Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai stressed
the need for accurately identifying opportunities and challenges in
order to devise suitable policies for the success of the National
Strategy for Industrial Development through 2020.
He pointed to the two-digit growth rate recorded for many years by the
industrial sector and positive changes in the sector’s structure,
including the increasing proportion of manufacturing and processing in
the total industrial value and the expansion of the non-State and
foreign-invested economic sectors. The industrial sector has become able
to meet the supply of essential products for other production sectors
as well as for consumption, thus enhancing the economy’s self
sufficiency, the Deputy PM said.
At the same time,
he highlighted the existing weaknesses, particularly the low added value
of products and the dependence on extensive growth. The support
industry is under developed, while industrial development planning is of
low quality, lacking a national vision.
In
particular, productivity and labour skill are low compared to many
regional countries, the Deputy PM said, adding that only a small
proportion of workers have good technical skills while the majority only
received short-term training.
Furthermore,
technologies in use in the country are mostly outdated even compared to
those used in regional countries, according to the government leader.
He said therefore, the country faces great challenges in realising its goal of become an industrialized economy by 2020.
Outlining the directions for industrial development policies, the
Deputy PM said they should include incentives for small- and
medium-sized enterprises, as well as support industry.
Other focuses include training skills for both managerial staff and
workers in tandem with improving infrastructure facilities to draw
international investment, he added.
Deputy PM Hai
also emphasized the protection of intellectual property, saying that it
will help raise the creativity and the development of science and
technology in the industrial sector.
Meanwhile, Head
of the Committee Vuong Dinh Hue stressed the need for developing a
roadmap for developing the national industry with medium- and long-term
visions.
He also suggested incentives be devised for
industries of fundamental and strategic significance for fast and
sustainable economic growth which will help enhance the economy’s self
sufficiency as well as its role in the global production and
distribution network.
Echoing Hue’s opinion about
focusing on key sectors, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam
Victoria Kwakwa called for stronger shift to productivity-based growth.
She also urged the Government to further promote
the private sector, saying that without a strong and dynamic private
sector, the industrialisation process will be slow. The World Bank is
willing to assist Vietnam in developing the sector, she said./.
