Google’s Digitial 4.0 programme in Viet Nam plays a significant role in helping Vietnamese businesses improve their competitiveness and develop business opportunities in the digital economy, said head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh at a meeting with Google’s Vice President for Global Affairs Kent Walker in Ha Noi on Monday.

Walker praised the economic achievements Viet Nam has made in recent years and the country’s efforts in administrative reform and improving the investment climate.

Expressing his determination to expand business in the Vietnamese market, Google’s representative emphasised digitisation of the economy as one of the important trends in the world that can bring great value. He said Google Group is ready to assist Viet Nam in facilitating this process.

Speaking at the meeting, Binh praised Google for co-ordinating with Viet Nam’s Ministry of Information and Communications in developing a process to handle violations of Vietnamese law on Google platforms. He also appreciated the Digitial 4.0 programme with the goal of providing free digital skills training to 500,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Viet Nam by 2020.

Binh affirmed that Viet Nam is trying to create conditions for businesses to invest in the Vietnamese market, including US businesses such as Google Group. He suggested Google continue to support the development of information technology in Viet Nam, especially the start-up ecosystem, technology, training and the development of a highly skilled workforce.

Việt Nam’s Digitial 4.0 programme, started in June 2018, is run by Google in co-operation with the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry - HCM Branch; Viet Nam Women Entrepreneurs Council; Da Nang Business Incubator; HCM City Association for Women Executives and Entrepreneurs; Supporting Centre for Youth’s Startup; and Women’s Initiative for Startups and entrepreneurship.

After six months, the programme has trained 58,249 SMEs, super small enterprises and individuals in Ha Noi, Da Nang and HCM City. The programme includes lessons designed by experts on digital marketing, e-commerce, online presence and business management skills.

The Digitial 4.0 programme will be expanded to other provinces in 2019 and 2020 with the goal of training 500,000 SME owners in Viet Nam by the end of 2020. — VNS