The Fourth Industrial Revolution, through the digitalisation of all sectors and industries, would make Việt Nam more competitive, innovative and better prepared to embrace job opportunities of the future.— Photo vneconomy.vn

HÀ NỘI —  The European Chamber of Commerce in Việt Nam (EuroCham) launched the 11th edition of its annual Whitebook at a conference in Hà Nội on Thursday, focusing on the future of economic development in Việt Nam.  

The event, entitled “The EVFTA: Driving Industry Digitalisation and Transformation for Việt Nam’s Socio-Economic Prosperity”, co-organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), brought together more than 200 participants, including high level representatives from the Government of Việt Nam, provincial leaders from across the country, European ambassadors and the European business community.

The conference highlighted two issues most critical to ensuring the success of the next phase of Việt Nam’s development, the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

According to Eurocham, taken together, these two issues would help Việt Nam further integrate into the global economy and the international community. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, through the digitalisation of all sectors and industries, would make Việt Nam more competitive, innovative and better prepared to embrace job opportunities of the future.

The EVFTA, once ratified and implemented, would advance trade and investment between the EU and Việt Nam and give consumers better access to high-quality European goods and services.

The launch of the Whitebook brought the issues and recommendations of EuroCham members together under the themes of healthcare, tax and customs and sustainability. At the event, European business leaders discussed with the Government issues including logistics and infrastructure, green growth, tax and transfer pricing, human resources, health and legal matters.

“Over the last three decades, the Government has successfully transformed Việt Nam from one of the poorest countries in the world to a fast-growing, modern, middle-income nation, said Nicolas Audier, co-chairman of EuroCham.

“Today, Việt Nam has the opportunity, through new-generation Free Trade Agreements like the EVFTA, to take the next step up the value chain and become an even more open and successful leader in the region and on the world stage,” he said.

Denis Brunetti, co-chairman of EuroCham, addresses the launch ceremony of Whitebook 2019. — VNS Photo Linh Anh

“If taken on board, the insights and recommendations of our members will help the Government to unlock the full benefits of the EVFTA and go further and faster on its path of growth and development, reforming Việt Nam’s legal framework and business environment and, in the process, improving the life chances and living standards of millions of Vietnamese citizens.”

“Building on the phenomenal socio-economic journey experienced by Việt Nam in the past 30 years, which has been mainly driven by labour intensive manufacturing, the jobs and growth of the future will predominantly come from the digital economy and high-tech jobs related to industry digitalisation of all sectors and industries,” said Denis Brunetti, co-chairman of EuroCham.

“As European enterprises were a trusted, reliable and secure partner in helping to develop Việt Nam’s earliest telecommunications and ICT networks, driving significant internet usage across the country, our members remain committed and dedicated to helping the country take advantage of the new wave of inclusive and sustainable digital innovation,” Brunetti said.

“Europe contains some of the world’s most innovative, market-leading, and sustainable future-focused companies, and EuroCham’s 11th Whitebook contains the insights and recommendations of business leaders from these enterprises. Our publication is designed to help Việt Nam adapt to the new opportunities that the Fourth Industrial Revolution will bring, and in so doing, make the country increasingly more competitive in the global economy and more attractive to international trade and investment.”

Hoàng Quang Phòng, vice chairman of the VCCI, hailed the contributions of the European business community in Việt Nam.

He said the EU was one of Việt Nam’s largest trade partners and the recommendations made by the White Book had been submitted to the Government and would make significant contributions to improving the business environment in Việt Nam.

The Whitebook is EuroCham’s flagship annual publication, bringing together the insights and recommendations of the chamber’s over one thousand members. The publication includes 20 chapters, covering sectors and industries from healthcare to wines & spirits, and ICT to human resources & training.

In the Whitebook, EuroCham members raise the most important issues to their business operations, and highlight specific actions that the Government could take to improve Việt Nam’s business environment and legal framework, increase trade and investment from Europe and make the country even more competitive in the global marketplace. — VNS