About 100,000 small-medium enterprises (SMEs) will be supported to use a digital transformation readiness evaluation tool and other digital solutions, according to the latest program launched by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and USAID Vietnam.

An overview of the launching ceremony being held on December 3. Photo: Nhat Minh

Revolutionary technology development is changing people’s lives. Traditional business models are gradually being transformed by new technologies that bring higher efficiency. Enterprises’ competitive advantage is shifting based on new technology and innovation. 

Speaking at the launching ceremony for the “Supporting enterprises’ digital transformation from 2021 to 2025” program on December 3, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that digital transformation becomes an indispensable trend for enterprises to quickly recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, improve their competitiveness and make breakthroughs in the fourth Industrial Revolution.

The MPI will continue collaborating with the USAID LinkSME project to implement the program by 2025, in which, 100% of enterprises will be aware of digital transformation, at least 100 manufacturing and processing enterprises will successfully adopt digital transformation and then their experiences will be replicated on a larger scale. 

Besides, a network of at least 100 experts and agencies will also be established to provide digital consultancy and services for the enterprises.

Ms. Ann Marie Yastishock, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director said that the program will help address digital transformation gap in three phases including pre-digital transformation, determining how digital tools to be used, and creating systems to fully upgrade productivity. “I hope this program would help SMEs understand the importance of digital transformation towards sustainability,” she added.

Ms. Ann Marie Yastishock, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director, told Hanoitimes about the importance of digital transformation, as well as solutions to support Vietnamese small and medium-sized businesses to recover from Covid-19 and better position themselves to meet customer demand and expectations.  Ms. Ann Marie Yastishock, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director. Photo: Nhat Minh What do you think about the importance of digital transformation for Vietnamese small-medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly in the context of Covid-19 prevention? The Covid-19 pandemic has changed everything in the globe and has really changed the way business is done now making everything virtual like electronic. It is important for Vietnam to be competitive to make sure the SMEs are quick with the digital platform as well as digital opportunity to response to the customer.  How has the USAID/Vietnam assisted Vietnamese SMEs in effective digital transformation? We are working very closely with Vietnamese government, particularly the Ministry of Planning and Investment as the outstanding partner for us in Vietnam. We are moving into the process of the implementation of the Prime Minister’s decision about digital transformation [Decision No. 749 on the National Digital Transformation Program by 2025 with Orientations toward 2030]. We have worked out SMEs program to help the ministry put together plan and now looking at implementation of that plan. So for the pilot program jointly held by the Ministry of Planning and Investment and USAID LinkSME, we will have 100 SMEs that will be helped with increasing digital transformation. They will have more capacity to meet the demand of customers and really participate in the global economy. Thank you for answering to Hanoitimes.