Australia and Vietnam bolster ICT cooperation

Australia and Vietnam will jointly launch DigiVet-Aus.com business connecting platform this September that is expected to boost software exporting and outsourcing from Vietnam. 

VinSmart high-tech manufacturing factory in Hoa Lac Industrial Park. Photo: VinSmart

Nguyen Phu Hoa, Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia shared this information with delegates at the virtual seminar on ICT cooperation opportunities between Vietnam - Australia on August 11. 

The launch of the new platform at the first forum to promote the export of Vietnam’s digital products to Australia is a prompt step by the Vietnamese side to seize the opportunity. 

Hoa added that the market size of the software industry in Australia is estimated at AUD13 billion (US$8.9 billion) as the development of the country’s economy is based on ICT platforms. However, the supply of digital products and human resources have dropped mainly due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Ron Gauci, Managing Director of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), said the demand for human resources and IT products in Australia is huge. Many Australian enterprises are facing a shortage of ICT workforce while the government is focusing on bolstering the development of digital technologies. 

It is an opportunity for Vietnamese IT companies to strengthen their connection with Australian pairs and vice versa, he said.

Speaking at the webinar, General Secretary of the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA) Nguyen Thi Thu Giang, believed that Vietnamese and Australian businesses have many suitable conditions to increase cooperation and hoped such the conference will be a bridge for Australian and Vietnamese IT businesses to expand their networks and strengthen connections.

According to Do Thanh Binh, a member of the VINASA, Vietnam's IT human resources have currently reached more than one million people, covering hardware, software, and digital content. 

Foreign investors can enjoy many advantages including high-quality IT human resources, government support policies, and a huge market of 97 million people of Vietnam as well as the opportunity to penetrate the larger ASEAN market with more than 600 million people, he added.

In his speech at the webinar, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh said through a close strategic partnership, Vietnam and Australia have signed an action plan for the 2020 - 2023 period, including three pillars of the economy, politics - defense security, and innovation. These three pillars are all related to digital transformation. 

The Vietnamese Ambassador added the strategy to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries, expected to be signed in October, also attaches great importance to this issue. 

He underlined the current opportunity will not only benefits businesses but support the development of both Vietnam and Australia economies through IT cooperation, contributing to creating many facilities for the people of the two sides.