Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: Five Key Tasks to Foster Overseas Vietnamese Resources

Overseas Vietnamese from 22 countries donated books and gifts to children on Truong Sa (Spratly) Island. Photo: VNA

On the occasion of the Prime Minister signing Decision No. 1334/QD-TTg approving the Project "Promoting the resources of Vietnamese people abroad to serve national development in the new situation," Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, gave an overview of the resources of overseas Vietnamese.

She also emphasized five key tasks to promote this great resource to develop the country in the new situation.

What is the role of Vietnamese resources abroad in serving the country's development recently?

The Vietnamese community abroad is a valuable resource, rich in potential, that can make a great contribution to the development of our country.

From 2.7 million people in 2003, the Vietnamese community abroad now has about 6 million people, with a rapid growth rate (about 5%/year) and wide coverage.

Overseas Vietnamese currently live in more than 130 countries and territories, of which, over 80% are in developed countries.

The Vietnamese community abroad not only continues to integrate deeply, but also increasingly asserts its position.

They make certain contributions to the host country as well as cultivating friendship, promoting trade cooperation, and the image of the country, people, and culture of Vietnam.

According to recent statistics, overseas Vietnamese from 35 countries and territories have invested in 385 FDI projects in 42/63 provinces and cities in Vietnam with a total registered capital of US$1.72 billion.

Besides, there is also investment capital from overseas Vietnamese returning to the country in other indirect forms or in the form of domestic investment.

Investment and business activities of Vietnamese people abroad contributed to promoting socio-economic development, creating jobs for local workers and increasing tax revenue for the state budget.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs. Photo: VNA

In addition, the amount of remittances sent home from 1993 (the first year of remittance statistics) to 2022 reached over US$190 billion, nearly equal to the disbursed FDI capital in the same period.

Remittances sent to the country increased steadily every year, even in the difficult context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Vietnam has been in the top ten countries receiving remittances in the world for many consecutive years.

Overseas Vietnamese increasingly promote the role of bridging culture, cuisine, language, promoting the country's image, and tourism.

They made important contributions in connecting, and strengthening foreign relations, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural exchanges between Vietnam and countries around the world.

What is the significance of the Prime Minister signing Decision No. 1334/QD-TTg in the current context?

This is a project with overall significance, mobilizing overseas Vietnamese resources to participate in national development during the period of promoting industrialization and modernization of the country, associated with Vietnam's development goal of becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045 as set by the 13th Party Congress.

The project aims to strengthen the unified awareness of Vietnamese people abroad as an increasingly important resource contributing to the cause of building, developing and protecting the Fatherland.

From there, it builds comprehensive, fundamental and long-term orientations, policies and measures to attract and maximize this resource.

The project clearly defines the tasks of ministries, branches and localities in promoting overseas Vietnamese resources.

It creates a sustainable framework and mechanism to encourage Vietnamese people abroad to participate in developing the country.

What are the tasks of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs to concretize and implement the three groups of solutions proposed in Decision No. 1334/QD-TTg?

In addition to being the focal point for monitoring, coordinating, and summarizing the implementation of the project, we will focus on implementing main tasks.

Firstly, we promote community support and mobilization, strengthen connections, support the formation, consolidation and development of associations, networks of intellectuals and businessmen that actively contribute to the development of the country.

Overseas Vietnamese contribute ideas for the development of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: VNA

Second, the committee strengthens research and synthesizes information on the situation of overseas Vietnamese resources. We support ministries, branches, localities, organizations, unions, businesses and individuals in connecting and attracting overseas Vietnamese resources.

Third, we organize activities to update information about the country's situation, legal policies, listen to the thoughts, wishes and opinions of overseas Vietnamese. We also propose competent authorities to consider amending, supplementing and promulgating policies and laws to resolve difficulties and create favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to return home to live, work, invest, produce and do business.

Fourth, the committee continues to develop and implement work projects for Vietnamese people abroad.

Fifth, we organize training courses and foster knowledge for officials working to attract Vietnamese resources abroad.

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