VN, US step up cooperation in ICT

Information and communications technology (ICT) is seen as one of the most effective cooperation fields and a strong driving force behind the relations between Vietnam and the US since the two countries normalised diplomatic ties 15 years ago.

Worthy of note is the Vietnam-US ICT Talks, held annually since 2007. The event aims to promote the investment and trading of telecoms products, services and technologies and policy discussion between both administrations.

At the Vietnam-US ICT Talks held this May, both parties proposed several initiatives, including the establishment of an ICT business portal and mutual support in training, technical investment and developing services.

Also during the talks, Vietnam ’s Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) underlined the importance of promoting bilateral cooperation in information technology especially in specialist training and pledged special attention to US-invested ICT businesses in Vietnam .

Big US leaders such as Microsoft, Intel, IBM, Oracle, Cisco, Motorola and Qualcomm have all had Vietnamese partners in the past.

The involvement of these giants has not only resulted in Vietnam’s ICT market becoming more attractive, but they have also helped Vietnamese businesses to access new technologies and increase cooperation to integrate into the global technology market as quickly as possible.

The agreement between the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) and the US’s Lockheed Martin, under which the US firm provided its Vietnamese partner with a geostationary satellite, VINASAT 1, is one of the largest joint projects ever between the two countries.

Other US groups, namely Motorola and Intel, have provided the technical support and equipment for numerous Vietnamese telecoms businesses.

Motorola funded several projects with US$1.3 million to develop human resources projects in Vietnam , provided Vinaphone with 50,000 transceivers worth US$300 million and partnered with Vinaphone in its efforts to expand its network.

At present, Motorola is expanding its joint operations with VNPT in the field of broadband services.

Apart from its one-billion-USD micro-chip plant in Ho Chi Minh City , the world’s largest chip maker, Intel, has carried out numerous other projects to help Vietnam develop technological infrastructure and train its workforce since the firm first arrived in Vietnam in 1997.

Tags: Vietnam ICT