Without locally made products, Vietnam can hardly develop into a digital economy and become an advanced nation, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung has stated.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the launching ceremony. Photo: TH

Speaking at the launching ceremony of the "Make in Vietnam" Digital Award 2020 on August 19, Minister Hung said that experiences drawn after a period fulfilling outsourcing orders from foreign partners, from module design to finished products, are the advantage of Vietnamese enterprises in manufacturing make-in-Vietnam products.

Make in Vietnam Digital Award 2020 is the first of its kind, aiming to promote the development of digital technology businesses in the country.

The awards, organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, seek outstanding products that can serve as pillars in the national digital transformation, thereby helping to turn Vietnam into a digital economy, Mr. Hung noted.

Entries need to be designed and developed in Vietnam and solve problems facing the country. They will be awarded in five categories, namely digital platforms, digital products, digital solutions, narrowing the digital gap, and potential digital products.

“This year, the award is launched while the Covid-19 pandemic is raging and the whole country is engaging in its prevention and eradication, at the same time making efforts to boost economic development. Therefore, digital products serving the pandemic prevention and fight, as well as education, and job creation in this situation will be a high priority,” said the minister.

The awards will encourage digital businesses to focus on research and development, innovation, and the creation of digital products to serve the country’s development demand amid the wide impacts of the Industry 4.0.

To join the contest, products should meet two criteria: being designed and produced in Vietnam; and satisfying Vietnam’s development demands in the Industry 4.0. The winners will get support to work with investment funds and commercialize their products.

The potential contestants should register from August 20 to October 20.