Cisco, a worldwide leader in technology, announced the launch of its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program in Vietnam. The program, announced at the Cisco CXO Symposium in Da Nang, will see Cisco collaborate with public and private enterprises in Vietnam to advance the nation’s digitization agenda.
The CDA program in Vietnam is strategically aligned with the government’s National Digital Transformation Program by 2025, with orientation towards 2030, which aims to elevate the country’s technological capabilities. It focuses on promoting economic growth, technological innovation and cybersecurity resilience through improvements to the country’s communication and information infrastructure. The launch was unveiled by Dr. Guy Diedrich, Senior Vice President & Global Innovation Officer, Cisco; Bee Kheng Tay, President, Cisco ASEAN; and Jason Kalai, Interim Country Leader, Cisco Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
“The CDA program is a bridge connecting a country’s digital ambitions to the benefits of a digital society. The model is based on high degrees of trust and deep engagement across ecosystem partners in the public and private sectors,” said Dr. Guy Diedrich, Senior Vice President and Global Innovation Officer, Cisco. “We are thrilled to bring this highly successful global program to Vietnam and look forward to working with the Vietnamese government and local enterprises to build sustainable, secure, and inclusive communities through co-investment in digital skills training and innovation.”
The CDA program in Vietnam will undertake several initiatives, focusing specifically on three key pillars:
- Digital Transformation in National Infrastructure: Cisco will work with local service providers to co-develop 5G capabilities and equip these companies with the necessary skills and best practices for network development and innovation. The 5G network is critical infrastructure in Vietnam’s digitization agenda and its development will boost data transmission, accelerate business productivity and enhance connectivity within communities.
- Digital Transformation in Enterprises: Cisco will equip the financial services industry and manufacturing sectors with industry-leading technology and invest in the co-development of innovative digital solutions to accelerate industry-wide digital transformation. This will increase the competitiveness of Vietnam’s financial services and manufacturing industries, propelling economic growth.
- Digital Transformation in the Public Sector: Cisco will partner with local public sector entities to advance national digital infrastructure for the Vietnamese government. The initiatives within this pillar will support the establishment of a digital government, enhancing municipal management and fostering more inclusive communities.
Nurturing the next generation of digital talents in Vietnam
These initiatives are bolstered by Cisco’s commitment to securely connect everything and bridge the digital divide. Alongside the delivery of new technologies and sharing of expertise, Cisco will also upskill local talent through Cisco Networking Academy, one of the world’s longest-running IT skills-to-jobs programs, to drive an inclusive, sustainable and resilient digital economy in Vietnam.
The program has trained over 90,000 students in Vietnam since its inception through partnerships with 30 higher-learning institutions. In the Asia Pacific region, Cisco trained a record number of 1 million students in its fiscal year 2023, the highest in its 26-year history and aims to train an additional 6.7 million people in the region by 2032.
“Vietnam’s economy has demonstrated strong and consistent performance in recent years with digital interactions and cloud-first models rapidly becoming the default for businesses across the country,” said Jason Kalai, Interim Country Leader, Cisco Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. “Alongside the government’s National Digital Transformation Plan, there has never been a better time for public-private partnership to accelerate the country’s digitization agenda. At Cisco, we are committed to working together with all stakeholders in Vietnam to drive a new era of growth, tackle cybersecurity threats and power an inclusive future for all.”