Core of competitiveness is products
According to Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, to achieve the goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045, Viet Nam must solve “big problems” such as digital infrastructure, urban operations, improving the efficiency of the public service apparatus, and developing science, technology and innovation. Technology businesses need to position themselves in relation to national goals. Strategic thinking is not just the company’s own strategy, but the ability to see the links between the company and the state to create momentum together. At the same time, he recommended that businesses do not copy the successful models of large corporations. Because no one succeeds by going back on the same old path, they must find their own path.
“Many domestic units have invested heavily in research but “stop halfway” because they fail to translate technology into commercial products. Vietnamese enterprises seeking sustainable competitive advantage must focus on products. It is products that deliver value and help businesses compete. To go the full distance, enterprises must master the entire chain: design–integration–production–market–after-sales service.” Minister Nguyen Manh Hung analysed.
Regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and the C-OpenAI ecosystem of CMC, the Minister suggested that enterprises should avoid pursuing “all-in-one platforms” and instead select specific segments and concrete problems where CMC can create clear differentiation. “Talk less about technology and more about products. In the end, markets and customers only pay for products,” he emphasised.
Minister Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed that the core of competition is the product. (Photo: NDO)
Outsourcing cannot be the core value to go out into the world
Sharing his viewpoints on the globalisation journey of Vietnamese enterprises, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said that although outsourcing generates revenue, it cannot serve as a strategic pillar for long-term advantage. With CMC Global’s orientation to change from traditional outsourcing to becoming an AIX service provider, the Minister acknowledged this as a step in the right direction, but also noted: “If you have declared your ambition to become a top AIX Service Provider, CMC Global must pursue it to the end and make it a core value, not just a slogan.”
In response to the question of whether CMC should choose AI or semiconductors for breakthrough development, the Minister said that “choosing what” is less important than “whether you have the determination to see it through”. For an enterprise of CMC’s scale, AI is a natural choice if it has a clear strategy for data, products and markets. Semiconductors are a broad sector; there is no need to start with billion-dollar projects. Enterprises can select suitable segments such as design, IP, testing, and IoT chips — provided they have sufficient determination and resources for long-term commitment. AI and semiconductors are closely interlinked: AI always relies on semiconductors, and semiconductors increasingly require AI to optimise design and production.
Not only talking about sectoral strategy, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung also spent time discussing discipline-based culture and the role of modelling, emphasising that discipline does not constrain creativity; discipline is the track that helps creativity to move faster and more safely. He further noted that what determines the longevity of an enterprise is its spirit of learning and culture of constructive debate. “If there is no internal debate, seek debate from the outside,” the Minister stressed.
