Mobilizing resources from overseas Vietnamese in new context
WVR - Recently, the Government approved the project on bringing into play resources of overseas Vietnamese (OVs) to serve national development in the new context. This initiative aims to strengthen the global OVs network, enhance the unified perception of OVs as an increasingly important resource, in line with the spirit of the Party’s XIII Congress.
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| President Vo Van Thuong and his wife visited overseas Vietnamese family Pham Van Tich on November 15, 2023 as part of his trip to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in San Francisco, the US. (Photo: VNA) |
The overarching goal of this project is to harness the resources of OVs to contribute to the country’s development during the intensified phase of industrialization and modernization, aligning with Viet Nam’s goal of becoming a developed, high-income nation by 2045 as set forth in the Party’s XIII Congress. It aims to reinforce the solidarity of the entire Vietnamese nation, consolidate the strength and potential of the OVs community contributing to the nation.
Three groups of key solutions
The project has outlined three groups of key solutions.
The first group involves general solutions to elevate awareness, policies, organization, and coordination mechanisms, including: unifying and enhancing societal awareness and responsibility regarding attracting OVs’ resources for development; reviewing, amending, supplementing, and perfecting policies and laws to create favorable conditions for OVs to fell secure to invest and do business back in their homeland.
Accordingly, ministries, sectors, localities, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, unions, economic and social organizations are tasked with formulating specific policies, projects, and programs to attract OVs’ resources.
The second group encompasses specific solutions tailored to each target or resource type to attract experts, intellectuals, talents among OVs and Vietnamese laborers to return to the country; to improve the investment environment, maintaining the momentum of remittances, supporting OVs in promoting and marketing Vietnamese products in foreign markets; to establish specific policies and measures to leverage the “soft” resources of the OV community.
The third group focuses on nurturing and developing the OV community in the host countries; fostering cooperation with countries, international organizations and the governments of countries with Vietnamese residents to protect the legitimate rights and interests of OVs.
This solution also aims to strengthen and develop associations of experts, intellectuals, entrepreneurs among OVs as the core, guiding the community’s development in host countries; attracting successful OVs to assist weaker ones; intensifying Vietnamese language teaching, imparting Viet Nam’s rich cultural heritage to young Vietnamese generations abroad, fostering connections between the younger generation of OVs and the homeland.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with representatives of the overseas Vietnamese attending the Homeland Spring 2023 programme on January 14, 2023. (Photo: VNA) |
Four main sectors to promote resources
Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs stated that, the OV community not only continues to integrate substantively, but also increasingly asserts their postures by making contributions to the host country and fostering friendship, promoting trade cooperation and showcasing Viet Nam’s image, people, and culture.
According to the Deputy Minister, there are four key sectors to promote the resources of Vietnamese abroad in order to contribute to national development.
First, it’s the resources in intellect, science and technology, and high-quality workforce. It’s estimated that around 10-12% of the nearly six million Vietnamese people abroad hold a university degree, equivalent to about 600,000 individuals. Additionally, Vietnamese laborers working overseas contribute financially and become a workforce for our country with the skills and experience gained from their time abroad.
Regarding economic resources, Vietnamese entrepreneurs are present in most countries and territories globally, wielding economic power and an increasing influence not only within the community but also on the local authorities. These entrepreneurs are among the most active in introducing Vietnamese goods to markets worldwide, establishing distribution networks with numerous trade centers, organizations or business associations based on industries, particularly excelling in areas like apparel, footwear, agriculture, food and handicrafts.
Concerning “soft” resources, OV communities in various countries are deeply integrated into the local society, holding firmer positions and engaging in different levels of the political system (federal legislators, state officials, city councils, etc.) in countries like the United States, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. The number of Vietnamese or people of Vietnamese origin participating in and holding key positions in international organizations is also on the rise. This serves as a significant foundation, enhancing trust and deepening cooperation between Viet Nam and the people, governments, and leadership of other nations and international organizations.
Lastly, in terms of charitable and humanitarian resources, the overseas Vietnamese community has been actively involved in charity and humanitarian programs initiated within the country for many years. Many delegations and volunteer projects organized by Vietnamese abroad directly provide support, distribute gifts, and contribute to improving the lives of fellow citizens facing difficulties in various regions of the homeland. This involvement significantly contributes to the country’s achievements in eradicating poverty and reducing hunger.
| From 2.7 million people in 2003, the OV community now is composed of about 56 million individuals living and working in more than 130 countries and territories, over 80% of which are developed nations. As of October 2022, OVs in 35 countries and territories have registered 1.72 billion USD for 385 FDI projects in 42 of the 63 provinces and cities in Viet Nam. In 2022, remittances to Viet Nam totalled 19 billion USD, making the country among the top 10 globally in terms of remittances. |
The five major tasks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Resolution 36-NQ/TW on Overseas Vietnamese affairs clearly states: “Engaging with the Overseas Vietnamese community is the responsibility of the entire political system and the entire populace”. In this spirit, the project has defined specific duties for ministries, sectors, and localities.
For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside being the focal point for monitoring, coordinating, urging, and consolidating the implementation progress of the plan, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang highlighted a focus on five major tasks.
First, intensifying the work of supporting and mobilizing the OVs communites, discovering new talents, promoting connections, supporting the formation, consolidation, and development of associations, intellectual networks, and proactive entrepreneurs, in order to make contributions to the country’s development. Additionally, enhancing engagement with authorities and organizing bodies of host countries to ensure the legitimate rights and interests, creating favorable conditions to elevate the position of the Vietnamese communities and associations abroad.
Second, bolstering research and consolidating information on the OVs’ resources; supporting ministries, sectors, localities, organizations, groups, businesses, and individuals in connecting and attracting resources from Vietnamese abroad. Collaborating with localities to organize programs for OVs such as Homeland Spring (Xuan Que Huong), Summer Youth Camps, Vietnamese language training courses, conferences, workshops to gather feedbacks and annual charity events.
Third, organizing activities to update information on the country’s situation, policies, and laws; combining with listening to the thoughts, aspirations, and opinions of OVs; proposing relevant authorities to review, amend, supplement and issue policies and laws to resolve difficulties and create favorable conditions for OVs to live, work, invest, produce and do business in Viet Nam.
Fourth, continuing the development and implementation of projects such as the project on Database of overseas Vietnamese, the project “Mobilizing overseas Vietnamese to introduce and consume products, and develop distribution channels for Vietnamese goods abroad in the 2020-2024 period”, and the Project “Honouring the Vietnamese language in the overseas Vietnamese community from 2023 to 2030”.
Last, organizing training sessions to enhance the knowledge of officers engaged in community engagement and attracting resources from the OV community.
