Hanoi, Vietnam – In a landmark engagement underscoring Vietnam’s accelerated digital transformation ambitions, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) convened a high-level working session with the leadership and key personnel of CMC Group on the afternoon of October 25th. Chaired by Minister Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng at the MIC headquarters, the meeting marked the first time in CMC’s 31-year history that the technology conglomerate’s core leadership directly engaged with the Ministry’s top brass to discuss future development strategies and national contributions. The unprecedented gathering signals the government’s profound recognition of CMC’s pivotal role in the nation’s technological landscape and its strong belief in the group’s potential to evolve into a major global digital technology entity.
A Pivotal Meeting for Vietnam’s Digital Future
The attendance of prominent MIC figures, including Deputy Ministers Nguyễn Thanh Lâm and Bùi Hoàng Phương, alongside leaders from various MIC units, highlighted the strategic importance of the discussions. This direct interaction between the Ministry and one of Vietnam’s long-standing technology pioneers reflects a broader governmental commitment to fostering domestic technological prowess. The MIC’s initiative to invite CMC for an in-depth dialogue about its future development path and strategic orientation demonstrates a clear acknowledgement of the group’s significant contributions to the national technology sector and the country at large. Furthermore, it conveys a robust confidence that CMC possesses the capabilities to not only become a leading digital technology enterprise domestically but also to achieve international stature.
The meeting commenced with a comprehensive presentation from Mr. Đặng Tùng Sơn, Deputy Chairman in charge of Strategy at CMC. He showcased a concise video clip summarizing the key milestones in CMC’s over three-decade journey, followed by a detailed report on the group’s production and business results, as well as its focal activities during the first half of the 2024 financial year. Crucially, Mr. Sơn outlined CMC’s ambitious development roadmap leading up to 2028, setting the stage for a visionary discussion on the company’s trajectory and its alignment with national objectives.
CMC’s Ambitious Vision for 2028
CMC Group’s strategic plan for 2028 articulates a bold objective: to transform into a global digital and AI conglomerate, operating at international standards. This vision includes a target of tripling its current revenue and expanding its workforce to over 10,000 employees, double its present size. A significant allocation of this growth is earmarked for Artificial Intelligence (AI), with 40% of the human resources dedicated to AI-related initiatives. This aggressive expansion plan underscores CMC’s commitment to spearheading technological innovation and competing on a global scale. The aspiration to reach such heights reflects not only internal corporate ambition but also a strategic alignment with Vietnam’s national agenda to become a digitally advanced economy.
For context, Vietnam’s digital economy has been experiencing rapid growth, with projections indicating a significant contribution to the national GDP in the coming years. The government’s National Digital Transformation Program to 2025, with a vision to 2030, emphasizes leveraging digital technologies to drive socio-economic development across all sectors. Companies like CMC are seen as critical engines for realizing these ambitious national goals, particularly in areas like AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
Minister Hùng’s Call for Technological Mastery and National Mission
Expressing profound expectations for CMC to emerge as a vanguard Vietnamese digital technology enterprise, Minister Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng urged the company’s leadership and key personnel to embrace a renewed mindset and a resolute commitment. He stressed the importance of contributing meaningfully to Vietnam’s digital transformation revolution, thereby propelling the nation into an era of strength and prosperity.
A central tenet of Minister Hùng’s address was the imperative for Vietnam to achieve technological mastery. He explicitly referenced the statement by General Secretary Tô Lâm, who formally declared that Vietnam must master technology, especially given that digital transformation is unequivocally identified as the pathway for the nation’s development. "To master technology, to master the national digital transformation process, the path for CMC and other Vietnamese digital technology enterprises is to significantly increase spending on research and development (R&D) and prioritize mastering applications, eventually leading to mastering core technologies," Minister Hùng emphasized. This directive highlights a shift from merely adopting technology to actively developing and owning it, crucial for national digital sovereignty and sustained growth.
The Minister challenged CMC to declare itself a leading, large, and internationally recognized digital technology enterprise. To achieve the "leading, large, international" objectives, he asserted, there is no alternative but for CMC to undertake large-scale projects closely tied to national missions and execute them with utmost diligence and thoroughness. "For an enterprise to grow, to endure with the nation, it must align itself with national missions," Minister Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng firmly stated, reinforcing the symbiotic relationship between corporate success and national development. This philosophy encourages major tech players to view their growth not just in terms of market share or profit, but as integral to the country’s strategic interests and long-term vision.
Strategic Directives for Infrastructure and Innovation
The working session extended for over four hours, with a substantial portion dedicated to Minister Hùng, the Deputy Ministers, and MIC unit leaders providing in-depth responses to CMC’s proposals and queries. They also offered specific suggestions for areas where CMC should focus its efforts in the coming period.
One practical challenge raised by CMC involved the procedures for land investment to establish new submarine optical cable landing stations. Recognizing the critical importance of robust international connectivity for national security and economic development, the MIC leadership provided clear guidance. They advised CMC to thoroughly understand the provisions of the new Land Law and to collaborate with the Department of Telecommunications. This collaboration would enable the MIC to propose that provincial authorities plan land specifically for these crucial infrastructure projects, thereby enhancing the resilience of the national international telecommunications network. Vietnam, being a coastal nation, relies heavily on submarine cables for its global digital connectivity, and securing new, diversified landing points is a strategic imperative to prevent service disruptions and ensure data sovereignty.
Addressing CMC’s concerns about identifying new development spaces, Minister Hùng offered a nuanced perspective. He advised that beyond seeking "greenfield" opportunities—uncharted territories where no one has yet ventured—enterprises should also consider innovating within existing "red ocean" spaces, where many players already operate. The key, he stressed, is to bring a novel and distinctive approach. "The fields within the Information and Communications sector—such as telecommunications, digital technology, digital infrastructure, and cyber information security—are always evolving. Therefore, the industry does not need to overly concern itself with finding entirely new spaces. The real question is whether the enterprise dares to act, and whether it acts thoroughly?!" This encouragement pushes companies to innovate not just in nascent fields but also to revolutionize established markets with superior solutions.
Emphasizing Specialized AI and Internal Digital Transformation
Regarding the strategic choice of technology areas for concentrated investment, the MIC leadership offered clear guidance to CMC. If the group’s strategy includes developing the Internet of Things (IoT), then Artificial Intelligence (AI) and semiconductor chip design should be considered parallel and essential branches, both requiring significant investment. This highlights the interconnectedness of modern digital technologies, where IoT generates vast amounts of data that can be analyzed by AI, and custom chips can optimize the performance of both.
Specifically for AI development, the advice to CMC and other Vietnamese digital technology enterprises was to focus on "narrow AI," specialized AI, custom-built AI, and AI tailored for individuals and businesses. This pragmatic approach suggests avoiding direct competition with global giants in general-purpose AI, and instead, concentrating on niche applications where local expertise and data can provide a competitive edge. Enterprises could even develop foundational platforms that allow individuals and organizations to create their own virtual assistants by inputing their specific data. This strategy aligns with the concept of empowering localized AI solutions that cater to specific cultural, linguistic, and industrial needs.
Minister Hùng also underscored the importance of developing proprietary technology products that define CMC’s brand identity. Before embarking on digital transformation initiatives for other enterprises, CMC was urged to first digitally transform itself internally. This self-transformation is crucial, as it provides invaluable firsthand experience and understanding of the complexities and benefits of digital transformation. "Because from internal digital transformation, the unit will learn many things, understand what digital transformation truly is, and when doing digital transformation for other enterprises, it will be much easier," the Minister explained. This practice-what-you-preach approach builds credibility and competence.
The Ministry’s Unwavering Support and Collaborative Path Forward
Recognizing that large enterprises like CMC need to focus on foundational infrastructure, Minister Hùng affirmed that such efforts should include critical components like Cloud services, Data Centers, and foundational software that other entities can build upon. He reiterated the MIC’s unwavering commitment to supporting Vietnamese digital technology enterprises, declaring that the Ministry always serves as a "home" for them—a place where businesses can seek advice, share difficulties, and receive support.
"The Ministry of Information and Communications determines that if digital technology enterprises do not develop, then the Ministry and the industry also cannot develop, and the national digital transformation story also cannot be realized," Minister Hùng stated, articulating the symbiotic relationship between governmental policy and private sector innovation. This statement underscores the MIC’s understanding that the success of its national agenda is intrinsically linked to the vitality and growth of its domestic technology companies.
In a gesture of encouragement and strategic guidance, Minister Hùng presented CMC Chairman Nguyễn Trung Chính with two seminal books: "Information and Communications Sector" and "Digital Transformation Overview: Strategy & Roadmap." These gifts symbolize the shared vision and the intellectual framework guiding Vietnam’s digital future.
Responding to the Ministry’s comprehensive guidance, CMC Chairman Nguyễn Trung Chính expressed profound gratitude to Minister Hùng, the Deputy Ministers, and the MIC unit leaders for their thorough and dedicated contributions. He affirmed that, beyond CMC’s corporate development goals, the group’s team is deeply committed to contributing to national development, projecting Vietnamese intellect onto the global stage, and asserting Vietnam’s position internationally.
"To realize the ambitious goals and development orientations that have been set, in addition to the Group’s own efforts, we hope to continue receiving the companionship, support, guidance, and assistance from the Ministry of Information and Communications," Mr. Nguyễn Trung Chính shared, highlighting the collaborative spirit essential for navigating the complex journey of national digital transformation.
Looking Ahead: Vietnam’s Journey Towards a Prosperous Digital Era
The meeting between the MIC and CMC Group represents more than just a corporate consultation; it is a strategic alignment between government and industry on critical national priorities. The emphasis on technological mastery, investment in R&D, development of foundational digital infrastructure, and specialized AI solutions collectively chart a clear course for Vietnam’s digital future. By empowering domestic champions like CMC to take on "national missions," Vietnam aims to build a robust, self-reliant digital economy that can compete effectively in the global arena. The insights shared and the directives given underscore a proactive governmental approach to nurturing an ecosystem where technological innovation is not merely supported but actively guided towards achieving national prosperity and international recognition. This collaborative model positions Vietnam to confidently navigate the complexities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and secure its place as a digitally advanced nation.
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