Technological advancements key to growth transformations: official

Technological innovation, technology transfer, and workforce training form the core strategy for transforming the nature of Vietnam’s economic growth in the coming years, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc remarked at the 17th Vietnam Economic Scenario Forum’s spring 2025 plenary session in Hanoi on January 7.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc speaks at the 17th Vietnam Economic Scenario Forum’s spring 2025 plenary session in Hanoi on January 7. (Photo: VNA)
Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc speaks at the 17th Vietnam Economic Scenario Forum’s spring 2025 plenary session in Hanoi on January 7. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Technological innovation, technology transfer, and workforce training form the core strategy for transforming the nature of Vietnam’s economic growth in the coming years, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc remarked at the 17th Vietnam Economic Scenario Forum’s spring 2025 plenary session in Hanoi on January 7.

In his speech, he said all the 15 socio-economic targets set for 2024 were successfully achieved. The economy grew by 7.09%, with the GDP reaching approximately 476.3 billion USD, placing Vietnam 33rd globally. Total trade turnover was estimated at nearly 800 billion USD, with a trade surplus of 24.77 billion USD. State budget revenue exceeded projections by 19.8% to exceed 2 quadrillion VND (78.83 billion USD), while the poverty rate was reduced to just 1.95%.

He stated that the Government is focusing on the three strategic breakthroughs outlined by the 13th National Party Congress, namely institutional reform, infrastructure building, and human resource development. In recent times, particularly in the final months of last year, several laws were revised to address bottlenecks and unlock resources.

Phoc noted that in 2025, the Government plans to allocate approximately 800 trillion VND in public investment for infrastructure development, prioritising key projects such as expressways, Long Thanh International Airport, and preparations for the North-South high-speed railway project, whose construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.

The investment will focus not only on transport infrastructure, such as roads and ports, but also on infrastructure for the electricity sector (nuclear power and renewable energy), industrial zones, and economic areas, he added.

Deputy head of the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission Nguyen Hong Son described the forum as an opportunity for experts, scientists, and policymakers to collaborate on solutions to Vietnam’s challenges.

He said the commission is working on a project on strategic solutions to boost economic growth to double digits during the new era of the nation's rise, adding the project, set to be submitted to the Politburo in Q3 2025, will draw on insights gathered from this forum.

With two sessions of discussions and presentations, participating experts analysed global and regional economic trends for 2025, opportunities and challenges for Vietnam, and innovative solutions for the nation to achieve high growth and sustainable development./.

VNA

See more

The world’s longest over-sea cable car to Hon Thom Island in the Phu Quoc special zone, An Giang province. (Photo: VNA)

An Giang steps up tourism development ahead of APEC 2027

Tourism in the province has recorded strong growth, affirming its position as one of the region’s leading destinations. Phu Quoc Island continues to attract the majority of international travellers, receiving more than 817,660 visitors, accounting for over 98.5% of total foreign arrivals to the province.

Import-export activities at Lach Huyen international port in Hai Phong (Photo: VNA)

Reducing risks, removing logistics bottlenecks amid Middle East volatility

According to Truong Xuan Trung, Trade Counsellor of Vietnam in the UAE, the Middle East serves not only as a consumption market but also as a key global transhipment hub, meaning instability in the region creates ripple effects across intercontinental transport networks. Shipping route adjustments and airspace restrictions have lengthened transit times, increased costs and disrupted delivery schedules, with some Vietnamese shipments forced to reroute or seek alternative markets.

Cargo is handled at container terminals No. 3 and No. 4 of Hai Phong International Gateway Port. (Photo: VNA)

Businesses seek “survival momentum” amid global geopolitical turbulence

This is an urgent move as the challenges of 2026 differ markedly from previous ones, shaped by overlapping external shocks ranging from geopolitical tensions disrupting supply chains to surging logistics and raw material costs, exchange-rate pressures, and increasingly complex tariff barriers in global markets.

At the 2025 trade connectivity week for mechanical, electrical and digital industries. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City gives boost to supporting industry firms

Supporting industry firms in Ho Chi Minh City are scrambling to embed themselves more deeply into both global and domestic supply chains, backed by a suite of local incentives that are speeding up their tech upgrades and market access.

Italy's national pavilion at the ongoing Food & Hospitality Vietnam 2026 exhibition at Ho Chi Minh City's Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) draws visitors for hands-on experiences. (Photo: IVNA)

Italian food firms eye opportunities in Vietnam

Italy’s exports of food and beverages to Vietnam reached 105.1 million EUR in 2025, up 4% year-on-year, positioning the country among the leading EU suppliers to the Vietnamese market.

An overview of the working session (Photo: baoquangninh.vn)

Quang Ninh promotes all-round cooperation with Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Quang Ninh encourages Guangxi enterprises to invest in high-tech marine aquaculture and expand aquatic product exports in China. At the same time, the province aims to develop livestock farming in line with international standards and attract investment in deep-processing plants for agricultural products such as cinnamon, star anise and tea, linked with traceability systems at border gates.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Vietnam becomes fastest growing market for Norwegian salmon in Southeast Asia

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) reported at the “Norwegian seafood industry in Vietnam market 2026” event held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 25 that fresh Norwegian salmon exports to Vietnam jumped 16% in volume in the first two months of 2026 compared with a year earlier, while frozen salmon shipments surged about 37%.

At a petrol station (Photo: VNA)

Energy giants work hard to roll out E10 RON95 sale ahead of schedule

Petrolimex and PVOIL, are in a strong position to accelerate the transition toward cleaner fuels. These companies have been actively preparing infrastructure, upgrading blending systems, and coordinating supply chains to ensure the availability of E10 RON95 across their nationwide retail systems.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung visits Bosch Industrial in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Germany boost innovation, startup ecosystem connectivity

Deputy PM Nguyen Chi Dung highly valued CfE’s reputation and pioneering role in building Germany’s innovation-driven startup ecosystem, and called for stronger cooperation with NIC to support Vietnamese universities, research institutes and organisations in training and scientific research.

The FTA Index 2024 provides a panorama of the FTA implementation outcomes across the country. (Photo: VNA)

ASEAN opens new export momentum for Vietnam

As competition in ASEAN is intensifying, Vietnamese enterprises are advised to strengthen distribution networks, enhance product innovation and closely monitor policy changes and trade-defence measures in importing markets to sustain and expand their market share.