Ministry tipped to tap the IT talent of expat Vietnamese

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Information and Communications plans to submit a proposal to the Government to attract more Viet kieu (Overseas Vietnamese) to work in the information technology (IT) industry.

"Viet Nam has a large force of successful overseas Vietnamese, and many of them are excellent IT experts and ready to return to the country to make contributions".

"Viet Nam has a large force of successful overseas Vietnamese, and many of them are excellent IT experts and ready to return to the country to make contributions," Hop said.

"But until now, the country has not created appropriate policies to lure them."

Many experts also agreed with the minister on the need to build a policy to entice more people of Vietnamese origin to return.

No policy

Nguyen Huu Le, a Vietnamese-American and chairman of a software outsourcing company in HCM City, said no policy existed to attract Viet kieu to work in large IT projects, like Project 112, which requires international managerial experience and technological knowledge.

Than Trong Phuc, a Vietnamese-American and managing director of DFJ VinaCapital L.P. (DFJV), a venture capital fund that invests in technology companies, said that it was necessary to "connect with overseas Vietnamese working in American technology companies so they can contribute to the country."

At the seminar, representatives from companies also pointed out that Viet Nam lacked qualified staff, particularly for research and development. Still, Viet Nam's local IT market remained profitable during the global recession.

The industry's total revenue in 2008 was US$5.33 billion, which represented growth of more than 20 per cent compared with 2007. Revenue for 2009 is estimated to increase by about 19 per cent, up to $6.26 billion.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News