Ministerial Roundtable-ITU Digital World 2021
20h00, 12/10/2021
- Your Excellency Mr. Phạm Minh Chính, Prime Minister of Vietnam,
- Your Excellency Mr. Zhao Houlin, Secretary General of ITU,
- Excellencies, Ministers,
- Friends and colleagues,
Vietnam is very honoured to host this Ministerial Roundtable, together with the ITU. In this year 2021, it is very special that we also celebrate the 50th anniversary of our event. I warmly welcome Ministers and colleagues from around the world, to share our views on how to accelerate digital transformation.
After nearly 2 years since the outbreak of Covid-19, we are facing tremendous challenges. But, the pandemic will be over, sooner or later. And the biggest remaining challenge for us is whether we could turn these Covid-19 challenges into opportunities, to foster digital transformation or not.
Digital transformation is a fundamental change. Developing countries have less to replace, less to remove, and thereby can make changes faster. The example is mobile money in Kenya and African countries.
Digital transformation is not only technology transformation but mindset transformation. Institutional and regulatory frameworks are more essential. Governments should work on enabling frameworks. As a trial for innovative and disruptive approach, regulatory “sandbox” could be an good option.
For a company, success of digital transformation depends mostly on CEO, not CIO. For a country, success of digital transformation depends on Prime Minister, not ICT minister. And this is very main difference between IT application and digital transformation.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
In Vietnam, digital transformation is including digital economy, digital society and digital government. Two weeks ago, on 24th September, the National Committee on Digital Transformation has been established, and our Prime Minister is the Chairman of the Committee. Digital transformation will be accelerated in every sector and in every province.
Digital infrastructure plays a key role in digital transformation. How to speed up 5G coverage is important for developing countries. Vietnam is implementing the following solution: for the first phase of 5G, every of the 4 operators covers only 25% of the country and do roaming, thereby cutting the the cost of investment.
On promoting Internet access, in 2023, we will switch off 2G network. Goverment and operators will subsidize 4G handsets for the remaining 2G users, about less than 5%. It mean that from 2023, 100% of mobile users will be Internet Ready users.
In our strategy for digital transformation, the Government plays very vital role, transforming public services into digital services and transforming key sectors: Education, Healthcare, Agriculture, Transportation and Finance. We have a very strong support from our Government, from our Prime Minister, in creating an enabling environment and mobilizing every resource for digital transformation.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Vietnam has always been an active supporter of ITU’s initiatives on global digital cooperation. We will continue to work closely with ITU and ITU’s members for the sustainable development.
Today, we are very honoured to welcome our Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, to our Ministerial Roundtable. This is an evidence of the strong support of the Prime Minister to the ICT sector and to the cooperation between Vietnam and ITU. Excellency Prime Minister, we wish to express our sincere thanks to you, and wish you good health and every success.
I wish to thank the ITU, especially Secretary General Mr. Zhao Houlin, for supporting Vietnam in organizing the Virtual ITU Digital World 2021. My sincere thanks to all Ministers and colleagues for joining our Ministerial Roundtable.
Thank you very much for your attention!
