Fully tapping Overseas Vietnamese potential

(VOV) – Vietnam is striving to improve upon its strategic human resource management to more effectively tap into and utilise the knowledge and experience of Overseas Vietnamese (OV).

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Last year saw a record number of OVs returning to the country according to government statistics. However, to further encourage OVs, especially the young generation, to contribute to the national construction and development, Vietnam should implement yet even more flexible policies and incentives.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Thanh Son, Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, provided insight into the issue in a recent interview granted to VOV.

VOV:Vietnam attracted a record high of OV remittances last year. How should we best utilise them?
Son: Vietnam is one of the world’s nine largest overseas remittance recipients last year, attracting US$11 billion in value. This is certainly a considerable amount and an important financial source for the economy.

Whether the remittances are used effectively depends on the recipients (i.e. investors or households), as well as government policies.

It’s worth mentioning that Vietnamese overseas injected US$8.5 billion into investment projects in the fatherland last year, excluding US$11.5 billion worth of existing projects by OVs.

To attract and use the source effectively, we need to devise practical policies to incentivise increased investment.

VOV:Could further elaborate on policies Vietnam needs to encourage their contributions?
Son: I think it is imperative to attract young Vietnamese residents abroad, especially intellectuals. It is no easy task because most young OVs speak foreign languages better than their mother tongue. Thus, our primary goal is to teach and develop the Vietnamese language within the community.

The organisation of an annual summer camp for young OVs is another solution to equip them with background knowledge of the nation’s history, culture, tradition, and the Vietnamese language. Currently, the month-long camp is held every year by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

If they have a good command of Vietnamese, they are self-confident and eager to contribute to national construction and defence in the future.

VOV:Vietnam prioritises attracting OV intellectuals as an internal source for national construction and development. What do you think about this?
Son: With nearly 4.5 million nationals residing abroad, including more than 400,000 intellectuals, and most of them earning tertiary degrees, they create a key, useful human and financial source for the nation.

The fact is that many Vietnamese scientists and experts have returned to the fatherland to work in various areas. But I feel we have yet to respect their suggestions and recommendations.

Vietnam should have preferential policies to effectively use young intellectuals and create the best possible conditions for them to promote their talents as well as gathering intellectuals at home and abroad to join hands to develop the country.

This year, MoFA wants to organise a conference for Vietnamese intellectuals at home and abroad to make the most of this source.

VOV:Thank you very much.