Vietnam and Ireland to cooperate in ICT and education
By Thu Nguyet - The Saigon Times Daily
HCMC – Ireland and Vietnam has huge potential to coordinate in information and communication technology (ICT) and education, Conor Lenihan, the Irish Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources told the Daily on Monday.
Lenihan added that Irish software companies considered the Vietnamese market an opportunity to increase their global reach, particularly in Asia. Lenihan will stay in Vietnam for one week from March 13-18 to prepare for the Vietnam-Ireland Business Forum (VIBF) scheduled for next month.
Micheal Garvey, ASEAN regional director for Enterprise Ireland – an Irish Government trade and technology agency – agreed with Lenihan. He said Vietnam was becoming a popular base for Irish companies who were setting up regional operations in Asia. He added that three Irish companies – including Seestream, Glandore Systems and Adhearne Fire Engineering Consultants – had established operations in Vietnam in the past nine months.
Lenihan said ICT cooperation with Vietnam would give small to medium Irish enterprises experience in dealing with developing countries. “It’s a mutually beneficial relationship,” he said.
He added that enterprises from both nations could take advantage of join-venture partnerships.
Currently, Vietnam and Ireland are implementing a cooperative program called the Vietnam-Ireland Business Forum (VIBF). The program aims to encourage partnerships between private sector companies in both Vietnam and Ireland. In addition, the program will bring new technologies from Ireland to Vietnam, Lenihan said.
VCCI, the Vietnam Software Association (VINASA) and Enterprise Island will manage VIBF.
Initially, the program will focus on developing ICT cooperation between Vietnam and Ireland, before it moves to other industry sectors. Ten Irish companies will visit Vietnam next month to present their products and technologies to local enterprises at the VIBF’s second session.