Vietnam wants to be an active member of the world information technology (IT) community and the Vietnamese Government will offer favors multinational IT corporations in developing, encouraging and expanding IT applications in all fields of life, said PM Guying Nguyen Tan Dung.
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Vietnam wants to be a proactive member of the world IT community, says PM Guying Nguyen Tan Dung at the World Information Technology Forum (WITFOR 2009)
Ha Noi, August 26
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PM Nguyen Tan Dung conveyed the message to 1,500 delegates of the World Information Technology Forum (WITFOR 2009) opened this morning in Ha Noi.
The opening session drew many ministers in charge of IT and such IT-dominant industries as aviation and finance; leaders of international organizations, associations, enterprises, academies, and universities from over 70 countries and territories.
IT as a key economic industry In Vietnam
In his opening speech, the Vietnamese PM stressed that IT, particularly Internet, has brought different parts of the world closer, improved people’s knowledge, and cemented friendship and cooperation among nations worldwide.
On the other hand, IT produces opportunities to promote economic development, enhance competitiveness and narrow development gaps.
For Vietnam, IT is set to be a key economic industry and the most important tool to realize the Millennium Development Goals and construct an information society so as to curtail national modernization and industrialization process.
In 2008, Vietnam'sIT turnover reached US $10 billion, Internet use rate stood at 25% and phone subscription dramatically increased. These advancements have largely contributed to efforts to maintain growth rate, heighten the efficiency of the national economy, and push Vietnam more integrated into the international community, the PM said.
He continued that the country is drafting a strategy to become an IT power, focusing on the improvement of legal system, modernizing information infrastructure, developing IT industry and applying IT advances in all socio-economic sectors.
The host leader said that he warmly welcomed international community’s assistance and cooperation to help Vietnam attain the above targets.
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The World Information Technology Forum (WITFOR 2009) opens in Ha Nioi, August 26
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IT for sustainable development
With the general theme “ICT for sustainable development,” the WITFOR 2009 is a good chance for IT managers to comprehensively review policies, experience, cooperation opportunities, and IT applications in addressing challenges against sustainable development.
Some major issues put on the table include agricultural and rural development, communication infrastructure, education, healthcare, gender equality, environment, e-Government, effective energies and natural resources use, climate change, epidemic diseases, poverty and global economic crisis.
The Vietnamese Government chief hoped that the delegates will propose initiatives, cooperation programs, and solutions for developing countries; share experience and new technology trends for IT and socio-economic development in each and every country.
WITFOR 2009 is scheduled to take place on August 26-28 with seven plenary sessions and 32 parallel sessions of eight commissions dealing with seven major themes: ICT for sustainable development; Best practice country experience with ICT policies; Free open source software; Gender issues; ICT4D policies; Industry contribution; and Public-private partnership.
Other sideline events include the ICT Industry Dialogue chaired by Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan, PCs for Life Program, and ICT Networking
WITFOR was first held in Vilnius (Lithuania) in 2003, then in Gaborone (Botswana) in 2005, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in 2007.
It is the first time a WITFOR has been held in an Asian country, Vietnam. WITFOR 2009 is said to have positive effects for Vietnam's IT development and to create more trade and investment opportunities between Việt Nam and the region and the world./.