Vietnam calls for science-technology experts

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc joins a group photo with experts, scientists, and representatives of organisations and enterprises participating in the Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018 held in Hanoi on July 12 and 13 - Photo: NDO

The PM made the statement while hosting a reception in Hanoi on July 12 for experts, scientists, and representatives of organizations and enterprises participating in the Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018 held in Hanoi on July 12 and 13.

At the meeting, guests hailed the role played by the Vietnamese Government in shaping and developing technology amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

They expressed their hope that the PM and the Government will give timely and suitable policies so as to aid a breakthrough in the area of artificial intelligence, and suggested that the Government should create widespread consensus among the society, thus creating “digital chances” for enterprises and people to engage deeper with Industry 4.0 practices.

Highlighting the significance of the Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018, PM Phuc expressed his hope that the delegations will give answers to the question of how Vietnam can become successful in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and also clarify some of the Industry 4.0-related concepts.

Participants should contribute to the design of policies and solutions for Vietnam to actively catch up with the revolution, he said.

The PM stated that Vietnam is integrating deeper into the world economy with 15 new generation free trade agreements, with an increasingly open economy and high GDP growth. The country has been strongly affected by the world’s economic fluctuations, including those pertaining to Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence.

Vietnam has jumped 12 notches on the Global Innovation Index for 2017 and two for 2018, the PM stressed but also acknowledged that the country is still weak in the stage of implementation, requiring more drastic measures to enhance the speed of IT application, especially among science and technology officials and enterprises.

He asserted that Industry 4.0 brings both opportunities and challenges for each country, business, and individual, and that they should raise their awareness of the issue to apply more scientific advances.

The Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018 is being held under the theme of “Vision and Development Strategy in the Fourth Industrial Revolution” and seeing leaders of ministries and sectors joining experts on smart industry and information technology in discussions on the development strategy and application of Industry 4.0.

Leaders of the Party, Government, and National Assembly, as well as international experts are scheduled to take part in an executive talk themed “Vietnamese Policy on Enhancing Access to the Fourth Industrial Revolution”.

Meanwhile, an international expo held on this occasion will house stalls introducing solutions and services in such key areas as agriculture, industry, energy, telecommunications, health, transport, finance-banking, and e-commerce.