The US Mission to Vietnam has celebrated the achievements of the digital workforce in building new partnerships through the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) Workforce for an Innovation and Start-up Ecosystem (WISE) project.

The event was co-hosted by USAID and the National Innovation Center (NIC) of Vietnam's Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) on January 23 in Hanoi.

The event brought together government and business representatives to mark the end of the WISE project and highlight the joint achievements of the past two years.

Participants attending the workshop. Photo: The USAID

Through the US$2.2 million USAID project, which began in 2021, the US Mission to Vietnam and NIC partnered to expand digital skills in Vietnam's labor market to improve the upward mobility and competitiveness of Vietnam's workforce.

Specific outcomes are partnering with and investing in nine private and non-profit training institutions to provide digital skills training to more than 3,000 students and 500 teachers from over 60 universities and colleges; Leveraging $1 million in contributions from private sector partners; Delivering digital literacy training to students in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, rural areas throughout the regions, and the Mekong Delta.

It also promote the role of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through a series of “Women in AI” training programs.

Another result is partnering with recruitment agencies such as Vietnamworks, TopCV, and JobHopins to develop a Digital Workforce website that provides comprehensive information and data on salaries, skills, career paths, and selected digital skills courses.

The WISE project is one of many examples of the United States' ongoing partnership to support the Government of Vietnam's goal of moving from lower-middle income to upper-middle income status by 2030.

USAID's WISE project was first announced by Vice President Kamala Harris during her visit to Vietnam in 2021. Later, in 2023, President Joseph Biden committed to increasing support for Vietnam in training and developing a high-tech workforce.

The US is an enduring partner for Vietnam in supporting the training of a high-quality workforce, contributing to the achievement of Vietnam's future development goals under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.