Friday, September 29, 2023

On 29 September 2023, the WTO Chair Foreign Trade University organized the first Vietnam Forum on International Trade, focusing on trade and green and digital transformation. Representatives of state management agencies, embassies, universities and foreign organizations, and pioneering businesses in green and digital transformation in Vietnam attended the event.

Delivering the opening speech, Associate Professor. Dr. Pham Thu Huong, Vice President and Head of the Steering Committee of the WTO Chairs Program at Foreign Trade University (FTU) emphasized digital and green transformation as two strategic directions for socio-economic development. 

As one of the leading universities in Vietnam in the field of international trade, the WTO Chair at FTU has been actively engaging in policy discussions and consulting activities, bridging the gap between academic and practical issues, and connecting experts and the business community. The forum was organized through a series of presentations by the stakeholders who attended the conference and an exhibition which provided a space for organizations and businesses to share their solutions for green and digital transformation. 

The conference was attended by Mr. Tran Minh Tuan, Director of the Department of Digital Economy and Digital Society, Ministry of Information and Communications, who provided a comprehensive picture of the current state of digital transformation in Vietnam, including policy perspectives, priority areas, and national strategies. During a roundtable discussion, Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Quyen, from the Digital Transformation Office, Department of Enterprise Development, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Mr. Le Huy Hoang, Digital Transformation Consulting Director, FPT Digital, and Victor Crochet from Van Bael & Bellis further discussed these strategies. 

Professor Henry Gao from Singapore Management University and WCP Academic Advisory Board Member provided an overview of the differences in trade regulations across the US, Europe, and China, from the perspective of each country's interests and legal philosophy. Associate Professor. Dr. Dao Ngoc Tien, Vice President of FTU, also presented some insights for Viet Nam on the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism.

In Vietnam, building a database to serve digital transformation and cognitive change is an important factor contributing to its transformation. The significance of carbon pricing mechanisms and the development of carbon credit markets to reduce emissions in the production process was also emphasized as a foundation for this transformation. 

For more information on the WTO Chair in Vietnam's activities, please visit their website.