,000 AI specialists to international standards and incubate around 500 AI startups by 2030.
South-East Asia government affairs and public policy Google senior director Andrew Ure expressed optimism about Vietnam’s AI potential, citing the country’s young, tech-savvy population and dynamic digital environment.
He announced the launch of the AI Policy & Skilling Lab in collaboration with the NIC, aimed at fostering partnerships with government agencies, industry stakeholders, and research institutions to build an AI-powered future.
However, to fully harness AI’s transformative potential, Google experts suggested that Vietnam should focus on retaining and developing local talent by expanding access to digital education and enhancing enterprise training programmes.
To optimise the economic benefits of AI, Vietnam must also prioritise the development of a digital workforce.
Bridging the digital skills gap through specialised training and technology adoption will unlock significant economic opportunities for the country, he said.
The forum also brought together experts from government bodies, research institutions and the private sector to discuss strategies for advancing AI research and development.
Key topics included building a robust AI talent pipeline, fostering an AI innovation ecosystem, and creating a legal framework that ensures the ethical and responsible use of AI technologies.
These discussions underscored a shared vision of positioning Vietnam as a leader in AI innovation, driving economic growth and enhancing global competitiveness. — Viet Nam News/ANN
