Celebrating the Vietnamese journey to innovation

Celebrating the Vietnamese journey to innovation

Vietnam is at a crucial turning point. As the country moves towards its goal of becoming a high-income nation by 2045, public administration reforms to streamline governance, eliminate inefficiencies, and embrace digital transformation have been identified by Party General Secretary To Lam as essential to ensure strong and efficient governance moving forward.

As a long-time partner of Vietnam, Sweden celebrates the country’s rapid development and impressive economic growth. From establishing our diplomatic relations in 1969, to being one of the largest aid providers in the 1980s and 1990s, to today, where we enjoy a thriving trade relationship as equal partners.

Johan Ndisi, Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam

As a country that has extensively worked on enhancing public administration, we have learned that the success of these reforms hinges on the commitment to continuous learning, adaptability, and ensuring that governance is responsive to the needs of the people. Moving forward, I would like to share some perspectives from the Swedish experience.

In Sweden, digital transformation is crucial for good governance. We have witnessed how digital tools such as e-government platforms and online public services significantly improved efficiency, transparency, and citizen engagement. Digitalisation continuously makes government services more accessible, reduces bureaucracy, and builds trust between the government and the people.

However, the digital transition is not only about adopting new technologies, it is equally crucial to adopt new working methods for good governance.

Cooperation between governments, businesses, and research institutions has also been proven to lead to groundbreaking reforms. I believe that Vietnam can accelerate its digital transformation and public sector modernisation by fostering collaboration between public institutions, the private sector, and academia.

Encouraging public officials to experiment with new ideas and embrace change will help create a more resilient and future-ready administration. Innovation is about thinking differently and being open to new solutions, not just technology.

In Sweden, we also believe that decentralisation enhances governance by ensuring that decision-making is closer to the people. Empowered with the right tools and responsibilities, regional and local governments can deliver more responsive and tailored public services.

Our local governments play a central role in governance, with the autonomy to design and implement policies that best fit the needs of their communities. This model allows for a more adaptive and resilient public sector that can respond quickly to local needs and circumstances. Effective decentralisation, supported by clear frameworks and accountability mechanisms, can strengthen Vietnam’s governance system and enhance public trust.

I also want to emphasise that transparency and trust are the cornerstones of good governance. The Nordic countries consistently rank among the highest in global governance indexes because of their commitment to transparency, anti-corruption efforts, and open government practices.

Vietnam’s efforts to increase transparency and accountability will play a crucial role in strengthening public trust and creating a more engaged society.

Sweden is deeply committed to being a steadfast partner in supporting Vietnam’s journey towards innovation and digital transformation in a sustainable manner. Swedish companies are global leaders in sustainability and green solutions, and with over 70 Swedish companies already dedicated to long-term engagement, we are now focused on increasing the presence of small and medium-sized enterprises with groundbreaking innovations.

These innovations are integral to the ecosystems of larger companies and can play an important role in Vietnam’s development.

Sweden stands ready to work with Vietnam on science, technology and innovation. Through these collaborative efforts, Vietnam can look forward to a future characterised by strong, efficient, and transparent governance. This will not only drive the nation towards its ambitious 2045 vision but also ensure that the benefits of progress are felt by all citizens, creating a prosperous and inclusive society.

VIR