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A new programme will enable Singaporean professionals to seek working stints in eligible innovation-related areas of work in Vietnam, and vice-versa.
Eligible professionals in Singapore and Vietnam can look forward to possible working stints in the other country under an Innovation Talent Exchange (ITX) Programme, as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Monday (28 August 2023).
The MoU, signed by Singapore's Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng, with Vietnam's Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dzung and Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, aims to deepen the innovation linkages between both countries.
As shared by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), the programme will enable Singaporean professionals to seek working stints in eligible innovation-related areas of work in Vietnam, and vice-versa. This, it added, will help "equip Singaporean and Vietnamese talent with skills and experiences to capture exciting opportunities in the area of innovation."
MTI shared further that joint Singapore-Vietnam taskforce will be set up to support the implementation of this MoU, and further details on the ITX Programme – such as launch date, qualifying criteria, and the application process – will be released in due course.
Apart from the above, Minister Tan and Minister Nguyen Chi Dzung also exchanged Side Letters effecting the upgrade of the Framework Agreement on Singapore-Vietnam Connectivity'. The Upgraded Connectivity Framework Agreement (CFA) expands the scope of the Singapore-Vietnam bilateral economic cooperation.
This is the first upgrade and expansion of the CFA since it was signed in 2005, MTI shared. From the previous six sectors of cooperation, the upgraded CFA now covers five pillars of cooperation in 11 areas, including:
- Energy connectivity;
- Sustainability;
- Infrastructure;
- Digital and innovation, and
- Connectivity (Education, finance, information technology and telecommunications, investment, tourism, trade and services, as well as transport).
"This reflects the increased business opportunities in current, new and emerging growth areas," MTI said.
The MoU on the ITX Programme, as well as the Side Letters on the CFA were part of a series of partnerships established between both countries during Minister Tan's official visit alongside Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Hanoi from 27 to 29 August. Overall, PM Lee and Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh witnessed the conclusion of the partnerships which will further enhance both countries’ cooperation in the green economy, digital economy, and innovation.
Commenting on the partnerships, Minister Tan said: "The conclusion of these agreements, witnessed by Singapore and Vietnam’s leaders, signal both countries’ commitment to build stronger partnership in the emerging areas of green economy, digital economy and innovation. We will continue working closely with our counterparts to create new avenues and more opportunities for our businesses and people."
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