Business News

HCM City is looking to strengthen its economic competitiveness by developing new growth drivers, improving workforce capabilities and enhancing international cooperation amid the rapid transformation of global value chains and the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI). These priorities were highlighted at a thematic session on global economic transformation and economic restructuring experiences of countries and megacities, held on October 27 as part of the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 in HCM City.

The south-central province of Khánh Hòa has granted an investment certificate for a VNĐ390 billion (US$15.5 million) high-tech plant to produce graphene, biochips and electronic components, as the province seeks to attract investment in advanced materials and biotechnology. The Hememics Vietnam project is backed by US firm Hememics Biotechnologies Inc, Vietnamese investor Viet Khanh JSC and others.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh called for selecting projects based on actual needs, linking research with commercialization, ensuring the effective operation of the V-Bridge platform, and clearly defining responsibilities and implementation timelines. The aim is to turn commitments to cooperate in digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors into concrete products, projects and investment opportunities.

The growth of the electronics, semiconductor and high-tech sectors worldwide is opening up a variety of opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to integrate more deeply into the global supply chain. However, to become suppliers for these corporations, domestic enterprises must meet rigorous standards regarding quality, technology, productivity and order fulfilment capabilities.

Digital literacy is the only capability area in which fresh graduates meet employers’ expectations, according to a new report. Yet, it is also the standard rising fastest, as businesses increasingly expect new hires to use AI effectively in the workplace. Some 83 per cent of employers say AI has changed, or is beginning to change, their hiring criteria, while 94 per cent report higher expectations for digital and AI capabilities than they had two to three years ago.

Việt Nam is moving its digital transformation agenda beyond policy frameworks and individual technology platforms towards practical applications that address everyday needs, as authorities seek measurable outcomes from science, technology and innovation. Under Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW issued on December 22, 2024, the implementation is increasingly shifting from simply completing assigned tasks towards developing concrete products and services for citizens and businesses.

Having completed its new rural development program, Hanoi is shifting its focus toward improving development quality and building smart, sustainable rural areas. The transformation of Dong La orchid-growing village in An Khanh, a western commune of Hanoi, shows how digital technology is becoming a driver of production, market expansion, and higher incomes for local residents.

Việt Nam’s AI landscape is entering a new phase as businesses move beyond generative AI (GenAI) tools designed to assist human users towards autonomous AI, agentic AI and AI agents that can take action with limited supervision, experts have said. The shift comes as Việt Nam seeks to accelerate science and technology, innovation and digital transformation under Politburo Resolution 57-NQ/TW, issued on December 22, 2024.