Vietnam has the foundations to realise its dream of becoming a strong IT nation during the next decade, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan affirmed.

At a conference to implement a scheme to turn Vietnam into an IT power, in Hanoi on March 31, Deputy PM Nhan said that over the past 10 years, the government has paid due attention and investment in the nation’s information technology sector which is considered a spearhead industry for national socio-economic development.

The nation’s IT industry has recorded a yearly growth of 20 percent, he said, noting that Vietnam is considered one of the nations with best potential for the development of the IT sector and is gradually joining the international labour market.

A number of domestic businesses, like Viettel, FPT, VNPT and VTC have established firm footholds in domestic markets and are now looking towards foreign countries, he said.

However, the Deputy PM pointed out shortcomings in the national IT and communications industry, saying that workers lack foreign language skills and the sector has failed to fully tap available broadband services and infrastructure.

He said he hoped to receive foreign business assistance in high-quality human resource training and in building IT and computer centres meeting world standards.

A number of foreign businesses at the conference shared their experience in expanding broadband connectivity to rural areas to boost socio-economic development in remote and mountainous areas and islands, helping IT businesses access good credit sources for investment in infrastructure and enhancing intellectual property protection for locally made products./.