Vietnam's Minister of Science and Technology, Vu Hai Quan, held a strategic meeting with the Managing Director of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Maroun Kairouz, in Hanoi on July 8. This meeting marks a significant momentum in Vietnam's efforts to position itself as a key player in the global technology landscape, particularly in the artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor sectors.
During the discussion, Minister Vu Hai Quan emphasized that the development of AI and semiconductors is a key pillar for Vietnam's future economic growth. Three crucial challenges were identified by the government: the need for high-quality talent, more comprehensive data integration, and the optimization of hardware infrastructure such as GPUs to support computing power.
As a concrete step, the Vietnamese side proposed that the WEF facilitate an international network of experts to strengthen the local AI ecosystem. Additionally, this collaboration is expected to help digital transformation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as provide technical support to Vietnam for hosting the upcoming APEC event in 2027.
Responding to the proposal, Maroun Kairouz expressed high appreciation for Vietnam's long-term vision. He expressed confidence that by leveraging its technological intelligence, Vietnam has great potential to rank among the top 20 economies in the world. The WEF is committed to accompanying Vietnam in accelerating AI adoption across various industrial sectors.
The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) soon. This document will serve as the primary framework to realize the cooperation commitment, which is expected to act as a catalyst for Vietnam's future digital economy leap.
