United States Government Announces Launch of the U.S.-Vietnam Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Commercial Dialogue

September 14, 2007

On September 18, 2007, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing Jamie Estrada will lead a U.S. Government interagency delegation to Hanoi, Vietnam, for the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Vietnam Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Commercial Dialogue. The dialogue aims to enhance trade and investment in products and services in the ICT sector in Vietnam.

“This meeting in Hanoi is the first of what we hope to be a series of meetings between our two governments on ICT issues over the next several years,” said Estrada. “By bringing together industry and government leaders from both the United States and Vietnam, we expect to have a very constructive dialogue about how to enhance trade and investment in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry.”

The delegation will include representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, the Department of State, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, United States Agency for International Development, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi. These delegates, along with representatives from the ICT industry from both countries will meet with representatives of the Vietnamese government including the Ministry of Information and Communications.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Michalak and Vice Minister of Information and Communications Vũ Đức Đam will provide opening remarks. 

In July, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez announced that he would lead a business development mission to Vietnam in late 2007.  The mission will highlight export opportunities for U.S. businesses, including those that specialize in ICT products and services, and is the first Secretarial Business Development mission to visit Vietnam.  In 2006, U.S. companies exported nearly $93 million in ICT products to Vietnam.

The ICT Commercial Dialogue and Secretary Gutierrez's upcoming visit will build upon the expanding relationship between the United States and Vietnam in the rapidly-developing ICT sector.  In addition to growing commercial ties, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi has worked closely with Vietnamese government agencies and private sector partners to enhance and expand Vietnam's ICT capacity, especially in adopting advanced technologies to bridge the digital divide between the urban and rural areas. 

Background:

In conjunction with this event, the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration (ITA) is publishing a report, Vietnam: The Next Frontier for Trade in Asia – Key Issues for the Information and Communications Technology Sector. The report details the current ICT trade relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam and outlines six key areas for development, including: telecommunications infrastructure; network security; IT skills and training; software; electronic commerce; and government procurement of ICT products and services. The full report is available at http://export.gov/infotech.

The U.S. Government has provided funding for training and workshops for Vietnamese officials in Vietnam and the United States.  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Last Mile Initiative (LMI) has worked with the Vietnamese government and major technology firms, including Intel and Vietnam Data Corporation, to demonstrate new models for connecting the underserved, remote areas of Vietnam through advanced and low cost wireless broadband/satellite technologies –  and assisted the Vietnam Public Utility Telecommunications Service Fund (VTF) in building the capacity to  replicate these models with VTF funding support.  USAID, along with Microsoft, Qualcomm, HP,  Electricity of Vietnam and a consulting center under the Hanoi University of Technology have also implemented the TOPIC 64 Project, or "Training Online Program on Information Technology for Communities – 64 Provinces" to equip local community learning centers in each of the provinces with software, computers with internet connections and IT curriculum and training programs.  These programs support Vietnam's efforts to create a favorable and transparent environment for technology growth and advancement, and to develop the necessary human resources to continue fueling economic growth and innovation.

Note to Media:

The opening session of the ICT Dialogue, beginning at 9:00am on September 18 until 12:00 noon, is open to the media.  The event will be held in Plaza Rooms 1,2 and 3 of the Sofitel Plaza.

Following conclusion of the ICT Commercial Dialogue at 17:00 on September 18, the U.S. delegation will be available for a press conference in Plaza Room 1.

Venue:  Sofitel Plaza Hotel, 1 Thanh Nien Road, Hanoi

For more information, please contact the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section, Mr. James Warren at (04) 850-5000 (ext. 5194)